George Kagame
24 April 2008
Kigali — Renowned Hollywood actress, Ashley Judd, has criticized western countries for not doing something to stop the 1994 Rwanda Genocide.
She said this after visiting Kigali Genocide Memorial Thursday. Judd is in the country to assess the activities of health and social marketing firm, Population Services International ( PSI).
"Some countries like the US just looked on while others like France are implicated in the Genocide, yet they have not come out to apologize to the victims," She said.
Judd added that while the Genocide was happening in Rwanda, it was given very little coverage in the U.S. media.
"While the genocide was happening here, I never heard much about it in the US," she said, adding that she got to know much about the genocide through the movie Hotel Rwanda.
Judd said Former Belgium Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt did a good thing to have apologised to Rwandans on behalf of Belgium saying it was a good example for Europe.
Verhofstadt made a public apology to Rwandans who died in the genocide for Belgium's failure to help the country in its time of need. In the visitors' book, Judd thanked the Rwandan government for setting up a profound and clear memorial.
"I will do my part to ensure such a tragedy never happens." she promised, adding that she almost fainted twice while walking inside the memorial.
"The rooms are filled with grief," the actor pointed out. She also applauded the measures that the government has undertaken to educate Rwandans on peace, unity and reconciliation.
Judd has appeared in Hollywood blockbusters like 'Someone like you', 'Just one of those things', 'High Crimes' and 'Twisted'.
She also sits on the PSI board which is responsible for the distribution of condoms and other health related products like water purifying tablets, Ea Sur. Ashley Judd is also a Global Ambassador for YouthAIDS.
YouthAids funds Centre Dushishoze which provides young people with a friendly and confidential environment where they can receive life-saving health peer education, products and services.
In a related development, Honore Gatera, the head guide at the memorial, said that recent the grenade attacks which killed one policeman at the gate have not affected the activities at the memorial during this mourning period.
"We have received over 10,000 visitors at the centre this month and we have also carried out formal burial ceremonies for over 200 victims of the 1994 Genocide," He said.
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A huge credit to Ashley Judd and PSI for bringing attention to the victims of Rwanda. Hopefully as much, if not more, criticism will be placed on these same countries for not doing enough to bring attention to and end the current genocide that has been taking place for years in Darfur. The substantial number of ignored deaths in Rwanda should have taught these leaders a lesson, but the exact same crisis is occurring at this moment in another of Africa's countries and doesn't seem to be ending anytime soon. Let's all hope for a speedy intervention.