Reflection 12

Reflection Paper #12: Compare the patterns of Genocide and Ethnic Cleansing in Rwanda, Bosnia and Dafur. What insights have you gained from reading about these atrocities?

Ethnic cleansing is the removal of an unwanted ethnic group either by a mass exodus to another region or country or by genocide. Genocide is a deliberate and organized plan put in place by the ruling government to extinguish another ethnic group or culture. Although genocide is considered to be a very serious crime against humanity by the United Nation and the world in general, it still seems to occur. I find it perplexing that ethnic cleansing is not considered a crime when acts of genocide are under its umbrella. I suppose that if they were to consider ethnic cleansing a crime, a lot more countries, including the United States would find themselves guilty. Most people are familiar with the Holocaust which was a classic case of ethnic cleansing; however, this practice has and is taking place in other countries such as Yugoslavia, Rwanda and Dafur. The governments of these countries decide for whatever hateful reason they can come up with to exile or annihilate a group of people and occupy their land. This makes me think of the Native American Indians in a sense. I can truthfully say I have never seen one although I know they are still around – not even in the casinos – but I digress.
The patterns and or tactics used to disemble the unwanted ethnic groups are pretty much the same. The efforts by the government are very organized and calculating in there make up. In order to gain control of that region, the government will surround them and most times will give them the option to leave voluntarily. Then, to gain further control, they will kill all political and public figureheads of that group. As in the case of Yugoslavia, the men, women and children were all separated. Then the women, children and old men were driven to neighboring countries while the young and strong men from the age of sixteen were murdered and quickly buried in an effort to revert attention. The tactics used for intimidation and control are murder, rape, torture, destruction of public, personal or cultural property and artifacts, theft/robbery, elimination of food source or supply and displacement by force. Certain human rights watch groups, and the United Nation are keeping a close watch on these atrocities but I feel more action is required. I believe that the humanitarian international laws must swiftly be exacted on these ruthless governments.