The BBC broadcast this recently…
Twenty years on from the Rwandan genocide, This World reveals evidence that challenges the accepted story of one of the most horrifying events of the late 20th century. The current president of Rwanda, Paul Kagame, has long been portrayed as the man who brought an end to the killing and rescued his country from oblivion. Now there are increasing questions about the role of Kagame’s Rwandan Patriotic Front forces in the dark days of 1994 and in the 20 years since.
The BBC is ‘challenging’ the accepted truth about the massacres in Rawanda but may be doing so using ‘evidence’ from those on the killer’s side of the murders.
It is a classic ‘whatiffery’ from the BBC….questioning the long and reliably established story about any event using the thinnest of evidence from people who have their own agendas. The BBC then never again mentions this unique insight having done its bit to add to the conspiracy theories swirling around out there..theories now given ‘credibilty’ by a BBC ‘investigation’ that can be used to provide quotes to back up the wildest assertions.
What you may have is a BBC team desperate for a ‘scandal’ or a high profile story the re-interpretation of which will be so contentious that it will undoubtedly make a mark somewhere in the consciousness of the world. In essence this is ratings chasing by the BBC….not for viewer figures but in terms of ‘serious journalistic investigation’…..this is the BBC patting itself on the back having allegedly unearthed another injustice in the world…..but is it just a manufactured piece of journalism designed to tick the box justifying the BBC’s existence and its claim to be a serious player in the world of investigative journalism?….Paxman of course said that they weren’t….more inclined to read off an AP or Reuter’s feed than do their own real journalism.
The Spectator publishes an article that suggests the BBC’s ‘Untold Story’ is untold because it’s untrue…..
The Rwandan genocide story that the BBC didn’t tell
On Saturday 200 UK-based Rwandans, including many genocide survivors, protested outside the BBC offices in response to the documentary ‘Rwanda’s Untold Story’, which aired earlier in October. The demonstration followed a letter of complaint sent to the BBC’s director general, written by the survivors’ organisation Ibuka.
They point out that despite the BBC’s commitment to upholding truth and objectivity, the programme contained factual inaccuracies and seemed intent on reopening wounds in Rwanda. They expressed disbelief and disappointment that:
‘[A] few people who have their differences with the current government or the country were given a platform to politicise the Genocide and deny the planned and systematic killing of over one million people.’
It is hard to lecture countries like Rwanda to raise media standards when the BBC airs documentaries with such shocking lack of balance. This week, as part of a group of scholars, journalists and lawyers, I added my voice to the protest in this open letter.
James Smith is the CEO of Aegis Trust.
I’m going to copy again here the comment I left on the article itself – I smell something fishy, but I confess to ignorance on the topic.
I don’t pretend to know very much about this conflict, and who did what to who and why. As far as BBC bias is concerned, it appears to be their raison d’etre on a host of their agendas, whilst simultaneously taking in as much money for themselves as they can.
However, looking at Smith’s personal position I can see that he would have a particular desire for the narrative to go a certain way – rightly or wrongly.
I am put in mind of the Israel/Palestine conflict where both claim bias by the BBC, but it is only where one researches more details that one can see really on which side their bias lies. Here he seems to present an argument which is akin to the one put by Palestinians, and similarly fails to present real hard facts to support his case.
After reading this article I did a Google search on the Rwandan Patriotic Front and came across this webpage:
Who was Behind the Rwandan Genocide? The Rwandan Patriotic Front’s Bloody Record and the History of UN Cover-Ups
It suggests a completely different narrative than what is put forward here, and provides far more evidence.
The picture the BBC might have put forward could well have been nothing to do with reality, that’s par for them, that doesn’t mean the version here is any more valid.
The programme didn’t deny the genocide but I’d wager you didn’t watch it – just copied soneonelse’s complaint – funny how you only do that when it suits.