An important part of genocide is gendercide. Gendercide has been carried out in Bosnia, and recently in Sri-Lanka. It is a way of controlling the reproduction of a targeted population. Ethnic cleansing has been a way for perpetrators, (often carried out by or with the support of nation states) to destroy a population, and set up a system in where the targeted population cannot reproduce. With policies of gendercide, the main goal is to kill and isolate men of “battle age.”
Journalist Mark Danner describes this using five sages: Concentration: Surround the area to be cleansed and using markers to differentiate between the targeted populations and other populations. In this stage, intimidation is instilled through artillery fire and arbitrary executions. Decapitation. In this stage, perpetrators execute political leaders of the targeted population, and those capable of taking their places (lawyers, judges, public officials, writers, professors). Separation. Dividing women, children, and old men from the men of fighting age (sixteen years to sixty years older). Evacuation. Transporting women, children, and old men to the border, expelling them into a neighbouring territory or country, while keeping men of battle age separate where they are able to kill and torcher them. Liquidation. Execute fighting age men, and dispose of their bodies.
This has been a way for perpetrators of genocide to ensure that the targeted population cannot reproduce, and the targeted population will have little means to fight back. With little resistance, not only can genocide be carried fully, but also, a system is put in place where the targeted population will slowly lose its members and existing power.
Tags: Speak Out
