Rwanda Rises From the Ashes

　　International shame

　　When the Rwandan Genocide took place two decades ago， approximately1 million people were killedduring the 100-day conflict betweenthe Hutu and Tutsi ethnic groups.More than 2 million refugees fledthe country， with a further 2 millionpeople left homeless.

　　Many factors led to the tragedy inRwanda. These include the deeprootedcontradictions among differentethnic groups， a growing populationstruggling for land and otherlimited resources， and uncontrollableparty struggles resulting fromWestern countries’ efforts in forcingmulti-party democracy onto Africancountries after the Cold War.In important regards， the internationalcommunity， especially Westerncountries， should be blamed fortheir neglect and omission. Peoplewho have watched the Hollywoodfilm Hotel Rwanda will not forgetthe fear and helpless eyes of theRwandan people hiding in a hotelwhere Western peacekeepers onlyaided citizens from their respectivecountries and let the genocide goon.

　　Because of this， while addressingthe memorial ceremony with participantsincluding Chairperson of theAfrican Union Commission Dlamini-Zuma and more than 10 Africanstate leaders， UN Secretary GeneralBan Ki-moon indirectly expressedhis shame at the United Nations andthe international community failingto prevent the extreme brutalityin 1994. Ban Ki-moon said， “ManyUnited Nations personnel and othersshowed remarkable bravery.

　　We should have done much more.In Rwanda， troops were withdrawnwhen they were most needed.”Before the massacre took placein Rwanda， the UN was said to havereceived a report on the possiblegenocide， but the report failed toreceive adequate attention. Whenthe genocide took place， the UNconsulted with more than 10 membercountries on sending troops toRwanda， which also failed， wastingan opportunity to prevent the tragedy’sexpansion.

　　The small African country

　　Rwanda was neglected by Westerncountries at that time because ofits lack of natural resources， itsland-locked geographic position andits unimportance to their overallforeign strategies. In addition， theymisjudged the development of theatrocity.

　　The Rwandan Genocide remindsthe international community thatfacing a crisis， the UN SecurityCouncil and UN peacekeeping operationsshould not have cold feetand the world powers should notjust stand by watching. The inter-national community should act toprevent any tragedy with the utmostspeed and concerted efforts.

　　Reconciliation and development

　　At the commemoration ceremonyon April 7， Ban Ki-moon also praisedRwandans for overcoming frightfulmemories. Indeed， in the past 20years， the Rwandan Governmentand people have made eye-catchingachievements in national reconciliationand social development. Emergingfrom the shadows， the new-borncountry and its people have embracedrenewal. Its unique experiencein the process of national reconciliationhas made the country an examplefor other African countries withsimilar ethnic and tribal problems.

　　After the genocide ended， thecountry took many measures toeliminate the hotbed of tribalism andrealize national unity with forgivenessand reconciliation. Some Westernscholars argue that African politicsmeans tribal politics. It is true that thetraditional family-based communalvalues and production systems remainin many African countries. In addition，nearly all the countries on thecontinent have different tribes withdifferent languages and cultures. Thishas lead to tribal problems becominga very important factor influencingthese countries’ political developmentand evolution. In Rwanda andits neighboring Burundi， the longstandingcontradictions and conflictsbetween the minority Tutsi peopleand majority Hutu people becameincreasingly sharp with the tide ofmulti-party democratic movementsafter the Cold War， a factor leading tothe genocide.

　　After putting an end to the tragedy，Rwandans re-examined their pastand decided to eliminate the tribalismfrom the root. The Rwandan Governmentamended the country’s Constitutionto include combating tribalismand secessionism. Also， ID documentsexclude any identification of “tribe，”and all people consider themselvesRwandan people， rather than Tutsisor Hutus. In the past 20 years， thepolitical situation in the country hasremained stable.

　　In order to educate people not torepeat the past， the Rwandan Governmentestablished many memoriallocations nationwide. While remindingpeople not to forget their past， theRwandan Government firmly implementedthe policy of tribal reconciliationso that people could learn toforgive， while upholding justice.

　　On the one hand， many of themurderers in the genocide were triedin Rwandan or European courts orthe International Criminal Tribunal forRwanda. On the other hand， owing tothe large number of people who wereaccused of murder in the genocide，the country did not have the capacityto try and jail all of them. In addition，trying to jail all of them would harmthe country’s efforts in promotingnational reconciliation. Against thisbackdrop， the Rwandan Governmentintroduced the traditional community-based Gacaca courts. Perpetratorsand victims faced each other toconfess and express forgiveness. Hereconsensus was reached on compensation，where those guilty of murdercould work for victims for a period oftime.

　　Like the Truth and ReconciliationCommission established by NelsonMandela after he was elected thefirst president of South Africa afterapartheid， Gacaca courts were usedin Rwanda to find truth and realizereconciliation. The past 20 years ofnational unity in the country showsthat Rwandan people have chosento drop their hatred and forgive eachother.

　　Fighting poverty

　　The Rwandan Government also announceda war against poverty， strivingto consolidate national reconciliationthrough poverty alleviation andeconomic development. Rwandais an inland country with a densepopulation and few resources. Thus，the government gave top priority toeconomic development while energeticallypromoting national reconciliation.

　　In 2000， the country issuedits long-term plan for 2020； two yearslater， it formulated a poverty reductionstrategy； and in 2007， the countryissued an economic developmentand poverty reduction strategy， allforming a clear roadmap for its futuredevelopment. According to its longtermplan， by 2020， the population inthe country will be within 16 millionand per-capita income will increaseto $900 from $290. This will greatlyreduce its impoverished populationand move Rwanda from an impoverishedcountry to a middle-incomeone.

　　In the past 20 years， the RwandanGovernment took a series of measuressuch as issuing a new currency，reforming the taxation system， promotingprivatization， giving priorityto poverty alleviation projects andnarrowing the gap between the richand the poor. It also promotes an invitationfor international aid， attractsforeign investment and seeks debtreduction and exemption. Since 2001，Rwanda’s annual GDP growth hasbeen around 8 percent and morethan 1 million people were draggedout of poverty. According to statisticsfrom the World Bank， Rwandaranks second in terms of the mosteconomically-friendly countries inAfrica， while also ranking No.1 amongAfrican countries in terms of realizingthe UN Millennium Goals.

　　Rwanda experienced a tragic past，but it did not fall into civil war or theabyss of failure like some other Africancountries， such as Somalia andthe Central Africa Republic. Instead，under the leadership of strongmindedand far-sighted leaders， thecountry has embarked on the roadto prosperity， development， self-disciplineand self-improvement， lessonswhich can be of value to otherAfrican countries facing similarchallenges.

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