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Alison Des Forges
Feb. 21st, 2009 11:09 amUntil I read her obituary in the Economist, I had never heard of Alison Des Forges.
I found the obituary very distressing, because of the story it tells of her on the phone to a friend during the Rwandan genocide:
The Economist goes on to describe Ms Des Forges work documenting genocide and war-crimes on both sides of the conflict, and elsewhere as well. It contains more, equally disturbing, details.
It is important to remember these things.
I found the obituary very distressing, because of the story it tells of her on the phone to a friend during the Rwandan genocide:
Mrs Des Forges called her every half-hour, late into the night. She heard her describe steadily more alarming scenes—militiamen going from house to house, pulling people out and killing them. Eventually, they came to Ms Mujawamariya’s door. Mrs Des Forges told her to pass the telephone to the killers. She would pretend to be from the White House, she said, and warn them off. “No, that won’t work,” said Ms Mujawamariya. Then she added: “Please take care of my children. I don’t want you to hear this.” And she hung up.
The Economist goes on to describe Ms Des Forges work documenting genocide and war-crimes on both sides of the conflict, and elsewhere as well. It contains more, equally disturbing, details.
It is important to remember these things.
