The Rwandan Genocide…a Short History

Resources:

PBS Frontline

BBC World News

Studio 180 Study Guide for The Overwhelming

CGW4U1

Mrs.. Mitchell

Mrs.. Loten

March 2010

Pre-colonialism Rwanda was a highly centralized kingdom presided over by

Tutsi kings who hailed from one ruling clan. The King ruled through three categories of chief: the cattle chiefs, the land chiefs and the military chiefs. The chiefs were predominantly, but not exclusively, Tutsi. Although the relationship between the king and the rest of the population was unequal, the relationship between the ordinary Hutu and Tutsi was one of mutual benefit mainly through exchanges of their labor. The relationship between ordinary people was symbiotic. By the time the Germans came as the first colonial conquerors, the social structures of present-day Rwanda were highly organized and pyramidal in nature. The hierarchical and organized society of Rwanda laid a foundation upon which the subsequent genocide of 1994 was constructed.

Colonialism

1890 Rwanda becomes a part of German East Africa 1918 - under the Treaty of Versailles the former German colony

of Rwanda-Urundi is made a United Nations protectorate to be governed by Belgium

The two territories (late to become Rwanda and Burundi) are administered separately under two Tutsi monarchs. Both Germany and Belgium had turned the traditional Hutu-Tutsi relationship into a class system.

The minority Tutsi (14%) are favored over the Hutus (85%) and given privileges and western-style education. The Belgians used the Tutsi minority to enforce their rule

Preferential treatment is used widely in colonial times as a concept of “divide and rule”. As a result the Hutus grow increasingly resentful.

Colonialism continued…

1926 - Belgians introduce a system of ethnic identity cards differentiating between Hutus and Tutsis

1957 - PARMEHUTU (Party of the Emancipation of the Hutus) is formed while Rwanda is under Belgium rule

1959 Hutus rebel against the Belgian colonial power and the Tutsi elite, 150,000 Tutsis flee to Burundi This results in the first widespread Hutu-Tutsi violence of the 20th century

Thousands of Tutsis were killed and thousands more fled (Zaire, Uganda) 1960 - Hutus win municipal elections organized by Belgian colonial

rulers 1961-62 Rwanda’s monarchy is abolished and the country is

proclaimed a republic following its first elections, which result in a Hutu majority. Gregoire Kayibanda becomes president and the fighting continues

Independence

1963 - further massacre of Tutsis, this time in response to a military attack lead by exiled Tutsis in Burundi Results in 20,000 Tutsi casualties and more Tutsis fleeing

the countryIt is estimated by that by the mid 1960’s, half of the

Tutsi population is living outside of Rwanda 1967 - Renewed massacres of Tutsis left in Rwanda 1973 - Purge of Tutsis from universities. Fresh outbreak of

killings directed at Tutsi communities. President Kayibanda is ousted in a military coup led by Hutu

army chief of staff, General Juvenal Habyarimana. He pledges to restore power by setting up a one party

state. A policy of ethnic quotas is entrenched in all public

service employmentTutsis are restricted to 9% of available jobs

Independence continued…

Through the 1970’s and 80’s the patterns of exclusion of the Tutsis continues

1986 - Tutsi exiles in Uganda from the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) after years of demanding their right to return to Rwanda, which has always been refused

1989 - Coffee prices collapse causing severe economic hardship in Rwanda

July 1990 - Under pressure from Western aid donors, Habyarimana concedes the principle of multi-party democracy

Oct. 1990 - RPF guerillas invade Rwanda from Uganda. After fierce fighting in which French and Zairean troops are called in to assist the government, a cease-fire is signed on March 1991.

1990 - 1991

The Rwandan army begins to train and arm civilian militias known as Interhamwe (“those who stand together”) For the next three years Habyarimana stalls on the

establishment of a genuine multi-party system with power-sharing.

Throughout this period thousands of Tutsis are killed in separate massacres around the country.

Opposition politicians and journalists are persecuted The idea that Rwanda’s problems can only be

cured by the total elimination of the Tutsi population begins to gain currency among Hutu leaders

1993

The peace agreement known as the Arusha Accords is signed. It allows for the return of refugees and a coalition Hutu-RPF

government UN troops are deployed in Kigali to oversee the

implementation of the accordGeneral Romeo Dallaire is in command

In October in Burundi, Tutsi soldiers murder the first democratically elected president, a Hutu. Hutu extremists in Rwanda argue that this shows that Tutsis

can never be trusted and the Hutu power movement begins.Radio Milles Collines begins broadcasting exhortations to

attack the Tutsis.Human rights groups warn the international community of

impending calamity

1994 - Massacre

March - Many Rwandan human rights activists evacuate their families from Kigali believing massacres are imminent

Mid - April - President Habyarumana and the President of Burundi are killed when their plane gets shot down. Hutu extremists, suspecting that the president is finally

about to implement the Arusha Peace Accords, are believed to be behind the attack

That night the killing begins Between 800,000 and 1,000,000 Tutsis and moderate

Hutus are killed in 100 daysThe majority of the clergy of all the Christian churches

remain either neutral or are actively complicit in enabling the genocidaires.

April 7 - Ten Belgian UN soldiers are killed by Hutu soldiers and Belgium decided to remove all remaining troops

1994 continued…

April 21 - Under intense pressure from the Clinton administration, which is determined to stay out of African conflicts, the UN Security Council declares the withdrawal of all but 250 of General Dallaire’s troops

April 30 - General Dallaire realizes he is witnessing a full-scale genocide. The UN Security Council refuses to call it genocide, fearing such a declaration would necessitate a UN mandate for intervention

In May, the UN finally agrees to send 6,800 mainly African troops into Rwanda Mission is delayed as the US government and the UN

argue over who will fund the provision of tanks A month later, the slaughter continues (with no sign of

troops) and the Clinton administration forbids its spokespeople from using the word genocide, fearing it would result in greater pressure

1994 continued… July 17 - the rebel RPF army pushes the genocidaires out of the

country and forms a new government, ending wide spread massacres

Video:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1134357858209370013#docid=-30922192878722211

1994 to present 1994-1996 about two million Hutus flee to refugee camps in

Zaire (now the Congo), which is controlled by Hutu militias 1995 - the UN-appointed International Criminal Tribunal for

Rwanda is established to prosecute those responsible 2000 - RPF leader and Rwandan Vice-President is elected as

President 2001 - Rwanda’s unique citizen based justice system known as

the “gacaca” courts is established to begin post-conflict reconciliation.

2001 - to commemorate the birth of a new era, a new Rwandan flag and national anthem are unveiled.

1994 to present

2003 - President Kagame and the RPF win a majority government in Rwanda’s first multi-party elections. According to the EU observers the elections are

marred by irregularities and fraud 2003-present - convictions and sentencing of war

criminals continue to the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda

2009 - In Canada, Hutu militia leader Desire Munyaneza is the first person to be convicted under Canada’s new Crimes Against Humanity and War Crimes and is sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole for 25 years.

Rwanda Today…Rising from the Ashes

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CypU-S7rN5g&feature=channel

What is the gacaca? Gacaca courts, translated literally as "grass"

courts, were established to try more than 100,000 people held in prison in Rwanda on charges of participating in the 1994 genocide. Prisoners who confess receive reduced sentences. The government plans 9,000 of these local courts.

Video - My Neighbor My Killer Trailer

Three roles: The killer - Pacifique Mukeshimana The victim - Domina Nyirandayambaje The court monitor - Aloys Habimana

You will be put in three groups to read one of the roles and present the point of view to the class.