By now, it should be quite clear to everyone that the seemingly endless attempts to contradict the true events of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi are in full gear and only likely to continue. This, however, should not come as an utter surprise especially when we remind ourselves of Dr Gregory Stanton’s ten stages of Genocide. According to Dr Stanton who is the President of Genocide Watch, and research professor in Genocide studies and prevention at the Institute for Conflict Analysis and Resolution of George Mason University in the United States, genocide is a process that develops in ten stages that are predicted but not inexorable. These stages are as follows; 1- classification, 2- symbolisation, 3- discrimination, 4- dehumanisation, 5- organisation, 6- polarisation, 7- preparation, 8- persecution, 9- extermination, and finally, 10- denial. Sadly and as widely known, in 1994, Rwanda experienced stage 9 (extermination) of genocide when attempts to exterminate the Tutsi were put in action, resulting in the deaths of over a million Tutsi. However, 21 years later, there are growing signs that Rwanda is now experiencing stage 10 (denial) of genocide - the last stage that lasts throughout and always follows the genocide. According to Dr Stanton, at this stage, the perpetrators of genocide begin to deny that they committed any crimes, and often blame what happened on the victims. How do they do this? In recent months we have seen such denial facilitated particularly by social media outlets often accessed by anyone, but more troublingly, with the help of internationally renowned media houses. But, should Rwandans and the global citizen stand by and do nothing while perpetrators of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, some of whom have faced trial, pleaded guilty to genocide crimes, and subsequently sentenced to prison terms, connive with the international media to misrepresent the accurate events of 1994? The answer to this question should be an unequivocal No! As citizens of the world, Dr Stanton reminds us that at each stage of genocide, preventing measures can stop it. Although in Rwanda, it is true that efforts to preserve the true events of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi have been successful, for instance, genocide memorials have been established to ensure that future generations can learn about what took place in 1994; equally, young people are being taught about the genocide, its impact, and how to prevent such atrocities; and also foreigners are encouraged to come to Rwanda and see for themselves, hear from the surviving witnesses and make up their minds, the same cannot be said outside Rwanda. Progressively, perpetrators and their accomplices continue to exploit the lack of accurate information available to uninformed audiences beyond Rwanda and try to reverse, alter or simply undermine the accurate events of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. Using misplaced rhetoric such us the need to hear from both sides, which surprisingly seems to almost always apply to cases pertaining to less powerful nations, international media has also contributed to this shameful practice perhaps with the objective to plant seeds of doubt among western audiences in particular. What can those in the know do about it? Simple; speak up! It is from this very need to speak up and educate the global audiences about the accurate understanding of both historical and current events relevant to Rwanda, for example, the Rwanda community in the United Kingdom recently launched a platform to offer the global audience information that is balanced, but more importantly, information that reflects accurate understanding of both historical and current events relevant to Rwanda. In the editorial note, Rwanda Action Network (RAN) states that this effort was motivated after an observation was made that while Rwanda’s resurgence from the horrors of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi is increasingly well known and rightly acknowledged worldwide by various key actors particularly in the areas of; unity and reconciliation, post conflict reconstruction, peace building, diplomacy, entrepreneurship, women and youth empowerment, investment in ICT, tourism, healthcare, education, to name but a few, unfortunately, there are those motivated by egotistical reasons and /or the need to mislead the public by undermining this miraculous turnaround in all its form, particularly by seeking to negate the overwhelming historical facts of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, and thereby plant seeds of doubt about how Rwanda is perceived. Ultimately, the fact of the matter is that although denial is the last stage of genocide, its impact on how future generations view history cannot be simply undermined and left to chance, or simply to those who care enough to act. This must be a collective effort, for we do not want history to judge this generation as having failed to preserve the memories of those who perished through no fault of their own. Much like in the UK, we need more platforms to speak up against Genocide denial at all times. junior.mutabazi@yahoo.co.uk
