Police, RDF peacekeepers commemorate Genocide

The Rwanda National Police officers serving under the UN Mission for Stabilisation in Haiti mandate, on Sunday, marked the 19th anniversary of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.The commemoration event at the Rwandan base in Jeremie was also attended by friends of Rwanda in the Caribbean nation, UN staff, local leaders and clerics.Currently, there are 160 Police officers in Haiti under Formed Police Unit.Speaking at the event, the contingent commander, Chief Superintendent Desire Twizere, thanked all those who turned up to join Rwandans to remember the more than one million massacred in 1994. “Remembering is an obligation; as we remember, we must also forgive those who sincerely seek to be forgiven,” CSP Twizere said. “The tragedy caused us pain, and this was all due to bad politics by bad politicians and bad leaders. Bad politics led to loss of value and culture and the tragic situation of 1994 was inevitable.”He said Rwandans have moved on, changed the past bad politics and united towards a common goal.“As we remember the pain and grief, we, in the same spirit, stand strong and confident that this will not happen again. We should convert our grief into strength and determination to build a better future that we deserve,” he said.Twizere outlined infrastructure, education, health, investment, unity and reconciliation, energy, agriculture, good governance as areas where the country has made tremendous strides in the past 19 years.The reconstruction of the country, he noted, is the sole responsibility of Rwandans, adding that this goes hand-in-hand with grooming the youth as future leaders.“As Rwandans and Africans, we should endeavor to be who we are, fight to be the best we want to be. We should remain at the frontline to build and shape the future of our country,” he said.The 19th anniversary started with a “Walk to Remember” as Rwanda, UN and Haitian flags held at half-mast to pay tribute to those who perished in the Genocide.RDF peacekeepers in Juba Meanwhile, Rwanda Defence Forces (RDF) peacekeepers in the United Nations Mission in South Sudan, together with the Rwandan Community in the Republic of South Sudan, were on Sunday joined by their friends and UN officials to mark the 19th anniversary of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.The ceremony, in the barracks of Rwandan Contingent in Juba, started with the Walk To Remember, a march organised to pay tribute to those who perished in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.The commemoration, conducted under the theme, “Commemorating the Genocide against the Tutsi as we strive for Self-Reliance”, was characterised by testimonies and speeches by various personalities as well as a candle vigil attended by Hilde Johnson, the UN special representative to South Sudan, and the Head of the UN in the Republic of South Sudan.