CRIMES AGAINST HUTUS: A NEGLECTED GENOCIDE BY RPA

In the history of Rwanda, the genocide against the Tutsi in 1994 should be given special attention. However, little researched, and often deliberately overlooked, are allegations of extreme violence against Hutus by the National Patriotic Army (RPA), led by Paul Kagame, during and after the genocide. This article serves as the summary of the prosecutor, showing the evidence of the crimes committed by the RPA against the Hutus, aiming to highlight the dark, illegal part of the history of Rwanda.

Starting in October 1990, when the RPF launched an attack in Rwanda, news began to appear about attacks on Hutu civilians, especially in the northern regions of Rwanda. As RPF forces advanced, Hutu civilians were often killed on purpose or taken to refugee camps where they endured violence. visit (Hutu Genocide) ​(Foreign Policy Journal).

Killings in Rwanda: Inside Rwanda, the RPA has been involved in the killing of Hutu, not only soldiers but also civilians, in retaliation or to eliminate opposition. This included cases where Hutu civilians were tricked into gathering under the pretense of safety or going home, only to be killed.

Massacre in the Congo (DRC): A critical moment in the First Congo War occurred in 1996, when the RPF pursued Hutu refugees in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Attacks on refugee camps have killed thousands of people, including incidents such as massacres in the South Kivu region, where refugees were systematically killed.

International Opinion and Law: Although the international community has focused on the genocide against the Tutsi, reports such as the UN and various human rights organizations have shown that the crimes against the Hutus committed by the RPA may meet the legal definition of genocide or at least war crimes and crimes against humanity. However, legal action against these crimes has been limited, as the RPA leadership, including Kagame, enjoys relative immunity.​ (Wikipedia)

The RPF's operations in both Rwanda and the DRC have been characterized by the use of brutal methods, including mass killings with hammers and steel weapons, forced arrests, and the deliberate destruction of evidence, such as burning corpses. The reports of these crimes, as well as those of Nyakinama, where the RPF forces killed about 8000 civilians in a cave, show the nature of these attacks.(Hutu Genocide)

Evidence and witness accounts

Some human rights groups and researchers, such as Judi Rever in Praise of Blood, have documented the atrocities committed against the Hutu people. These crimes were rarely prosecuted, and accusations against the RPF were often met with pressure, including the arrest and disappearance of Hutus who criticize Kagame's regime. read (SpringerLink )

• United Nations Report: These documents reveal specific instances in which RPA forces have systematically killed Hutu refugees and civilians, often with the aim of exterminating them as a group, not as military combatants.

• Testimony of witnesses: From survivors and former RPA soldiers, there are stories that they were ordered to kill Hutus, explaining how the violence based on the genocide program was directed against Hutus.

• Academic and Investigative Journalism: as we mentioned above, Judi Rever's "In Praise of Blood" collection of in-depth research, interviews, and archival materials shows that the RPA's violence against the Hutus was systematically orchestrated .(SpringerLink )

The Need for Accountability

What is said in Rwanda after 1994 is dominated by the story of the Tutsis suffering and enduring, which is undoubtedly and sad in the history of Rwanda. However, this article focuses on the intentional or deliberate crimes committed by the RPA. In order to reconcile with real justice in Rwanda, these crimes must be acknowledged, investigated, and those responsible held accountable. An international community of remembrance and justice only serves to heal the wounds of a country that needs healing. This article calls for a broader review of Rwanda's history, where all victims, regardless of race, are recognized, and all perpetrators, regardless of their status, are brought to justice.

This article is not intended to reduce the suffering of the Tutsi victims but to show the conflict and justice that is difficult, striving for a full understanding of Rwanda's terrible history.