The term 'Genocide' was coined by Polish writer and attorney, Raphael Lemkin, in 1941 by combining the Greek word 'genos' (race) with the Latin word 'cide' (killing). The American Heritage Dictionary defines genocide as: "The systematic, planned annihilation of a racial, political or cultural group." The United Nations Convention on Genocide, adopted by the U.N. in 1948 lists this as one of the acts which qualify: "deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its destruction in whole or part. Bosnia-Herzegovina: In 1991, Yugoslavia's republic of Bosnia-Herzegovina (Bosnia) had a population of 4 million, composed of three main ethnic groups: Bosniak (Bosnian Muslim, 44%), Serb (31%), and Croat (17%), as well as Yugoslav (8%). On April 5, 1992, the government of Bosnia declared its independence from Yugoslavia. Immediately, Bosnian Serb leaders launched a war to create a separate state. They targeted Bosniak and Croatian civilians in areas under their control, in what has become known as "ethnic cleansing." During the conflict (1992-95), an estimated 100,000 people were killed; 80% of the civilians killed were Bosniaks. In July 1995, Bosnian Serb forces killed as many as 8,000 Bosniaks from Srebrenica. It was the largest massacre in Europe since the Holocaust. Brutal former army chief jailed over 1994 Rwanda genocide An army thug who ordered the deaths of thousands of innocent Rwandans has been jailed for 30 years. Former general Augustin Bizimungu is said to have supplied militants with weapons to murder ethnic Tutsi tribespeople, who he branded “cockroaches”. The brutal 59-year-old also provided fuel for the marauding gangs to burn down homes. He was jailed after being convicted of ordering attacks during the 1994 genocide that left 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus dead. A Rwanda war crimes court held in neighbouring Tanzania heard Bizimungu had full control over the men he commanded. Chief prosecutor Martin Ngoga said: “It is a welcome decision. It is a big sentence, even if many people think he deserved the highest.” Bizimungu showed no emotion as he was locked up. Ex-police chief Augustin Ndindiliyimana was also convicted over his role in the genocide. But he was released as he had already served time. Two other generals were each jailed for 20 years for taking part in the 100-day killing spree. The shocking genocide was sparked by the death of President Juvenal Habyarimana who was shot down in a plane on April 6, 1994. Government officials organised Hutu militias across the country to systematically kill Tutsis, who they blamed for the assassination.
