Introduction to Hate Radio
What is it?
• Authorities used Radio Rwanda to spur and direct killings both in those
areas most eager to attack Tutsis and in areas where the killings
initially were resisted.
• They relied on both radio stations to incite and mobilize, then to give
specific directions for carrying out the killings
• it turned its full force against the Belgian peacekeepers, accusing
them of having shot down – or helping to shoot down – the president's
plane.
• Under the stimulus of these broadcasts, some soldiers of the Rwandan
army brutally murdered ten UN troops of the Belgian contingent.
• Some Hutu Power leaders had foreseen that the Belgian government
would withdraw its troops from the peacekeeping force should some
of its soldiers be killed, and it did just that soon after the murders.
• This withdrawal so badly weakened the force that the Security
Council initially favoured the withdrawal of the whole force, although
it finally permitted a token force to remain in the country with orders
to keep a low profile, concentrating on protecting itself and taking no
risks to save Rwandans
• Authorities relied on the radio stations to congratulate those who
were 'vigilant' and performed well and to castigate those who
hesitated to join in the killing.
Continued…
• Authorities supporting the genocide urged
citizens to listen to the radio. One official
even told the residents of his area that they
should regard what the radio told them as
having the same importance as direct
orders from him
• In some cases, authorities picked up radio
messages and used them to mobilize local
people more effectively.
• When Tutsis had been hiding in churches
hate radio was used to inform Hutus of their
whereabouts
Why wasn’t it stopped?
• As the death toll mounted, human rights and humanitarian
organizations sought without success to persuade leading UN
members to increase the number of peacekeeping troops in
Rwanda. On 30 April, the Security Council did direct the Secretary
General to examine ways to expand the force, but it was another
two and a half weeks before the resolution calling for an enlarged
force was approved.
• Human Rights Watch argued that jamming radio broadcasts would
disrupt incitements to genocidal violence and would limit the
delivery of genocidal directives. And, argued the human rights
group, jamming the broadcasts would deliver a broader message as
well: it would make clear international condemnation of the
genocide, thus weakening the claim of the authorities to legitimacy
and perhaps encouraging resistance against the killings.
• In early May, US State Department staff who shared concern over the
role of the radio stations in the genocide had their legal staff consider
the implications of jamming the radio. In accordance with the usual
strong US support for freedom of speech as guaranteed by
international conventions and telecommunications law, the State
Department lawyers concluded that the US should not interrupt Radio
Rwanda broadcasts