STOCKHOLM - The victims and survivors of 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi were on Wednesday, this week remembered and honoured in the Swedish city of Stockholm. At the event, video songs and a 20 minute film titled “The Genocide that could have been avoided” about the 1994 Genocide were shown to the audience. Seven candles were also lit to give hope to Rwanda by; the Guest of Honour, the Speaker of Swedish Parliament, the Executive Director of the Living History Forum, Ambassador Anders Oljelund, Ambassador Jacqueline Mukangira and two others who gave testimonies. This was followed by a testimony by one Genocide survivor, Devote Mukeshimana who lives in Sweden. She talked about her experiences in Rwanda during the 1994 Genocide, and mentioned how she survived from those atrocities. There was also another testimony by Schain Mathias, a Jew who has done research on the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi who spoke of testimonies from various survivors in Rwanda. Speaking at the event, Ms. Lisbeth Palme , the wife of the former Prime Minister of Sweden , also the guest of honour , said that the 1994 Genocide had been planned and also expressed disappointment that a Genocide happened in Rwanda without any foreign intervention to stop it. She commended efforts by the current government who not only worked hard to stop the Genocide, but also who have been exemplary in establishing a Government that promotes unity and reconciliation. She also noted that the government has excelled in gender empowerment with the highest number of women in leadership positions. Lisbeth Palme was also one of the seven members of the International Panel of Eminent Personalities that were commissioned by the African Union to investigate the 1994 Genocide in Rwanda. In her keynote address to the gathering composed mainly of Rwandans living in Sweden, senior Swedish politicians, scholars, diplomats, officials from NGOs and friends of Rwanda, Ambassador Mukangira focused on the National theme for the 15th Commemoration of the 1994 Genocide against Tutsis; “Let us commemorate the Tutsis Genocide of 1994 while fighting against negationnism and building our country”. She also talked about the background of the 1994 Genocide, how it had affected her country and highlighted Government’s efforts to the rebuild the country. Mukangira reminded the gathering how the international community had neglected Rwanda during the Genocide at a time when help was needed most and challenged their lack of intervention despite their capacity. She also expressed disappointment that despite the reality of what happened in 1994 in Rwanda ,there are some individuals and organs who still today deny the genocide. “The planners and perpetrators of this Genocide are still at large in many Countries,” she added, urging all countries to arrest and bring to book the suspects and fugitives who are enjoying freedom on their very territories. She argued that these fugitives should be tried in Rwanda since the Rwandan justice system is well advanced and meets international standards to handle such cases. “The Rwandan Parliament has already abolished the death penalty,” She said, citing Rwanda’s collaborations with other African countries like Sierra Leone whose eight prisoners will serve their prison sentences in Rwanda. “All this proves that Rwanda’s justice is credible and trusted,” Mukangira also requested the International Community to join hands with Rwandans in rebuilding what was destroyed by the Genocide. “There is hope in Rwanda! The reconciliation process has worked well after the Genocide. The administration of justice is firm and key institutions have been established.” In his presentation under the topic ”The mechanisms before and during a genocide”Ambassador Anders Oljelund, who works in the Security Policy Department in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Sweden, reaffirmed that what is clear is that the Genocide was planned before time from the 1950’s and was not sporadic. He added that the inaction of International Community should not be attributed to lack of knowledge of what was happening in Rwanda, or any other excuse, but simply there was lack of interest and political will to intervene in Rwanda. “UN was on the ground and had all the information on what was happening in Rwanda. All the indicators of a Genocide were clear, but there was no appropriate intervention by the International Community”, he said. The commemoration of the 15th anniversary of the 1994 Genocide organised by the Rwandan Embassy together with the Living History Forum, a Swedish public authority that aims at increasing understanding of contemporary events in the light of the Holocaust and other crimes against humanity. Ends
