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[Commemorative Album Presented to the First Lady during her Visit to Africa By the Rwandan Women Delegation March 28, 1997] [photo album]
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[Commemorative Album Presented to the First Lady during her Visit to Africa By the Rwandan Women Delegation March 28, 1997] [photo album]
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Melanne Verveer's Subject Files
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Clinton Presidential Records
Graphic/Offensive Material Marker
This is not a presidential record. This is used as an
administrative marker by the William J. Clinton
Presidential Library Staff to identify graphic and/or
offensive material that is not suitable for underage
researchers. Record(s) located in this folder may be
considered offensive by researchers.
PLEASE READ BEFORE
PROCEEDING INTO
FOLDER
Files of Melanne Verveer, Chief of Stafff to the First Lady
Box 1: Books and Files
Archived from OEOB 100 by Allyson Lambert on September 15, 2000
Commemorative Album presented to the First Lady during her visit to Africa by the
Rwandan Women Delegation: March 28, 1997
Commemorative Album presented to the First Lady upon her visit to India by Shri P. Singh
ENCLOSURES FILED OVERSIZE ATTACHMENTS 17605
NAM 14 849
PHOTOCOPY
PRESERVATION
PRESENTED TO THE FIRST LADY OF AMERICA
MRS HILLARY CLINTON
DURING HER VISIT TC AFRICA
By The RWANDAN WOMEN DELEGATION
28th 3.97
28 March 1997
SPEECH BY THE RWANDAN WOMEN DELEGATION
ON THE OCCASION OF MEETING
THE FIRST LADY OF AMERICA
MRS HILLARY CLINTON
The first Lady, Mrs Hillary Clinton.
On behalf of the Rwandese people, families and children and more
particulary the Rwandese women, we wish to express our sincere thanks
to you for having thought of visiting Africa at this opportune time.
We are also very grateful to you for having accepted to meet the
Rwandan women delegation.
Madam,
The Rwandan women know you very well as a human rights activist, who
has stood firmly, particulary, against various forms of violation and
abuses against women.
When the various groups of Rwandan women organizations heard about your
visit to Africa, it raised alot of expectations. They have sent us to
give you the message that they deeply regret the fact that you could
not come physically to Rwanda to express a sign of solidarity with
them.
They had hoped that your visit to Rwanda would give you a personal and
deep appreciation of the aftermath of Genocide and its effects
particulary on women and children, through various testimonies and
visiting of different Sites. However we are most grateful for this
meeting since it provides us an opportunity to convey their message to
you.
It will be extremely difficult for us to narrate in mere words the very
cruel and traumatic experiences that the Rwandan women have gone
though; but we will try:
- Many women and children were killed,
- others were brutally raped
- we have almost half a million widows and half a million orphans.
- Women were made political hostages and sexual tools in refugee camps.
- Some were driven into acts of genocide.
- They have lost property, homes and livelihood and yet some of them
are now heads of families and the only surviving individuals in a
whole family.
- A large number is psychologically traumatised and physically
handcamped. 95.9% of the our children have been exposed to traumatic
events.
- Many of the women and young girls who were raped have contracted
killer diseases and others have had unwanted pregnancies.
The list of traumatic events is long. But we have gathered some
documentation to help you further appreciate the situation in form
of an album, video tape and some written materials.
Although we have gone through such a tragic history, we always tell our
friends that:
We have burried the dead but Rwanda is still alive!
Rwanda today is on the road to reconstruction and peace.
There is general security thoughout the country and presently Rwanda
is more peaceful than most countries in the region.
This month Rwanda hosted a number of eminent women during the Pan
African conference on gender peace and development, which took place
in our capital city Kigali. It was a follow up of the Beiging forth
world conference on women.
During this conference the Rwandan women were able to share with
various delegates the problems they have gone through and to display
some of the achievements towards the recovery programme.
-
Women are participating in the many activities geared towards the
reconstruction of the country.
-
The legal reform that is underway will also be able to reflect
the new realities of women.
-
There are many attempts to assist women in various self help and
income generating projects.
-
In the field of justice at the national level trials on genocide
have already began.
The needs are still many especially in health, education and shelter.
There are families that have been separated that need
reunification, programs in trauma counselling are also very crucial in
our reconstruction and reconciliation programs.
Madam,
It is very sad to note that at the international level during the
genocide, the Rwandese women felt completly abandoned. The UN security
council passed a resolution to withdraw the UN force that was in
Rwanda. Presently we are again envisaging betrayal especially as far
as the international tribunal is concerned.
You have visited Arusha and you must have seen for yourself that it
gives no hope to the victims, survivors and other human rights
activists who believe that justice is a major tool towards
reconciliation and peace. We appreciated your important message while
you were visiting the Arusha International tribunal.
We know that you are a crusedor for health programs and micro credit
schemes, you are a reknown human rights activist and you rightly once
stated that "women rights are human rights".
We therefore wish to urge you to continue to support our efforts for
the recovery program and we do hope that you will pass over this
message to the American people, the government and more particularly
to the various women groups and other associations that are struggling
for justice, peace and development.
Although you have decided to visit Africa in general at this particular
moment we sincerely believe that soon you will pay a special visit to
Rwanda. Genocide is an international responsibility, Rwanda deserves
special and particular attention at this delicate time in our history.
We thank the American people and the government for the support they
have given to Rwanda in various rehabilitation and reconstruction
programs.
Please convey our best regards to your husband, His Excellency
President Bill Clinton. We wish him a speedy recovery.
Thank you very much.
RWANDA
Life is stronger than death
NYARUBUYE
Nyarubuye parish is located in Rusumo Commune near the Tanzanian
Border.
The main Feature of this region are some big stones upstanding in a green
landscape.
This photo reportage shows how the genocide was organised systematically
leading to extermination of huge number of the Tutsi people and Hutu families
opposed against the ideology of Genocide.
In remembrance of these victims, the Rwandese government is commited
to build a Memorial for them in Nyarubuye so that present and future
generations have to think the best way to eliminate the ethnic hate, and to teach
every Rwandan citizen how to respect the life of his fellow Rwadan and human
beings in general.
On 16 July 1995, the Vice-President and Minister of Defence Major General
Paul KAGAME accompanied with high ranking Government officiales laid a stone
in memory of Nyarubuye victims of Genocide.
The Minister of High Education and Culture introduced the aims which
leads to construct the museum of Genocide.
He said that it was:
First to give picturial evidence of Genocide. This museum will be
located in the capital Kigali with several branches country wide.
Nyarubuye will be one of the branches.
Secondly, to remind Rwandeses the causes of Genocide (the ethnic
division by the colonial policy, bad leadership, and the exclusion of rwandese
living in and out the country).
Thirdly, to educate Rwandese people so that this tragedy never occurs
again.
The skulls you see don't just show a collection of people who were killed severa
years ago. Rather they show how many Rwandese Innocent people faced a
painful death by being macheted, pierced by instruments. This kind of suffurin
has never been experienced by any other race from time immemorial.
NMMMMN SASTAC
Charnel-houses reveal in themselves much about this tragedy. Their significance lies in
the vicissitudes of the history of Rwanda. In addition, they make a refutation to all those
who still deny' the reality of the genocide or would unfairly explain it. The present
ceremonies mean more than the fact of covering the coffins with winding sheets. These
ceremonies aim at a noble objective: to eradicate once for all the roots of such an evil.
In this way, Rwandan authorities should contribute to the repression of crimes. Nobody
would dare vulgarize the crime of genocide, nor would any person vulgarize whatever
kind of catastrophe (be it flood, earthquake, conventional war and others) in which
human lives are lost. The struggle against genocide goes beyond the boundaries of
Rwanda, it bears a universal dimension: it's better henceforth to prevent genocide
before it spreads elsewhere in the world. For this reason, we should accept to sacrifice
our lives in the fight against the genocidal ideology.
(Extract from the speech of the Vice President and Minister of
Defence, Major General Paul KAGAME.)
The tibia with a shoe is not a scientific show piece for medecine students.
It is part of a body that was plur ked out from somebody like "you" with
fillings, thoughts and spiritual resources.
It should be one of the leads to the International tribunal that Genocide took
place in Rwanda.
musq
PHOTOCOPY
PRESERVATION
A huge number of anonymous corpses and remains are lying, offering a feeling either of
indignation or distress to the witness. The sufferance inflicted to Rwandans appears to
be emblematic: more than the Armenians, the Jews and the Bosnians.
noas
At the peak of the genocide, what has the UNAMIR (United Nations Assistance Mission
in Rwanda) done to save thousands of lives? Henceforward, the United Nations must
seek preventive mechanisms against genocide.
PHOTOCOPY
The lake where some Rwandeses decided to drown themselves instead of being
macheted.
in
The skeleton in the picture with an open mounth shows how the victim was
crying for help which never reached to humanity.
Even the victims echoes for "Help" were ignred.
"What more evidence do I have to show that I was brutally killed?"
This what the skeleton seems to be telling the world.
Can you imagine it is someone like you in pieces in these polythene bags!
It is not just a one "You"; it is rather many "Yous" who are 1 million Rwandese
who were brutally killed because their only crime was that they belonged to the
wrong ethinic group.
REQUEST
WE THE GENOCIDE SURVIVERS
OF COMMUNE MURAMBI WOULD
LIKE THE LEADERS, THE GENERAL
PUBLIC AND THE INTERNATIONAL
COMMUNITY TO HELP FACILITATE
IN ANY WAY THE RETURN OF GATETE
THE FORMER BURGUMESTRE OF THIS
COMMUNE LIKE MWANGE AND MBUGUTE TOANSWER HIS COUNTER THE AND KILLING NKUNDA PARTS OF THE
BAZUNGÜ INNOCENT PEOPLEC OF THIS NTRY COU
ID
R
WARER
UNAMIR Belgian Contigent
Cowardly Left our people
THE
in the Killers hands.
YAOUSHUMUUTE MINUAR only ABICANYI TWIZEYE
******
Ross
<<<<<<<<
X
The 21st October 1995 sent spectators into a paradox. How did
the University Community which was supposed to illuminate the
society and the country, transform itself into a barbaric society
where professors and students massacred others, colleagues and all?
To paraphrase the Chancellor of the National University of
Rwanda, Dr Deo KAMBANDA, the University, splashed by barbaric
practices during the genocide which tore up Rwanda since April up to
July 1994, should clear itself of the stain thanks to a solemn
commemoration. Chance was given to the University Community
through its chancellor, to denounce the accomplice silence of the
former leaders of the University of Rwanda who remained inactive or
participated in the horror. Besides, the University should count all
the victims of genocide among members of the University Community
in order to keep their names in a white paper.
To commemorate suppose also to witness. Survivors of the
genocide briefly related, in a pathetic atmosphere, the film of the
atrocities and the unbearable experience of being survivors of the
genocide. Thus, their call on the authorities so as to stop the
impunity within the University and countrywide was more eloquent.
The University Community should urgently understand and
explain the different peripeteia of the Rwandan tragedy and
consequently draw the conclusions for the sake of testimony for the
posterity. The condition to be fulfilled in order to reach such a true
reconstitution is to reject any ressentment and tears in order to
elucidate the causes of such a catastrophy. Morever, the culture of
ethnic hatred must be uprooted for ever in the spirit of Rwandan
Youth and, then, an education of peace and development set up.
All the intervening persons during that ceremony, from the
Prime Minister to the students representative underlined the fact
that Rwandan History and that tragedy should not be understood or
turned back to a simple ethnic confrontation between Hutus and
Tutsis. That day, under the seal of the memory of innocent victims,
was also an occasion for different orators to encourage the
intellectuals who were present to avoid hasty analysis and
conceptual short-cuts.
The week of the commemoration of the victims of genocide at
the National University is a denunciation of criminal practises that
occurred in the past, as well as a call on present and future
generations in order to think and to struggle so that genocide can no
more occur in Rwanda. Beside, students themselves, through their
representative called on the present audience so as to be perpetually
vigilant and light of the scientific spirit rather than being the
darkness of ethnic hatred.
PHOTOCOPY
PRESERVATION
UNIVERSITE NATIONALE
a
RWANDA
We should draw a lesson from this tragedy that befell Rwanda. In
this respect, the weapon to be used for the future should not be the
Kalachnikov but the intellect. To use the words Hutus and Tutsis is
nothing but a sheer pretext used by machiavellian politicians in
order to reach and consolidate the power. It is very urgent to teach
the history and culture of Rwanda in their true form.
Pierre Celestin RWIGEMA
The Rwandan Prime Minister
Among those prisoners, there are people who slaughtered and burried
their fellow-country people. One year later, the executioners of the
murderous works exhume people they burried. The small white stain
(photo below) in an ochreous decoration is nothing but a visible part
of a human skull.
Can those who deny the untenable reality of genocide say whether
these skulls are plucked up from a museum or a laboratory of a
faculty of medecine?
STOP RACISM
NOUSN' OUBLIERONS
UNITE AND BUILD THE NATION
JAMAIS QU'ILS ONT
ETE TIMES DEL'INTOLERA-
E
SKID ROH NEW TO DOING
20
KED
WORLD
AMARASO
INZRA
KARENGANE YUNGUJE
NDE
QUAND
EFROIDIT
ENTIER
CLAQUE
WENEES FREE
DONES FREE WENEED FREE
NYE
KILLING!!
MBWE
4b
AHAMWE
Pill
3
Rwanda has not only lost its children but even its
Infrastructures have been damaged by the war.
1911
The repatriation of rwanda refugees is a significant
event. Many people had been held hostages of militias
and ex FAR.
ANNA
PAZ
0000
C
MAICH
NHCR
JOHN
HCA
TICHL
№2
The impact of war and genocide has seriously
victimised Women and children.
PHOTOCOPY
PRESERVATION
Rwandese women did not have to wait for
athers Assistance emberkked on rehabilitatiow emberke@onrehabilitation
--
NAME 11188
Kin's
Principal victims of the genocide! So the Official
statistics tell us of hundreds of thousands of widows,
heavy ladden with orphans. The Rwandese women are
overcoming that distressing status by engeging
themselves into national reconstruction.
поф
PHOTOCOPY
PRESERVATION
noom
Alis HiMANE N
PEACE VILLAGE
NELSON MANDELA
VILLAGE DE PAIX "NELSON MANDELA"
URUGO RW'AMAHORO ABATANGANA
J
Acción
Umanitaria
SOFERWA
MPDL
The inauguration of the Peace village Nelson MANDELA by
Ms Geraldine MOLEKETI, Minister of Welfare and
Population Development (South Africa) and Janet KAGAME,
President of ASOFERWA (Rwanda). .
PHOTOCOPY
PRESERVATION
* AFRICA TIME FOR
PANAFRICAINET
PEACE
AMAHORO * AFRIQUE,
*
KIGALI,RWANDA -3MARS 1997
HA :PAIX. AFURIKA GENRE - DEVELOPPEMENT AMANI AM AFRICA
*
H.E. Mary ROBINSON, President of Ireland, during the
Pan-African Conference on Peace Gender and Development
held in Kigali Capital 1-3 March 1997.
RWANDA
EDITDEA
PAN-AFRICAN CONFE RENC
EACE GENDER- E
There is peace generally throughout the country. Her
are women from all over the world attending the Party
African Conference on Peace-Gender and Development 1
Rwanda 1-3 March 1997.
Acti
His excellency Pasteur BIZIMUNGU
The president of the republic of Rwanda
is chatting with the delegates at the
Pan african conference on
"Peace-Gender and Development". RW ANDA
1-3 and 1997
X oxe air a
bnaws to offduger 0 grid to on
and 16 as speleb add dollw
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BURKINAFASO
Rwanda is now being viewed positively by the
international community. Above and bellow members of
OSMA match colourfully during the opening ceremony of
the African cup of military football held in the Kigali
capital in March 1997.
N
33
28
#
#
23
=
#
#
EGYPTE
MALI
DUGANDA
The Rwandese judiciary system now at work. Belo
genocide suspect during trial with his internationa.
lawyer.
At the national level trials. But alas the Arush
international tribunal gives no hope.
The Secretary General of the 4th ofm
ATE
NOZNON
XXX K CAVING
N'OUBLIEZ JAMAIS LES VICTIMES DU GENOCIDE
DON'T FORGET THE VICTIMS OF GENOCIDE
N7)MUZIBAGIRWE ABAZIZE ITSEMBABWOKO
PHOTOCOPY
PRESERVATION
Album-Photos
by Alphouse MUDASIGWA
Tel X Fax: (250) ) 74917
kigali- Ruanda
Tel: 74917