The OLOA Project

One million people died in the Rwandan genocide in 1994. A radio station was accused of playing a key role in inciting the genocide and crimes against humanity.

It seems some Hutu used the radio station to stir up violence and tell the militiamen where the Tutsi enemy was hiding. They say that in a war situation the government uses another language to mobilise a defence against enemies attacks.

The radio station was "enormously influential" in a country with a lot of illiterate people, according to an expert witness, Alison Des Forges of Human Rights Watch. "The radio had an informal relaxed sound and played great music so the messages were attractive", she says.

The radio station is also accused of making Hutus phone in and report where their Tutsi neighbours were.

Adapted from BBC News. To view full article see: