Remember, Unite, Renew
Rwandan community in China commemorates the 28th anniversary of the genocide against the Tutsi in 1994, reaffirming commitment to national unity
Candles are lit in memory of the victims; a minute of silence is observed as a tribute; a survivor testifies; a poem is recited by children who carry hope ... Under the theme “Remember - Unite – Renew,” the 28th annual commemoration of the genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda was organized by the Rwandan embassy in China on April 7 in Beijing. The purpose, according to the organizer, is to remind the international community of its duty to remember, and to maintain its unity while renewing its strength to build a better future.
Remembrance
April 7, 1994 marked the beginning of a genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda. In the 100 days that followed, more than 1 million people were systematically murdered by Hutu extremists. Speakers at the commemoration affirmed that it is critical to remember the genocide 28 years after the tragedy, or about a generation.
Siddharth Chatterjee, UN Resident Coordinator in China, said that “acknowledging the genocide in Rwanda is an act of courage and compassion.” He emphasized that “the international community joins today in solidarity with the people of Rwanda to remember and to ensure such atrocities never occur again.”
Rahamtalla Mohamed Osman, African Union’s Permanent Representative in China, appealed for unity in the fight against genocide, so that history does not repeat itself, either in Africa or elsewhere in the world.
Rwanda’s Ambassador to China James Kimonyo agreed, emphasizing the necessity for legislation to penalize denial and trivialization of the massacre. He insisted that offenders still on the run in various parts of the world should be brought to justice in Rwanda, or at least in their respective jurisdictions. “We want to make sure the countries understand the danger of allowing this culture of impunity to exist endlessly and that it doesn’t become the basis of another cycle