Download - Rwandan Genocide
1994
Belgians used division of population to control colony • Created Hutu and
Tutsi definition Tutsi was minority,
but ruled as aristocracy (in step with Belgian rule)
According to Belgian definitions:
• Hutus – shorter, broad face• Tutsis – taller, long, narrow face
7 M people• 2 ethnic groups
Hutu > majority > 70% Tutsi > minority
• Rwandan independence in 1962• Hutu majority reversed roles
• systematic discrimination• acts of violence
• 200 K Tutsis fled the country• formed rebel guerrilla army = Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF)
1990 – RPF invaded Rwanda• Forced Hutu Pres.
Habyarimana to sign document that put into law > Hutu/Tutsis share power
Aug. ’93– U.N. peace keeping forces assigned to Rwanda to over see power sharing
April ‘94RW pres
Habyarimana and Burundi pres. Cyprian NtaryamiraHeld peace
meetings w/ Tutsi rebelsApril 6
Jet carrying the leaders shot down and killed by ground-fired missiles
• Hutu Reaction• Rwanda > deep political violence after assassinations
• Hutu extremists• targeted moderate Hutu politicians• Tutsi leaders
• Hutus• went into countryside• Tutsi civilians• machetes, clubs, guns, grenades• all Rwandans carried “tribal” cards > IDs
• Int’l Reaction• peacekeeping soldiers killed• American, French, Belgian, and Italian personnel evacuated Rwanda• U.S. and U.N. cautious to label genocide > to avoid emergency intervention• U.N. Security Council
• voted unanimously to abandon Rwanda
• only 200 soldiers in entire country
No more global opposition
Murders increased rapidly
Propaganda• State radio
encouraged• Print• Tutsi > “inyenzi” for
cockroach• Kangura
state newspaper
• Tutsis• refuge in churches, mission compounds• hospitals > prime targets
“Ten Hutu Commandments”• Tutsi women• Inferior, immoral,
dishonest• Less desirable than
Hutu women• Only useful as sex
objects > RAPE
Between 250 and 500 K raped, often in plain view
Many of the Hutu men had HIV/AIDS > mass rape is the main reason for the HIV/AIDS problem in present-day Rwanda
Over 1 M people in 100 days
10 K daily 400/hr 7/minute
300 K Tutsis survived Thousands of widows Rape victims > HIV
positive 400 K orphans
August 20, 1942 Schenectady, NY Ivy League education Human rights activist Historian 1999- published Leave
None to Tell The Story: Genocide in Rwanda
Described organization of the genocide
Received many awards Died February 12, 2009
Pressure from int’l news depicting genocide
U.N. sent 5 K soldiers• Too late• No time table
End of genocide• Tutsi rebels• Invaded from
neighboring nations• Defeated Hutus
Approx. 2 M Hutus > refugees > feared Tutsi uprising
Burundi, Tanzania, Uganda, Zaire
Large prison pop. STDs > syphilis,
gonorrhea, HIV/AIDS Social isolation (rape
victims)
Lack of roads, bridges, telephone lines
Poor education system > intelligentsia
Women > responsible for food production > many are rape victims > psych/physical status > major issue in Rwanda
Rwanda > 3rd poorest country in the world
Spread of AIDS fueled by poverty
Mutual ethnic hate stems from extremists on both sides
Small group of Rwandan officials• Led by Theoneste
Bagosora Retired army colonel Genocide happened
not of weakness, but immense strength > TOTALITARIANISM = FEAR
Int’l Criminal Tribunal of Rwanda