“We will squash the infestation. We will kill the cockroaches.”
RTLM Radio Announcer
RTLM Radio Announcer
Rwanda has two major cities (Kigali and Butare) and several scattered, sparsely populated villages in remote areas. The only media in much of the country was city-wide public announcements, which broadcast propaganda and became a vital factor in the Rwandan Genocide.
"We have scorched the earth in Butare...we have killed more than 500 snakes and their Hutu traitor friends at the university."
RTLM Radio Announcer |
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"You must not let your guard down! These Tutsi snakes are hiding in the grass and bushes, so make sure that you have your machete ready to chop the snakes in half. Better yet, take your gun and shoot them! If you don't have a gun, the government will bring you one. If you're working your field and spot a Tutsi woman in the bushes breast-feeding her baby, don't waste a golden opportunity: Pick up your gun, shoot her, and return to work, knowing that you did your duty. But don't forget to kill the baby-the child of a snake is a snake, so kill it, too."
RTLM Radio Announcer
RTLM Radio Announcer
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Radio commentators called Tutsis “cockroaches” and “vermin,” and reasoned they must be “exterminated.” Broadcasts described Tutsis as beasts: this dehumanization made them easier to kill.
RTLM Radio Founder, Ferdinand Nahimana.
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"I want to personally congratulate the hardworking Hutus of Kibuye for their excellent work. More of our Tutsi enemies have been killed in Kibuye than in any other province. After you finish the job and all the enemies are dead, we will live in paradise. We will no longer have to compete for jobs with cockroaches. With no little cockroaches, there will be plenty of space for Hutu children in our schools. You have been doing fine work in Kibuye-almost all our enemies are dead. But we must kill them all. Let's finish the job!" RTLM Radio Announcer |
"These people are a dirty race! We have to exterminate them. We must get rid of them. This is the only solution. These cockroaches, who called me, where are they? They surely have been exterminated. Let us sing: let us rejoice, friends! Cockroaches have been exterminated. Let us rejoice, friends! God is never wrong!"
RTLM Radio Announcer
RTLM Radio Announcer
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"The graves are not yet full."
RTLM Radio Announcer
RTLM Radio Announcer
Rwandan propaganda was similar to that of the Nazi Party. Radio was used to praise Hutus for killing Tutsis and proudly announce deaths.
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