RWANDA: GENOCIDE COMMEMORATION WITHOUT FRENCH ARROGANCE
Florence Mutesi
The New Times (Kigali)
April 11 2007
To many Rwandans, 2007 is the first time for Rwanda to commemorate
the death of their beloved ones free of the French arrogance which
had characterised all the past years. Every time Rwandans would be
preparing for the commemoration week, France would put blame either
on the government in general or the president in particular.
One cannot mention all the French allegations because they are of no
help to anyone now. The only allegation I can mention now is when one
French judge claimed that President Kagame was responsible for the
shooting down of former president Juvenal Habyarimana in April 1994,
which triggered off the 100 days of a blood bath.
The French Judge’s intention, and indeed that of all the French of
tarnishing the current government was instead a turning point for the
Rwandan community. The report exposed the French’s arrogance when
they all kept quite including those who were in the country at the
time of the plane crash, not even the soldiers who were guarding the
airport at the time.
They showed no remorse in their responsibility in the three months
of mayhem, they turn round to accuse the people who stopped what they
had started. The Rwandan government was forced to take action that the
world least expected; to expel the French and all their organisations
and businesses closed down.
Those who thought that they had something to say about the Rwandan
Genocide were free to do so but not to add an insult to injury. Today
Rwandans must be relieved to commemorate the death of their loved
ones in the absence of the French.
This means Rwanda is interested in fighting any thing that may lead
to Genocide again, not only in Rwanda, but every where in the world.
President Paul Kagame challenges critics who say that Rwanda was
capitalizing on the genocide. He says if any political capital is being
made out of the Genocide, they (those who think so) can go and have it.
The people of Rwanda were tortured, raped and infected with HIV and
are living in abject poverty. The president observed on the 10th
year commemoration that survivors have endeavoured to live with
their tormentors.
He requested the international community to cooperate in the fight
against Genocide through international solidarity even when they are
guilty of sin of omission.
President Kagame says that when Genocide takes place, the international
community should not shy away from military intervention when
necessary.
More than 930,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus were estimated to have
died in Kigali alone during the 1994 Genocide in Rwanda.
Although the evil minded people cannot totally change, France’s silence
about what they used to say is a relief to Rwandans, what is running
in their mind is not our business.
Genocide Memorial sites were constructed around Rwanda to remind
Rwandans and the world of the massacres that took place in the
country and other parts of the world such as the Armenian and
Cambodian genocides. Memorial sites were also meant to show the way
to reconciliation.
The former President of the United States Clinton visited Rwanda in
1998 and expressed sorrow and regret for the victims of the Genocide
and mourned the lives lost.
Clinton was not in Rwanda by the time the Genocide took place but he
regretted what happened, why can’t France, which was active on ground
to the end of the Habyarimana’s regime, and also extended financial
and a training hand to the Interahamwe, apologise and regret what
happened. If they cannot, then they should remain silent as we treat
our wounds.
Since the 13th commemoration has coincided with Christ’s day of
resurrection (Easter) and in the absence of the French’s arrogance,
let us relate Jesus’ resurrection to that of our broken hearts,
gather as Rwandans and continue praying for the innocent Rwandans
who died like Him.
We mourn, we pray, grieve for our sisters, brothers, parents, who
were victims of the merciless hearts. One says tomorrow, we will
remember, speak out, and act for humanity. Rwanda’s children, like
those everywhere, must be assured of a future full of hope, dignity,
and peace.
On March 31, a man of God preached in church about numbers and said
some numbers were traditionally not liked.
He said that the numbers were also biblical. Among the good numbers
he mentioned was 7.
He said the number is controlled by God himself. He said the 2007 is
a special year in which God will make wonders for his beloved ones.
Even though the preacher did not talk about this number in relation
to the 13th commemoration, I came to think about it and realized that
there is something with Rwanda’s real living at least.