Sometimes in April

“In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.” — Martin Luther King, Jr.

Sometimes in April – One of the emotional yet disquieting movies I have ever watched; based on true events of gruesome Rwanda genocide which compliments Terry George’s Hotel Rwanda (Nominated for 3 Oscars – Another 12 wins & 26 nominations).
It happened in April 1994, arguably what happened within 100 days from April is one of the most heinous genocides in world history began in the African nation of Rwanda. Over the course of 3 months, close to 900,000 to one million people were slaughtered in a terrifying cleanse by Hutu majority against their Tutsi minority.

After watching both movies I was compelled to dig more about facts regarding the unfortunate event.

After the arrival of Belgian colonists in 1916, they separated Hutus and Tutsis in to distinct entities, and even produced identity cards classifying people according to their ethnicity. Belgians considered the Tutsis as superior to the Hutus and empowered them as well as given jobs and educational opportunities than Hutu’s. Resentment started among majority, culminating series of riots in 1959 – more than 20,000 Tutsi’s killed, many more fled to neighboring countries. Three years later Belgium relinquished power and granted independence and Hutus took their place.

From that point Tutsis were portrayed as the scapegoat for every disaster. Tutsis who fled to Uganda as refugees – supported by moderate Hutus formed Rwanda Patriotic Front (RPF) to overthrow the Hutu president `Habyarimana` and to secure their place in the homeland. After collapse of scattered peace accord things continued in disarray.

In April 1994, president Habyarimana’s plane was shot down by a rocket resulting complete unrest and the consequence was both instant and catastrophic. Within hours of the president’s death, presidential guard mobilized a militia group backed by radio propaganda, 8,000 Tutsis including moderate Hutus were slaughtered. By the early July nearly one million were butchered. Rwandans were largely left alone by the international community after the murder of 10 UN soldiers. In the movie, militia leader was talking to UN head regarding international community intervention – he said “In Rwanda we don’t have Oil nor Diamonds why do you have to come down and involve?” Arguably in most places US-UN intervention backed by huge political interest. Classic example is Iraq; would US search for mass-destruction in Iraq if they’re just another developing country with lower GNP? Norwegians intervened to mediate Sri Lankan conflict after inhaling oil from un-cleared Mannar Sea. Why do they find it difficult to differentiate freedom-fighters Vs. Terrorists? Isn’t it amusing that there is no internationally recognized definition for Terrorism?

I will leave it for another post…anyways after 100 day massacre (from April to July), RPF captured Kigali (Capital of Rwanda) and declared ceasefire. As soon as it became RPF was victorious, an estimated 2 million Hutus fled to Republic of Congo (then Zaire). In Rwanda UN troops and iNGOs arrived to restore the normalcy. On july 19, new multi-ethnic government was formed and majority of cabinet posts were assigned to RPF members.
Long and arduous search for justice went on and on; about 500 people have been sentenced to death and more than 100,000 are still in prison but some of the ring leaders managed to escape. Still today many who lost their loved ones are still waiting for justice.