The Rwandan Genocide
The Rwandan Genocide
History has a funny way of repeating itself. After World War II, the United States and the rest of the international community promised to do all they could to prevent future genocides. However this was a promise they were unable to keep. In 1994 when Rwanda went through genocide the United States and U.N were absent, leaving the Tutsis to be brutally murdered by the Hutus. As a consequence 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus were killed and dumped into mass graves. Once again the United States and U.N promised to do more, but this time it was too late.
Before the genocide, Rwanda existed as a country the size of Vermont with a population of 8 million. Rwanda was controlled by Belgium, who gained control of the country from a League of Nations mandate that took the control of Rwanda away from Germany and gave it to Belgium. Under the Belgian control from 1919 to 1962 the Tutsis experienced privileges that were denied to the Hutus. The Belgians designated the Tutsis to be the select group of privileged and educated intermediaries between the governed and the governor because they were landowners who were tall and in the European eyes "aristocratic looking".
Rwanda's path towards independence from Belgium started with the influence of European colonial powers and missionaries. The European colonial powers introduced modern weapons and methods for waging war. The European missionaries also reminded the Rwandans of their oppression and instigated feelings of revolution. In 1956, using their new knowledge from the European colonial powers, the Hutus began their quest for independence by rebelling and fighting. By 1959 the Hutus had seized power and began stripping the Tutsis of their land. In response, the Tutsis fled to neighboring countries and formed the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF). In 1962, when Rwanda gained its independence from Belgium, the Hutu took control of the government. Under Hutu control in Rwanda Tutsi's privileges were
History has a funny way of repeating itself. After World War II, the United States and the rest of the international community promised to do all they could to prevent future genocides. However this was a promise they were unable to keep. In 1994 when Rwanda went through genocide the United States and U.N were absent, leaving the Tutsis to be brutally murdered by the Hutus. As a consequence 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus were killed and dumped into mass graves. Once again the United States and U.N promised to do more, but this time it was too late.
Before the genocide, Rwanda existed as a country the size of Vermont with a population of 8 million. Rwanda was controlled by Belgium, who gained control of the country from a League of Nations mandate that took the control of Rwanda away from Germany and gave it to Belgium. Under the Belgian control from 1919 to 1962 the Tutsis experienced privileges that were denied to the Hutus. The Belgians designated the Tutsis to be the select group of privileged and educated intermediaries between the governed and the governor because they were landowners who were tall and in the European eyes "aristocratic looking".
Rwanda's path towards independence from Belgium started with the influence of European colonial powers and missionaries. The European colonial powers introduced modern weapons and methods for waging war. The European missionaries also reminded the Rwandans of their oppression and instigated feelings of revolution. In 1956, using their new knowledge from the European colonial powers, the Hutus began their quest for independence by rebelling and fighting. By 1959 the Hutus had seized power and began stripping the Tutsis of their land. In response, the Tutsis fled to neighboring countries and formed the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF). In 1962, when Rwanda gained its independence from Belgium, the Hutu took control of the government. Under Hutu control in Rwanda Tutsi's privileges were
Cited: Donahue, Deirdre . "Rwanda 's horror revisited; 'Justice ' traces individual courage and international cowardice." USA Today 14 2005: 1. Proquest. Optimum Online. MHS. 30 May 2005 . Miller, J. (n.d.). Rwanda 1994. Retrieved May. 31, 2005, from PPU Information Web site: http://www.ppu.org.uk/indexa.html. Murphy, Brian. "100 days of Slaughter." PBS. 20 2000. PBS. 30 May. 2005 . Powers, Samantha. "A problem From Hell" America and the Age of Genocide.2nd Ed. New York: Perennial, 2002.