Adventists honour Genocide victims

About 1,000 women visiting Rwanda and taking part in the Seventh Day Adventist Church International Women’s Congress have visited Murambi Genocide Memorial centre to pay their respect to the tens of thousands of Genocide victims buried there. While at the site, the women learnt the history of Genocide that claimed the lives of over a million innocent individuals in less than a hundred days. Later, they laid wreaths on graves in honour of all the victims of the Genocide before they toured various parts of Murambi memorial to witness the horrors and history of what happened there 19 years ago. More than 50,000 Tutsis were killed at what was meant to be a technical school in Murambi, Southern Province. Many of the remains of the victims, which were mainly retrieved from mass graves, have been buried at the site. But some of the remains have been preserved in lime and displayed on wooden frames for the purpose of keeping some specific details in the history of Genocide. Speaking after the visit, the women expressed shock over what they witnessed at the place. “Witnessing the horrors that were committed during the Genocide touched my heart. It is sad and disheartening to see bodies of these innocent victims. I am really shocked,” said Tanzanian citizen Rebecca Marekana. “What I have seen here should encourage people to remain united because unity brings about love among people. And, when people love each other and that love prevails in their hearts, all these bad things cannot happen and the country will keep growing stronger,” she added. Racquel Da Costa Arrais, the Associate Director of Women’s Ministries at the General Conference of Seventh Day Adventists in Washington DC, USA, commended efforts to strengthen reconciliation among Rwandans. She called for every individual to champion love in whatever they do so as to ensure that Genocide never happens anywhere. “Love is the most powerful force in the universe. When you love your neighbour as yourself you are able to embrace your reality, to prosper, to teach with love and compassion. You are able to touch and reach people around you, you are able to forgive and to continue your life,” she said.