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Teacher’s note: If you can devote two classes to studying genocide, then show the film "The Killing Fields" in the first class, available from most video stores. If you only have one class period, then you can encourage the students to watch "The Killing Fields" for extra credit.
Discuss the Eight Stages of Genocide – Based on the work of Gregory Stanton (www.genocidewatch.org)
Genocide is a process that develops in stages that are predictable as well as preventable. If you have time, have the students suggest examples for each of the stages.
1. Classification - All cultures put people into categories creating "us and them" by ethnicity, race, religion or nationality. German vs. Jew. Hutu vs. Tutsi. Heterosexual vs. Homosexual. Colored vs. White. In Cambodia it was the capitalists (considered tainted by foreign influences) vs. farming peasants (considered pure).
The main prevention measure is to teach tolerance and understanding and to promote classifications that transcend the divisions, such as common language, religion or national identity. Also address the inequalities that build resentment, such as poverty.
2. Symbolization – We give names or symbols to the classifications. We name people "Arabs" or distinguish them by dress. Symbols may be forced on unwilling members of the hated group. The Nazis made Jews wear yellow stars. In Cambodia the urban dwellers were given blue scarves and targeted for execution.
To stop symbolization, hate symbols can be legally forbidden (such as swastikas). Gang clothing can be outlawed as well. Denial of symbolization can be powerful, as it was in Bulgaria, when many non-Jews chose to wear the yellow star, depriving it of its significance as a Nazi symbol for Jews.
3. Dehumanization – One group denies the humanity of the other group. Members are equated with animals, vermin, insects or diseases. Dehumanization overcomes the normal human revulsion against murder. In Cambodia, the Khmer Rouge dehumanized capitalists and ethnic groups like the Vietnamese, Cham and Chinese. The US justified bombing Cambodia because we believed communists were evil.
For prevention, hate radio stations should be illegal and hate propaganda in print should be banned. Hate crimes and atrocities should be promptly punished.
4. Organization – Genocide is always organized, usually by the state, though sometimes informally or by terrorist groups. Special army units or militias are often trained and armed, as were the Khmer Rouge. Plans are made for genocidal killings. Sometimes a charismatic leader with a solution for improving a nation in crisis rises up, like Hitler or Pol Pot. Cambodia had just been through war and the country was in chaos.
To stop this stage, membership in the militias should be outlawed. Their leaders should be denied visas for foreign travel. The UN should impose arms embargos on governments involved in genocidal massacres and create commissions to investigate violations. In the case of Cambodia, China supported the Khmer Rouge during the genocide and the US supported the Khmer Rouge after the genocide. There were reports of genocide in Cambodia, but they were not investigated.
5. Polarization – Extremists drive groups apart. Hate groups broadcast polarizing propaganda and may target moderates. Laws may forbid intermarriage or social interaction. The Khmer Rouge started out by intimidating the school teachers.
Prevention may mean security protection for moderate leaders or giving assistance to human rights groups. Assets of extremists may be seized.
6. Preparation – Victims are identified and separated out because of their ethnic or religious identity. Death lists are drawn up. Victims are often segregated into ghettoes, forced into concentration camps, or confined to a famine-struck region. The Khmer Rouge forced everyone in work camps and then identified those they wanted to kill.
At this stage, a Genocide Alert must be called. With the support of the UN Security Council, armed intervention should be prepared, or heavy assistance to the victim group in preparing for its self-defense.
7. Extermination – Extermination begins, and quickly becomes the mass killing legally called "genocide." It is "extermination" to the killers because they do not believe their victims to be fully human. Only one of the Khmer Rouge leaders living today feels any remorse about his actions. Pol Pot said he has a "clear conscience."
At this stage, only rapid and overwhelming armed intervention can stop genocide. Safe areas or refugee escape corridors should be established with heavily armed international protection.
8. Denial – Denial always follows a genocide. It is among the surest indicators of further genocidal massacres. The perpetrators deny that they committed any crimes, and often blame what happened on the victims. They block investigations of the crimes, and continue to govern until driven from power by force, when they flee into exile. There they live freely, unless they are captured and a tribunal is established to try them. The Khmer Rouge continued to massacre ethnic-Vietnamese for 20 years following the genocide. Only two Khmer Rouge leaders have been captured and charged with crimes against humanity. The rest live freely.
The best response to denial is punishment by an international tribunal or national court. There the evidence can be heard and the perpetrators punished. Ultimately, an International Criminal Court needs to be established. The UN is working with Cambodia to set up an International Tribunal to bring the Khmer Rouge to trial.
Alternative Exercise (simpler)
What factors helped cause genocide in Cambodia? (previous governments were corrupt and didn’t treat people well, hatred toward the rich, racism toward Vietnamese, chaos due to bombing, destabilizing the government by overthrowing Prince Sihanouk, charismatic leader with a strong vision, socialist and Maoist ideology)
Why were the Khmer Rouge so angry? (anger due to economic injustices and foreign intervention, from the French and US and historically from the Thai and Vietnamese; fear of loss of sovereignty; numbing due to exposure to violence in civil war; anger from exposure to domestic violence in childhood)
International Tribunal Cambodia and the United Nations are negotiating to set up an International Tribunal to bring the Khmer Rouge leaders to trial for their crimes against humanity. For the latest news about the tribunal go to "Yahoo World News Cambodia" (http://news.yahoo.com/fc/World/Cambodia)
Form groups of three. Each group should:
Make a list of ways genocide can be prevented in the future. (treat people fairly, help poor people, try to stop domestic violence through education, help people overcome racism, use the United Nations to stop brutal leaders)
Have each group share their lists.
The Next Genocide Which countries do you see factors similar to those that proceeded the Cambodian genocide? (extreme hatred and racism between Jews in Israel vs. Arabs in Palestine, Hindus in India vs. Muslims in Pakistan, tribal groups in Liberia; unstable countries with warlords: Colombia, Afghanistan, Somalia)
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