RWANDA: EU ENVOY STUNNED BY GENOCIDE MEMORIAL
Magnus K Mazimpaka
The New Times (Kigali)
February 27, 2007
The European Commission envoy in Ethiopia, Tim Clarke has expressed
shock and surprise at the macabre events of the 1994 Genocide.Clarke,
who was yesterday visiting the Gisozi Genocide Memorial site in Kigali,
regretted the genocide. "This memorial is living testimony to the
victims of genocide here and I think it is present in a powerful and
shocking way; the images are so strong," Clarke noted.
"It happened to Rwanda, Armenia, and Kosovo, Germany…but there is
a strong line that people should not be allowed to behave in this way."
He also lauded the initiators of the idea that tells the story of
the genocide.
"I salute the designers of the memorial and the Rwandan people for
gathering such moving material and I think it is huge tribute to come
to visit it," he said.
He added: "It is a truly moving experience to people who go around
it in a very short time and taken through the whole lives of people
who suffered."
Clarke said he could only compare the memorial with the International
Red Cross Museum in Geneva, Switzerland.
"I have not seen such an extraordinary …powerful designed to shock;
to provoke but with a very simple and clear message that you must
never let something like this happen again," he said.
Clarke lauded the government for its efforts in reconciling the
survivors and suspects and said the Gacaca courts were a fundamental
tool to realize local justice.
Clark, who was on a personal tour to Rwanda and left yesterday for
Addis Ababa.
He is responsible for the relations between Europe, the African Union,
Ethiopia and Djibouti.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
