Gourevitch



Gourevitch

The role which media played in highlighting the events which occurred in Rwanda was very shocking. An example of this can be taken from the images which brought to the front by the media. These images were so disturbing that taking a glance on then was utter horror such as the one image was shown on the TV in which two women were on their knees between the bodies of the people who were already slaughtered brutally. They were on the side of a dirt road in Kigali, and a British Journalist captured their last moment on video, as well. Although it was the very first time a killing was recorded on the media; however, compared to the media of that times this was way too much shocking and people were dreaded by the conditions prevailing in Rwanda at that time. In addition, this also confirmed the role of media hatred which contributed in the massive massacre of human lives in Rwanda. Print and electronic media, including TV and radio, repeatedly and overtly, targeted the population of Tutsi in a ruthless way to be destroyed.

The media demonized this area and suggested its destruction on various grounds such as, Tutsi had some evil equal qualities and it equated itself with its enemies and portrayed the women of Tutsi as seductive agents for the enemy. Thus, in response to the political threats posed by Tutsi ethnic, it was suggested by the media to exterminate this region. The colonial powers also played a significant role in this genocide. The last colonial power which resided in Rwanda was Belgium. Moreover, most of the soldiers in the United Nations Assistance Mission formed for Rwanda were also Belgian. Regardless of knowing the Habyarimana regime's intentions to launch this genocide on Rwanda the Belgian soldiers never ...