Showing posts with label Rwanda. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Rwanda. Show all posts

25 April 2021

The French Role in the Rwanda Genocide

Not that the French want to admit it. A New Report Puts France at the Center of the Rwanda Genocide | The National Interest

There is a peculiar tendency among many progressives and internationalists to blame the United States as responsible for human rights abuses globally. This trend is particularly acute among European intellectuals who criticize the United States for unilateralism, militarism, and disrespect for international institutions.

The irony, however, is they often bare more culpability than Washington.

There are a few examples of various European Counties and their support of dictators, before the article settles on France and Rwanda.

For a review, 1 million Tutsis were executed in the course of 100 days in 1994 by the Hutu government between April 7th and July 15th. Though certain sources will quote a much lower number.

A new report, published April 19th, shines a light on the role of the French in Rwanda.

That the French government continues to withhold key documents further suggests that the French presidency and the Quay d’Orsay remained engaged in a cover-up of the extent of the French role in the anti-Tutsi genocide. Such documents include the French role in establishing the television stations that incited genocide against the Tutsi, French training of the extremist Hutu militias that engaged in genocide against the Tutsis, and the French presence at checkpoints manned by groups implicated in genocide. [SNIP]

In addition, Muse funds that more than 100 Rwandans complicit in the anti-Tutsi genocide live openly in France, with French judges often considering testimony and evidence provided by their victims for more than 20 years.

The Muse report is 600 pages. I don't think I will try to wade through that anytime soon. But you can find more information at The National Interest article linked at the top.

28 October 2020

Rwandan Genocide Trial in the Hague

I guess the US media isn't really interested in this story. Rwandan genocide suspect Felicien Kabuga arrives in The Hague to face trial

Felicien Kabuga, suspected of having helped to finance the 1994 Rwandan genocide, has been moved from France to The Hague to stand trial on charges of genocide, a UN tribunal said Monday.

"His initial appearance will be held in due course before a judge of the trial chamber assigned to his case," the United Nations International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals said in a statement.

He apparently spent the past 20 years living in France, just outside of Paris, under an assumed name. He was one of the richest men in Rwanda, and is accused of helping to finance the ethnic Hutu militias in their genocide.

The groups killed hundreds of thousands of Tutsis and moderate Hutus in Rwanda during a 100-day period in 1994.

History. Ignorance. Rinse. Repeat.