Survival

This book is not an easy read. But there are times when we should listen to the hard truth because it forms the start of understanding. For those who were not there, is it near impossible to comprehend the enormity and brutality of what happens during genocide. The stories in this book bring us a little closer, providing a glimpse into a period in Rwanda when, for three months, values most people take for granted - such as the respect for human life - were crushed as the Government lifted moral constraints and made killing an obligation, mobilizing the population to destroy all Tutsis and any Hutus who did not share the genocidal ideas. These stories remind us that the cost of genocide is, above all, a human one. Those who share their painful stories with us in these pages are some of the few who slipped through the net of total destruction in Rwanda. They are not statistics. They have names - as did their families who did not survive. They had hopes and dreams that were shattered. They were ordinary people, caught up in extraordinary circumstances. Their loved ones were taken from them in a cruel manner. Years later, the void of loss is not filled. Yet a huge burden is placed on them - for the sake of the future, there must be unity and reconciliation. From a distance, it is sometimes easy to form quick judgements about the need for reconciliation, unity and peace. the survivors in this book express mixed feelings about the future. They all know it is important to look ahead and to strive towards unity. But reading this book, we begin to appreciate that this is no simple task. That these survivors are able to hope for the future and look to building a new Rwanda must command the respect of everyone. Finally, each of these stories is an indictment of the international community for its failure to stop mass murder. They are a reminder of the consequence when world leaders do not uphold moral and international obligations to protect those at risk of genocide.