Hollywood star denounces Western countries over Tutsi genocide
Posted by African Press International on April 26, 2008
Publisher: Korir, api africanpress@getmail.no source.apa
Renowned Hollywood actress, Ashley Judd, has criticized western countries especially the United States, Belgium and France for their inaction during the 1994 Tutsi genocide in Rwanda.
Judd, who is in the country to assess health activities of social marketing firm, Population Services International Rwanda (PSI), was on Thursday evening addressing the press after visiting the Kigali Genocide Memorial center.
“Some countries like the US just looked on while others like Belgium instigated divisionism and France is implicated in the genocide, yet some have not come out officially to apologize to the victims,” She said. She added that the worsening plight of genocide survivors is because of western countries’ mistakes in Rwanda and called for their action to change the life style of the survivors.
Judd said the former Belgium Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt did a good thing to have apologized to Rwandans on behalf of Belgium, saying it was a good example for Europe.
“I will do my part to ensure such a tragedy never happens. The rooms are filled with grief,” the actress in a somber mood said, applauding the government of Rwanda for the measures undertaken to educate Rwandans on peace, unity and reconciliation.
Judd has appeared in Hollywood blockbusters like ‘Someone like you’, ‘Just one of those things’, ‘High Crimes’ and ‘Twisted’.
She sits on the PSI board which is responsible for the distribution of condoms and other health related products like water purifying tablets. She is also a Global Ambassador for Youth AIDS.
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