The Rwandan embassy and communities in China organised events in honour of the over a million people killed in during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.The events were held in the capital Beijing and in most of the cities with a presence of Rwandan communities. “Everywhere, the commemorations were marked by a minute of silence, prayers, presentations and discussions on the history of divisions in Rwanda and the subsequent Genocide, and the lessons the world can learn,” an embassy statement said. Over 550 people in nine cities namely Nanjing, Xiamen, Changchun, Chonging, Hangzhou, Wuhan, Wuxi, Jinzhou, Changsha commemorated the tragedy.One of the events, held on April 11, was attended by diplomats representing their countries in China; Chinese officials from the ministries of Foreign Affairs, and Commerce; representatives of main universities; and other Chinese institutions.It started with a tour of a gallery displaying images “on the main highlights of the Genocide since the arrival of colonialists in our country and the introduction of ethnicity among Rwandans.”Pastor Frank Mulungu, led the prayers after which a Genocide survivor, who was seven years old by the time of the Genocide, gave a moving testimony and spoke of his hope for the future, despite a traumatising childhood.Two movies, ‘Ghosts of Rwanda’, and ‘Dreams for the Future’were screened.The Dean of Ambassadors to China, as well as Rwanda’s Ambassador Francois Xavier Ngarambe gave speeches focusing on the lessons the world should draw from the 1994 Genocide, to build a bright future for mankind.
