Genocide in Africa
TS – Demonstrate an understanding of concepts (C-5)
Goals:
Understand what genocide is
Discuss why genocide happens
Using Rwanda as an example of genocide…
Who fought?
What the were the causes?
What was the international reaction?
What is genocide?
Plan to destroy, in whole or in part, a
national, ethnic, racial or religious
group.
– by killing
– causing bodily or mental harm
– with conditions designed to bring about its
destruction
– prevent births within a group
– removing children from a group
Reading Packet – Review
What is genocide?
What are frequent starting points? Cultural aspects?
What is “scapegoating”?
What are bystanders?
RWANDA
Key Questions:
Who fought?
What were the causes?
What was the world’s reaction?
TS – Demonstrate an understanding
of concepts (C-5)
Rwanda Ethnic Tension Flares into Genocide
• Hutus and Tutsis?
• What was the long-term cause of the
genocide? What was the spark?
• How were messages spread about the
genocide?
• Where did the refugees flee?
Ethnic tension in Rwanda is nothing new. There have been always been
disagreements between the majority Hutus and minority Tutsis, but the
animosity between them grew substantially since the colonial period.
The two ethnic groups are actually very similar - they speak the same
language, inhabit the same areas and follow the same traditions. But when the
Belgian colonists arrived in 1916, they saw the two groups as distinct entities,
and even produced identity cards classifying people according to their
ethnicity.
It was by means of identity cards and papers the people identified as either
Hutu or Tutsi. Rwanda has since abolished all reference to ethnicity on identity
cards.
When Rwanda gained independence (1962) the Belgians left the
power to the Hutus. After years of serving as the lower class
many Hutus sought revenge against the minority Tutsis with
oppression and ethnic clashes – including an armed Tutsi
rebellion.
Civil War between the mainly Hutu government and the Tutsiled rebel RPF (Rwandan Patriotic Front).
End to Civil War?
• The Arusha Accords signed on August 4, 1993,
by the government of Rwanda and the rebel
Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF), under
mediation, to end a three-year Rwandan Civil
War
– Weakened Hutu hold on Gov.’t, allowed Tutsi
participation
– Upset Hutu extremists
• United Nations Security Council established the
United Nations Assistance Mission for Rwanda
(UNAMIR) to assist in the supervision of
implementation of the Arusha Accords.
UN Peacekeeping mission
An informant tells Gen. Dallaire (UNAMIR)
about Hutu extremists' extermination
plans. But Kofi Annan's U.N.
peacekeeping office is skeptical; Annan
tells Dallaire not to raid arms caches and
avoid using any force. The extremists are
now confident the U.N. won't stand in their
way.
The spark that set off the genocide:
On April 6th the Rwanda president’s (Juvénal Habyarimana, a
Hutu) plane is shot down – killing him and the president of
Burundi. Hutu militias began killing hours after the President’s
death. Dallaire again requests U.N. guidance and again is told to
avoid armed conflict. Responsibility was never determined.
Minority Tutsis were the main targets of the genocide.
Hutu extremists carried out the killings.
History on the Big Screen: Hotel Rwanda
Paul is a hotel manager and a Hutu who must
protect his wife and neighbors who are Tutsis.
The UN Forces are ineffective against the anti-Tutsi militia
Gen Bizimungo
Hotel Rwanda is based on real life events that occurred during the
1994 Rwandan Genocide.
The movie captures the story of Paul Rusesabagina, who is the
manager of the Hotel des Mille Collines in Kigali, the capital of
Rwanda.
Paul, a moderate Hutu, has tried to build up connections by
appeasing and bribing key people in the Hutu military and
interhamwe. Paul uses his position and connections to maintain a
sense of normality and to protect his family and, ultimately, many
Tutsi refugees.
Paul is married to a Tutsi, Tatiana, and has friends, relatives, and
neighbors who are Tutsi.
History on the Big Screen: Hotel Rwanda
Throughout the film…
Write down themes that are represented
AND
How those themes are represented
Genocide in General
Rwanda Genocide
Feel free to write down notes in between the scenes.
RPF – Rwandan Patriotic Front. A mostly Tutsi rebel group
led in 1994 by Paul Kagame, now president of Rwanda.
Hutu state radio – dehumanized the Tutsi using phrases such
as “cockroaches.”
Tutsis were the targets of the genocide. Not allowed to be
buried.
Hutu Rwandan President Habyarimana plane was shot
down. He was flying to sign a peace agreement that the UN
had brokered.
Interahamwe: Carried out much of the killing. Hutu militia
were formed in late 1990 as a youth wing of an extremist
Rwandan Hutu political party
Identity cards
At what point will the
USA get involved?
Day 9 – 72,000 dead
Day 77 – 616,000 dead
Day 18 – 144,000 dead
Day 8 – 64,000 dead
Day 100 – 800,000 dead
Day 14 – 112,000 dead
Day 1 – 8,000 dead
Day 12 – 100,000 dead
Day 49 – 392,000 dead
Day 25 – 200,000 dead
Day 4 – 32,000 dead
By mid-July the RPF
captures the capital
(Kigali)
Genocide over when RPF
in full control.
The Hutu government
and thousands of
refugees flee to Zaire
(DR Congo) and other
neighboring countries.
Rwandan President Paul Kagame has
accused the international community
of deliberately failing to prevent the
genocide in the country 10 years ago.
Kagame: Rwandan lives "regarded as
insignificant"
Former United Nations Secretary
General Kofi Annan has said he could
and should have done more to stop
the genocide in Rwanda .
Annan headed UN peacekeepers at the
time of 1994 genocide
Why Not?
• Some people have said that since Hutu
moderates were killed in the early stages
that some countries believed the conflict to
be more of a civil war rather than a
genocide.
• Other research has shown that the world
powers realized it was a genocide but that
they didn't want to pay for the needed
supplies and personnel to stop it.
Despite knowledge of what was happening in
Rwanda at the time of the genocide, the US and
other countries elected not to act.
Kigali, Rwanda, 1998 -- U.S. President Bill Clinton told Rwandans that the
international community had failed to act to prevent the country's genocide in
1994, and he urged measures to prevent such a tragedy from happening again.
Life sentence for Rwanda genocide leader
BBC News
Monday, 6 December, 1999
The international war crimes tribunal in Tanzania has convicted a former leader of the
Interahamwe militia that led the 1994 genocide in Rwanda, sentencing him to life
imprisonment.
Former businessman and vice-president of the Interahamwe militia, Georges
Rutaganda, 41, was found guilty on one count of genocide, one count of crimes against
humanity and one count of murder by the UN's International Criminal Tribunal for
Rwanda (ICTR) in Arusha, Tanzania.
"The accused deliberately participated in the crimes and has not shown the slightest
remorse," said Judge Laity Kama, announcing the verdict.
Rutaganda is the sixth Rwandan to be convicted of genocide by the Tanzania-based
tribunal and the fourth to be sentenced to life in prison - the maximum sentence allowed
under court rules.
The Interahamwe militia were formed in late 1990 as a youth wing of an extremist
Rwandan Hutu political party. They received military training and, during the 1994
genocide, tried to wipe out the minority Tutsi population using clubs and machetes.
They also incited ordinary Hutus to do the same.
United Nations court sentences former Rwandan chief to 30 years
Digital Journal
May 17, 2011
Former Rwandan Major General Augustin Bizimungu (59), along with three other toplevel officials, were convicted for ordering killings during the 1994 genocide. 800,000
Tutsi men, women and children were killed in 100 days.
Former Rwandan Maj. Gen. Augustin Bizimungu directed police and soldiers under his
command to murder tens of thousands of innocent Tutsi civilians who sought safety in
churches and hospitals.
Bizimungu’s men were also ordered to coerce public officials and civilians to join in the
search for killing Tutsi residents. If they did not participate in the hunt then they were
punished and/or killed.
In 2002, the former army chief was arrested and was transferred to the International
Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda based in the northern region of Tanzania. Two years later,
Bizimungu was charged with the killings in which he later denied and pleaded not guilty.
On Tuesday, the former Major General was sentenced to 30 years in prison after he was
found guilty of six counts, including violations of the Geneva Conventions and rape.
Survivors
Innocence Gisanura also narrowly escaped death from Hutu militia. He is left with scars
across his head as a constant reminder.
About two million Rwandans fled to neighboring countries to escape during and
after the 1994 genocide. In the chaos that ensued many children became separated
from their parents. Six-year old Genevieve Mahuro fled to DR Congo in 1994,
accompanied by her mother, three sisters and two brothers. Her father stayed behind.
"As soon as we reached DR Congo some armed people fired on us and we all
scattered, each looking for safety. I didn't see my family again," she said. "I thought
everybody was dead and had no hope of seeing anyone again." After finding herself
separated from her family and living in the forest for a week, Genevieve was found by a
religious organization and taken to a foster family.
The Red Cross has since helped reunite her with her family.
Sixteen-year-old Marie-Chantali Wingarire was one of 10 children, but now
there are only two. Three brothers were killed in 1994 and another five
died in 1997 during attacks by insurgents.
Out of 1,357 students at Kanzenze school, 378 are orphans. Muhorakeye whose name means "always happy" - lost her father in the genocide.
3:2:1
In reference to genocide and Rwanda. Write down…
3
– Things you should know about Rwanda
2
1
– Lessons we can learn from Rwanda
– Statement you would make if you could address the world in 1994
What does heroism mean to you?
Do you have any heroes? Who are they?
Does our society have heroes? Explain.
 Stand up, hand up, find ONE (1) partner and discuss
 Now, go find ONE (1) new partner and discuss the
following:
Is Paul Rusesabagina a hero? Were there other heroes?
Who were the villains?
•General Bizimungu?
•Georges Rutaganda and the interahamwe?
Were there other villains?
Committing a Wrongful Act
Most would agree, that it is wrong to act in immoral
and evil ways.
Or, rather, one might say that we have a moral
obligation or duty not to commit evil.
In general, stealing is wrong. We have a moral
obligation not to steal. Agreed?
Cooperating with a Wrongful Act
Do we have a moral obligation not to cooperate with evil?
“Non-cooperation with evil is as much a moral duty as is
cooperation with good.” -- Gandhi and MLK
•Do you agree?
If a friend asks you to walk in front of her so that she might steal
food from the cafeteria, and you agree, have you acted
immorally? Keep in mind, you are not doing the stealing, your
friend is.
Did Paul Rusesabagina act immorally by bribing General
Bizimungu and Georges Rutaganda (a leader of the
interahamwe)?
Turning a Blind Eye to a Wrongful Act
If we see evil occurring and we do not act in some way to stop it, have we
also acted immorally?
Did the UN, the US, Belgium, France, Italy, (or other organizations / countries
that could have intervened in 1994 Rwanda) act immorally by not intervening?
By turning a blind eye, did they commit evil?
If you see someone stealing food from the cafeteria, and you ignore what is
happening, are you culpable (guilty, responsible) to some extent?
Should you be censured if you are not in a hurry and, without offering help, you
choose to walk past someone who has dropped his books?
Are you blameworthy if see a peer throwing trash on the ground and choose not
to say anything?
What responsibility do you have to tell your friend, who never takes her tray
back after lunch, to do so?
This is illuminated in the finale of the sitcom Seinfeld. Let’s watch.
Did Seinfeld and friends act immorally by turning a blind eye?
History on the Big Screen: Hotel Rwanda
Write a speech to address the global community in
reference to the conflict in Rwanda.
From the perspective of…
Paul
Gen Dallaire
US News Reporter
• In Rwanda nobody was interested. So we
have to fight two problems. The tragedy as
such and the indifference of the
international community.“
• "In such circumstances, if you don't at
least speak out clearly, you are
participating [in] the genocide. If you
just shut up when you see what you
see … -- morally, ethically you cannot
shut up. It's a responsibility to talk, to
speak out."
Reflections: What have we learned?
Write a paragraph reaction (with a title)
to the crisis in Rwanda.
It can be about anything but should
reflect on…
•what we have learned
•what we can learn
BBC Overview of the killings, narrated by news reports
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_depth/africa/2004/rwanda/default.stm