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Rwanda prepares for 22nd genocide anniversary

Xinhua, March 31, 2016 Adjust font size:

Rwanda is preparing for the 22nd anniversary of the 1994 genocide due on April 7.

Commemoration activities will start with the lighting the "flame of remembrance" at the Kigali Genocide Memorial, where remains of about 250,000 victims are buried.

Similar flame will be lit at other memorial sites across the country.

This year's commemoration will be marked under the theme; "Kwibuka22: Fighting Genocide Ideology."

During the commemoration week from April 7-13 entertainment places will be closed.

Radio and television stations will be playing remembrance songs.

Addressing journalists in Kigali on Wednesday, Rwanda's minister of Sports and Culture Julienne Uwacu called on the international community to help in fight against genocide revisionism said to be still rife outside the country.

There is need to rally Rwandans and friends of Rwanda across the world against genocide denial, revisionism and genocide ideology, she said.

"We want to fight genocide ideology by rallying Rwandans and friends of Rwanda through our embassies to participate in commemoration events and to be part of this cause that undermines national unity and reconciliation efforts," Uwacu added.

Over one million lives were lost in the genocide in Rwanda mostly Tutsi and moderate Hutus.

On December 23, 2003, the United Nations General Assembly adopted resolution designating April 7, the start date of the 1994 genocide in Rwanda, as the International Day of Reflection on the genocide in Rwanda.

Every year, on or around that date, the United Nations organizes commemorative events at its Headquarters in New York and at United Nations offices around the world.

Criminal in Rwanda, genocide ideology has been reported in the country and abroad especially during April.

At least 180 cases of genocide ideology were reported in 2013, 138 in 2014 and 192 were reported to police in 2015, according Dr Jean-Damascène Bizimana, the executive secretary of the National Commission for the Fight against Genocide (CNLG).

Bizimana said majority of the cases of genocide ideology occur in April during the commemoration in and outside the country.

Slightly more than 1, 500 trauma cases during commemoration were reported during last year's genocide anniversary compared to 3094 in 2014. Endit