Genocide is defined by the 1928 United Nations Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide as:
(Article 2): “genocide means any of the following acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group, as such:
(a) Killing members of the group;
(b) Causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group;
(c) Deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part;
(d) Imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group;
(e) Forcibly transferring children of the group to another group.
Genocide is the deliberate and organized killing of a group/and or groups of people, with the intention of destroying their identity as an ethnic, cultural, or religious group. Although the concept of genocide has been around for many years, the word itself was coined by legal expert, Raphael Lemkin. He saw the need for a new word to describe the deliberate act of picking on a particular group with the intention of trying to destroy them. He wanted a word that encompassed the different actions which are planned and organized with the intention of destroying the identity of a larger group. The word genocide itself comes from the ancient Greek word GENOS (which means race, tribe) and CIDE (killing).
Genocide is more than killing people alone. It involves seriously injuring people to a state in which they cannot contribute to the development of society. It involves creating systems which prevent the targeted group from reproducing (by separating men and women, by killing off those of reproductive age, or by raping the targeted population, thereby forcing a new breed of children). Genocide also involves transferring children from the targeted group to another group, when this is done at a young age, these children grow up not knowing their true culture and language.
An important part of genocide is gendercide. 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 neighboring territory or country, while keeping men of battle age separate where they are able to kill and torture 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. With a low reproduction rate, a population that has very little men and women who can fight back, it becomes easier to destroy the cultural identity and physical existence of the targeted group.
Genocide is also not a random occurrence, but involves a lot of planning; often years and years of it. It is also carried out by, or with complete permission from governments, especially when powerful, ruthless leader’s campaign on a platform of ethnic cleansing and racial purity.
War and genocide is not the same thing. However, under the guise of a war, it becomes easier to carry of a genocidal program. How?
How does war facilitate genocide?
1) War creates a climate of violence and increases fear and hatred.
War creates an idea of us versus them, you are either on our side, or you are an enemy. Through extensive militarism and propaganda, a climate of fear and hatred is created. The targeted group is taught to be feared and hated, and fear is instilled in the targeted group.
2) War eases genocidal logistics.
State power is energized by creating an atmosphere of war. It becomes easier to mobilize resources needed to assist genocide during a time of perceived war. Like, the freight trains that were created in Nazi Germany to transport victims to their death camps were done under the blanket of being needed because it was more efficient to transport war goods. However, it was used to kill. By using war, the governments are able to set-aside resources to initiatives that are genocidal under the fall pretense of using it as efficient equipment in war.
3) War provides a smokescreen for genocide.
“Its war, an internal matter” is what is used to keep other countries involvement out. Journalism becomes restricted, military censorship begins and prevents investigations of crime under the belief that it is an internal matter. By saying it is an internal matter, perpetrators of genocide can keep the international community out.
4) War fuels intracommunal solidarity and intercommunal enmity.
“You’re either with us, or against us,” is a sentiment that is echoed during these times. It creates this atmosphere where certain countries are aligned to and held together by a common danger and common goal. War increases nationalistic impulses, and further marginalizes marginalized people. Other nations show solidarity against supporting the extermination of a group, through monetary and equipment support.
5) War magnifies humanitarian crisis.
With war, it is harder for NGOs to access victims, and as a result the humanitarian crisis worsens. Food becomes scarce, and victims are left with little support. Many starve to death without food, and of disease that breeds in unsanitary overcrowding situations. This, is a way of killing off those who did not die, and is a part of genocide. Also, rapes become rampant during times like this when there is no outside mediator, too much power in the hands of a few corrupts.
Genocide is more than killing people alone. It is killing and ridding an entire identity of people. It must not go unpunished.
Reference:
Jones (2006). Genocide: A Comprehensive Introduction. New York: Routedge.
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