Rwandan Genocide: A Brutal Event In Human History

The Rwandan genocide was a terribly brutal event in human history. The genocidal violence which occurred was against the Tutsi minority and nearly a million were slaughtered. There were multiple individuals responsible for these killings, most notably the perpetrators themselves. However, there is another group that can be held greatly accountable for its start and continuation: The United Nations. These countries were all responsible for the Rwandan genocide as they were aware that a genocide might occur, yet they did very little to ease the tensions prior to the event as well as their inaction once it began.
The United Nations knew substantial information regarding the brutal conflicts between the Hutus and Tutsis prior to the genocide, and …show more content…
As a result, the tensions between the two groups rose beyond a controllable amount at the start of 1992. The United Nations continued to receive detailed accounts of the irrepressible violence against the Tutsis, and learned especially crucial information that year in particular. Informants specifically stated that excessive human right violations were occurring in the country, and that investigations confirmed the direct involvement of multiple government officials. These particular individuals encouraged the massacres performed by the Hutu chauvinists and the Rwandese security forces, supplied them with the equipment necessary, and attempted to further spread Hutu supremacism. There were a number of those who also assisted in the planning of the killings, directed the operations, and some of which that even participated themselves. Certain authority members would either give speeches or have the radio announce the names of certain individuals to be killed. Those who were not directly involved in the massacres were similarly culpable, as they were purposely idle and incompetent. When mobs were formed and a sizable killing was underway, the authorities did not attempt to end the occurrence. The individuals that were arrested afterwards would not be forced to stand trial, and would instead be swiftly freed without any penalty. Furthermore, even when known military personnel were involved, they received no punishment (Dobbs). Frederick, yet another survivor of the massacres, personally recalls Tutsis being killed by their neighbors and their bodies later thrown into a pit latrine. “They were trying it out ahead of the genocide,” he stated. He also mentions that this particular event appeared to have been planned by the government, as those responsible did not receive any punishment for their actions (Survivors