Genocide sinking in ...

Two days after arriving in Kigali, one of the first things we all wanted to do was visit the genocide memorial. Just to give you a little background and history of Rwanda … It’s a tiny, tiny country (about the size of the state of Maryland) and it is pretty much smack dab in the middle of Africa. Rwanda is made up of three “tribes”: Hutu (85% of the population), Tutsi (14%), and TWA (1%). While there was already distinction and tension between the two main tribes, German colonizers created even more tension by in 1932 introducing I.D. cards for everyone to wear and be identified by. Maybe it doesn’t seem like a big deal to us Americans. We have different ethnicities and races in our country … But for Rwanda, outside forces set up the scene for this disastrous genocide to come. Tutsi were put in power by the colonizers because of their features; “They looked more like white people features than the Hutu features did”. For many years fighting went back and forth between the two groups, but eventually the Hutu took over when they realized they were the majority.

If you remember the Holocaust and think about how the “genocide” occurred there, you will probably immediately think about the awful brainwashing of people into thinking that Jews were not “human”. This is very similar to the situation in Rwanda. The new Hutu government and leaders in the communities insisted that Tutsi were “cockroaches” and didn’t deserve to live. They needed to be “destroyed” just like the Jews were in the 1940’s. Several years before the genocide began in 1994, Hutu made plans to get weapons like guns, clubs, machetes, and anything else they can use as a tool to carry out the job. Without going into graphic detail, but while still being honest with you, the reality is that on April 6, 1994 a genocide began on the very ground I have been walking on for a little over a week now.

No lives were spared in this act; men, women, and yes, even children’s lives were taken. On the first day alone several thousand people were killed and numbers only increased each day after that. For one hundred days, until July 17^th, 1994 Tutsi were turned in to officials by friends, in-laws, and employers. Try to imagine not knowing who to trust. Try to feel what it would be like to be in hiding for 2-3 months, in a space no bigger than a small coat closet, and fearing for your life the entire time. It’s important that the world hears about issues like the Rwandan genocide.

Our day at the memorial was tough. On the site there were about 250,000 bodies buried, only a fraction of the total 800,000 that were killed in the 100 days. This number doesn’t include the number of people who died in the Tutsi rebellion after the genocide ceased; that number was over a million people. I think about it now, exactly one week later, and I remember a quote I saw on the wall. “When they said “never again” after the Holocaust was it meant for some people and not for others?” ~ Apollon Kabahiz. What happened at this time? Why didn’t we, the most powerful nation in the world, respond? We can turn to the reason the Clinton Administration gave when they heard about the situation in Rwanda, but then again, it is in the past and now we just have to move on and help these people find healing. There are still many, many wounds to be healed here. Gachacha courts are still in progress and the communities are seeking to bring justice to the murderers, the victims, and their families.

I go back to the quote and I wonder, Is it really possible to prevent genocide from happening again- for anyone, or is it really only meant for some? The crisis in Darfur, Sudan is genocide. It has happened again. Whether the country we live in, or any other country in the world wants to recognize it or not, it is. I believe that speaking out and promoting awareness on the issue is vital! Thankfully, many people have come to this realization and have responded in various ways. But, truth is these people cannot do it alone. Obviously not everyone can physically go and help, but there are other important (just as important) ways to get involved. Supporters are necessary. By reading up on the real story of what’s going on in Sudan is a step. Also to create awareness in your workplace, school, and hangouts can help and may potentially influence communities and local governments to take action. Mainly though, these people need your prayers. They wonder every day if they will see the run rise in the morning, but if we pray for God’s protection over these people and for governments to intervene now, our Lord will hear and He will provide.

Maybe this is a little heavy … but I’m finding that it’s better to be honest, especially with ourselves, than to keep what’s real locked up inside.