today’s message: “healing deep wounds ”

Today’s Message:Today’s Message:“Healing Deep “Healing Deep

WoundsWounds””

If your answer is If your answer is YESYES, how do you , how do you rememberremember this country? this country?

_______________________________________________________________________________________Produced by Arthemon Rurangwa

♦ Beautiful smiles

♦ Mountain gorilla

♦ Akagera national park♦ Genocide memorial♦ Genocide

survivors

WE COMMEMORATEWE COMMEMORATEBecause:Because:

We need to inform next generations;We need to inform next generations;

We have to educate the World;We have to educate the World;

We have to make sure that We have to make sure that “NEVER AGAIN” is nolonger empty words;longer empty words;

Commemorations keep reminding us how human kind Commemorations keep reminding us how human kind never learn from its own mistakes...never learn from its own mistakes...


In 1994, more than One Million Tutsi have been killed in less than 100 days;

The World witnessed these horrible massive killings, very silently, dying at the rate of 8000 per day, which is five victims every minute as reported

by Richard Roth of CNN on April 09, 2004

Why did this genocide happen? Why did this genocide happen?_______________________________________________________________________________________

Produced by Arthemon Rurangwa

Question: Question: Who’s Who’s TUTSI, HUTU, TWA?TUTSI, HUTU, TWA?Question: Question: Who’s Who’s TUTSI, HUTU, TWA?TUTSI, HUTU, TWA?

Pre-colonial timePre-colonial time : : Rwanda used to be a peaceful Rwanda used to be a peaceful kingdom, where people shared same language, same kingdom, where people shared same language, same culture, and proud to be one nation.culture, and proud to be one nation.

The following 3 social classes existedThe following 3 social classes existed:: 14% 14% Ba-TutsiBa-Tutsi :: Raising cattleRaising cattle 85%85% Ba-HutuBa-Hutu :: Growing cropsGrowing crops 1%1% Ba-TwaBa-Twa :: Pottery & huntingPottery & hunting

THESE SOCIAL CATEGORIES THESE SOCIAL CATEGORIES WERE NOTWERE NOT ETHNIC MEMBERSHIP. ETHNIC MEMBERSHIP.


National Security Chief(Umutware w’ingabo)

The Livestock Leader(Umutware w’inka)

The Chief of Land (Umutware w’umukenke)

Second in command/Ibisonga

People [HUTU, TUTSI, TWA] … (Rubanda - Gacaca)

Second in command/Ibisonga Second in command/Ibisonga

Umwami – (the King)

Pre-colonial administration structureS

trai

ght

to th

e K

ing

if n

o g

o…


Arrival of the first Arrival of the first Missionaries in Rwanda: 1901Missionaries in Rwanda: 1901

They banned local traditionsThey banned local traditions;; Imposed the Catholic Church way;Imposed the Catholic Church way;

In responseIn response: : The king resisted The king resisted to their rule. He refused Catholic to their rule. He refused Catholic Baptism for himself and his family;Baptism for himself and his family;

The kind encouraged his people to The kind encouraged his people to DO DO NOT NOT accept catholic church rules accept catholic church rules and stick on their own ancestral and stick on their own ancestral culture. culture.


Damages of stereotypesDamages of stereotypes

Ethnic group were identified by Ethnic group were identified by height and measuring length height and measuring length and wideness of people’s noses:and wideness of people’s noses:

1.1. Having a straight nose;Having a straight nose;

2.2. Being physically slim and tall;Being physically slim and tall;

3.3. Owing a minimum of 10 cows.Owing a minimum of 10 cows.

That’s how tall and slim Hutu became Tutsi, while short and fat Tutsi were stereotyped Hutu, stamped as such in their ID cards!

These 3 conditions were enough to be identified as Tutsi!

1935:1935: Unpaid forced labour and Unpaid forced labour and ID Card are imposed to all RwandansID Card are imposed to all Rwandans

Colonial administration imposed Colonial administration imposed an ID card based on the an ID card based on the stereotypes that we just saw;stereotypes that we just saw;

Since then, it was mandatory Since then, it was mandatory for Rwandans to carry on theirfor Rwandans to carry on theirID cards, anywhere they go. ID cards, anywhere they go.


Belgian’s administration by-passed the Belgian’s administration by-passed the King’s traditional authority, appealing King’s traditional authority, appealing to the Hutu majority;to the Hutu majority;

Missionaries preached to the Hutu to Missionaries preached to the Hutu to see themselves as oppressed by the see themselves as oppressed by the Tutsi minority; they pushed Rwandans Tutsi minority; they pushed Rwandans to accept Catholic baptism:to accept Catholic baptism: (90% got Catholic (90% got Catholic baptised. Strange names were given: Yohani, Mariya, baptised. Strange names were given: Yohani, Mariya, Ludoviko).Ludoviko).

Social fabric breakdown Social fabric breakdown


Our confused people had to adapt too fast to that new life

style !

Our confused people had to adapt too fast to that new life

style ! As a the King Yuhi V had refused to be As a the King Yuhi V had refused to be

baptized, there was no go between baptized, there was no go between the powerful Catholic church and thethe powerful Catholic church and the kingdomkingdom..

Intrigues and conspiracy set up. In Intrigues and conspiracy set up. In 1933,1933, the King is dethroned by the King is dethroned by Belgian authority and forced to exile, Belgian authority and forced to exile, (Congo) (Congo) where he died few years later where he died few years later in extreme poverty. in extreme poverty.

He is replaced by his son, under the He is replaced by his son, under the dynastic lineage of dynastic lineage of Mutara III. Mutara III. He He was imposed the baptism first, of was imposed the baptism first, of course, and course, and became Leon-Charles!became Leon-Charles!

The king resisted to the Belgian rule

The church was free to rule the country


1901–1935: 1901–1935: CONFUSING TIMECONFUSING TIME

The country leaders were very The country leaders were very confused and scared byconfused and scared by

these strange white Guys!these strange white Guys!----------------------------------------

The funny baptism:The funny baptism: Rwandans, mostly the Hutu Rwandans, mostly the Hutu majority readily accepted baptism, majority readily accepted baptism, in exchange for in exchange for

a handle a handle of salt or a box of safety matches… of salt or a box of safety matches…


The new king woke up The new king woke up (too little too (too little too late)late)

1954, Igabana1954, Igabana: : After many years of forced After many years of forced labor, the people were exhausted. The king labor, the people were exhausted. The king is is upsetupset. . At his own riskAt his own risk, , he decided alone to he decided alone to distribute equitably distribute equitably lands and herds lands and herds between between masters and servants masters and servants (rubanda) (rubanda) without any without any consultation with colonial administration; consultation with colonial administration;

He officially banned non-paid and forced He officially banned non-paid and forced labor. Belgians head Officers felt deeply labor. Belgians head Officers felt deeply insulted by that decision. This was enough to insulted by that decision. This was enough to get ride of this reckless King; get ride of this reckless King;

1957, hutu manifesto1957, hutu manifesto: : The cruel The cruel propaganda of hatred propaganda of hatred against Tutsi against Tutsi minority minority are then widely spread throughout the are then widely spread throughout the country by the church; country by the church;


Now Leon-Charles

Sudden and strange death of the KingSudden and strange death of the King

1959: 1959: With the conspiracy of the Catholic Bishop of With the conspiracy of the Catholic Bishop of Kabgayi, Kabgayi, Mgr André PerraudinMgr André Perraudin, , the King of Rwanda died in the King of Rwanda died in the Belgian Dentist cabinet the Belgian Dentist cabinet (during his medical check-up);(during his medical check-up);

His murder was followed by the massacre of more His murder was followed by the massacre of more thanthan 100,000 people from the Tutsis. 100,000 people from the Tutsis. The Extremist Hutu The Extremist Hutu took power, burned and destroyed properties belonging took power, burned and destroyed properties belonging to the Tutsi and stolen their herds;to the Tutsi and stolen their herds;

It was It was the first Hutu genocide against the Tutsi. the first Hutu genocide against the Tutsi. That That genocidegenocide has never been reported by any media. Of has never been reported by any media. Of course, the only existing local News paper in Rwanda, course, the only existing local News paper in Rwanda, “Kinyamateka” “Kinyamateka” was owned by the Church..!was owned by the Church..!


KILL THEM ALL…KILL THEM ALL…

The Hutu extremists The Hutu extremists (especially the senior military (especially the senior military guys)guys) rejected the rejected the Arusha Peace AgreementsArusha Peace Agreements. . Instead, they appealed to the people taking Instead, they appealed to the people taking machetes and exterminate that vermin. machetes and exterminate that vermin. It was an It was an order and national pride for the Hutus to kill Tutsis:order and national pride for the Hutus to kill Tutsis:

Don’t leave none to tell... We cannot Don’t leave none to tell... We cannot share power with these share power with these COCKROACHES. COCKROACHES.

Colonel Theoneste Bagosora


Men, women, children, babies, they were all Men, women, children, babies, they were all cruelly chopped in small pieces by machetes:cruelly chopped in small pieces by machetes: • 100 days of torture; 100 days of torture; • 100 days of rape;100 days of rape;• 100 days of endless agony;100 days of endless agony;• More than More than 1 000 000 1 000 000 killedkilled!!

100 days that we will never 100 days that we will never forget!forget!

Men, women, children, babies, they were all Men, women, children, babies, they were all cruelly chopped in small pieces by machetes:cruelly chopped in small pieces by machetes: • 100 days of torture; 100 days of torture; • 100 days of rape;100 days of rape;• 100 days of endless agony;100 days of endless agony;• More than More than 1 000 000 1 000 000 killedkilled!!

100 days that we will never 100 days that we will never forget!forget!

Starting April 7 to July 4, Starting April 7 to July 4, 19941994


We will always commemorate.We will always commemorate.


You need to understand You need to understand how they work before you how they work before you

believe it..!believe it..!

Justice restoration and Justice restoration and ReconciliationReconciliation

To know more about Gacaca To know more about Gacaca CourtsCourts

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dbgU5XZCNaA (4: 30 minutes)

http://www.cambridge.org/gb/knowledge/isbn/http://www.cambridge.org/gb/knowledge/isbn/item2705297/?site_locale=en_GB item2705297/?site_locale=en_GB (Amazon Best Seller Rank)

Gacaca Award winner: Gacaca Award winner: http://www.gacacafilms.com/


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dbgU5XZCNaA

http://www.gacacafilms.com/

I CAN GUESS THE I CAN GUESS THE QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE NOW QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE NOW

How can it be possible to restore justice and How can it be possible to restore justice and reconciliation after all of that?reconciliation after all of that?

The answer is simpleThe answer is simple: : “Ubuze uko agira “Ubuze uko agira agwa neza”: agwa neza”: When you have NO CHOICE AT ALL, When you have NO CHOICE AT ALL, YOU’RE BETTER BE NICE…! YOU’RE BETTER BE NICE…!

That is the only affordable option that our country That is the only affordable option that our country had. However, had. However, GACACA TRAILS ARE GENUINEGACACA TRAILS ARE GENUINE and work very well..!work very well..!


Ask for forgivenessAsk for forgiveness

Over one million cases were assigned Over one million cases were assigned to to GACACA courts. GACACA courts. How do you do How do you do this in a regular court?this in a regular court?

Survivors saySurvivors say: : “It is possible to “It is possible to forgive our killers if they ask for forgive our killers if they ask for forgiveness from the bottom of forgiveness from the bottom of their hearts”their hearts”

Our people can dream Our people can dream againagain

17 years later, our Nation has recovered hope 17 years later, our Nation has recovered hope and reunited as Rwandans: and reunited as Rwandans: No more HUTU, no No more HUTU, no TUTSI, no TWA and TUTSI, no TWA and NO MORE ID CARD STEREOTYPING NO MORE ID CARD STEREOTYPING ETHNIC MEMBERSHIP; ETHNIC MEMBERSHIP;

JUST RWANDANS;JUST RWANDANS;

Our country is free from tyranny; our children Our country is free from tyranny; our children can grow up with can grow up with no fear to get their neck and no fear to get their neck and legs cutlegs cut off.off.


GACACA PRINCIPLESGACACA PRINCIPLES Tell what you saw, NOT what you heard; Eyewitnesses have seen you at work and they testified;

make a step forward and admit you guilt... Tell the truth and nothing but the truth;

Ask for forgiveness if you MEAN IT, you’ll be forgiven..!

GACACA Courts are processing now an enormous backlog of genocide crime cases. These community courts have proved a huge success in Rwandese judicial puzzle;

Despite of the international skepticism regarding Gacaca’s Despite of the international skepticism regarding Gacaca’s efficacy,efficacy, its conclusions provide indispensable post-its conclusions provide indispensable post-genocide justice AND genocide justice AND RECONCILIATIONRECONCILIATION



http://www.gacacafilms.com/kickstarter.html

http://www.africa.ufl.edu/asq/v8/v8i1a4.htm

GACACA COURTS have been as often criticized as they won Awards: The Following links will take you to a higher level of understanding:

Trust me, Gacaca courts are the only option for Rwanda.

Thank you for listeningThank you for listeningThank you Dear Pastor forThank you Dear Pastor for

this opportunity this opportunity

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Arthemon RurangwaArthemon [email protected]

(780) 498-0093(780) 498-0093

today’s message: “healing deep wounds ”

Documents

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