Apr 07 2014
Twenty Years After the Start of the Rwandan Genocide, ‘An Ordinary Man’ Speaks Out
April 6th marked the 20th anniversary of the Rwandan Genocide, an atrocity that claimed the lives of 800,000 Rwandan citizens. After Belgium left Rwanda in 1962, power was handed over to the Hutus, who were bitter from years of Tutsi control. For years leading up to the 1994 genocide, racial divisions between Hutu and Tutsi ethnic groups had plagued the country whipped into a frenzy by relentless messaging on a radio station.
By the 1990s, tensions between the two ethnic groups reached an all time high. In April of ‘94 military forces backed by the Hutu-led government began mass murdering Tutsis and moderate Hutus.
The international community, largely ignored the atrocity, having witnessed the U.S.’ failed efforts in Somalia. Intervention took place only after the conflict ended.
The 2004 film Hotel Rwanda depicted the genocide. Don Cheadle played Paul Rusesabagina, the manager of Hotel Mille Collines where for more than 2 months he sheltered 1,268 people of Hutu and Tutsi descent with very limited resources.”
GUEST: Paul Rusesabagina, author of An Ordinary Man: An Autobiography, and founder of the Hotel Rwanda Rusesabagina Foundation.
Visit www.hrrfoundation.org for more information about the Hotel Rwanda Rusesabagina Foundation.
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