Rwanda

Imagine you were Valentina. What would you do or say if you were confronted by Bagaruka in the village after the genocide?
    I would probably, honestly try to hurt him. I don’t know if I could say that I would be the better person and rise above, but how could you confront him after a situation like that? He killed the people that I loved and knew, he took them away in front of me. I don’t think that I would ever be able to look him in the eyes and not say anything nasty or hateful. It’s a shame, but it’s probably what would happen.

Put yourself in the shoes of Denis Bagaruka. How could you kill all of these innocent people? What would you have to do to create a mindset that would make it possible for you to murder innocent women, men and children?
    I don’t know how Denis Bagaruka could kill those innocent people. I cannot even imagine the thought of someone ending another persons life. The only reason that I can think of - that would help him have the “strength” to kill those people would be fear. Also being crazy - crazy from the fear. The more he thought about it, the crazier and more fearful he got and eventually, it got to him. The type of mindset would be revenge, and power. He wants his culture to be dominant and he would do anything to get there, even it meant killing innocent people. He wanted revenge for the previous years.

What kind of punishment should Bagaruka be given?
    I believe he should have life in prison. Not to be executed or humiliated. Just sit in jail for the rest of his life. All alone, alone with his thoughts. The thoughts of killing innocent people, the screams, and cries for help can consume him. He shouldn’t have the luxury to forget and
. He should sit there in his own mess.

Try to put yourself in Valentina’s shoes. It is three years after the end of the genocide. In what ways does the genocide still impact your life?
    The genocide still impacts my life when I can’t trust someone. I wouldn’t be able to love someone because I would fear them take advantage of me. I would also not people to love other things, because then I might lose them, and they would be gone. The emotional detachment would be unbearable.

When did the UN Officials receive warning signs about the genocide?
    The UN received warning signs 3 months before the genocide. They asked for more troops, but it was ignored.

Besides the warning signs given by one of the planners, what were other warning signs of the genocide?
    The other warning signs were when the training militia was open. The people behind the genocide started to hand out weapons, and the government sent out open hate speeches. They also created death lists.

How did state-sponsored propoganda present the Tutsi group?
    The portrayed the group as evil and manipulative people. They were cockroaches and snakes whose goal was to regain power and return Rwanda to a country that mistreated Hutus’s.

What prevented the international community from calling the violence “genocide?” What would have happened if they had?
    The international community didn’t believe that it was genocide. They wanted to ignore it so they wouldn’t have to waste the resources and time to go there. Which was there job.
    If they went there, they probably would have stopped it and the genocide wouldn’t have happened.

Once the international community withdrew its troops, what did the militia decide to do?
    Once the troops were withdraw, the militia made the genocide worse. They went on a rampage.

Who does Bill Clinton say must share responsibility for the genocide?
    He said that countries in Africa and the U.N.


In what ways did genocide impact the development of the “developing” country?
    Post-genocide, the country had no water, hospitals, schools, shelters, food programs, or factories. Public uses were not in function, like telephones and electricity.

Where does the rebuilding of a country shattered by genocide begin? What can people do? What can the government do? What can the international community do?
    It starts with the people. They can either let it define them or let it strengthen them. The people can unite and become better people. They can let go of the  hatred towards one another. The government can support the united stand and create laws and opportunities for everyone. The international community can support  them by sending supplies and supporting growth and stability.

How can justice be found in post-genocide Rwanda?
    Peace can be found in post genocide Rwanda by bringing justice to the people that were murdered. Also, est. a legal system would help the international courts, so prosecution would go by faster.

Which can bring justice to the people Rwanda more effectively - the international courts or the community courts? Explain.
    The international courts can bring justice more effectively because, even though it takes more time, they are getting the proper punishment. It said that the community courts are not as harsh - but they are quicker. In order for justice to be served, the proper punishment should be given, no matter how long it takes.