THE MEDIA THE MEDIA & &

THE RWANDAN GENOCIDETHE RWANDAN GENOCIDE

Anita SiroAnita Siro(09-0591)(09-0591)

Rwanda: Land of a Thousand Rwanda: Land of a Thousand HillsHills

Rwanda is a landlocked republic in Rwanda is a landlocked republic in Equatorial Africa, situated on the western Equatorial Africa, situated on the western arm of the Great Rift Valley, on the arm of the Great Rift Valley, on the watershed between Africa's two largest watershed between Africa's two largest river systems: the Nile and the Congo. river systems: the Nile and the Congo.

A Brief HistoryA Brief History• Over 2000 yrs ago Over 2000 yrs ago there was no Hutu, there was no Hutu, Tutsi or Twa.Tutsi or Twa.

• Differentiation in Differentiation in economic activity led economic activity led to the prosperity of to the prosperity of some.some.

• Wealth was measured Wealth was measured in terms of cattle and in terms of cattle and power in terms of power in terms of subjectssubjects

• Hence the terms Tutsi: A person rich in Hence the terms Tutsi: A person rich in cattle and Hutu: follower of a powerful cattle and Hutu: follower of a powerful personperson

• A Hutu could become Tutsi through the A Hutu could become Tutsi through the acquisition of wealthacquisition of wealth

• Marriages within occupational groups Marriages within occupational groups over generations created a gene pool.over generations created a gene pool.

The GenesisThe GenesisColonial RwandaColonial Rwanda

• Colonialists believed the Hutu, Tutsi and Colonialists believed the Hutu, Tutsi and Twa were 3 distinct races ( Ethopid, Twa were 3 distinct races ( Ethopid, Bantu and Pygmoid.)Bantu and Pygmoid.)

• Thus reinforcing Tutsi’s ideas of Thus reinforcing Tutsi’s ideas of superiority.superiority.

The Hutu RevolutionThe Hutu Revolution• The Dog bit the hand that fed it. The The Dog bit the hand that fed it. The

Tutsi began agitating for freedomTutsi began agitating for freedom

• The Belgians retaliated by embracing The Belgians retaliated by embracing the Hutu and placing them in the Hutu and placing them in positions of power. This abrupt shift positions of power. This abrupt shift led to the 1959 Genocide; the Hutu led to the 1959 Genocide; the Hutu revolution.revolution.

The 1994 GenocideThe 1994 Genocide• April 6, 1994 PresidentApril 6, 1994 President Habyarimana’s plane is shot down, Habyarimana’s plane is shot down, probably by Hutu extremist’s with probably by Hutu extremist’s with

no sympathy for an accomodationist no sympathy for an accomodationist presidentpresident

Genocide begun within 24 Genocide begun within 24 Hours of the crash.Hours of the crash.

More than 800,000 people More than 800,000 people Died in the massacre.Died in the massacre.

Hate MediaHate Mediathe invisible Machete……the invisible Machete……

• ““Without a firearm or any physical Without a firearm or any physical weapon, you caused the death of weapon, you caused the death of thousands of innocent civilians”thousands of innocent civilians”

ICTR Judge Pillay, in sentencing ICTR Judge Pillay, in sentencing Ferdinand Nahimana, founder of Ferdinand Nahimana, founder of

RTLM RadioRTLM Radio

The RadioThe Radio• Oral communication in pre-colonial Oral communication in pre-colonial

AfricaAfrica

• Increased Dependence on the radio Increased Dependence on the radio for political informationfor political information

• The 1994 Genocide transformed the The 1994 Genocide transformed the media into macro-agenda setting media into macro-agenda setting tools.tools.

• Broadcasts in KinyarwandaBroadcasts in Kinyarwanda

• Faulting of oppositional sources of informationFaulting of oppositional sources of information

• Technique of ReversalTechnique of Reversal(Biblical references, Songs, Familiar historical (Biblical references, Songs, Familiar historical

context)context)

• Indoctrination through political dichotomizationIndoctrination through political dichotomization

• A skewed sense of patriotismA skewed sense of patriotism• Misleading broadcasts….to trap the Tutsi.Misleading broadcasts….to trap the Tutsi.

Theoretical FrameworkTheoretical Framework• Media Dependency and related frameworksMedia Dependency and related frameworks Framing Framing Selection of aspects of a perceived reality Selection of aspects of a perceived reality

and to make them more salient.and to make them more salient.&&

Agenda setting Agenda setting the process by which media exerts the process by which media exerts influence on what is significant in the public influence on what is significant in the public domain. domain.

• Collective reaction EffectsCollective reaction Effects; Joint reactions of ; Joint reactions of many in a shared experiencemany in a shared experience

Beating the Drums, Setting Beating the Drums, Setting the Stage & Dancing with the Stage & Dancing with

the Devilthe DevilPROPAGANDAPROPAGANDA

They beat the Drums They beat the Drums of propaganda….a of propaganda….a signal to attack, signal to attack, keeping all dancers keeping all dancers moving in rhythm.moving in rhythm.

Media and Agenda setting and framing roles and the absence of alterative voices can set the stage for unusually powerful propaganda( Distribution of free radios)

We underestimated the force of the propaganda…in the years preceding the genocide.

The psychological conditions for a collective reaction were put in place..Andre Sibomana (Survivor)

• Accusation in a mirrorAccusation in a mirror• False Warning of Hutu leaders in False Warning of Hutu leaders in

Bugesera of Tutsi plan to attackBugesera of Tutsi plan to attack• Lively music, conversational style of Lively music, conversational style of

reporting that included also reports and reporting that included also reports and rumorsrumors

• A cockroach cannot give birth to a A cockroach cannot give birth to a butterfly…. Traits peculiar to the Tutsibutterfly…. Traits peculiar to the Tutsi

• Infiltration of Central Africa by the Infiltration of Central Africa by the EthiopidsEthiopids

• The transformation of Tutsi’s mothers The transformation of Tutsi’s mothers and Sisters into pistolsand Sisters into pistols

• Failure to report Failure to report • Genocide or civil war?Genocide or civil war?• Underestimation of the fatalitiesUnderestimation of the fatalities• Focus on Kigali (4%)Focus on Kigali (4%)• Mixing up of obvious facts such as the Mixing up of obvious facts such as the

Hutu being targets of the TutsiHutu being targets of the Tutsi• The targets? The opposition or the The targets? The opposition or the

Tutsi?Tutsi?

The Western Media….The Western Media….The Sleeping Watch Dog??The Sleeping Watch Dog??

Why the LapseWhy the Lapse

Evacuations, Tutsi rebels, erroneous attitude towards African politics

??

The Hutu Ten The Hutu Ten CommandmentsCommandments

• 1. Every Hutu 1. Every Hutu should know should know that a Tutsi that a Tutsi woman, woman, whoever she is, whoever she is, works for the works for the interest of her interest of her Tutsi ethnic Tutsi ethnic groupgroup

• 2. Every Hutu should know that our 2. Every Hutu should know that our Hutu daughters are more suitable Hutu daughters are more suitable and conscientious and conscientious

• 3. 3. Hutu women, be vigilant and try Hutu women, be vigilant and try to bring your husbands, brothers to bring your husbands, brothers and sons back to reason. and sons back to reason.

• 4. Every Hutu should know that 4. Every Hutu should know that every Tutsi is dishonest in business.every Tutsi is dishonest in business.

• 5. 5. All strategic positions should be All strategic positions should be entrusted only to Hutu. entrusted only to Hutu.

• 6. The education sector (school 6. The education sector (school pupils, students, teachers) must be pupils, students, teachers) must be majority Hutu.majority Hutu.

7. 7. The Rwandan Armed Forces The Rwandan Armed Forces should be exclusively Hutu. No should be exclusively Hutu. No member of the military shall marry a member of the military shall marry a Tutsi.Tutsi.

• 8. The Hutu should stop having 8. The Hutu should stop having mercy on the Tutsi.mercy on the Tutsi.

9. 9. The Hutu, wherever they are, The Hutu, wherever they are, must have unity and solidarity must have unity and solidarity

•10. The Hutu Ideology, must be 10. The Hutu Ideology, must be taught to every Hutu at every taught to every Hutu at every level. Every Hutu must spread this level. Every Hutu must spread this ideology widely.ideology widely.

• Giorgio Ruggiu, Broadcasting on Giorgio Ruggiu, Broadcasting on RTLM…RTLM…

““What are you waiting for? The What are you waiting for? The tombs are empty. Take up your tombs are empty. Take up your machetes and hack the enemy to machetes and hack the enemy to pieces”pieces”

Peace and reconciliationPeace and reconciliationTHE GREAT LAKES RECONCILIATION THE GREAT LAKES RECONCILIATION

RADIO PROJECTRADIO PROJECT• Counteraction of hate media through Counteraction of hate media through

sensitizationsensitization• Applied psychology and Applied psychology and

genocide studiesgenocide studies• Serial radio dramasSerial radio dramas• Public debate programs;Public debate programs; the root of Evilthe root of Evil

SHUKRAN !!SHUKRAN !!