Background on 8 Stages:
2 years after the Rwandan Genocide ended, Gregory Stanton, president of Genocide Watch, created a list of 8 things to look for that make a genocide "predictable but not inexorable", meaning it is predictable but we won't be able to stop or prevent it. With the Stanton paper, it made it easier for the United States to implement or influence another government. With these 8 stages, it will become easier to seek out a genocide before it comes to the 7th stage, extermination.
Stage 1: Classification
Definition: People are distinguished into the "us" and "them." Majority groups are more commonly the perpetrators while the minority groups are the victims.
Example: Hutu and Tutsi were already establish, meaning the majority group were the Hutu and the victims were the Tutsi. Also, when the Belgians left Rwanda, they gave their authority over to the Tutsi, leaving the minority group in power while majority group was not.
Example: Hutu and Tutsi were already establish, meaning the majority group were the Hutu and the victims were the Tutsi. Also, when the Belgians left Rwanda, they gave their authority over to the Tutsi, leaving the minority group in power while majority group was not.
Stage 2: Symbolization
Definition: Symbols may be forced onto unwilling members of a particular group, names are more commonly given to groups to point out members. Colors and clothing styles are often used to distinguish each group.
Example: Physical appearance was seen most commonly in Rwanda, the Tutsi people were more "English-looking" while the Hutu were shorter and wider. Identification had to be carried around at all point in time, proving whether you were a Hutu or Tutsi. Furthermore, the most dominant militia during the genocide was known was the Interahamwe, their clothing was composed mainly of black, red, and green fabrics; these colors were also the same of the flag of Rwanda. Soon, the Interahamwe would carry around machetes to show that they were apart of the killing squad.
Example: Physical appearance was seen most commonly in Rwanda, the Tutsi people were more "English-looking" while the Hutu were shorter and wider. Identification had to be carried around at all point in time, proving whether you were a Hutu or Tutsi. Furthermore, the most dominant militia during the genocide was known was the Interahamwe, their clothing was composed mainly of black, red, and green fabrics; these colors were also the same of the flag of Rwanda. Soon, the Interahamwe would carry around machetes to show that they were apart of the killing squad.
Stage 3: Dehumanization
Definition: Members of one group deny the humanity of another most closely resembling them to animals or insects.
Example: Tutsi people were degraded by Hutu while being insulted, tortured, and held captive as prisoners. Women and girls were raped then killed, thrown away like a piece of garbage. Tutsi people were also denied higher education, land ownership, and government roles. Dehumanization mainly came in the form of Hutu extremist whose only mission was to brainwash others into believing Tutsi people were "cockroaches" and "tall trees."
Example: Tutsi people were degraded by Hutu while being insulted, tortured, and held captive as prisoners. Women and girls were raped then killed, thrown away like a piece of garbage. Tutsi people were also denied higher education, land ownership, and government roles. Dehumanization mainly came in the form of Hutu extremist whose only mission was to brainwash others into believing Tutsi people were "cockroaches" and "tall trees."
Stage 4: Organization
Definition: Genocide is always organized, special killing squads or militias are trained so that the state will not be punished for the killings. Places where the groups will be held are set up and further plans will be established.
Example: The main militia during this genocide was the Interahamwe. As mentioned in symbolization, the Interahamwe wore only the colors of red, green, and black, occasionally yellow, and carried around machetes. The killing squad was trained on how to sharpen their machetes, throw at a target, and not feel any emotion after killing an innocent person.
Example: The main militia during this genocide was the Interahamwe. As mentioned in symbolization, the Interahamwe wore only the colors of red, green, and black, occasionally yellow, and carried around machetes. The killing squad was trained on how to sharpen their machetes, throw at a target, and not feel any emotion after killing an innocent person.
Stage 5: Polarization
Definition: Hate groups may begin to broadcast negative propaganda against one group while laws may also be enforced to ban interaction between two groups.
Example: A radio station called RTLM would broadcast throughout Rwanda announcing that Tutsi people were "cockroaches" and could not be trusted. As mentioned before during dehumanization, people spread propaganda all over to brainwash others into believing these things. Newspaper articles were also published to spread more hate at a faster rate around the area. Since most of Rwanda was illiterate, the newspaper didn't really wasn't valued as much as the radio. Later, the radio station would broadcast the address, workplace, and name of any Tutsi they could find.
Example: A radio station called RTLM would broadcast throughout Rwanda announcing that Tutsi people were "cockroaches" and could not be trusted. As mentioned before during dehumanization, people spread propaganda all over to brainwash others into believing these things. Newspaper articles were also published to spread more hate at a faster rate around the area. Since most of Rwanda was illiterate, the newspaper didn't really wasn't valued as much as the radio. Later, the radio station would broadcast the address, workplace, and name of any Tutsi they could find.
Stage 6: Preperation
Definition: Victims will be separated from society because of their ethnicity.
Example: The amount of weapons supplied and quantity may be a clear factor to the death toll with impact. Hutu people obviously had their hands on a variety of weapons, most commonly machetes. Most citizens would buy a hand gun, claiming it to be used for self defense, but used in an act of violence. Identification was not an extreme measure for Hutu to take since they had already made cards to show whether someone was Hutu or Tutsi. Hutu even went to the extent of having a secret code to signal the attack.
Example: The amount of weapons supplied and quantity may be a clear factor to the death toll with impact. Hutu people obviously had their hands on a variety of weapons, most commonly machetes. Most citizens would buy a hand gun, claiming it to be used for self defense, but used in an act of violence. Identification was not an extreme measure for Hutu to take since they had already made cards to show whether someone was Hutu or Tutsi. Hutu even went to the extent of having a secret code to signal the attack.
What Triggered the Attack?
The genocide was clear to happen but the Hutu people just needed a reason to start their violence, something to blame the attack on. President Habyarimana's plane was shot down by Hutu extremist, signaling for the attack to begin. Everyone in the plane died on impact combined with all the gas having flames erupt. When the president was dead, no one was their governmental figure, leaving the Hutu in power with only one mission on their minds, death.
Stage 7: Extermination
Definition: Perpetrators begin to attack and kill their victims. It is considered "extermination," because the killers see their victims as less than human.
Example: Within hours of the presidents plane being shot down, Hutu citizens went to work. Their main mission was to kill anyone who considered themselves a Tutsi, but Hutu moderates or anyone unwilling to kill a Tutsi, was on the death list too. Most went to find refuge in hospitals, churches, schools, and stadiums but those buildings were more than likely the first target. Almost 20% of the population was killed.
Example: Within hours of the presidents plane being shot down, Hutu citizens went to work. Their main mission was to kill anyone who considered themselves a Tutsi, but Hutu moderates or anyone unwilling to kill a Tutsi, was on the death list too. Most went to find refuge in hospitals, churches, schools, and stadiums but those buildings were more than likely the first target. Almost 20% of the population was killed.
Stage 8: Denial
Definition: The perpetrators deny that they ever committed a crime. Bodies are normally burned or buried, trying to cover up what had happened.
Example: This specific genocide is now referred to as civil war since it was only involving Rwanda. Certain groups of the UN have been trained to deny anything besides war occurring, some believe it. Since so many bodies were thrown into roads, they would be brought into wide fields and dug deep into the ground, hoping no one would see or find the lingering body parts anywhere. After the genocide, perpetrators fled to other countries in hope of being able to live a different life. Even if they came back to Rwanda, they were tried for murder on a variety of accounts.
Example: This specific genocide is now referred to as civil war since it was only involving Rwanda. Certain groups of the UN have been trained to deny anything besides war occurring, some believe it. Since so many bodies were thrown into roads, they would be brought into wide fields and dug deep into the ground, hoping no one would see or find the lingering body parts anywhere. After the genocide, perpetrators fled to other countries in hope of being able to live a different life. Even if they came back to Rwanda, they were tried for murder on a variety of accounts.