In Jakarta, Rwandan Community Commemorates 1994 Genocide Against Tutsi People
The Rwandan community in Indonesia, together with the Embassy of the Republic of Rwanda in Jakarta, commemorated the 32nd anniversary of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda. The event, themed Remembering, Uniting, Renewing or known as Kwibuka32, Remember, Unite, Renew, was attended by Indonesian government officials, members of the Diplomatic Corps, and Friends of Rwanda.
Rwanda’s Ambassador to Indonesia, YM Abdul Karim Harelimana, called on leaders, citizens, and all friends of Rwanda to continue upholding the truth about what happened, starting with naming the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda as it truly was.
This is because, to this day, many still find it difficult to call it a genocide against the Tutsi and instead use other names, either out of guilt or mere arrogance, which fuels deniers and insults the countless lives that were targeted and killed undignified simply because they were born into a certain group.
“Without upholding the truth, we deny the world the collective opportunity to truly learn from what happened and thus thwart every effort to effectively prevent such dark history from repeating itself time and again,” said Abdul Karim Harelimana.
On that occasion, Liliane Murangwayire, a genocide survivor, shared a touching testimony with the audience and spoke about one of the books she published, Surviving the Unthinkable.
She shared her harrowing yet highly inspiring journey as a survivor of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda. Through her words, she became a historical witness, honouring the memory of those who are gone, and conveying messages of hope, strength, and resilience. “Today, I stand before you not only as a survivor, but as a witness—a witness to what hatred can do, and a witness to the power of hope, resilience, and humanity,” said Liliane.
Another main speaker, YM Macocha Moshe Tembele, Tanzania’s Ambassador to Indonesia and Dean of the Group of African Ambassadors in Jakarta, emphasised that Kwibuka means remembering.
“This is not merely an act of recalling history. It is a moral obligation. An obligation to the victims, the survivors, and future generations. Today, we remember more than one million innocent lives brutally taken in just 100 days in 1994. We remember families torn apart, communities destroyed, and unimaginable suffering inflicted through hatred, division, and indifference.”
“We remember because forgetting is dangerous. Forgetting creates fertile ground for denial, distortion, and the resurgence of ideologies that cause genocide. Memory is a shield against repetition. It is a call to vigilance,” said YM Macocha.
Representing the Indonesian government as the guest of honour, Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni stated that Indonesia renews its commitment to stand with Rwanda in remembering, uniting, and renewing, as well as working together to foster lasting peace and stability for both countries and the wider region.
He added that all parties should honour the victims and survivors by dedicating themselves to a future based on peace, justice, and respect for human rights, and by firmly rejecting hatred and division while advancing dialogue, understanding, and solidarity.