The 8 Stages of Genocide
Classification:
The division between the Hutus and the Tutsis, which went all the way back from when the Cushite (former Tutsis) conquered and overpowered the Bantu (previous Hutus) and established themselves as rulers, and of higher class. When the Belgian colonists came, they further supported and enforced the classification in favor of the Tutsis, because of their more European physical characteristics. When the colonists left, they left the Hutus in power. Hutus then used their resentment to declare themselves as more powerful than the Tutsis, creating more division. Symbolization:
Hutus were distinguished form Tutsis by physical differences, for example, the Tusis had more European characteristics. The hutus issued identification cards, as a way to label people and keep them separated. |
Dehumanization:
The Hutus considered Tusis "Cockroaches," and believed them to be vermin that were less than human and worth nothing. Hutu extremists within Rwanda's political elite blamed the entire Tusi minority population for the country's increasing social, economic, and political pressures. Tutsi civilians were also accused of supporting a Tutsi-dominated rebel group, the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF).
The Hutus considered Tusis "Cockroaches," and believed them to be vermin that were less than human and worth nothing. Hutu extremists within Rwanda's political elite blamed the entire Tusi minority population for the country's increasing social, economic, and political pressures. Tutsi civilians were also accused of supporting a Tutsi-dominated rebel group, the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF).
Organization:
The Interahamwe and the Impuzamugambi two radical Hutu groups backed by the Rwanda Government, planned the whole thing very well. There was timely shipment of weapons, appropriate use of propaganda, it was a coordinated attack on the Tutsis.
The Interahamwe and the Impuzamugambi two radical Hutu groups backed by the Rwanda Government, planned the whole thing very well. There was timely shipment of weapons, appropriate use of propaganda, it was a coordinated attack on the Tutsis.
Polarization:
The MNRD and Interahamwe used all forms of media available to spread the Hutu power ideology. The message was clear: the Hutus were better than the Tutsis.
When the President’s plane crashed, propaganda and media were used effectively and efficiently to blame the Tutsi’s. The Tutsis were scapegoats. Through the use of propaganda and constant political maneuvering, Habyarimana, who was the president at the time, and his group increased divisions between Hutu and
Tutsi by the end of 1992.
The MNRD and Interahamwe used all forms of media available to spread the Hutu power ideology. The message was clear: the Hutus were better than the Tutsis.
When the President’s plane crashed, propaganda and media were used effectively and efficiently to blame the Tutsi’s. The Tutsis were scapegoats. Through the use of propaganda and constant political maneuvering, Habyarimana, who was the president at the time, and his group increased divisions between Hutu and
Tutsi by the end of 1992.
Preparation:
"When the genocide began, they had bought and distributed the equivalent of one
machete for every three Hutu males and, with breathtaking cynicism, manipulated
the media and state institutions to stoke anti-Tutsi passions to a fever pitch"
(Melvern, Foreign Affairs)."Tutsis could then be easily pulled from cars at roadblocks and murdered. Throwing away the [Identification] cards did not help, because anyone who could not prove he was Hutu, was presumed to be Tutsi. Hutu militiamen conducted crude mouth exams to test claims of Hutu identity" (Stanton Genocidewatch.org). Political leaders who might have been able to take charge of the situation and other high profile opponents of the Hutu extremist plans were killed immediately.
Extermination:
When the signal was given, the Interahamwe and other Hutus conducted a deliberate, coordinated attack on the Tutsis and Hutu moderates. The
targets were systematically attacked over a period of about 100 days before the
genocide was stopped. Millions of lives were lost, both Tutsi and Hutu. Tutsi
and people suspected of being Tutsi were killed in their homes and as they tried
to flee at roadblocks set up across the country during the genocide. Entire
families were killed at a time. Women were systematically and brutally raped. It
is estimated that some 200,000 people participated in the perpetration of the
Rwandan genocide.
Denial:
"During the Rwandan genocide, the U.S. State Department’s lawyers infamously directed U.S. diplomats to avoid use of the word genocide. Only “acts of genocide” were being committed, they said" (Stanton, Genocidewatch.org). Even
after it had become indisputable that what was going on in Rwanda was a
genocide, American officials had shunned the g-word, fearing that it would cause
demands for intervention.
"When the genocide began, they had bought and distributed the equivalent of one
machete for every three Hutu males and, with breathtaking cynicism, manipulated
the media and state institutions to stoke anti-Tutsi passions to a fever pitch"
(Melvern, Foreign Affairs)."Tutsis could then be easily pulled from cars at roadblocks and murdered. Throwing away the [Identification] cards did not help, because anyone who could not prove he was Hutu, was presumed to be Tutsi. Hutu militiamen conducted crude mouth exams to test claims of Hutu identity" (Stanton Genocidewatch.org). Political leaders who might have been able to take charge of the situation and other high profile opponents of the Hutu extremist plans were killed immediately.
Extermination:
When the signal was given, the Interahamwe and other Hutus conducted a deliberate, coordinated attack on the Tutsis and Hutu moderates. The
targets were systematically attacked over a period of about 100 days before the
genocide was stopped. Millions of lives were lost, both Tutsi and Hutu. Tutsi
and people suspected of being Tutsi were killed in their homes and as they tried
to flee at roadblocks set up across the country during the genocide. Entire
families were killed at a time. Women were systematically and brutally raped. It
is estimated that some 200,000 people participated in the perpetration of the
Rwandan genocide.
Denial:
"During the Rwandan genocide, the U.S. State Department’s lawyers infamously directed U.S. diplomats to avoid use of the word genocide. Only “acts of genocide” were being committed, they said" (Stanton, Genocidewatch.org). Even
after it had become indisputable that what was going on in Rwanda was a
genocide, American officials had shunned the g-word, fearing that it would cause
demands for intervention.