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