Catholic nun jailed for 30 years for her part in Rwandan genocide - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

Cheese · 11-10-2006, 02:01 PM

A Catholic nun has been sentenced to 30 years in jail for helping militias kill hundreds of people hiding in a hospital during Rwanda's 1994 genocide, an official said Friday.

A number of Hutu Catholic and Protestant church leaders are alleged to have played significant roles in the east African country's 100-day massacre. More than 500,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus were killed by the militia, orchestrated by the extremist Hutu government then in power. The genocide ended when Tutsi rebels toppled the government.

Genocide in the name of God

jolinar of malkshor · 11-10-2006, 03:02 PM

So much for protecting the vulnerable.

Resolute 14 · 11-10-2006, 03:43 PM

If only she was an athiest, this all could have been prevented...

JohnnyFlame · 11-10-2006, 03:46 PM

Every single UN soldier should be rounded up and charged for genocide as well along with every member of the UN at the time. Didn't even read the story above but there is PLENTY of guilt that has never been addressed in that tragedy.

jolinar of malkshor · 11-10-2006, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnnyFlame

Every single UN soldier should be rounded up and charged for genocide as well along with every member of the UN at the time. Didn't even read the story above but there is PLENTY of guilt that has never been addressed in that tragedy.

I agree with the UN...but you can't blame the solidars when they are ordered by the UN not to intervene.

Resolute 14 · 11-10-2006, 03:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jolinar of malkshor

I agree with the UN...but you can't blame the solidars when they are ordered by the UN not to intervene.

I believe "I was only following orders" is not a legal defense, possibly per the Geneva Convention. I know that refers specifically to acts of commission, but I suppose it could be applied to acts of omission as well.

JohnnyFlame · 11-10-2006, 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jolinar of malkshor

I agree with the UN...but you can't blame the solidars when they are ordered by the UN not to intervene.

BULLDUNG. Guilty as charged.

Looger · 11-10-2006, 04:14 PM

they had no weapons and no orders to intervene.

and some of them died because they had no way to defend themselves.

every member of the UN force!

wow.

habernac · 11-10-2006, 04:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnnyFlame

Every single UN soldier should be rounded up and charged for genocide as well along with every member of the UN at the time. Didn't even read the story above but there is PLENTY of guilt that has never been addressed in that tragedy.

totally unfair. The UN has neutered most of their peace keeping forces, I have friends who were in the former Yugoslavia and were not allowed to stop any of the atrocities from happening there, either.

Looger · 11-10-2006, 04:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnnyFlame

Every single UN soldier should be rounded up and charged for genocide as well along with every member of the UN at the time. Didn't even read the story above but there is PLENTY of guilt that has never been addressed in that tragedy.

so... where were you and what were you doing during the massacre?

better turn yourself in there buddy, clearly you're guilty!

JohnnyFlame · 11-10-2006, 04:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Looger

so... where were you and what were you doing during the massacre?

better turn yourself in there buddy, clearly you're guilty!

You know what -- I do feel guilty and ashamed. I was ashamed to be a Canadian and yeah we do have that guilt on our backs.

jolinar of malkshor · 11-10-2006, 04:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnnyFlame

BULLDUNG. Guilty as charged.

WHAT???

Oh my god. I can;t believe people.

So the UN force is going to commit mutiny and deside what should happen. There is a strict line of command when it comes to the army...and it needs to be followed. This isn't a case of "just following orders". They were not the ones doing the killing it was others so that logic does not apply here.

Mean Mr. Mustard · 11-10-2006, 04:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snakeeye

I believe "I was only following orders" is not a legal defense, possibly per the Geneva Convention. I know that refers specifically to acts of commission, but I suppose it could be applied to acts of omission as well.

I believe that the following orders defense (while it is likely still used behind closed doors) is with regards to specific acts on the part of the soldiers and not inaction on the part of the soldiers who at the time were placed into a very difficult situation.

The two books I have read on the subject are Shake Hands with the Devil (Obviously) as well as We Wish to Inform you that Tomorrow we will be killed with our famlies: stories from Rwanda.

It is a very difficult situation to fully understand

jolinar of malkshor · 11-10-2006, 04:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnnyFlame

You know what -- I do feel guilty and ashamed. I was ashamed to be a Canadian and yeah we do have that guilt on our backs.

Well we should all be lined up and charged then because we new what was going on and did nothing as a people.. We should also all be lined up and charged for whats going on in the Sudan....because the exact same thing is happening.

Looger · 11-10-2006, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnnyFlame

You know what -- I do feel guilty and ashamed. I was ashamed to be a Canadian and yeah we do have that guilt on our backs.

compared to our participation in the world bank, IMF, and not burning down all the banks that lend money to warlords in africa, buying corporate sugar that displaces peoples' food in starving countries, et al, rwanda is aboot #100 on our complicity in world atrocities.

it makes some fine press for people making some political point but it pales in comparison to the congo alone.

JohnnyFlame · 11-10-2006, 04:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jolinar of malkshor

WHAT???

Oh my god. I can;t believe people.

So the UN force is going to commit mutiny and deside what should happen. There is a strict line of command when it comes to the army...and it needs to be followed. This isn't a case of "just following orders". They were not the ones doing the killing it was others so that logic does not apply here.

So if you stand by and watch people get murdered without doing something you are what --An innocent bystander? When you have the ability and means to do something about it. NOPE not even close to good enough is that weak I was just following orders rubbish!

JohnnyFlame · 11-10-2006, 04:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jolinar of malkshor

Well we should all be lined up and charged then because we new what was going on and did nothing as a people.. We should also all be lined up and charged for whats going on in the Sudan....because the exact same thing is happening.

Yep we certainly have a share in the blame don't we?

Looger · 11-10-2006, 04:28 PM

yep, no doubt, better send the boys in...

meanwhile we'll turn a blind eye to the arms deals and the corporate exploitation and the colonial and tribal roots of all these problems...

MORE INTERVENTION!

let's INVADE THE PLANET!

jolinar of malkshor · 11-10-2006, 04:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnnyFlame

Yep we certainly have a share in the blame don't we?

Yes we do....but no more or less than the solidars sent their.

JohnnyFlame · 11-10-2006, 04:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Looger

compared to our participation in the world bank, IMF, and not burning down all the banks that lend money to warlords in africa, buying corporate sugar that displaces peoples' food in starving countries, et al, rwanda is aboot #100 on our complicity in world atrocities.

it makes some fine press for people making some political point but it pales in comparison to the congo alone.

Don't much matter where it stacks up on a list --they could have done something about it. Some of the things listed above we could take a decision not to do but we weren't in Rwanda with a gun in hand -- they were and they should have used them.