The High Commissioner for Rwanda to the United Kingdom, Johnston Busingye, requested mourners to pay attention to one of Paul Rusesabagina’s statements where he mentions ‘the rights of the native Rwandans.’
He said this while speaking at the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi commemoration event, which happened on April 30, at the Newcastle University.
The event was kicked off by a walk to remember, and later, those who attended gathered at the University where different activities took place.
Busingye said, "We all recall, I hope, the terror militia called National Liberation Forces (NLF) which launched terror attacks, killed and maimed people in South Western Rwanda. We also recall a leader of the militia, Paul Rusesabagina, whom Hollywood says is a hero of a movie, who told the Voice of America that his militia would fight on until they secured the rights of native Rwandans, (uburenganzira bw'abanyarwanda kavukire).”
He added that although the statement hasn’t been subject to much scrutiny, the Genocide started with divisive words, speech, and interviews that whipped ordinary citizens to see other citizens as the enemy, the vermin, the invader, the dangerous outsider to get rid of.
"I want us to reflect deeply on it today, tomorrow and always; what exactly did he mean? Who are the native Rwandans? Who are not? What marks the difference? And what are the similarities, or differences, between this statement and those of Kayibanda and Mugesera?” Busingye added.
The Genocide architects had spread propaganda that Tutsi people were invaders from Ethiopia, and that the Hutu were the natives.
During the Genocide, Tutsi people were chopped into pieces and thrown into rivers to "flow back where they came from.”
Busingye also noted that one would dilute poison or put a veil over it, but ultimately it is still poison and it still has the potential to kill.
Genocide denial
Busingye also said that Rwandans have a duty to share the Genocide history with each other, with the next generation and with the international community to ensure that "never again” indeed becomes reality, but he acknowledged that this cannot be fully achieved because of threats.
"One such threat is genocide denial. We witness it in our daily lives, some of it is brazen and simple to understand and some of it is implied or convoluted. Some denial even comes from those in positions of responsibility and influence at esteemed institutions including of higher learning that Rwanda collaborates a lot with,” he said.
Busingye noted that the recent issue with the University of Edinburgh over blatant denialist comments by their Rector Kayembe will be watched keenly on how the appropriate committee will address it.
While countless people continue to deny the Genocide, Busingye gave facts that even led to the ICTR Appeals Chamber to state that "there is no reasonable basis for anyone to dispute that, during 1994, there was a campaign of mass killings intended to destroy, in whole or at least in very large part, Rwanda’s Tutsi population” and further describe it as a fact certain as any other, a fact of common knowledge.
"Kayibanda Gregoire said Hutus and Tutsi are so different like they came from and belonged to two separate planets; Gitera published the Ten Commandments of the Hutu- targeting, demonising, dehumanising Tutsi; Leon Mugesera whipped up and mobilised citizens at an open public rally to send the Tutsi back to Abyssinia through the Nyabarongo River; Bagosora told people he was in a meeting with over the future of the country, that he was going to prepare an apocalypse; Kambanda whipped up citizens to pick up guns and whatever other arms at their disposal and rid themselves of their enemy, who were Tutsi, and brandished his own gun. I can go on and on,” Busingye said.
He concluded his speech by thanking those who have shown leadership, partnership, and friendship on Rwanda’s journey of unity, reconciliation and healing, and that Rwandans will continue to partner globally for justice and truth to prevail over impunity and denial.
"As Rwandans, we are now firmly united on a foundation of ideological clarity. We should not, cannot and will not be divided again. Our eyes are firmly fixed on the Rwanda we want, a more and more inclusive, fairer, prosperous society that is home to all her sons and daughters,” Busingye said.