Assessing the Role of the Parliament in Genocide Prevention: The Experience of Rwanda (1994-2013)

Abstract

During the last century, more than forty million lives were lost around the world, caused by different ethnical conflicts and Genocides. Examples of these human tragedies are abundant. For Rwanda, in mid-1994, in a period of just hundred days between April and July, up to one million Tutsi were killed in the Genocide against Tutsi. During this genocide, many women were raped; infrastructures were decimated, and the genocide left the country‘s population traumatized. Could this genocide have been prevented? This is one of many questions I have been asking myself during this research. At the end of this genocide, Rwandans decided that these atrocities will never happen again. In this work, I wanted to show what local people think should be done to prevent the genocide in the future, but also the role played by the Parliament in fighting against deniers. Thus, Rwanda has now adopted the Rwandan Constitution of 2003 revised in 2015 and different Laws on punishing the crime of the genocide, genocide minimization and negationism ‗genocide ideology and other related offences, with aim to punish the crime of the genocide but also to prevent genocide in the future and reinforcement Unity and reconciliation mechanism Again regarding Rwandans‘ perception on the legislation preventing genocide in Rwanda, the fieldwork I conducted in Gasabo district of written sauces and questionnaire was used to collect information from different people proved that most Rwandans understand why Rwanda needs such legislation, however, there still some work to do to make the legislation known, especially for not educated people living in rural areas. Conclusion and recommendation The colonial legacy had a profound influence in Genocide against Tutsi, as the racial prejudice based on ethnic identity introduced by colonial powers, was a deliberate strategy used by genocidal Hutu extremists to legitimize their acts. The international community also has significant responsibility for the Genocide committed against Tutsi. Thus, it was very clear in the months leading up to April 1994 that Genocide was being prepared against Tutsi. The international community, with clear knowledge of what was unfolding, turned a blind eye, withdrew United Nations troops and allowed the Genocide, organized by the state, to overtake the country. Governments and intergovernmental bodies, including the United Nations and the Organization of African Unity (now the African union), dramatically failed to act to prevent the genocide as it unfolded in 1994. When the RPF forces defeated the genocidal government on July 4th 1994, the country was in ruins. After Genocide against Tutsi, Rwanda has gone through a rapid process of socio-economic development. Rwanda today presents a model for hope, justice, innovation,human development and security Genocide ideology has not died completely, and the few with the ideology can later grow it and cause mayhem. Genocide deniers are currently using social media, television, newspapers, and academic journals. Beside the punishments provided by the Rwandan legislation, Rwandans should also write about the Genocide, use music, film, poems and other channels to testify. I am convinced that it is a great thing to have laws against genocide, but at the same time I think that Rwanda still lack proper coordinated means to deal with genocide denial especially outside Rwanda. This can be achieved however, especially by using or engaging the Rwandan Diaspora, Embassies, or/and friends of Rwanda, to fight the deniers in their countries of residence. beside the legislation path, Rwanda should continue putting efforts in education of local population and reinforcement Ndi Umunyarwanda program.