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Rwanda: Research Conference On Genocide Held
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The New Times (Kigali)
24 July 2008
Posted to the web 25 July 2008
Moses Gahigi and Paul Karangwa
Kigali
A five-day conference of the inter-disciplinary Genocide Studies Centre, a network of researchers based in the United States of America, in partnership with the National Commission Against Genocide, opened Tuesday at Hotel Novotel in Kigali.
The aim of the conference is to bring together different scientific disciplines, like theology, philosophy, sociology, literature, psychology and others, in an attempt to create a pool of knowledge for the social-economic reconstruction of the Rwandan society after the 1994 Genocide of Tutsi.
The conference was attended by delegates from various countries, representing various disciplines.
They presented papers on the roles their professions could play in bringing to light purposeful information and knowledge through which the Rwandan society can overcome the effects of the Tutsi genocide, erase the genocide ideology and completely reconstruct itself.
"Rwanda needs institutions like these so that a united body of Rwandans can be formed to fight the genocide ideology and to support the already existing anti-Genocide measures put in place by the government," said the Minister of Culture and Sports, Joseph Habineza who was also the guest of honour.
He also advised participants, especially those from other countries, not to be duped into believing the defamatory information some propagandists spread, painting Rwanda in bad light.
He requested them to be ambassadors of Rwanda when they go back because they have had a chance of seeing the country with their own eyes.
The Director General of the National Institute of Museums and chairman of the national commission against genocide, Professor Kanimba Misago Celestin highlighted in his speech the significance of this conference.
"This meeting is going to profoundly benefit people especially Rwandans, in attempting to cleanse the genocide ideology from their land. However, this benefit can only materialize if ideas shared and knowledge created are put into writing and considered in our daily lives"
He further urged genocide survivors to overcome its aftermath, however difficult it was, so they can work towards reconstructing their lives and society.
According to Alloys Mahwah, the secretary of this conference, people from other countries were brought in so that they could gain knowledge about the Tutsi Genocide and share ideas.
"Putting together the different scientific disciplines like theology, history, philosophy, psychology and others, can be fundamental in fighting the Genocide ideology because some of these disciplines were used as instruments to perpetuate the 1994 Tutsi Genocide," Mahwah said.
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The conference is also aimed at finding solutions for victims of the Genocide, most especially those who were traumatized by the gruesome massacres in which over a million people perished.
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