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Rwanda: Rwanda to turn home of slain ex-president into museum
Wed. October 08, 2008 07:18 am.- By Bonny Apunyu. -
(SomaliNet) In an effort to to promote reconciliation 14 years after his death, which helped triggered genocide in the central African nation, Rwanda plans to turn the former home of assassinated President Juvenal Habyarimana into a museum.
Habyarimana died on April 6, 1994, when his private jet was shot down near Kigali airport.
However, who shot down the plane has never been firmly established, but Habyarimana's death was a catalyst for the mass slaughter that began the next day. Some 800,000 people were killed.
"Rwanda has decided to make the house ... a museum to showcase Rwanda in its entirety and promote Rwandan culture, unity and reconciliation," Joseph Habineza, Rwanda's minister for culture and sports, told reporters late on Tuesday.
The eight-bedroom presidential palace has been left much as it was that day in 1994, with big leather couches, gold-plated French-style chandeliers and thick carpets still in place.
"Everything will remain as it is and within that luxury we want to tell the history and culture of Rwanda," said John Butoto, who is overseeing the museum conversion project.
"Our children should grow up knowing that what happened was very bad and should never be repeated," Habineza added.
One part of the house will tell the story of the 1994 bloodshed, including exhibits of some of the machetes and hoes used by militias to carry out the slaughter.
Habyarimana's former home also has some unusual touches: a nightclub occupies the basement, while a small church and shrine are on the top floor. Outside in the grounds is a large swimming pool, bar area, snake house and aquarium.
Habyarimana was survived by his wife Agathe, who was evacuated by French troops with their eight children shortly after his death.-Reuters
News Category: Africa
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