DAY 1 – MEET THE SURVIVOR

MURAKABAHO…

I greet you in the name of every Survivor of the 1994 Genocide against Tutsis, and every one of the 800-000 to 1 million lives lost. My name is Olivia Mugenga, Chouchou des Grands Lacs, for the most Intimate.

I was 1 when they killed my mother, her mother, 5 maternal aunts, 1 maternal uncle was never found, 1 paternal uncle, 2 paternal aunts, my paternal grandfather, and many others.I was 17 when what is deemed to be the remains of my maternal family were found and we laid them to rest. Some watch horror movies to imagine evil. We do not need to imagine.With that being said, I do not seek pity or sympathy -My father’s love carries me.Tears have shed, tears have dried.What I now feel is rage. Pure rage.A dangerous state to be in, I reckon!

Arrests continue to be made day after day.This is a normal occurence for genocides on large scales. That is not the source of my rage. What enrages me is the following:When a Rwandan in the Diaspora is accused of involvement in the Genocide. The families benefit of what I consider to be excessive freedoms. They are able to raise funds on public forums, organize marches on public streets, and obnoxiously incessantly, comment on the accused impeccable moral character on public sites. They thrive in a sort of laissez-faire environment, which, in turn, effectively re-traumatizes the already traumatized.

As a human rights lawyer, I understand very well that the right to due process and fair trial are inalienable human rights. However, in grave instances, where the crime offends the conscience of mankind, I wonder, O how I wonder,  if there is a constitutional way in which the accused’s defense can be limited to the courtroom alone. A way that would ensure the memories of those we lost is not made a mockery of.

I applaud America’s zero tolerance for antisemitism. I question why it does not extend to other Genocides?As if white and black corpses do not weigh the same. God help us all!

With my most coerced love because God mandates I love you,

-Liv