Genocide in Rwanda
According to the 1948 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, this inhumane act, known as Genocide, is briefly defined as follows, ?...acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial or religious group...? (Journal of Peace). Unfortunately, throughout history, such acts seem to be intervened upon when it is merely too late. In the country of Rwanda, over a period of one hundred days, over 800,000 people were murdered over their ascribed race. A similar situation is currently taking place at this moment in time in Sudan, where 30,000 people have recently been killed and the numbers are still rising. However, the international community has not yet responded to prevent further killings. These two countries seem to share similar histories which may have lead to the horrifying, ethnically grounded acts of genocide and racial cleansing. In this paper, we will compare and contrast the similar historical and social-political conditions of these two countries. We will also evaluate the international community's response to the current situation in Sudan and the likelihood of a resolution.
In 1994, genocide lasted in Rwanda for merely 100 days, killing over 800,000 people. ?This was the fastest, most thoroughly ruthless programme of ?racial killing? yet implemented in the world? (Journal of Peace). The victims were those who had the ascribed identity of a Tutsi. Those who belonged to Rwanda?s military or were of the Hutu identity, carried out these inhumane acts of racial purification. There has been conflict between these two identity groups of Rwanda dating back to pre-colonial times. Many blame the act of genocide on Rwanda?s past history between these two identity groups. Let us now take a brief look at Rwanda?s history and examine the accuracy of this argument.
The pre-colonial era of Rwanda consisted of expansion of the country into neighboring areas, belonging to both Hutu and Tutsi kingdoms. Class stratification of these two groups was unclear and based largely upon social status. As Rwanda began to develop, the term Hutu and Tutsi became status terminology rather then an ethnic identity. The Tutsi resembled those of the higher status, and within this class stratification you could even belong to bother the Hutu and the Tutsi, namely the Twa...
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... and do not provide enough proof for the international community to stop this obvious case of genocide. There has been absolutely no meaningful international forces deployed that could have any affect on stopping the massacre.
The little response of the international community is disheartening. Because many feel there is no other way to categorize these acts, of no other then, civil conflict is outrageous. Genocide is a act that is extremely difficult to prove. Since there are multiple groups of ethnicity?s and religions affected by these acts, it is nearly impossible to prove genocide, because in order to do so, it must affect one specific group. This is why, many believe this to be an act of ethnic cleansing, a civil conflict, one the international law can not stop.
Throughout our history there have been numerous accusations of genocide, namely the Nazi Holocaust and the Rwanda situation in 1994. It is very insignificant that we have not learned from our past, that these acts must be stopped and prevented. Apparently, what must be done is a change in international law. Allowing such acts as the one presently occurring to be stopped before it is too late.
In this essay, the author
- Compares rwanda and sudan's genocide and racial cleansing with the 1948 convention on the prevention and punishment of the crime of genocide.
- Analyzes how rwanda's genocide was the fastest, most thoroughly ruthless programme of?racial killing? yet implemented in the world.
- Explains that the pre-colonial era of rwanda consisted of expansion of the country into neighboring areas, belonging to both hutu and tutsi kingdoms.
- Analyzes how the belgians believed that the tutsis were superior to the hutus and twa, and the birth of racist ideologies sprung as each group developed hatred and stereotypes toward one another.
- Analyzes how rwanda's economic situation worsened in the early 1990s, when the sale of coffee was cut by two thirds in 1986, and the national currency was devalued. political problems began to arise, as divisions of political parties split the country.
- Explains that the rwandan government used the hutu's collective memory to their advantage as they achieved widespread compliance that killing the tutsi was a civic duty, rather than an act of cruelty.
- Opines that the only way out of political and economic conflict was to eliminate the tutsi population. this is a horrifying part of our history and why it wasn't stopped sooner is unknown.
- Compares sudan's genocide with rwanda, where rwanda kept the international world from knowing about the murderous acts. the sudanese government and its ethnic militia are well along in their campaign of murder, rape, pillage, and forced displacement.
- Explains that the conflict presently in sudan is primarily between jihad and any christian or non-muslim.
- Explains that el nimeri imposed shar?ia law in 1983 to purify islam. the law limits women's status, relegates non-muslims to the second class, and calls for stoning for adultery.
- Explains that the national islamic front's stated agenda is to turn sudan into the brotherhood?s concept of a model islamic state and use its location, agricultural lands, and mineral resources to enable the radical islamization of the entire continent.
- Explains the genocide tactics used to purify the nation into an islamic state.
- Explains that sudan has a burned earth policy which allows for food and medicine to be used as weapons of war. aid organizations are not allowed to go near areas where famine is worst.
- Explains that ethnic cleansing is carried out by massacre, bombing civilian schools, hospitals, and planting land mines around towns that have been taken over by the nif.
- Explains that christianity and other religions, besides islam, have been destroyed in the north, and any remaining religious groups of the south are being destroyed. racial cleansing practices are even going as far as taking non-muslim children and changing their names to arabic.
- Explains that rwanda and sudan share similar histories. rwanda's problems resulted from economic and political adversary, while sudan was victim of genocide.
- Opines that the international community has had little to no response regarding efforts to stop this genocide.
- Opines that genocide is difficult to prove because it affects multiple groups of ethnicity and religions, which makes it difficult for international law to stop.
- Opines that genocide must be stopped and prevented by changing international law.
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- Genocide in Rwandaanalytical essayGenocide is “the deliberate and systematic destruction of a racial, ethnic, political, or cultural group”. In Rwanda for example, the Hutu-led government embraced a new program that called for the country’s Hutu people to murder anyone that was a Tutsi (Gourevitch, 6). This new policy of one ethnic group (Hutu) that was called upon to murder another ethnic group (Tutsi) occurred during April through June of 1994 and resulted in the genocide of approximately 800,000 innocent people that even included women and children of all ages. In this paper I will first analyze the origins/historical context regarding the discontent amongst the Hutu and Tutsi people as well as the historical context as to why major players in the international community chose not to intervene. Second, the actor/agent using political violence, in this case the Hutu, will also be analyzed into segments that include the characterization of the Hutu people, as well as their goals, tactics of violence used and resources administered that allowed them to accomplish the genocide against the Tutsi. Finally, how the Tutsi respond to the violence against them, what resources they had in deterring the Hutu and the outcome of the Rwanda genocide will also be discussed.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes the origins/historical context regarding the discontent amongst the hutu and tutsi people, and the historical context as to why major players in the international community chose not to intervene.
- Analyzes the chain reaction to the divisive nature of the tutsis and hutus, the id cards.
- Argues that the united states, france, and the organization of african unity organized the arusha peace agreement with the hutus and tutsis.
- Explains that the hutu government signed the arusha accords in august 1993 to begin the peace process with the tutsis.
- Explains that the hutu government was planning the genocide of the people prior to the assassination of their leader, habyarimana. the presidential guard immediately started a campaign for retaliation.
- Explains that the media instilled hatred on hutu civilians and it proved to be quite effective.
- Describes how the rpf took back control of kigali, rwanda, and instilled a provisional government composed of tutsis and anti-hutu power.
- Concludes that the genocide of the tutsi people by the hutus was something that could not be prevented due to the inevitable rising ethnic tensions.
1903 wordsRead More - The Genocide Of The Rwandan Genocideopinion essay“Governments are mandated by international law to protect people from genocide,” said human rights activist, Bianca Jagger, referring to the law that the United Nations failed to uphold during the Rwandan genocide of 1994. The United Nations refused to send aid to the citizens of Rwanda claiming that the atrocities were a civil war. However, this was clearly not a civil war, because only one ethnic group was armed and prepared to exterminate the other ethnic group. The Tutsi ethnic group was defined as being superior to the Hutu ethnic group by early colonists because they possessed more caucasian like features. Over time, the Hutu grew hateful of the Tutsi, because they controlled more governmental power, had prefered access to education, and received higher social status. Out of jealousy and a sense of injustice, the Hutu people became the perpetrators in the Rwandan genocide. A genocide is the intent to destroy a group by killing members of the group, causing serious bodily or mental harm to the group, and transferring children of the group to another group (Stanton). The United Nations needs to recognize the killing and near extermination of the Tutsi people as a genocide, in order to prevent future genocides from being mishandled the same way. Unsupported by the United Nations, it took the Rwandan Patriotic Front, a group of escaped Tutsis, 100 days to stop the genocide. If the U.N. had acted as soon as the first signs of the genocide appeared they could have prevented a tragic loss of lives. The Rwandan genocide of 1994 should be classified as a genocide by the United Nations because the actions of the perpetrators reflect the stages of polarization and extermination in Stanton’s theory of the eight stages of genocide.
In this essay, the author
- Opines that the rwandan genocide of 1994 should be classified as a genomide by the united nations because the perpetrators reflect the stages of polarization and extermination
- Analyzes the polarization stage in stanton's theory. the rwandan minister of education supported ending the system that kept tutsis from obtaining a higher education.
- Explains that the mass killing of tutsis is a genocide, since they were not considered human beings.
- Opines that the rwandan genocide should be recognized as a 'genocide' by the united nations because it reflected the stages of polarization and extermination.
1137 wordsRead More - Genocide in Rwandaopinion essayGenocide in Rwanda The definition of genocide as given in the Webster's College Dictionary is "The deliberate and systematic extermination of a national, racial, political, or cultural group. " This definition depicts the situation in 1994 of Rwanda, a small, poor, central African country. The Rwandan genocide was the systematic extermination of over eight hundred thousand Tutsi, an ethnic group in Rwanda, by the Hutu, another ethnic group in Rwanda.
In this essay, the author
- Explains the definition of genocide in rwanda, which depicts the situation in 1994 of a small, poor, central african country.
- Explains that the hutu government was secretly planning revenge on the tutsi.
- Explains that the killing began on april 6, 1994. checkpoints were set up covering the major routes and borders around rwanda.
- Opines that rwanda's genocide is over, but disease and war still plague the country. many tutsi, trying to regain their lives, are tortured and harassed by the hutu.
- Concludes that the 1994 massacre in rwanda deserves attention. many will argue that use of the term "genocide" is incorrect in describing the war of 1994.
578 wordsRead More - Rwandan Genocide: What Really Happenedexplanatory essayMurder is never a good way to solve a problem, especially when a dictator murders people for no reason or for just a rumor or idea. That’s exactly what happened with the Rwandan Genocide. The Hutus slaughtered the Tutsi tribe of East Africa because the Tutsis had most of the leadership roles when the Europeans took control over Rwanda (Rosenburg). And of course, the Hutus didn’t like that at all, so they started to mass slaughter the Tutsi tribe of Rwanda. The Tutsis were just humble cattle herders who were chosen at random to take leadership roles instead of the Hutus (Rosenburg). The Rwandan Genocide was a terrible event in our world history. Throughout the course of 100 days from April 6 to July 16 1994, approximately 800,000 to 1 million Tutsis and some moderate Hutus were massacred in the Rwandan genocide (United Human Rights Council).
In this essay, the author
- Explains that the rwandan genocide was a terrible event in our world history. the hutus slaughtered the tutsi tribe of east africa because they had leadership roles when the europeans took control over rwanda.
- Explains that the hutu and tutsi share a common past. the europeans invaded the peaceful tribes of rwanda and turned the rwandese against each other.
- Explains that the tutsis were killed by hand weapons, often machetes or clubs, and tortured before being killed. they were given the option of paying for a bullet to ensure their death.
- Narrates how emmanuel sitaki survived the rwandan genocide by luck and disorganization.
- Opines that people can't help feeling sorry for the poor victims of the rwandan genocide.
- Cites the united human rights council's "genocide in rwanda." about.com 20th century history.
- Describes the rwandan genocide facts from modern history project, n.d.
646 wordsRead More - The Causes And Consequences Of The Rwandan Genocideexplanatory essayGenocides have plagued the world since men first began forming social groups. A genocide can be defined as the deliberate and systematic extermination of a national, racial, political, or cultural group. Although the actual word genocide wasn’t invented until 1948, they have been around forever in human history. The earliest genocides happened approximately 10,000 years ago when ancient tribes mass-murdered their opposing sides. This is the earliest scientifically dated evidence for a human group conflict—a precursor to what we now know as a genocide. The most prominent genocide as seen throughout history is the Holocaust. This horrific event carried out by Hitler and his loyal Nazi soldiers took the lives of over six million Jews. Genocides can occur for many of reasons, whether it be a difference in economics, religion, or even physical appearance. A more modern take on a genocide event would be the Rwandan Genocide. This is when certain cultural groups have tried to eliminate their opposing side. What the Hutu’s did to the Tutsi’s is a prime example of two clashing groups that have disfavored relations. The events that took place in Rwanda in 1994 is a stark contrast from what the country is
In this essay, the author
- Explains that genocide is the deliberate and systematic extermination of a national, racial, political, or cultural group.
- Explains how the hutus and tutsis relationship in rwanda hasn't been pleasant.
- Explains that the rpf invaded rwanda from uganda and fought the hutu militia for several months until a cease-fire was signed on march 29, 1991.
- Explains that the killing of tutsis began with lists of government leaders handed out to militias who went and killed them, along with all their families. the radio was the key to success for the killers.
- Explains that the rpf fought back with courage and strength, creating a civil war and genocide all at the same time.
885 wordsRead More - The Wrath of Voldemort, HItler, and the Hutu Tribeanalytical essay“Genocide.” The World Almanac and Book of Facts. 2013. 01 Jan. 2013: 746. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 11 Feb. 2014.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that the genocide in rwanda was a disturbing event. the hutu population reacted with extreme prejudice, blaming the tutsi minority for the country's social, economic, and political pressures.
- Analyzes the genocide depicted in the harry potter series as voldemort is constantly attempting to hunt down and kill the mud bloods and any opposing forces.
- Analyzes voldemort's extreme prejudice towards mud bloods and how he manipulates the heads of the government to gain absolute power.
- Analyzes how genocide is present in comparing the holocaust and the harry potter series. voldemort and hitler had complete control over their governments and showed extreme prejudice toward certain groups they saw as inferior.
- Analyzes how voldemort and hitler manipulated their followers into doing horrible things by intimidating them and aimed to demolish their respective threats by mistreatment and/or extermination.
- Analyzes how the harry potter series incorporates many of the same details present in the rwanda genocide.
- Explains that genocide is a real life social issue that is effectively portrayed throughout the harry potter series with connections to real world examples such as the genocide in rwanda and the holocaust.
- Explains that the holocaust took place because a corrupt man gained astronomical power and abused it to attempt the eradication of the european jews.
- Analyzes how the harry potter series depicts genocide as a social issue with connections to real-world examples such as the holocaust, rwanda, and tutsi tribe.
- Analyzes how a spasm of violence in africa conjures the ghosts of bosnia and rwanda.
- Cites the united human rights council, armenian youth federation, and yigal schleifer's "none dared call it genocide."
- Analyzes how a spasm of violence in africa conjures the ghosts of bosnia and rwanda.
- Summarizes the united human rights council's report on the rwanda genocide.
1681 wordsRead More - Various schools of thought exist as to why genocide continues at this deplorable rate and what must be done in order to uphold our promise. There are those who believe it is inaction by the international community which allows for massacres and tragedies to occur - equating apathy or neutrality with complicity to evil. Although other nations may play a part in the solution to genocide, the absolute reliance on others is part of the problem. No one nation or group of nations can be given such a respo...
In this essay, the author
- Argues that the un is a defunct organization, dependent on the will of its member nations in the face of genocide.
- Explains that many countries are reluctant to act in a situation which does not directly impact their own welfare and sometimes actively obstruct action by the un or other forces to satisfy their self-serving purposes.
- Explains that the world vowed never again to let human actions sink to such a vile depth as that of attempted extermination of an entire people.
- Opines that a single-pronged approach will never be enough to stop the massacres, but the long-term solution must come from within.
756 wordsRead More - Genocideopinion essayIn a small village in Africa, a mother and her family live a different life. Around her, everyone is dying, the village they live in burns and crumbles. Everything feels like it is just gone. This family lives in an area of Africa home to over 6 million people. Over 100 different tribes live there, and are all being affected by this. It’s a simple life, but violence and death always surrounds them. In 10 years 400,000 people have died in this area because of this violence; that’s around 100 people per day. The family is worried. They can’t stop thinking, Am I next? But this is happening in places all over this region and beyond. These people have come in, on behalf of the government of Sudan, to kill and destroy rebels. And along the way, thousands are killed, left injured, homeless, and mentally and or physically scarred for life. On top of the 400 thousand killed, 2.5 million have nowhere to live and could be without food or clothing. In 2003, this all started when groups from Darfur, rebelled against the Sudan government. The Sudanese response: kill them all and destroy them completely. And for the past 10+ years, it has been war, pure genocide. There are more genocides outside of Darfur as well. The U.S. and other country’s governments need to step in to end genocide like the one taking place in Darfur; by putting an end to genocide, our future of our children will be improved as well as the world’s future as a whole.
In this essay, the author
- Opines that the u.s. and other countries need to step in to end genocide like the one in darfur.
- Explains that the international criminal court (icc) is not affiliated with the united nations or under the government of any country.
- Opines that putting an end to genocide will improve the future of our children.
- Opines that the u.s. needs to step in to end genocide to improve the state of the world and the future of our people.
- Cites christa case's essay, "fleeing genocide, darfurian searches for sympathy in israel."
- Opines that the international criminal court faces obstacles in preventing future genocides.
- Explains that "we must fight genocide deniers - mitali." africa news service 8 jan. 2014.opposing viewpoints in context.
606 wordsRead More - The Bystander Effect in Genocidesargumentative essayMany times we ask why nobody did anything to stop such horrific events from happening. Actually, many people said that this would never happen again but this is not the case. Since the Holocaust we have seen several examples of how the general public sometimes refuses to acknowledge the occurrence of events and how the government often has little political will to stop mass murders until it is too late. One example of this that occurred not too long ago is the Rwandan Genocide. In 1994, between half a million to a million Rwandan Tutsi as well as thousands of moderate Hutu, were exterminated in the clearest mass murder case since the Holocaust. The world stood back and observed as the murders took place. Samantha Power, in the book she wrote, A Problem From Hell: America and the Age of Genocide1,and her article The Atlantic Monthly, “Bystanders to Genocide: Why the United States Let the Rwandan Tragedy Happen,” Power writes “The story of U.S. policy during the genocide in Rwanda is not a story of willful complicity with evil. U.S. officials did not sit around and conspire to allow genocide to happen. But whatever their convictions about ‘never again,’ many of them did sit around, and they most certainly did allow genocide to happen.”2 Samantha Power's writing shows that the U.S. government knew enough about the genocide through early warnings but nevertheless because they lacked political will to do anything about it they passed up many opportunities to end the rain of terror.3
In this essay, the author
- Argues that the rwandan genocide is not a story of willful complicity with evil. the u.s. government knew about the genocide through early warnings but lacked political will to do anything about it.
- Explains that the united states, along with other large military powers, chose to sacrifice lives of over half a million rwandans who were at the very least defenseless if not faultless.
- Compares the events of the holocaust to recent mass murders and genocides such as the rwandan. the austrians were aware of how the nazi regime was treating their prisoners.
- Explains that the austrian population was aware of what was happening but was forced to be submissive and allow the genocide of millions and the exploitation of labor prisoners endured.
- Explains that the nazi regime used this spread of knowledge to instill fear into the public making them easily submissive.
730 wordsRead More - Genocide is something that needs to be stopped and extinct. We as America cannot let genocide take
In this essay, the author
- Opines that america should intervene in foreign affairs, such as genocide, because of the genocide convention.
- Opines that the united states should intervene in foreign genocide affairs so another rwanda won't happen again.
- Explains that rwanda is not the only reason america should intervene in genocides, but because we have the money, military, and help that is needed. genocide is so much like war, so why not treat it like one?
- Opines that america should intervene in genocide affairs with money and military action, such as after world war i and the building of the berlin wall.
- Concludes that genocide is something that needs to be stopped and extinct.
775 wordsRead More