It was on the 7th of April, 1994 , when one of the worst Genocides in the history of mankind started in the small but beautiful country of Rwanda , located in the heart of the African continent.
In a short span of just one hundred days that followed, over one million innocent men , women and children were brutally massacred all over the country.
To mark this extremely sad and devastating event , the Government of Rwanda , together with its Missions and Agencies all over the world commemorate , each year, the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
In Mumbai, the Rwanda Development Board , in collaboration with the Rwanda High Commission, New Delhi and the Consular Corps of Mumbai , organised a most meaningful and memorable Commemoration, at SevenHills Hospital in honor of the innocent victims of the Genocide and to promote " Tourism for Peace"
Clarence Fernandes, Representative, Rwanda Development Board, welcomed all the guests , which included Consul Generals, Trade Commissioners , Honorary Consuls, businessmen , students and even Genocide survivors. He explained the tremendous progress made by the country over the last twenty two years and urged the audience to help Rwanda in promoting trade , tourism and investments into this now , most safe , secure and peaceful country.
The Guest of Honor was His Excellency , Mr. Michael Siebert, Consul General of Germany and Dean of the Consular Corps of Mumbai , He highlighted the great importance of peace and harmony among nations in today's troubled world and the important steps taken by Germany towards achieving this objective.
His Excellency , Mr. Ernest Rwamucyo, Rwanda's High Commissioner , delivered the Key Note address and explained how great sacrifices were made by so many Rwandans in their liberation struggle and exhorted the audience to support the country in fighting genocide ideology and promoting peace all over the world.
Rwandan Genocide Survivors then sang an appropriate religious Hymn , ' Make me a Channel of your Peace " accompanied on the guitar by Fr. Lenny Noronha who also led the gathering in Prayer.
Candles were lit in remembrance and a minute of silence was observed in memory of all those who lost their lives during the Genocide.
Fernandes concluded by saying that tourism was the largest foreign exchange earner for Remarkable Rwanda and he stressed the fact that,with peace and tranquility which now prevails in the country, this land of a thousand hills and a million smiles is fast becoming a preferred destination for the Indian outbound travel market.