Remarks by Pierre Munyura, President
U.S. Mission Employees Association
At the U.S. Mission Employees Association Memorial Service
Tuesday, April 6, 2004
Kigali, Rwanda
Your Excellencies the Ambassadors, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen.
On behalf of the U.S. Mission Local Employees, let me take this opportunity to offer special thanks to Ambassador Prosper, Ambassador Yamamoto, Mr. Schieck and other distinguished members of the U.S. Delegation commemorating the 10th anniversary of the genocide, for having time, despite your busy schedule, to join us in this noble act of remembering our fallen colleagues, and indeed to share your thoughts on how the healing process in Rwanda should be. Thanks to our friends and brothers, the survivor members of the victims' family and the Religious Representatives who came and led prayers to comfort the families of those remembered.
Your Excellencies, when the killing stopped, genocide was not over. Its implications, its complications, its consequences, are only just beginning. That's why, in April of each year, we have put aside a day we have called "A Day of Remembrance at the U.S. Mission in Kigali," when we invite survivor members of the victims' families to join the rest of the mission community to mark the loss of 28 mission employees, who were the victims of one of world's most tragic chapters in history.
Ten years after the 1994 genocide, Rwanda appears to have returned to a semblance of normalcy. But even though the overall social, economic and political situation has significantly improved, the needs are still many, and the tasks are still enormous. We can never forget that the Genocide claimed over one million lives, destroyed property, and left among the living an overwhelmingly large number of the affected -- widows, orphans, violated women, and the physically handicapped. Moreover, psychological trauma resulting from genocide cannot always be easily identified or quickly overcome.
We must remember and learn from history, not only for Rwanda, but also for elsewhere in the world. The world can and must remember and honor those who perished in Rwanda by supporting the process of reversing the causes of their destruction, and we are glad today we're with most of you who have been involved in that battle. We should all work together to eradicate this evil that breaks up families and leaves many helpless and dehumanized. We should take this time to reflect on those affected by upheavals and disturbances elsewhere all over the world.
There are no short cuts to healing a nation that scarred, and a people that hurt. We have and must work very, very hard. As Rwandans, we recognize our responsibility to build this nation. Certainly, we need support and cooperation from the international community. The U.S. Mission to Rwanda has been supportive of this recovery process; particularly through the Genocide Survival Fund which pay school fees for genocide orphans. We thank the USG, and we commend Ambassador McMillion's personal efforts in supporting Rwanda.
Lastly, with the input of the people of Rwanda, and the support of all our well-wishers, we have no doubt that Rwanda will rise and shine again, for our children and for generations to come.
Thank you very much, and may God bless Rwanda and America.
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