RWANDA GENOCIDE 1994: A HISTORY/ PREDICTION , A MYTH

N A Farooqi

RWANDA GENOCIDE 1994 – A HISTORY/ PREDICTION , A MYTH

The dust finally settled for the Indian Muslims after the trauma of partition in 1947, was over. In the times to come though there were not equal opportunities, nevertheless living in motherland Muslims full of enthusiasm of Indianness which by any strech of imagination not lesser than that of the co-religionists. Perhaps the reason of their complacency was the tolerant and secular character of Indian society than the new born state of Pakistan. They enjoyed full freedom to practice their religion, establishing their educational institutions of Islamic as well as modern education, socio cultural freedom and so on and so forth. Born after partition a Muslim always believed to be a part of national mainstream.

During the journey of 60-70 long years, living in a cordial conducive and secular atmosphere the Indian Muslim became a bit over complacent, at this stage something might have gone wrong and probably that was when the destiny was disrupted. Then came another turning point in the history of modern India and that was 1992. A Muslim born after partion has first time seen a Hindu-Muslim India. That was the time when Muslim intelligentsia had visualised how the turn of events would be unfolding in the times to come.

The politics has stooped too low and so as the role of mainstream media, spreading an atmosphere of hopelessness and frustration among the Muslim youth in particular. The social media has become the order of the day and specially the private whatsapp groups considered a safe outlets to manifest anger and anguish.

The hate speeches, discrimination and number of incidents of violence frequently reported from any part of the country is becoming a serious cause of worry for the whole nation. The hope to search neutral and clean reporting now rests with SM. However, short of resources and weak regulations SM also fails to deliver at times and goes overboard as a result contents not suitable specially for the Muslim youth being circulated mindlessly.

Generally it is seen that people easily accept rumours, falsehood or conspiracy theories justifiable as per individual’s perception, rather than believing truth and reason. Unfortunately sizeable Muslim population believe such messages without getting to know the truth.

After 2014 as much as the hindutva overtures intensified, there appears on SM a conspiracy theory every other day such as predicting in India the repeat of 16th century Spain, the holocaust during WWII and the latest reference to Rwandan Genocide of 1994 predicted by Gregory Stanton.

The large number of messages are not more than the conjectures and surmises suiting to the whims and fantasies of the audience. I have tried to explore what was happening in Rwanda that had led to the catastrophe.

The earliest settlers were “Twa” a group of hunters in BC 8000 to 3000 BC. From 700 BC to 1500 AD other Bantu groups from adjoining areas migrated. According to theories Hutu were first settlers while Tutsi migrated later and formed a distinct racial group.

The incoming groups had striking genetic similarity to pre-existing population and were integrating between each other not conquering the existing society showed common language and culture. The differences between Hutu and Tutsi arose later were not racial but class distinction. Tutsi herded cattle while the Hutu farmed the land.

In 1897 Germany’s rule through Rwandan monarchy and Belgian colonial rule both the regimes favoured Tutsi over Hutu giving administrative positions to Tutsis believing them to be racially superior. The beginning of Hutu revolutionary movement after WWII gained sympathy of Catholic Church led to formation of a sizeable Hutu clergy and educated elite.

Independence was attained in 1962 with Hutu domination. As the revolution progressed, Tutsis began leaving the country settling in neighbouring countries. By 1964 more than three lac Tutsis had fled.

In 1990 a rebel Ugandan army of 4000 invaded Rwanda under the banner of Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF). Later Paul Kagame by whom the command was taken over went into hiding to a rugged area, from where he raised funds, recruited from Tutsi diaspora and strengthened the army and led a surprise attack in 1991. RPF has captured some border areas in guerrilla war. Later in 1992 after ceasefire an agreement was reached that would take RPF in power sharing and this has angered Hutu extremists.

The genocide begins on April 6,1994 a plane carrying Rwandian and Burundi’s presidents was shot down. Within an hour of plane crash, the Presidential Guard, together with members of the Rwandan armed forces began slaughtering Tutsis and moderate Hutus with impunity. The media claimed the plane was shot down on orders from RPF leader Kagame. Others, including the RPF, accused militant Hutus of orchestrating the crash in order to provoke anti-Tutsi outrage to seize power.

The first victims of genocide were the moderate Hutu Prime Minister and Belgian peacekeepers. Within three months eight lacs people slaughtered. Meanwhile RPF resumed fighting and civil war raged alongside the genocide. Soon RPF forces gained control over most of country. As a result more than two million Hutus fled from Rwanda.

PART II
Gregory Stanton former lecturer in genocide studies and prevention at George Mason University of Virginia, making a reference to Rwandan Genocide 1994 has predicted genocide of Indian Muslims. The reasons he has cited; CAA, abrogation of 370, growing number of incidents of hate speeches by various right wing groups and the silence of government machinery.

While a simple look in the preceding paragraphs makes it abundantly clear that the conflict between majority Hutu and minority Tutsi, has no resemblance with the prevailing circumstances in the Indian subcontinent. For the convenience of the reader I have shortlisted the specific reasons to show the diverse nature of the circumstances are poles apart, make his claim invalid:

1. •India is Multi religious, multi castes, multi cultural, multi ethnic multi linguistic country, population 135 crore and area 3.28 lac sq kms

•Rwanda population 1.25 crore, area 0.26 lacs Sq kms. Two ethic groups Hutu and Tutsi were in historical conflict belong to same religion ie Christianity

2. •India, Hinduism a tolerant religion doesn’t propagate violence and never in history invaded any country

•Rwandan society didn’t have a tolerant character or a value system to back up, the tribes Hutu or Tutsi both had the fighting instincts invading and killing each other from late 19th century to 1994.

3. •India has more than a century old history of communal riots. Barring few exceptions all the riots used to be sponsored by goons and criminals.

•Rwanda on number of occasions massacre of Hutu by Tutsi or vice versa, took place and each time men in uniform participated in direct killings.

4. •India was always tolerant because of the majority Hindu society maintained its secular character after it became a democratic republic attaining independence.

Rwanda had no such record

5. •India is ruled by a party claims to be the only champion of safeguarding the majority interests. ‘Islamophobia’ is the only cushion available at their disposal which can keep Hindus electorally United

•Rwanda, between Hutu and Tutsi the struggle was economic and physical resources. In fact the minority Tutsi enjoyed more power, status and maximum resources.

6. •During only 100 days eight lac Tutsis were massacred and this was triggered, following the assassination of Rwandan President when his plane was shot down. The genocide was sponsored together with members of society, Hutu militia and the armed forces of Hutu regime

At the end, I don’t find any one similarity between the prevailing domestic circumstances and 1994 Rwandan Genocide.