Rwandan Memory

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When we look at how we commemorate genocides, the foundation for that remembrance that comes with the commemorations, lies in memory. The problem with memory is the conflict between “collective memory” and “individual memory”. While each one can be similar or different, it is important to have both in order to commemorate the genocide and to form a more universe memory. By looking at the differences between the Cambodian genocide and the Rwandan genocide we can see how these two types of memories at times work together and at times differ to form the complex web of remembrance we see. The genocide in Cambodia is still to this day very conflicted between these ideas of “collective memory” vs. “individual memory”, because of that we see gaps …show more content…
There are several factors that play a role in this disconnect, it lays in the history following the genocide, international involvement, and the religious, social norms of Cambodia. Following the fall of the Khmer Rogue the communist Vietnamese regime took over and therefore commemoration was never able to fully happen until almost 20 years after the genocide. This made the memory of those who were killed and an acknowledgement of the genocide that just occurred pushed aside for the time being. Once the Vietnamese left and free election was held in Cambodia, many former Khmer Rogue leaders were elected into office such as president Hun Sen, former leader of the Khmer Rogues children’s army. This created a collective memory that was very repressed and shadowed by government policies and those in charge keeping those involved from admitting any wrong doing during the genocide. A final issue with collective memory of the genocide is the Buddhist belief system and the social norms of Cambodians. “I know but that was a long time ago, its time to forget.” To forgive and to forget is the rhetoric for many former Khmer Rogue members, which in turn add another layer of collective memory that hinders the commemorating …show more content…
The collective memory of Rwanda is more closely connected to the individual memory we see. “In all my travels, I’ve never seen a country’s population more determined to forgive and to build and to succeed then Rwanda.” This quote shows the more universal response to commemoration and remembrances and we are able to see that through the cultural memory and response to a post-genocide Rwanda. There is more of a connection between collective memory and individual memory because of the global age, the international reaction, and the desire as a country to commemorate and grow from the genocide. This allows for the individual memory and collective memory to form together more. Unlike the Cambodian genocide that took over 20 years for any commemoration to occur, Rwanda had already created the International Criminal Tribunal within the same year the genocide occurred. While the international community decided to not intervene with the genocide while it was happening, the post-genocide response was collective. Within 10 years commemoration projects such as the Kigali Memorial Museum opened, along with others such as Nyanza School, Murambi, and Bugesero were also functioning museums. Organizations like rYico, traveling art collections, movies, documentaries, and being in the Internet age, also made knowledge of the genocide more universal to not only
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