By Linda Yu
It all began in Rwanda on April 7, 1994.
The wretched scent of hundreds of dead bodies filled the air. Hungry babies wailed, barely heard above the constant sounds of clanging machetes and exploding grenades. People scrambled for safety — finding it nowhere.
Within the span of three months, more than one million Tutsi lives were taken.
Ottawa resident Willy Rangira, a survivor of the genocide, struggles with the memories of the days when his country broke under the strain of civil war.
Today, 10 years later, he can’t even count the number of relatives he lost to the conflict.
But Rangira, who’s spearheading efforts to have the government declare April 7 a day to reflect on Rwanda’s tragedy, says he doesn’t let those days a decade ago darken his spirits.
“If we can find and appreciate pleasure with the little things in life . . . there is no way we can fall as low as to want to kill another,” says Rangira, Ottawa co-ordinator for the Remembering Rwanda 10th Anniversary Memorial Project, an international group organizing commemorative activities.
Oscar Gasana, who lost almost his entire family to the conflict, says the tragedy should be commemorated around the globe.
“This can happen anywhere in the world, no country is immune to this kind of violence if we are not vigilant,” says Gasana, regional president of the Humura Association, for Rwandan genocide survivors.
“That’s why we should always educate our youth . . . respect for the other, and respect for human rights.”
Rwandans across Canada are hopeful the 10-year anniversary will be supported by the Canadian government. The move would follow a similar declaration by the United Nations.
The proposed day of reflection offers Canadians a chance to show they’re serious about remembering what happened in Rwanda, says Rangira, who now works to promote literacy in developing countries.
Rangira also wants the day to pay tribute to the Hutus who risked their lives to protect persecuted Tutsis and to figures like retired Lt.-Gen. Romeo Dallaire, who commanded UN peacekeeping operations in the war-torn country.
Rwandan groups based in Ottawa are planning to commemorate the genocide by meeting at the Human Rights monument on Elgin Street for a candlelight vigil on April 6. They encourage non-Rwandans to join them.
“Only solidarity in matters like this, bring about increased support,” says Rangira. “Such solidarity . . . reminds people that others didn’t die in vain.”
On April 7, local Rwandans will gather with supporters on Parliament Hill for a moment of silence. They will ask surrounding churches to ring their bells in recognition of the years passed since the genocide.
Visual displays, documentaries, conferences and cultural activities are to be held between April and July to coincide with the anniversary.