When Journalist Collette Braeckman called the United Nations and said that genocide was happening in Rwanda, nobody believed her. Whether the UN already knew and chose not to intervene or whether they did not want to clash with other concerned parties to intervene during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, is not an issue of concern or discussion. What is of concern is that over a million people died, while the international community folded its arms doing zilch. Surely, the international community had much time before intervening; otherwise, there would be no reason for any apologies right now. Sorry each year that we remember the loved ones we lost, becomes a politically high sounding statement, meant more for grandstanding and not to appease the aggrieved.
When Journalist Collette Braeckman called the United Nations and said that genocide was happening in Rwanda, nobody believed her.
Whether the UN already knew and chose not to intervene or whether they did not want to clash with other concerned parties to intervene during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, is not an issue of concern or discussion.
What is of concern is that over a million people died, while the international community folded its arms doing zilch. Surely, the international community had much time before intervening; otherwise, there would be no reason for any apologies right now.
Sorry each year that we remember the loved ones we lost, becomes a politically high sounding statement, meant more for grandstanding and not to appease the aggrieved.
The international community saying sorry makes a big difference for those affected by the Genocide in Rwanda. Truly "Apologies Accepted” and we are completely ready to build peace with the confidence to move forward.
But taken against the background of what we lost, brothers, sisters and parents before anyone could do anything about the killings - - we need more than just apologies.
To build this relationship of trust, will take more than just saying ‘Sorry.’
Sorry means nothing when it only comes from the surface, a symbolic ritual carried out once a year in April, and quickly forgotten when the business as usual attitude takes over.
In fact, it just hurts more, than the pain of the machetes that killed our beloved. When the international community is slow in bringing to justice genocidaires walking free on European streets, busy enjoying freedom in return for murder, then sorry is questionable.
When, negationism and revisionism is rampant in their countries, then sorry is questionable. Sorry from the international community is not enough when they apologise, turn their backs in our faces, and protect the genocidaires and other small factions of hate ideology keepers.
This is just not right. The international community should bring to justice those guilty of genocide and stop the support of hate and genocide ideology factions.
This is what will build mutual trust and friendship with Rwanda and that is when, sorry becomes genuine.
Ends