1 / 14

Rwandan Genocide

Rwandan Genocide. 1994. Belgian Territory. 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). Hutus and Tutsis. According to Belgian definitions: Hutus – shorter, broad face

evan
Download Presentation

Rwandan Genocide

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Rwandan Genocide 1994

  2. Belgian Territory • 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)

  3. Hutus and Tutsis • According to Belgian definitions: • Hutus – shorter, broad face • Tutsis – taller, long, narrow face

  4. Rwandan People • 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)

  5. Fueling Events • April ‘94 • RW pres Habyarimana and Burundi pres. Cyprian Ntaryamira • Held peace meetings w/ Tutsi rebels • 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 6 • Jet carrying the leaders shot down and killed by ground-fired missiles

  6. Reactions • Hutu Reaction • Rwanda > deep political violence after assassinations • Hutu extremists • targeted moderate Hutu politicians • Tutsi leaders • 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 • Hutus • went into countryside • Tutsi civilians • machetes, clubs, guns, grenades • all Rwandans carried “tribal” cards > IDs

  7. Hutu Frenzy • 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

  8. Women & War Rape • “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

  9. Statistics • 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

  10. Alison Des Forges • 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

  11. July ‘94 • 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

  12. Social/Economic Implications • 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

  13. Who was responsible? • 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

More Related