The Rwanda Police peacekeepers serving under the United Nations Stabilisation Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) joined the rest of Rwandans, on April 7, to pay homage to over a million innocent lives massacred in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi as the country kicked off the 100 days of mourning.
The Rwandan peacekeepers were joined by peacekeeping forces from other countries serving in the Caribbean nation, Haitian national Police, local leaders and clerics to mark the 20th Genocide anniversary.
The commemoration started with a walk to remember. A moment of silence was also observed in respect of those who perished in the Genocide.
Chief Superintendent Peter Hodari, the Rwanda Formed Police Unit (FPU) contingent commander thanked all those who turned up to join Rwandans to remember the victims of the horror act.
“We gather here today to remember and pay homage to the victims of this carnage of ruthless atrocities and to also pledge solidarity and strengthen the survivors,” Chief Supt. Hodari said.
He said Rwandans have moved on, despite the horror acts, changed the past bad politics and united towards a common goal.
He outlined infrastructure, education, health, investment, unity and reconciliation, energy, agriculture, good governance as areas where the country has made tremendous strides in the past 20 years.
Chief Supt. Hodari also handed over a portrait of late Capt. Mbaye, a Senegalese soldier who was killed during the Genocide, to the Senegal Formed Police Unit contingent commander, Lt. Col. Magatte Mbaye, in respect of his role to save some Tutsis from being killed by Interahamwe militias.
Capt. Mbaye, who was serving under the United Nations Assistance Mission for Rwanda (UNAMIR) in 1994, was killed by Interahamwe militias while trying to save some Tutsis from being massacred.
Ba Fatoumata, the Chief Regional Officer, who represented MINUSTAH, thanked Rwanda for her peacekeeping contributions to the rest of the world and in Haiti in particular.
“’Never again’…everyone has a responsibility to speak out in the face of genocide, anti-Semitism, bigotry, hatred, racism, intolerance or discrimination,” Fatoumata stated.
Currently, there are 140 Rwanda Police officers in Haiti, who include 14 females.
The commemoration ended with a documentary film on Genocide. The 20thGenocide commemoration is held under the theme, “Remember, Unit, Renew.”
RNP
UM– USEKE.RW
