Rwandan Genocide Stages Flashcards

Classification

• The Rwandan genocide began with the classification of people into two groups: Hutus and Tutsis.
• Hutus considered themselves superior to Tutsis based on physical appearance, which they believed resembled European features.

Symbolization

• Identification cards were introduced that labeled individuals as Hutus or Tutsis, creating a clear division between the groups.

Dehumanization

• Tutsis were dehumanized through derogatory terms, with Hutus referring to them as "cockroaches," stripping them of their humanity.

Organization

• The genocide was organized by the MNRD (National Republican Movement for Democracy and Development) and the Interahamwe, both militant groups that planned the atrocities.

Polarization

• MNRD and Interahamwe utilized various media to disseminate the Hutu power ideology, promoting the belief in Hutu superiority.
• Propaganda was manipulated to blame the Tutsis for significant events, including the plane crash that killed the Hutu president.

Preparation

• Prior to the genocide, Tutsis were identified through their ID cards and systematically rounded up for targeted attacks.

Extermination

• The genocide commenced with a planned signal, unleashing coordinated attacks by the Interahamwe and Hutu extremists against Tutsis and moderate Hutus.
• This systematic violence lasted for 100 days, resulting in the deaths of millions, with a significant toll on both Tutsis and moderate Hutus.

Denial

• During the genocide, the United Nations denied the occurrence of mass killings, but later acknowledged the events once the violence ceased.

Understanding Genocide

• Genocide can refer to either total or partial elimination of a group of people; however, partial elimination is the more common form observed in historical instances of genocide.