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| Friday, April 07, 2006 |
| 100 days in hell: remembering genocide victims in Rwanda |
Today is National Mourning Day in Rwanda (genocide remembrance day).
In 1994, upto 800,000 Tutsies and 'moderate' Hutus were killed in the genocide that lasted 100 days. I wish remembering those who were brutally masacered and the survivors who still carry the physical, emotional and psychological scars could make the world a better place so that their death and sufferings are not in vain.
The 'never again' promise that echoed after the Holocust is proving to be an empty vow as we still allow genocides to happen. Darfur is happening today while the world cannot even decide whether to call it genocide or not, while NATO is waiting for the African Union to formally request its help, while it is not clear who is going to be responsible after the UN temporarily takes the responsibility of peace keeping from the AU... What a load of crap!
I will save my ranting for another post. Here are some informative links about the Rwandan genocide.
Convention on genocide
Bystanders to genocide
Testimonials of survivors
Chronology of events
Justice
Ten years on
Guilty of by standing
Rwanda today
Women of Rwanda building the future
...the orphan who adopted me
Books
Rwandan genocide in a historical context
Humaniterial failure">Humanitarian failure
Films
Hotel Rwanda
Shooting Dogs
Documentary
In Rwanda we say...
The future
The beautiful side of Rwanda
Division is created by bad leadership. The Rwandan government is fighting against segregation. This gives me hope. I do have hope in the future. The most important thing everyone asks for is peace – even if you have only a little to eat, to be able to eat it in peace. Even though I’m old, I ask for peace and I have it now. I am sad, but I have peace. I’m in a peaceful country. (Rwandan Servivers' blogsite) |
posted by Fikirte @ 1:17 PM
 
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| 1 Comments: |
- name<="c114477109731245786" id="c114477109731245786">
A War’s Interlude
Gun shots in place of birdsong
Tears replaced laughter
For years we cried
And buried and wept
And eulogized
Seemingly without end
Then suddenly or so it seemed
The night was over
The day dawned and
Laughter filled the mountainside
And echoed into the valley
Even the flowers blossomed fuller
And the honeybees filled the air
With their humming
As if filling the hives
For the beer that would flow thru’
The land once again
Oh joy is my name
My sides ache from laughter
My cheeks hurt from smiling
Greetings to one and all
Song fills my heart
And I am thankful
The safety catch is on
The guns will fire no more
No reason to
For the love of brothers
Cannot be killed by guns
Nor the blood of our children
Allowed to flow like the rivers
That are the very life of our land
A ceasefire and a sigh
Relief beyond measure
For now I can sit by the sea
And watch the tide go out
And know that I will still be here
When it comes in
I will still be here
Alive!
If only I knew for sure
That this peace is for forever!
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A War’s Interlude
Gun shots in place of birdsong
Tears replaced laughter
For years we cried
And buried and wept
And eulogized
Seemingly without end
Then suddenly or so it seemed
The night was over
The day dawned and
Laughter filled the mountainside
And echoed into the valley
Even the flowers blossomed fuller
And the honeybees filled the air
With their humming
As if filling the hives
For the beer that would flow thru’
The land once again
Oh joy is my name
My sides ache from laughter
My cheeks hurt from smiling
Greetings to one and all
Song fills my heart
And I am thankful
The safety catch is on
The guns will fire no more
No reason to
For the love of brothers
Cannot be killed by guns
Nor the blood of our children
Allowed to flow like the rivers
That are the very life of our land
A ceasefire and a sigh
Relief beyond measure
For now I can sit by the sea
And watch the tide go out
And know that I will still be here
When it comes in
I will still be here
Alive!
If only I knew for sure
That this peace is for forever!