n April 1st,
the City Council of New York awarded a proclamation in recognition of
the country and government of Rwanda as it continues its task of nation
building. Rwanda’s Ambassador, Stanislas Kamanzi, was on hand to accept
the proclamation, which was presented by Council Member and Mayoral
candidate Charles Barron and Speaker Gifford Miller on behalf of the
entire council.
Rwanda,
a tiny central African country of just 26,000 square kilometers, is
currently viewed as one of Africa’s most promising nations. However this
is after having experienced unimaginable difficulties on the road to
nationhood and stability. In the early 1990’s, the country was thrust
into civil war and a vicious cycle of human rights abuses. In 1994, Hutu
extremists committed genocide against Tutsis and Hutu moderates by
murdering over 800,000 people during 100 days of butchery. World
leaders, including the President of the United States, essentially stood
by and ignored this horror.
As the proclamation explains, in the ten years since then, Rwanda has
struggled towards democracy, economic growth and development, and has
attempted to bring diverse ethnic groups together in unity and peace.
The City Council commends Rwanda for its commitment to the serious task
of nation building, and also acknowledges the United Nations Convention
on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.
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In
accepting the proclamation on behalf of his government and the people of
Rwanda, Ambassador Kamanzi said, "I would like to express my gratitude
for the proclamation which is really a token of solidarity with the
people of Rwanda. We consider it a tremendous support as we now strive
to rebuild and to heal from the wounds created by the genocide."
He went on to say that Rwanda is committed to working out strategies,
both politically and socially, to make sure that its people are never
confronted with such a situation again. "We are trying to build up a
country and have people feel they belong to a nation, not to ethnic
groups," Kamanzi stated.
Rwandans commemorated the 10th anniversary of the genocide
in Kigali on April 7th.
