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- Oct 16, 2014
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Rwandans across the country will today April 7 commemorate the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi for the 21st time, Chimp Corps report.
They will honour the million lives lost in a hundred days.
Known as ‘Kwibuka' – the Kinyarwanda word for ‘remember' – this year's commemoration will focus on fighting Genocide denial and revisionism.
The Minister of Youth and ICT, Jean Philbert Nsengimana has called on the Rwandan youth across the country to take part in various activities to mark the 21st Commemoration of the Genocide against the Tutsi.
The call was made at the closing ceremony of Itorero for 1032 youth leaders at sector and cell levels of the Eastern Province on Sunday.
So far more than 4,400 youth leaders in the country have participated in Itorero in the last five months in Rwanda.
Speaking to the press at the closing of Itorero, the minister stressed that the youth across the country will participate in various activities in their villages to remember victims of the genocide against the Tutsi and will participate also in Walk To Remember.
"We urge all young people across Rwanda to continue supporting survivors of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi mainly the widows and orphans," said Nsengimana.
Celestin Kanani on behalf of youth leaders from across Eastern Province said, "As young people, we will be participating in different planned activities in our respective villages and we will be near vulnerable Genocide survivors by helping them and we plan to clean different Genocide memorials."
Officials said both the mourning week and the 100 days of commemoration period will be an opportunity to enhance historical clarity, get closer to genocide survivors – especially the most vulnerable, as well as empathise with them towards surmounting the country's tragic history. This will also be an occasion to recognise rescuers.
The Executive Secretary of the National Commission for the Fight against Genocide (CNLG), Dr. Jean-Damascene Bizimana said that events to mark the 21st Commemoration of the Genocide against the Tutsi nationwide will be held at village level.
"Holding commemoration events at village level intends to instill in our grass-roots communities a sense of ownership. Communities will come together to reflect on the country's tragic history in general, and the Genocide against the Tutsi in particular. This will be a special opportunity to visit, support and console genocide survivors countrywide. This is an occasion to discuss and seek lasting solutions to issues facing vulnerable genocide survivors," he observed.
Dr. Bizimana said that this year's commemoration will focus on fighting genocide denial and revisionism.
"Denying is the last step of genocide. To ensure that ‘Never Again' becomes a reality, we must fight Genocide deniers and revisionists whoever and wherever they are. Those who deny the Genocide do so not out of ignorance, but rather as a premeditated act. As Rwandans, fighting denial is our responsibility."
Rwanda recently suspended BBC services over the genocide denial and revisionist documentary.
Programme
On the 7 April, President Paul Kagame will join families from across the country and special guests from around the world to honour the memory of those who perished in the Genocide against the Tutsi.
The Guest of Honour will light the National Flame of Mourning that will burn for 100 days. The flame will be lit at the Kigali Genocide Memorial Centre. In the evening, grass-roots communities will gather at village level to visit and provide support to vulnerable genocide survivors.
Throughout the commemoration week, citizens will gather in all villages nationwide to reflect on the country's history, and discuss different genocide-related topics focusing on fighting genocide denial. The mourning week will end on 13 April 2015, while the commemoration period will continue for 100 days.
