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_____________________________________________ While it may be only natural for people to focus on the genocide that affects different cultures and societies, it often seems to me that, in general, people
Ernest J.P. Muhly Walkersville, Maryland, USA What can I say about “genocide”? I realized after a few hours—and now I am onto my second day engaged on this—that, not only I do not have anything I can say of importance on the subject, but that I doubt I really know the meaning of the word itself. That is how far from my reality this question is. Yet I know this much. There is a country in Africa, called Sudan, where war has been raging out of control for years and nothing seems to get in the way of “killing.” Killing what? People killing other people and, yes, for years! Politicians seem to have little to say about it.…The news media say little about it.…When it comes to genocide, most of us are going about our day oblivious to the fact that a group of humans on this planet is at risk now—an idea so painful that all we can do is turn away and block it from our conscious thoughts. It is just too hard to think about an event that might render a culture extinct in the 21st Century. Are these groups of humans who fight each other not worth saving? Why is this subject not spoken of? Does it tire us out in such way that we are in
Olivia Lead American citizen; born in Uruguay While some regimes have orchestrated genocide and organized mass killing instead of preventing them, others are still banging the drum for these acts of bestiality. This is a tragic reminder of how far short leadership has fallen in the global commitment to human and minority rights. At any rate, the character of leadership is significant, not only in preventing genocide, but also in defusing the hiccups that precede them. Only a constructive leadership can play this role. Such leadership must have the stoic political will to institutionalize respect for human rights and minority rights, rule of law, social justice, good governance, and promotion of free media. These provisions will then provide a melting pot for groups to always see themselves as one people bound by a common destiny. Charles Ebere Department of Social Sciences University of The Gambia Gambia, West Africa
Yifat Susskind, Communications Director MADRE, an International Women’s Human Rights Organization We tend to treat genocide like a natural disaster, providing humanitarian relief, but nothing more. Food and medical aid are useless when civilians are being hunted down and murdered; they need more—they need protection.
Dr. Christine Mahoney Advocacy and Education Associate Genocide Intervention Network Washington, DC The problem and dilemma with the issue of preventing genocide is that of power and self-interest. The powerful nations will only deal with it if there is self-interest, e.g. oil, resources, etc. involved. Otherwise, they will leave the countries alone under some bureaucratic process—leaving people to die and wither away until it is too late, in Rwanda and Bosnia, for example. Unfortunately, the powerful decide what, how and when to act in the cases of genocide rather than the weaker nations who may want to act, but are unable or prevented from doing so due to long winded processes and procedures established by self-interested groups. Dr Ghulam Ashraf Thinkers Forum International, U.K. Genocide is undoubtedly a terrifying topic to think about. When we first learn of atrocities like the Holocaust or the Rwandan genocide, our reaction is
Heddy Nam American Coordinator Never Again International ** Questions? Responses? Ruminations? Add your thoughts below! |
Comment List
"Again a "Never again""Author:
Miriam Mannak
Time: 06/22/2007 08:41
Comment: Thirteen years ago, in 1994, the world said: Never again. The International Community expressed these words not too long after a million of Rwandans where butchered like animals in an abatoir. Hundreds of thousands more were left traumatized, hurt, scarred, raped, maimed, and affected by one of the bloodiest, horrific events in modern history. Thrice as fast as the Nazis did in the 1940’s and 50’s, Hutu extremists ‘worked’ their way through Rwanda.
At first, the world didn’t seem to be interested in what was happening in Rwanda. It was just another 'ethnic strife' in another African country. It took months before officials and politicians in the west finally dared to use the term genocide because of political implications on using the word, while it was crystal clear what was happening in Le Pays des Mille Collines. The UN force present was decimated instead of strengthened with more troops. Mandates weren’t changed when things got out of hand, with the result that the remaining 250 odd peace keepers were unable to protect the Rwandan population from a horrific faith. Finally, four months after hell descended in Rwanda, the west – after a lot of talking - decided it was time for action. Unfortunately, this was too late for many. This very same pattern is repeating itself in Sudan. So far there has been a lot of talking but no walking. "Never again", the international Community said in 1994, like they said "Never again" after 16 million Jews were killed. These words will be repeated when the conflict in Sudan comes to an end. Sadness and guilt will be expressed because "We didn't act fast enough". The sad truth is that it will not take long for the international Community to forget about the past and their promises. Miriam Mannak Author of thesis “The International Community and the Rwandan Genocide” |
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