one-third of its entire force . This begs the question whether Hutu soldiers were deployed to commit genocide against fellow Hutus .
Therefore , if the RPA has a case to answer then it is with reference to Geneva Convention , not the Genocide Convention . Significantly , even that war itself happened within the context of efforts to neutralize a still formidable genocide threat - the FAR . In this context , accusations against the RPA would be similar to those that could be leveled against the allied forces in their efforts to dismantle the Nazi regime during World War II .
The moral difference between genocide and war crimes does not invite comparison and explains why two conventions were conceived instead of creating just one of them . Crucially , the intent of the terminological clarification is not meant to minimize the death that happens during war . Rather , it is to underscore that ambiguity is one of the key tools in the arsenal of genocide deniers . It is how they politicise genocide because even as they deny it , they realize that genocide is the crime of crimes , a crime like no other and for which there cannot be any justification or mitigating circumstances .
If denial is allowed to thrive then it is not just the last stage of genocide . It is at once the last and first stage of genocide because it sets the ground for recurrence . Those who are well-intentioned and perpetuate unpremeditated denial that mocks survivors and other people of goodwill across the world can only show this intention by the willingness to educate themselves on a subject they wish to pronounce themselves upon . But those who harbour genocide ideology and practice flagrant denial must be exposed , their intentions made clear , and the law enforced to protect society and humanity from the recurrence of genocide .
Dr Lonzen Rugira is a Rwandan independent researcher and former academic .
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“ Ethnic ” violence in Rwanda and Burundi doesn ’ t mean that Hutus and Tutsis are ethnic groups
In January 2014 , the BBC Gahuza Miryango Programme hosted a series of shows on the origins of the Hutus and Tutsis , whether they were ethnic groups that existed prior to colonialism or whether they were socioeconomic classes . Pan-African Review has transcribed what it considers a profound contribution on the subject in the exchange below between the host Mr . Ally Yusuf Mugenzi and a Burundian academic , Prof Jean Bosco Manirambona .
Mr . Mugenzi : You said you did research on the subject as your PhD dissertation in Belgium . You say that even though there ’ s violence between Hutus and Tutsis , it doesn ’ t mean they are ethnic groups . In Rwanda , there was genocide , and they say identity cards had a role in distinguishing people . In Burundi , they never had ethnicity on their identity cards but they see the problem of ethnicity and when violence starts , they know how to distinguish Hutus from Tutsis . You say there ’ s no ethnicity , how is that possible Doc ?
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