Belgian colonialism
Belgian colonialism
Post WWI, Belgium was the colonial ruler of
Ruanda-Urundi (Rwanda).
Harsh colonial power. The Belgian government
relied on the Tutsi power structure for
administering the country. The Belgians wanted a
profitable colony, forcing the population to grow
large quantities of coffee.
Each peasant was required to devote a certain
percentage of their fields to coffee and this was
enforced by the Belgians and Tutsi allies.
The Belgium used forced labor to encourage
work. This forced labor approach to colonization
was condemned by many internationally, and was
extremely unpopular in Rwanda. Hundreds of
thousands of Rwandans immigrated to the British
protectorate of Uganda.
Post WWI, Belgium was the colonial ruler of
Ruanda-Urundi (Rwanda).
Harsh colonial power. The Belgian government
relied on the Tutsi power structure for
administering the country. The Belgians wanted a
profitable colony, forcing the population to grow
large quantities of coffee.
Each peasant was required to devote a certain
percentage of their fields to coffee and this was
enforced by the Belgians and Tutsi allies.
The Belgium used forced labor to encourage
work. This forced labor approach to colonization
was condemned by many internationally, and was
extremely unpopular in Rwanda. Hundreds of
Eugenics
Eugenics
Hutus and Tutsis lived together as neighbors before
the colonial period.
The Belgians then gave political power to the
Tutsis.
Due to the eugenics movement in Europe and
America, the colonial officials became concerned
with the differences between Hutu and Tutsi.
Scientists measured skull which they believed was
relative to brain--size. Tutsi's skulls were bigger,
they were taller, and their skin was lighter.
As a result of this, Europeans came to believe that
Tutsis had Caucasian ancestry, and were "superior"
to Hutus. Each citizen was issued a racial
identification card, which defined one as legally
Hutu or Tutsi. The Belgians gave the majority of
political control to the Tutsis. Tutsis began to
believe the myth of their superior racial status, and
exploited their power over the Hutu majority.
Hutus and Tutsis lived together as neighbors before
the colonial period.
The Belgians then gave political power to the
Tutsis.
Due to the eugenics movement in Europe and
America, the colonial officials became concerned
with the differences between Hutu and Tutsi.
Scientists measured skull which they believed was
relative to brain--size. Tutsi's skulls were bigger,
they were taller, and their skin was lighter.
As a result of this, Europeans came to believe that
Tutsis had Caucasian ancestry, and were "superior"
to Hutus. Each citizen was issued a racial
identification card, which defined one as legally
Hutu or Tutsi. The Belgians gave the majority of
political control to the Tutsis. Tutsis began to
Following World War II, reforms encouraged
the growth of democratic political
institutions, but were resisted by the Tutsi
who saw them a threat to Tutsi power.
In addition, the Hutus began to develop a
group consciousness as the Belgians
instituted ethnic identity cards.
Hutus made enormous gains within the
country.
The Catholic Church, too, began to oppose
Tutsi mistreatment of Hutus, and began
promoting Hutu equality.
Following World War II, reforms encouraged
the growth of democratic political
institutions, but were resisted by the Tutsi
who saw them a threat to Tutsi power.
In addition, the Hutus began to develop a
group consciousness as the Belgians
instituted ethnic identity cards.
Hutus made enormous gains within the
country.
Independence
Independence
On July 1, 1962, The Belgian
government divided
Ruanda-Urundi into two separate
countries, Rwanda (Hutu) and
Burundi (Tutsi).
Independence
In 1963, a Tutsi guerrilla
invasion into Rwanda from
Burundi unleashed another
anti-Tutsi backlash by the Hutu
government in Rwanda, and
an estimated 14,000 people
were killed.
Rwanda also now became a
Hutu-dominated one-party
state.
On July 1, 1962, The Belgian
government divided
Ruanda-Urundi into two separate
countries, Rwanda (Hutu) and
Burundi (Tutsi).
Independence
In 1963, a Tutsi guerrilla
invasion into Rwanda from
Burundi unleashed another
anti-Tutsi backlash by the Hutu
government in Rwanda, and
an estimated 14,000 people
were killed.
Pre-Genocide Rwanda
Pre-Genocide Rwanda
Sporadic organized killings of Tutsi
citizens continued.
Between December, 1963 and
January, 1964, roughly 14,000 Tutsis
were killed in an organized
governmental effort .
In 1973, following the political
turmoil in neighboring Burundi,
which resulted in an influx of Hutus
into Rwanda, led to several hundred
deaths and an exodus of over a
hundred thousand Tutsis from the
country.
Author Philip Gourevitch described
the trend, saying
"Killing Tutsis
was a political tradition in
postcolonial Rwanda; it brought
people together."
Sporadic organized killings of Tutsi
citizens continued.
Between December, 1963 and
January, 1964, roughly 14,000 Tutsis
were killed in an organized
governmental effort .
In 1973, following the political
turmoil in neighboring Burundi,
which resulted in an influx of Hutus
into Rwanda, led to several hundred
deaths and an exodus of over a
hundred thousand Tutsis from the
country.
Author Philip Gourevitch described
the trend, saying
"Killing Tutsis
was a political tradition in
The
Rwandan Genocide
was the systematic murder
of the Rwanda's Tutsi minority and the moderates of
its Hutu majority, in 1994.
This was both the bloodiest period of the Rwandan
Civil War and one of the worst genocides of the
1990s.
Over the course of about 100 days, from April 6 to
mid-July, at least 800,000 Tutsis and thousands of
Hutus were killed during the genocide. Some
estimates put the death toll around the 800,000 and
1,000,000 marks
Eventually, the Tutsi rebels successfully brought the
country under their control and overthrew the Hutu
regime.
Hundreds of thousands of Hutu refugees fled across
the borders, mainly west to Zaire (now the
Democratic Republic of the Congo). The presence of
the extreme Hutu factions on the border with Rwanda
was the cause for the First and Second Congo Wars.
The
Rwandan Genocide
was the systematic murder
of the Rwanda's Tutsi minority and the moderates of
its Hutu majority, in 1994.
This was both the bloodiest period of the Rwandan
Civil War and one of the worst genocides of the
1990s.
Over the course of about 100 days, from April 6 to
mid-July, at least 800,000 Tutsis and thousands of
Hutus were killed during the genocide. Some
estimates put the death toll around the 800,000 and
1,000,000 marks
Eventually, the Tutsi rebels successfully brought the
country under their control and overthrew the Hutu
regime.
Hundreds of thousands of Hutu refugees fled across
the borders, mainly west to Zaire (now the
Propaganda and Hutu Power
Propaganda and Hutu Power
Large numbers of Tutsi refugees
in Uganda had joined together.
Through propaganda, Hutu hatred
for Tutsis expanded.
The Hutu Ten Commandments
called for the formal installment of
Hutu Power ideology in schools, a
strictly Hutu army, and included
the commandment, "The Hutu
should stop having mercy on the
Tutsi.“
Radio-Télévision Libre des Mille
Collines (RTLM)
Radio station used by Hutu
supporters to spread propaganda
and incite the killings.
Large numbers of Tutsi refugees
in Uganda had joined together.
Through propaganda, Hutu hatred
for Tutsis expanded.
The Hutu Ten Commandments
called for the formal installment of
Hutu Power ideology in schools, a
strictly Hutu army, and included
the commandment, "The Hutu
should stop having mercy on the
Tutsi.“
Radio-Télévision Libre des Mille
Collines (RTLM)
Radio station used by Hutu
The Hutu Ten Commandments
1. Every Hutu should know that a Tutsi woman, whoever she is, works for the interest of her Tutsi ethnic group. As a result, we shall consider a traitor any Hutu who marries a Tutsi woman, befriends a Tutsi woman, employs a Tutsi woman as a secretary or a concubine.
2. Every Hutu should know that our Hutu daughters are more suitable and conscientious in their role as woman, wife and mother of the family. Are they not beautiful, good secretaries and more honest? 3. Hutu women, be vigilent and try to bring your husbands, brothers and sons back to reason.
4. Every Hutu should know that every Tutsi is dishonest in business. His only aim is the supremacy of his ethnic group. As a result, any Hutu who does the following is a traitor:
• makes a partnership with Tutsi in business
• invests his money or the government's money in a Tutsi enterprise • lends or borrows money from a Tutsi
• gives favours to Tutsi in business (obtaining import licenses, bank loans, construction sites, public markets, etc.).
5. All strategic positions, political, administrative, economic, military and security should be entrusted only to Hutu.
6. The education sector (school pupils, students, teachers) must be majority Hutu.
7. The Rwandan Armed Forces should be exclusively Hutu. The experience of the October 1990 war has taught us a lesson. No member of the military shall marry a Tutsi.
8. The Hutu should stop having mercy on the Tutsi.
9. The Hutu, wherever they are, must have unity and solidarity and be concerned with the fate of their Hutu brothers.
The Hutu inside and outside Rwanda must constantly look for friends and allies for the Hutu cause, starting with their Hutu brothers.
They must constantly counteract Tutsi propaganda.
The Hutu must be firm and vigilant against their common Tutsi enemy.
Genocide Begins
Genocide Begins
The genocide was ignited by the death
of Rwandan president Juvenal
Habyarimana, a Hutu, when his plane
was shot down above the Kigali airport
on April 6, 1994. Hutu extremist
politicians blamed Tutsi rebels for
shooting down the plane.
Within hours, the streets filled with
Hutu militia known as the
Interahamwe,
or "those who work together."
Spurred on by furious calls for blood by
a local radio station, they first killed the
Tutsi business and political elite, then
turned to ordinary Tutsi citizens.
The genocide was ignited by the death
of Rwandan president Juvenal
Habyarimana, a Hutu, when his plane
was shot down above the Kigali airport
on April 6, 1994. Hutu extremist
politicians blamed Tutsi rebels for
shooting down the plane.
Within hours, the streets filled with
Hutu militia known as the
Interahamwe,
or "those who work together."
Spurred on by furious calls for blood by
Massacre
Massacre
Most of the victims were killed in
their villages or in towns, often by
their neighbors and fellow villagers.
The militia members typically
murdered their victims by hacking
them with machetes, although some
army units used rifles.
The victims were often hiding in
churches and school buildings, where
Hutu gangs massacred them.
Ordinary citizens were called on by
local officials and
government-sponsored radio to kill their neighbors
and those who refused to kill were
often killed themselves. "Either you
took part in the massacres or you
were massacred yourself."
Most of the victims were killed in
their villages or in towns, often by
their neighbors and fellow villagers.
The militia members typically
murdered their victims by hacking
them with machetes, although some
army units used rifles.
The victims were often hiding in
churches and school buildings, where
Hutu gangs massacred them.
Ordinary citizens were called on by
local officials and
Nyarubuye: April 1994
More than 1,500 Tutsis
sought refuge in a
Catholic church in Nyange.
Local Interahamwe acting
in concert with the priest
and other local authorities
then used bulldozers to
knock down the church
building.
People who tried to
escape were hacked down
with machetes or shot.
Nyarubuye: April 1994
More than 1,500 Tutsis
sought refuge in a
Catholic church in Nyange.
Local Interahamwe acting
in concert with the priest
and other local authorities
then used bulldozers to
knock down the church
building.
People who tried to
History vs Hollywood
History vs Hollywood
Tatiana Rusesabagina was not really angry about Paul
putting her and her children on a truck to escape the
Hôtel des Mille Collines but was instead sad about the
decision
Paul did not make his decision at the last moment, but
rather he discussed the matter with Tatiana and the
children the night before the attempted evacuation.
Tatiana was so badly beaten after leaving the hotel 'she
lay in bed for two weeks unable to turn herself'.
Paul and his family did not leave Rwanda immediately
after they escaped the Hôtel des Mille Collines.
Tatiana Rusesabagina was not really angry about Paul
putting her and her children on a truck to escape the
Hôtel des Mille Collines but was instead sad about the
decision
Paul did not make his decision at the last moment, but
rather he discussed the matter with Tatiana and the
children the night before the attempted evacuation.
Tatiana was so badly beaten after leaving the hotel 'she
lay in bed for two weeks unable to turn herself'.
