Walk to Remember both a reminder of 1994 and ‘Never Again’ platform

Editor,Allow me to comment on the article titled, “Genocide: Preparations for Walk-to-Remember underway”, published in The New Times on January 21.The “Walk to Remember” is a golden opportunity to remind the world that they should have done better to protect the more than a million helpless Tutsi who were ruthlessly killed during the 1994 Genocide.Whenever there is war in Africa, Rwanda is always among the first countries to send peacekeepers to protect children, women, elderly and everyone else trapped in conflict. I have personally seen images of the happy faces of those helpless people when they meet with Rwanda Defence Forces troops patrolling their neighbourhoods and the images are touching to say the least. All this happens despite the fact that Rwandans had no one to turn to during the cataclysmic events in 1994, a time when the United Nations voted to leave the Tutsi at the mercy of the killers.This kind of attitude that Rwandans continue to display through the gallant servicemen and women, not only of the RDF, but also from the Rwanda National Police, underpins the zeal demonstrated by the Government of National Unity, to ensure that whatever happened in Rwanda, shall not happen again anywhere, at least not under their watch.The latest development therefore, that the Walk to Remember event, which has previously been organised in only a few countries, will now be held in at least 15 countries from different continents, is also another effort and opportunity for this country to spread the ‘Never Again’ message.When we walk to remember, we also send a message to the international community for having failed to intervene when we needed them the most, especially when such processions take place in their own capitals. It is, therefore, imperative for every Rwandan in any of those countries to turn up and rally friends to participate in this noble cause of letting the world know what befell our country, as this is the only way we shall ensure it never happens elsewhere.Let’s all stand together for the unity of Rwandans.Fiston Uwigenga, Rwanda

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Walk to Remember both a reminder of 1994 and ‘Never Again’ platform