Page 11 - ARUBA TODAY

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WORLD NEWS Monday 8 april 2019

25 years after genocide, Rwanda has a new light, says leader

KIGALI, Rwanda (AP) — pected to participate in an
Twenty-five years after the evening candlelight cer-
start of its genocide, in emony.
which some 800,000 peo- "Twenty-five years ago,
ple were killed, Rwanda is Rwanda fell into a deep
rebuilding with hope and ditch due to bad leader-
shines with a new light, said ship, today, we are a coun-
President Paul Kagame. try of hope and a nation
Speaking at commemo- elevated," Agnes Mutam-
ration services Sunday, ba, 25, a teacher who was
Kagame said that Rwan- born during the genocide
dans would never turn told The Associated Press in
against each other again. Kigali.
"Our bodies and minds bear "Today, the government
amputations and scars, but has united all Rwandans as
none of us is alone," said one people with the same
Kagame at the ceremony culture and history and is
attended by several heads speeding up economic
of state. "We Rwandans transformation," said Oliver
have granted ourselves a Nduhungihere, Rwanda's
new beginning. We exist in state foreign affairs minis-
a state of permanent com- ter.
memoration, every day, in Rwanda's President Paul Kagame, center-left, First Lady Jeannette Kagame, center, and son Ivan The mass killing of Rwanda's
all that we do ... Today, light Cyomoro Kagame, right, prepare to lay a wreath at the Kigali Genocide Memorial in Kigali, Rwan- Tutsi minority was ignited on
radiates from this place." da Sunday, April 7, 2019. April 6, 1994, when a plane
Earlier in the day, Kagame Associated Press carrying President Juvé-
and his wife laid wreaths nal Habyarimana was shot
and lit a flame at the mass and the European Union. da after the genocide the cide. down and crashed in Kiga-
burial ground of 250,000 "I am moved beyond words new nation were later per- Ethiopian Prime Minister li, killing the leader who, like
victims at the Kigali Geno- at this memorial to trag- formed at the Kigali con- expressed solidarity with the majority of Rwandans,
cide Memorial Center in edy," said Jean-Claude vention center. Rwandans and said un- was an ethnic Hutu.
the capital, Kigali. Juncker, president of the Belgian Prime Minister der Kagame's leadership, The Tutsi minority was
Those attending the cere- European Commission. Charles Michel said "the seeds of unity and never blamed for downing the
monies included the lead- "Time can never erase the duty of remembrance must again had been sowed. plane and the bands of
ers of Chad, Republic of darkest hours in our history. be a sacred requirement." There will be a procession Hutu extremists began
the Congo, Djibouti, Niger, It is our duty to remember." Belgian peacekeepers through the capital to Kiga- slaughtering the Tutsi, with
Belgium, Canada, Ethiopia, Songs, poems and plays were among those killed in li's National Stadium where support from the army, po-
as well as the African Union about the rebirth of Rwan- Rwanda during the geno- are many as 30,000 are ex- lice, and militias.q

Maldives leader's party declares sweeping election victory

MALE, Maldives (AP) — It could be the first time a As his party began cel-
Maldives President Ibrahim single party wins a major- ebrating after the vote
Mohamed Solih's party de- ity in parliament since the counting started Saturday
clared a sweeping parlia- Indian Ocean archipelago night, Solih said the people
mentary election victory nation became a multipar- should not forget "the im-
Sunday that could give ty democracy in 2008 after mense challenges that lie
him a free hand in efforts to decades of autocratic rule. ahead of us." "The work to
restore political freedoms Afshan Latheef, the cam- strengthen our democratic
and tackle corruption. paign spokeswoman for institutions, to deliver basic
Local media reports said Solih's party, told The As- services for citizens, to our
Solih's Maldivian Demo- sociated Press that it was promise of bringing cor-
cratic Party was leading in a "resounding victory" that ruption, past and present,
60 of the 87 seats in parlia- "undoubtedly reflected to book and ending impu-
ment following Saturday's the people's desire for re- nity starts now," he said in
vote. Official results were form and implementation a statement Sunday. "I look
expected late Sunday, but of policies outlined in the forward to working with all Madivian women cast their votes in Male, Maldives, Saturday,
there was no announce- president and govern- of you to realize our prom- April 6, 2019.
ment yet. ment's manifesto." ises to the people."q Associated Press