H.E. Mr. Jean Pierre Karabaranga, Ambassador of Rwanda.
Today, the Embassy of the Republic of Rwanda in the Kingdom of the Netherlands started with the Kwibuka26 program marking the 26th Commemoration of the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi.
In observance of all measures taken in this country by the Dutch Government aimed at limiting the spread of Covid-19, an alternative program was developed in cooperation with Ibuka Netherlands and the official ceremony of today at 16.00 hours was broadcasted through the Embassy’s online communication channels. From 8 to 13 April, every day at 1600 hours a different video will be put online on the YouTube channel of the Embassy.
2020 marks the 26th commemoration of the Genocide against the Tutsi. Although this year the commemoration will be different from other years due to Covid-19, the commemoration period, commonly referred to as Kwibuka (the Kinyarwanda word for Remembrance), will continue to be an opportunity to pay homage to the victims as well as reflect on the transformational journey that Rwanda has been on for the last 26 years.
There are a series of events in The Netherlands organised by the Embassy of the Republic of Rwanda in The Hague and Ibuka-Netherlands to mark the commemoration and to remember and honour those we lost, comfort those who survived and pay tribute to the sacrifices that brought Rwanda back to life.
The diplomatic community, Rwandan nationals living in the Netherlands, friends of Rwanda and many others have been invited to join for Kwibuka26 and pay homage to the victims.
The online Kwibuka26 ceremony that was broadcasted today consisted of the following elements • MC Mr Herbert Ndahiro • Testimony by Cecile Umulisa, a Genocide Survivor • Lighting Candles of Hope • Minute of Silence • Speech by Mrs Christine Safari, Chairperson IBUKA – Netherlands • Speech by H.E. Ambassador Yoka Brandt, Secretary General of the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs • Speech by H.E. Ambassador Jean Pierre Karabaranga.
Genocide survivor Cecile Umulisa gave a moving testimony. She told in detail what happened to her and her family. She lost many family members due to the killings by the Interahamwe.
Then, after the ceremony to light the candles and a minute of silence, a speech was given by Mrs Christine Safari, President of Ibuka Netherlands, which is an umbrella of survivors of the Genocide committed against Tutsis in 1994 in Rwanda. “This umbrella was created in 1995 in Rwanda and its cell was created in 2003 in the Netherlands. Our first objective is justice. Ibuka strives for bringing all those who committed the genocide as well as those who trivialize it to justice from wherever they are. Our second objective is to organize remembrance ceremonies to honour our beloved ones but also to heal our own wounds. Our third objective is to assist survivors who need material as well as moral support. Our fourth objective is peace building by combatting genocide ideology so that never again can become a reality,” said Mrs Safari.
“Once again we’d like to draw the attention of the international community as well as of the Netherlands, that there is still a good number of suspects who live out there freely. These suspects must be arrested and sent to justice. We’d like to request the UN to release the archives of the ICTR so that they can be kept in Rwanda near where the crimes were committed.
Once again Ibuka Holland reiterates the need for survivors living in the Netherlands to have a memorial site. Buka strongly believes that if many other western countries like Belgium, France, Italy and Switzerland granted memorial sites to the respective Ibuka cells the Netherlands can do the same as well. Finally, I’d like to request the Government of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to elaborate a law that punishes the denial of the Genocide against the Tutsis which would give us a basis to legally combat the denial and the trivialization,” the President of Ibuka Netherlands said.
Representing the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Secretary General H.E. Yoka Brandt started her speech with saying that in times of crisis it’s even more important that we stay connected and that we remember. “Today we honour those lost and those who are still here, but who’s lives were changed forever. Every year we stand united to commemorate the genocide in Rwanda and to renew our commitment that such atrocities should never occur again and to remember that the men, women and children who lost their lives were not statistics but were people just like we are with the same hope and the same dreams,” the Secretary General said.
“Since the genocide Rwandans have worked incredibly hard rebuilding the country, rebuilding communities, healing people and healing minds. The Netherlands has been a strong supporter of Rwanda in this endeavour and will continue to help bringing perpetuators to justice,” H.E. Yoka Brandt continued. “Genocide suspects will not find a safe haven in the Netherlands. We believe genocide suspects should as much as possible be tried in the country where they committed their crimes, And let it be clear, there can be no impunity to such crimes.”
“Let’s remember that life can only be understood backwards but it must be lived forwards. Rwanda has demonstrated that even in the deepest darkness there is hope,” Secretary General Brandt concluded her speech.
Ambassador Jean Pierre Karabaranga stated in his speech that the remembrance event of today allows us to keep the memory of the victims alive and to reaffirm our collective determination to uphold the ‘Never again Genocide ’ pledge. He quoted H.E. the President of the Republic of Rwanda, who said that today is a day to remember. “A day to honour those we lost as well as those who survived and live on, but under difficult conditions brought on by the aftermath of the genocide. Let us not leave them to their plight. Let us keep in mind that those who died lost their bodies but their spirit remains with us. We will use that spirit to help us build our people and our country,” the Ambassador quoted H.E. President Paul Kagame.
Ambassador Karabaranga continued his speech and said that the remembrance day of the genocide against the Tutsi is a day of deep pain and sorrow for the survivors of the genocide and the people of Rwanda in general, but it is necessary and important as we have to show solidarity with survivors during this difficult moments.
“Through Kwibuka events like today we also learn about the causes, reality and consequences of the genocide to better fight it in Rwanda and anywhere else in the world. Kwibuka allows us to build a new society, a new country free of discrimination, segregation, hatred and free of genocide,” he said.
Despite positive development in the international knowledge of the genocide against the Tutsis and despite international legal recognition of the genocide against the Tutsis, so many worrying actions reminds us that the evil is not yet completely defeated, the Ambassador also said this afternoon. “Today we are facing two dangerous situations: the denial of the Genocide against the Tutsis and the impunity of many criminals who committed the genocide.”
“Except a few countries (Belgium and France), which recently enacted a law for the punishment of the denial of the genocide against the Tutsis, it is unacceptable that today, globally there is little attention to the denial of genocide against the Tutsis, like there was little attention to alarming signs preceding the genocide in 1994. In light of this we appeal to the international community to learn from history and stand together in a strong fight against any form of genocide denial and genocide ideology. We therefore appeal to the Dutch government to strongly condemn and enact a law punishing the denial of the genocide against the Tutsi”, H.E. the Ambassador said in his speech.
He concluded with thanking all honoured speakers and the Ambassador took the opportunity to comfort and encourage genocide survivors during these coming painful 100 days period of remembrance that was started today. “I wish you to stay strong and brave as you did for the last 26 years. On our side the Embassy will remain with you and will stand with you side by side” H.E. Karabaranga said.
Click here to watch the online Kwibuka26 ceremony in the Netherlands.
