Still genocide in Africa has not received the same attention as genocide in Europe or in another part of the world.
I would like to discuss why genocide is so elusive. Therefore I use the example of genocide in Rwanda in 1994 when around one million Tutsis and moderate Huts were killed during a period of only 100 days.
Such a large amount of people in such a short time demands a good preparation and organisation. That makes it very difficult for the justice to find the right preparators, especially after the ending of the war – the so called ‘post-conflict’ situation and there are a lot of new factors which can increase a new situation of violence.
After a short definition what is genocide I will focus on the conflict in Rwanda and emphasise how the International Crime Court or rather the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda is working especially when it’s about post-conflict justice and which difficulties they have when it is about judgement in a genocide-case.
[...]
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Genocide in Rwanda
2.1 Definition of Genocide
2.2 Genocide in Rwanda
3. Justice
3.1 The International Crime Court
3.2 International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR)
3.3 Problems with Justice
4. Conclusion
Objectives and Research Focus
This paper examines the complexities of post-conflict justice in the aftermath of the 1994 genocide in Rwanda, analyzing the role of international judicial institutions and the challenges in implementing effective reconciliation and legal accountability.
- The definition and historical context of genocide.
- The specific events and organization of the 1994 Rwandan genocide.
- The structure and jurisdictional limitations of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR).
- The inherent difficulties in applying international legal standards to post-conflict societies.
- The intersection of socioeconomic needs and the pursuit of justice in Rwanda.
Excerpt from the Book
2.2 Genocide in Rwanda
“For us, genocide was the gas chamber - what happened in Germany. We were not able to realize that with the machete you can create a genocide.”
That Boutros Boutros Ghali, an Egyptian diplomat and the sixth Secretary-General of the UN from 1992 to 1996, said about the genocide in Rwanda. It happened during his term of office so he was criticised for the UN’s failure in that time.
In a periode of 100 days between 800 000 and one million Tutsis and moderate Hutu died, mostly killed by two extremist Hutu militia groups called Interahamwe and Impuzamugambi. Already since the end of the colonisation of Belgium in 1960 were many conflicts between Hutu and Tutsi like displacements and mass-killing. They should aim a treaty of peace, also with the pressure from outside, but both sides sabotaged this effort again and again. The aim of this treaty should be that the Tutsis can come back to Rwanda without persecution and disadvantages.
Especially extremistic Hutus planed the genocide. Members of the government, fanatic Hutu-Politicians and members of the army and the militia like Interahamwe and Impuzamugambi, but also a big part of the radio and media were acting against the Tutsis, who wanted to come back to Rwanda. Especially the radio station RTLM (Radio Television Libre des Mille Collines) played an important role with coordination of the genocide.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: This chapter introduces the research topic, highlighting the difficulty of defining genocide and justifying the choice of Rwanda as a case study for analyzing post-conflict justice.
2. Genocide in Rwanda: This section covers the theoretical definition of genocide and provides a detailed historical overview of the 1994 events in Rwanda.
3. Justice: This chapter discusses the role of international judicial bodies, specifically the ICC and the ICTR, and the systemic challenges faced in administering justice in post-conflict Rwanda.
4. Conclusion: The conclusion synthesizes the findings regarding the obstacles to justice, such as geographic distance, communication barriers, and the disconnect between international law and local legal perceptions.
Keywords
Rwanda, Genocide, ICTR, International Justice, Tutsi, Hutu, Post-conflict, Human Rights, International Criminal Court, Reconciliation, Mass-killing, Transitional Justice, Law, Ethnic Conflict
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this paper?
The paper explores the complexities of achieving justice after the 1994 genocide in Rwanda, specifically focusing on the challenges faced by international tribunals.
What are the primary thematic areas covered?
The core themes include the definition of genocide, the historical background of the conflict in Rwanda, the role of international courts, and the obstacles to effective judicial reconciliation.
What is the central research question?
The work aims to explain why genocide remains an elusive concept to prosecute and what difficulties arise when international courts attempt to provide justice in a post-conflict environment.
Which scientific methodology is employed?
The paper utilizes a qualitative analysis based on case study methodology, examining historical events in Rwanda and the operational framework of international criminal law.
What is discussed in the main body of the text?
The main body covers the definition of genocide, the specific case of the 1994 Rwandan genocide, and an evaluation of the ICTR's efforts and the systemic problems in reconciling justice with local realities.
Which keywords characterize this study?
The study is characterized by terms such as Rwanda, Genocide, ICTR, Post-conflict, International Justice, and Reconciliation.
Why was the ICTR's location in Tanzania considered a challenge?
The location created a distance that hampered communication and public understanding, making the court feel disconnected from the Rwandan people and their legal traditions.
How did media influence the genocide according to the author?
The author highlights that radio stations like RTLM played a critical role in coordinating the mass killings and inciting violence against the Tutsi population.
What contradiction exists between Rwandan law and international standards?
A significant point of tension is the existence of the death penalty in Rwandan law, which is not supported by international human rights law, leading to conflicting expectations regarding sentencing.
- Citation du texte
- Anne Gehrke (Auteur), 2007, International Relations , Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/121650
