Genocide ideology still lingers in the form of denial and revisionism, Jean Damascene Bizimana, the Minister of National Unity and Civic Engagement has warned.
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He was speaking during the second edition of the Kwibuka30 Intergenerational Dialogue series, ‘Rubyiruko Menya Amateka Yawe,’ which took place at the IPRC Musanze Campus, Northern Province on Saturday.
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The Intergeneration Dialogues second edition, part of a three-month-long series of events to mark the 30th Commemoration of the Genocide against the Tutsi (Kwibuka30), was preceded by a visit to the Cours d'Appel Genocide Memorial, where more than 800 Tutsi were killed during the Genocide.
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"Genocide ideology was systematically introduced for a long time, and it took root in the mindset of many Rwandans. Hating and discriminating against Tutsi became normal, and killing them was decriminalized,” he said.
The Northern Province was the first place to experience the culmination of teachings of genocide ideology—between 1990-1993, hundreds of Tutsi were killed.
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Minister Bizimana emphasized that the effects of the genocide ideology still linger in the form of denial and revisionism, mostly expressed on social media, and called on the youth to uphold the value of unity and fight for truth.
"The intergenerational dialogues provide you with knowledge to protect the country and to build it to be better. Use the knowledge to fight genocide denial unapologetically,” he said
Bizimana told the youth that Rwanda was built around the value of unity before colonialism, but the Belgians destroyed it.
He pointed out how divisive leaders that followed colonialists maintained policies that were discriminative and full of hate, leading to continued persecution of Tutsi, deprivation of their rights, and the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi,in which more than a million innocent people were killed in just 100 days.
"Justice and the law exist to protect all citizens of the country. From 1959 to 1994 in Rwanda, the judiciary and legal scholars were involved in planning the Genocide and its execution. This memorial is the only one in the world where the citizens were killed by the state in a court that should give justice.”
More than 500 young people from different districts of Northern Province had a conversation with Théophile Nyirahonora, a genocide survivor from Musanze, and Thadée Karamaga-a protector of the friendship pact 'Umurinzi b'Igihango', a former Ex-FAR soldier who rescued 17 Tutsi children during the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi and hid the body of former Prime Minister Uwiringiyimana Agathe.
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Speaking to the youth, Nyirahonora shed light on the exclusion of Tutsi in schools.
"It was almost impossible for Tutsi students to pass national exams or even be allocated a school. Personally, I had to change names to be able to attend school.” Nyirahonora’s brother and his children were killed in Musanze by his friends that he went to school with. "Where genocide ideology thrives, friendships and values become absolute,” she said.
Nyirahonora asked the youth to prioritize Rwandanness, "Ubunyarwanda” because it would help build a united and prosperous country.
"Consider other Rwandans as your strength. Counsel each other, and extend your hand if one is about to fail.”
Thadee Karamaga stressed that his actions were not driven by heroism or bravery but by his love of Rwanda and Rwandans.
He advised the youth to "love the country more than yourself and to love each other without discrimination and make it a pact."