In a virtual mini-conference convened on Saturday March 27 by the Rwanda High Commission in Kenya, members of the Rwandan community in the East African country committed to continue playing their role in the fight against genocide denial and impunity across the world. The discussions were held ahead of the 27th commemoration of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi under the theme: “Fight against Genocide denial and impunity: the role of the Rwandan Diaspora in the fight against genocide ideology. Among the guest speakers included Rev. Dr. Antoine Rutayisire, who urged the fight against genocide denial and impunity, and Father Elisee Rutagambwa, who called for the role of the Rwandan Diaspora in fighting genocide denial and ideology. The speakers castigated the planners and perpetrators of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi, stressing that genocide commemoration should be an occasion of reflection on causes and consequences of the genocide and resolve on how to avert future recurrence. Planners of the Genocide against the Tutsi used divisive ideology to divide Rwandans which led to the killing of over one million Tutsi in one hundred days. Rwandan Diaspora also learnt that there is the need to redouble efforts in fighting the genocide ideology, its denial as well as impunity stressing that if genocide ideology persists, its denial will continue unabated while impunity could also reign. “More efforts are needed in fighting against genocide considering that genocide denial is always aimed at erasing history by distorting the truth,” says the statement. Dr. Richard Masozera, High Commissioner of Rwanda to Kenya urged Diaspora to fight against those propagating genocide ideology through all communication channels including radios, social and print media. The drive, he said, will to ensure that the memory of the genocide against the Tutsi is not forgotten. He called on youth to play their role in sharing on social media platforms the history of 1994 genocide against the Tutsi as a weapon to fight those who spread genocide ideology. “Fighting genocide ideology should be a collective responsibility of all Rwandans and the international community. We call upon countries to arrest, prosecute or extradite fugitives accused of genocide and genocide ideology,” he added.
