Kamali Karegesa
6 April 2008
opinion
Kampala — TODAY Rwanda is commemorating the 14th anniversary of the genocide in Rwanda. In about 100 days from April 1994, over a million (1,091,000) people were massacred by forces of a primitive regime. This was the swiftest and most savage act of our time. The victims were killed for their ethnicity and political inclination - for being Tutsi or holding views different from those of the rulers.
The genocide was a result of the abhorred divide and rule policy of the colonial administrators that was passed over to their groomed successors at independence. In the 1950s-1960s, successive regimes preached division, hate and violence. The population was sensitised at family level, in schools and places of work that the Tutsi and Hutu were different peoples and different races! Yet the two groups share one language, culture and had since time immemorial peacefully lived together in one country.
From 1961-1994 post-independence regimes consistently harassed Tutsi and denied them fundamental freedoms including the right to life, by instigating mass killings in 1959-1967, 1973 and 1990-1994. The most recent mass killings qualified to be called genocide because of its magnitude and level of state involvement and organisation.
Bodies on Lake Victoria
We recall with sadness the victims who were thrown into river Nyabarongo, one of the tributaries of River Kagera River. Kagera carried the bodies for a long distance to the banks of Lake Victoria in Uganda. Some 10,994 bodies were recovered from the lake by fishermen and were buried in mass graves at six different sites.
Only two of the six mass graves are cemented while the others are shallow and covered by bushes. It is still our duty to accord these victims decent burial.
The 1994 genocide not only claimed lives but also left traumatised and physically-disabled survivors. Relatives are waiting to see justice done. Thousands of suspects are in detention and many others are still at large.
A reconciliation process is ongoing because we believe that with a reconciled society we shall be able to manage post genocide problems and prevent similar occurrences in future. About 50,000 prisoners have been released through the presidential directive. Some of these contribute to the reconstruction process through communal work in lieu of imprisonment. By the end of this year, minor cases will be substantially reduced.
However, it important that justice is done to end impunity. Accordingly, we have put the necessary laws in place including the Gacaca. There is also the International Court of Tribunal for Rwanda based in Arusha, Tanzania. Although this court has not tried many cases, it has given the genocide an international face. A number of countries have cooperated in arresting and handing over suspects to the ICTR while others have tried some cases under their laws.
The killers were not able to achieve their objective to exterminate all the Tutsi in Rwanda because the RPF moved in swiftly and stopped these senseless killings.
Survivors
The number of survivors has not been established but the vulnerable ones, for example, orphans, widows, the traumatised and rape victims who contracted HIV/AIDS are about 300,000. A Survivors' Fund was established in 1998 where 5% of the annual national budget goes. In 2006, Frw 6.3b was spent on 49,225 students in secondary schools, and another Frw 756.695m on 1,367 students in post-secondary institutions. The budget for 2007 for secondary and higher level student was Frw 7.557b. In 2006, Frw 943m was paid for medical cases, and Frw 1b on construction of 1722 houses in 14 districts. In 2007, Frw 2 was budgeted for construction of 2,022 houses in 16 districts.
To prevent re-occurrence of genocide, the security of people and their properties has been fixed. We have put in place democratic institutions like Parliament, Senate and the Presidency, which are elective. There is full participation of many political parties.
Significant success in repatriating refugees has been registered.
A Unity and Reconciliation Commission has gone a long way in uniting and reconciling the people.
In 2003 a Constitution was overwhelmingly voted in a referendum.
We have registered achievements in fighting poverty.
We have free primary reducation, and this will soon be extended to secondary school level. We have about 10 universities compared to one university in 1994. Entry into these institutions is on merit, unlike the sectarian considerations before 1994.
The justice system was reviewed and for the first time, we have qualified judges and magistrates, among other things.
We have embarked on establishment and strengthening of various institutions. Examples are:
Anti-corruption bodies such as the Auditor General's office and the Ombudsman.
National Tender Board which ensures a transparent tendering process.
National Examinations Council which ensures fair competition and admission into educational institutions.
A Human Rights Commission.
We appeal to the entire humanity to set up genocide prevention mechanisms.
We believe that punishing perpetrators, honouring victims and rehabilitating survivors are the pillars of post-genocide reconstruction and the basis for preventing new genocide. That is when mankind would be able to realise the UN declaration (63 years down the road) of "Never Again".
The writer is Rwanda's Ambassador to Uganda
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