{"id":39812,"date":"2023-04-14T11:18:20","date_gmt":"2023-04-14T11:18:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/rwanda\/all-news\/photos-call-for-non-divisive-politics-as-genocide-commemoration-week-ends"},"modified":"2023-04-14T11:49:57","modified_gmt":"2023-04-14T11:49:57","slug":"photos-call-for-non-divisive-politics-as-genocide-commemoration-week-ends","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/rwanda\/policy\/photos-call-for-non-divisive-politics-as-genocide-commemoration-week-ends","title":{"rendered":"PHOTOS: Call for non-divisive politics as Genocide commemoration week ends"},"content":{"rendered":"

Africa-Press – Rwanda. <\/strong><\/span>At the closing of 29th commemoration week on Thursday, April 13, officials paid homage to politicians killed during the Genocide against the Tutsi and called for non-divisive politics.<\/p>\n

Held at Rebero Genocide Memorial, the commemorative ceremony was attended by Senate President Franc\u0327ois-Xavier Kalinda, Prime Minister Edouard Ngirente, the army and police chiefs as well as families of the fallen politicians and other government officials.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe politicians we remember today were killed because they opposed ethnic politics and fought against genocide ideology. We honour their exemplary decision to distance themselves from the evil and fight injustices among Rwandans,\u201d Kalinda said.<\/p>\n

He paid tribute to the RPF\/A-Inkotanyi led by President Paul Kagame who stopped the Genocide and ushered in an era of good governance based on non-divisive politics, national unity and consensus democracy.<\/p>\n

Despite the gains made since 1994, Kalinda said, the denial of the Genocide against the Tutsi and genocide ideology threaten national unity.<\/p>\n

Government officials observe a moment of silence to pay respect to victims during the commemoration event at Rebero Genocide Memorial on April 13.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe terrorist group FDLR continues to spread the ideology of genocide and has never abandoned its plan to execute genocide in Rwanda,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe shall never forget the history of the Genocide against the Tutsi in order for us to remain united and ready to fight the ideology of genocide.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Minister of National Unity and Civic Engagement, Jean Damascene Bizimana, noted that the politicians remembered opposed divisive politics and were killed for their convictions.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe will always honour the politicians who were killed in the Genocide against the Tutsi. Had we had many politicians brave enough to oppose the politics of hate, Hutu Power extremists would not have had the ability to kill more than one million Tutsi across the country,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Bizimana stated that the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi was a result of more than three decades of the ethnic politics that characterized Rwanda decades ago.<\/p>\n

Political parties, like PARMEHUTU and MRND were founded along ethnic lines, and politicians promoted discriminatory policies.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo post-Genocide politician should play with that history and try to take us back into it,\u201d Bizimana said.<\/p>\n

Elisabeth Mukamana, the spokesperson of the National Forum of Political Organizations, called on members of political parties, especially the youth, to promote unity and non-divisive politics.<\/p>\n

\u201cToday\u2019s politicians have the responsibility to teach our party members and Rwandans in general to live in harmony by holding on to our unity and be exemplary in everything we do,\u201d Mukamana said.<\/p>\n

The Memorial in Rebero is the resting place for more than 11,000 Genocide victims and the politicians who were killed for opposing the genocidal plan.<\/p>\n

General Jean-Bosco Kazura, Chief of Defence Staff of Rwanda Defence Force pay tribute to victims at Rebero Genocide Memorial.<\/p>\n

Genocide commemoration activities will continue for 100 days until July 3, the eve of Liberation Day.<\/p>\n

In July 1994, the RPA stopped the Genocide against the Tutsi and liberated Rwanda, putting an end to the era of divisive politics that plunged the country into one of the worst tragedies in history.<\/p>\n

Senate President Franc\u0327ois-Xavier Kalinda pays tribute to the victims at the closing of 29th commemoration week on Thursday, April 13. All photos by Olivier Mugwiza<\/p>\n

A minute of silence was observed to pay respect to the victims at Rebero Genocide Memorial<\/p>\n


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