A Rwandan lecturer at the University de Montreal in Canada, Professor Josias Semujanga, is organizing a conference to take place from April 3-4 at Concordia University in Canada. In an email correspondence with The New Times, Professor Frank Chalk, the Director of Montreal Institute of Human Rights and Genocide who is slated to deliver a speech during the two day conference said; Let your readers know that the 29 March conference is unrepresentative of Canada and Montreal. Prof. Semujanga’s conference represents the views of the vast majority of Montrealers and other Canadians. Chalk was referring a conference organised by deniers of the Genocide which was held over the weekend in Montreal. It met stiff opposition from hundreds of people from around Canada. Prof Chalk has volunteered to advise the government of Rwanda in eliminating genocide ideologies throughout the country. The conference will highlight some of the life stories of survivors of the genocide and human rights violations who came to live in Montreal; they include Callixte Kabayiza, Léo Kalinda, Théodore Simburudali, Egide Karuranga, Berthe Kayitesi and Eugène Nshimiyimana. According to the University de Montreal’s website, Semujanga’s conference hopes to play a key role in raising public awareness of the genocide and will ensure that the complete story is told by bringing together individuals with a variety of experiences and opinions. The theme for this year’s Genocide commemoration is let us reflect on the Genocide ideologies and help genocide survivors hence focusing on economic development. The official ceremonies will be held in Bugesera district, 50 Km east of Kigali. It is the home Nyamata church where 10,000 people were slaughtered in a church building.Ends
