Editor,

Once again I am personally offended by the United Nations!  Send the Rwandan genocide archives to Kenya!  Why is such an outrageous idea even being considered?

I’ve sent an email to the ICTR Legal Library & Reference Section expressing my disbelief and support of Theodore Simburudari, President of Ibuka. 

Rwanda, please don’t give up the fight!  Below is the email I sent them today!

"I would like to add my voice to the many who so rightly object to the Genocide archives being housed in Kenya!  What a ridiculous notion!

Think about it!  How would the United States, Canada, France, Belgium or any other "first world’ countries like their historical documents stored in a foreign country?

I don’t think that would even be deemed a reasonable suggestion.  Thank goodness for men like Theodore Simburudari, President of Ibuka, who are raising the alarm. 

I truly hope that they fight to get those most critical documents home to Rwanda.

I truly hope that President Kagame puts his foot down and demands that they be returned to Rwanda.  Why do we, who live in "first” world countries, think we always know what’s best for other countries?

We’re constantly telling other nations to "do this”, "do that”, "don’t do this”, "don’t do that”!  When will it stop?  Why can’t we just help each other?

Not just in a time of crisis or tragedy but always.  Where were all these all-knowing "first world” countries when the Genocide was actually being perpetrated?

Absent by choice!  Because they had nothing to gain financially from Rwanda! 

But now the United Nations, in its infinite wisdom, thinks these memories will be better preserved in Kenya?

It truly amazes me that this is even a debate!  Can the United Nations, for once, act in Rwandan’s best interest and give the people their history back?”

Yours truly,

Marie Collins (a Rwandan in my heart)
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Marie.Collins@gov.mb.ca