Review: Shake Hands with the Devil by Romeo Dallaire
From Never Again
Shake Hands with the Devil by Roméo Dallaire
My story is not a strictly military account nor a clinical, academic study of the breakdown of Rwanda. It is not a simplistic indictment of the many failures of the UN as a force for peace in the world. It is not a story of heroes and villains, although such a work could easily be written. This book is a cri de coeur for the slaughtered thousands, a tribute to the souls hacked apart by machetes because of their supposed difference from those who sought to hang on to power. . . . This book is the account of a few humans who were entrusted with the role of helping others taste the fruits of peace. Instead, we watched as the devil took control of paradise on earth and fed on the blood of the people we were supposed to protect.
Ten years after the devastating genocide that claimed the lives of almost a million Tutsis in 100 days, Roméo Dallaire, who was the Force Commander for the UN Peacekeeping mission in Rwanda, give us this harrowing, heart wrenching, and above all haunting story about one of the most fastest and bloodiest killing sprees in recent history and the international apathy behind it.
He tells us about what happened and gives very meticulous details about everything from what happened behind the scenes at UN headquarters, to the would be killing fields of the underfunded Peacekeeping mission, and eventually the months leading up to the genocide took place. Three months before the killings began, Jean-Pierre, an extremist Hutu informant told Dallaire about hidden arms caches and that the Interahamwe were planning to not only exterminate the Tutsis and moderate Hutus, but they were targeting Belgian peacekeepers to insure Belgium's withdrawal (which the Belgians were the backbone of UNAMIR.) Dallaire sent the now famous genocide fax warning of killings and permission to raid the hidden arms caches. With the disaster of Somalia (18 American soldiers were killed) the UN didn't want to have to deal with another problem in Africa and told Dallaire to do no such raid. He battled over by phone with the UN telling them off the impending threat of mass killings. Sadly, the warnings fell on deaf ears and the rest is history.
During those three months, Dallaire struggles with the withdrawal of Belgian troops, negotiations with the death squad leaders, the deaths of some of his soldiers and of innocent Rwandans and bodies piled several feet high.
This book will leave you shocked, sickened, enraged, full of sorrow and at the very least ashamed of the international racism. This will question the public on whether people in the First World seem passive of people from third world countries. It seems that way. Dallaire's anger at the world (especially the United States, France and the UN Security Council) echo strongly through the pages. His rage has become our rage. His questions have become our questions.
Coming back from Rwanda, Dallaire struggled with the memories and actions he took during the genocide which led him to be diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder(the highest-ranking officer ever to suffer publicly) being medically discharged from the Canadian armed forces,and several suicide attempts. He blames himself for not doing enough during the genocide and refuses to be called a hero (which most people regard him as such) But you can't help but admire him for his deep love for humanity, honesty, bravery and scholarly knowledge. Not only was the book a national bestseller, but it was made into an award winning documentary (won a Sundance award) which he returns to Rwanda, and currently being made into a feature film in Rwanda and will be released next year.
No doubt, this book made a huge impact in my life and I have a feeling that when you read this important memoir, it will leave a lasting impression. It should be read by everyone to understand this tragedy intellectually and in your hearts.
With a wonderful Introduction by Samantha Power and General Dallaire's story of naivety, hatred, genocide, betrayal, inhumanity, and evil, Shake Hands with the Devil is not only a damning indictment to the international community for their passive response (which can only be described as racist) but a cri de coeur, a tribute to the 800,000 dead and displaced millions and a calling to take a stand against genocide for generations to come.
