Genocide in Modern - Yang Hyun(양 현) 2015. 4. 30.

Genocide in Modern Society.

 

We learnt genocide in history on 4. 28 Tuesday and also learnt genocide in World War 2. So i'm going to suggest some genocide after World War 2.

I refer to translated book “Cruel World history – Scar that Genocide gave to civilized society”(“잔혹한 세계사 – 대량학살이 문명사회에 남긴 상처”) Following historical events are in that book. It is hard to present all the contents of each historical events so I summarized each episodes on my own words. I translate this korean books in quite easy words so I think all of you guys can read my posting without problem.

 

Warning: You may get angry when reading this post and some disgusting expression can be included.

 

 

1. Sharpville, South Africa. 1960. 3. 21

Sharpville is resident place of black people in Africa. White people authority made ID cards only for black native people. Black people should carry that cards if they don’t, they come to get into jail. That is generated in segregation policy which is so called “apartheid”(discrimination policy). Black native peoples demonstrated against this unfair policy. Their objection protest was getting bigger in front of the police station. About 300 police officers gathered to block and dismiss them. In the end, they started to shot protesters with rifle and machine guns. 69 people were dead and 180 people were injured in few seconds of firing.
Casualty: 69 people dead

 

2. MyLai, Vietnam 1968. 3. 16

During Vietnam War(1954-75), 120 american soldiers were dispatched to the MyLai area in Vietnam. Their mission was eliminating the Vietcong(베트콩).

Vietcong lived in basement turnel and moved at night. So US armed force had hard time th fight against them. Loss and damage of US force was getting bigger. One day, group of US soldiers had mission to attack MyLai town because they come to know that many Vietcongs were there. Many innocent people like women and children were in MiLai. And soldiers knew that innocent people were there but US force decided to attack the MyLai. 400 innocent people were dead for 4 hours attack. And US soldiers did inhumane things. They cut the dead body and pile the dead bodies in big hole. And they also raped women.
Casualty: 400 people dead

 

3. Cambodia. 1975-1979

There were politic war between Vietnam and Cambodia. Saloth Sar(‘살로트 사‘라는 캄보디아인), new leader of Cambodia kept fighting. North Vietnam and South Vietnam was incorporated and became Republic of Vietnam. Vietnam signed a treaty with Laos(라오스). Saloth Sar considered this as threat to Cambodia. So as response to this pressure, Saloth Sar ordered to kill 100000 Cambodian people who were from Vietnam.
Casualty: 100000 people dead 
 

4. Tiananmen squre in China. 1989. 6. 3-4

Tiananmen squre(천안문(톈안먼) 광장) is in the center of the capita of China. Tiananmen(천안문) which means peaceful gate in the heaven is located in north of the Tiananmen squre. One of the most well-known event held in Tiananmen squre is students demonstration. Hundreds of thousnads students gathered to represent their idea about future of China. They were suppressed by the tanks and soldiers which Socialism leader group sent. Socialism leaders considered that purpose of students demonstration is getting rid of the root of Socialism system. Head of Communism Party allowed that armed force can be mobilized to dismiss the protesters in square. After end of genocide in square, China Red Cross confirmed that total 2600 students lost their lives.
Casualty: 2600 people dead

 

5. Rwnada(르완다). 1994. April – July

Rwnada is in middle area of Africa. Hutu tribe(후투 족) and Tutsi tribe(투치 족) migrated to Rwanda and they consisted of most people in Rwanda. Tutsi is a tribe which raised animals like cow, sheep, horse and Hutu is a tribe which did farming and agriculture. Hutu overwhelmed Tutsi in number of people but Tutsi succeeded dominating Rwanda because of their much wealth. Their difference and stratification was getting bigger in social status and wealth.

Belgium was dominating Rwanda at that times. Belgium make it obligatory to release the ID cards which show someone's tribe name. So changing social status by doing effort became impossible. This made discrimination and isolation confirmed. At the end, Hutu tribe killed Tutsi tribe people and 75% of Tutsi tribe(800000 people) was eliminated for 100 days.
Casualty: 800000 people dead

 

Reference: Joseph Cummins, Cruel World history – Scar that Genocide gave to civilized society, sigmabooks, 2011, 제효영 번역.

My Comments: In Guang-ju,  Korea 1980. 5.18. Military authority dominated Korea. Many students protested against this arbitrary domination. 154 people died. I come to know that genocide can take place not even in war. I was suprised that genocide can take place in one country or between same race and tribes.
And I wanna suggest other concepts of genocide in modern society.  Actually it is not genocide but I think that if we ignore this social problem, it CAN BE genocide. Hundreds of children are dying in 1 second in the world because of starvation. It is not genocide because someone didn't kill them. But if world doesn't pay much attention to this problem, it WILL become genocide.