Structural Learning Week 4 - Genocides around the World:

Genocides around the World by Lion-Sam:

What is Genocide?

It is a very specific term, referring to violent crimes committed against a group with the intent to destroy the existence of the group. This term did not exist before 1944. The word was used for the first time in 1944; by a polish-Jewish lawyer Raphael Lemkin. He described the Nazi policies of murder and the destruction of European Jews throughout and before the Second World War. He formed the word “GENOCIDE” by combining GENO from the Greek which means race or tribe with CIDE from Latin which means killing.

Any of the following acts is classified as genocide when the intention is to destroy in whole or part a national, ethical, racial or religious group:

1. Killing members of the group
2. Causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group
3. Deliberately inflicting conditions of life calculated to bring about the physical destruction of the group
4. Imposing measures with the intent to restrict or prevent births
5. Forcibly transferring or converting members of the group into the 'desired' group

There are considered to be eight recognised stages of genocide: classification, symbolisation, dehumanisation, organisation, polarisation, preparation, extermination and denial.

To find out more about these eight stages and what is classified and punishable as an act of genocide, read this article by Gregory H. Stanton - The Eight Stages of Genocide

Past Genocides and Mass Atrocities:

CNN has made a really interesting documentary called "Scream Bloody Murder" where Christine Amanpour tackles the really tough topic of Genocides around the world, and how the international community acted and whether it was appropriate. To watch the whole documentary/film follow this link - CNN Scream Bloody Murder. Otherwise the parts of the documentary that are relevant to the Genocides we talked about, will be inserted into the rest of the blog.

Armenian Genocide (1915 – 1923):

In 1915, leaders of the Turkish government set in motion a plan to expel and massacre Armenians living in Ottoman Empire. Most sources agree that there were about 2 million Armenians in the Ottoman Empire at the time of the massacre. The combination of massacres, forced deportation marches and deaths due to disease in concentration camps is estimated to have killed more than 1.5 million ethnic Armenians, Assyrians and Greeks between 1915 and 1923. In addition to the numerous deaths around 5000 to 6000 women and children were forcibly converted to Islam as a means of escaping murder. 

The Holocaust (1933 – 1945):

After coming to power in 1933, the Nazi party implemented a highly organised strategy of persecution in order to eliminate those who they deemed to be undesirable and unfit for their “perfect race” – the Arian race. Their targets were the Jewish, the disabled, Jehovah’s witnesses and homosexuals.

The Jewish community was separated and torn apart. They were persecuted and finally they were treated as less than human beings and murdered. During the Second World War the Nazis sought to murder all of the Jewish population of Europe and to destroy their culture. In 1914 they were about 11 million Jews in Europe; by May 1945 the Nazi had murdered six million of them and other five millions. One and half million of these were children.

There are lots of different documentaries about the Holocaust so this is only one example...

Cambodian Genocide (1975 – 1979):

When the Khmer Rouge took control of the Cambodian government in 1975, they declared the beginning of a new age dedicated to a peasant-oriented society. To accomplish this vision the Khmer Rouge began outlawing education, religion, healthcare and technology. Then the Khmer Rouge ordered the evacuation of Cambodia’s cities and forced these residents into manual labour without adequate food or rest. Those who were unable to keep up were executed.

At the same time, the Khmer Rouge began to target suspected political dissidents. These citizens, including doctors, teachers and those suspected of being educated; they were singled out and tortured at the notorious TUOL SLENG prison. In four years, between 1.7 and 2 million Cambodians died in the Khmer Rouge’s ‘Killing Fields.’ 

A film has been made about Pol Pot and the atrocious deeds that he committed - it is called 'The Killing Fields'. The following are clips from the CNN documentary 'Scream Bloody Murder'.

Cambodia Part 1

Cambodia Part 2

Cambodia Part 3

Bosnian Genocide (1992 – 1995):

In April 1992, the government of the Yugoslav republic of Bosnia-Herzegovina declared its independence from Yugoslavia. Over the next several years, Bosnian-Serb forces, along with the backing of the Serb dominated Yugoslav army, targeted both Bosnian Muslims and Croatian civilians. In what can only be considered atrocious crimes resulting in the deaths of some 100 000 people by 1995, 80% of them were Bosnian Muslims. 

Bosnia Part 1

Bosnia Part 2

Rwandan Genocide (April to July 1994):

Before 1994 there were 3 tribes in Rwanda: Tutsis, Twa and Hutus. Starting from 1959, Hutus started killing Tutsis and burning their homes denying them to be Rwandans saying that they are from Ethiopia and that they should return. For many years the tensions built in Rwanda and ultimately led to the genocide.

From April to July 1994, members of the Hutu ethnic majority in Rwanda murdered more than 800,000 people of the Tutsi minority. It was started by extreme Hutu nationalists in the capital of Kigali. The genocide spread throughout the country with staggering speed and brutality; as ordinary citizens were incited by local officials and the Hutu Power government to take up arms against their neighbours. By the time the Tutsi-led Rwandese Patriotic Front gained control of the country in early July, hundreds of thousands of Rwandan Tutsis were dead and many more displaced from their homes.

There has also been a couple of films made about the Rwandan Genocide - 'Hotel Rwanda' and 'Shooting Dogs'.

Rwanda Part 1

Rwanda Part 2

Rwanda Part 3

So What Now?

During our first week in Rwanda the team was given the opportunity to visit the Rwandan Genocide Memorial in Kigali. We all found it a rather sobering experience that bought the facts and the figures about genocide a lot closer to home. However it also demonstrated that there is something being done to stop future genocides from happening.

The charity AEGIS is working towards educating people about genocides and mass atrocities and runs centres about the Rwandan Genocide and the Holocaust. To find out more about what they do go check out their website - AEGIS Trust.

During our trip to the Kigali Rwandan Genocide Memorial