RTLM is an acronym for Radio Télévision Libre des Mille Collines, which translates to Free Radio and Television of the Thousand Hills in English. RTLM was a prominent radio station during the Rwandan genocide in 1994. This station played a significant role in fueling ethnic hatred and inciting violence among the Hutu population against the Tutsi minority.
The dictionary definition of RTLM would describe it as a Rwandan broadcast station that aired during the genocide, spreading hate speech, propaganda, and calls for violence against the Tutsi population. It was established in 1993 and became a powerful tool in promoting the extremist Hutu Power ideology, which advocated for the extermination of Tutsis.
The station used various methods to propagate its messages, including talk shows, music, and news updates, often disseminating false rumors and fabricated stories to intensify tensions and fear. RTLM's programming was highly inflammatory, labeling the Tutsi population as traitors and scapegoats for the country's problems.
The impact of RTLM cannot be underestimated, as its broadcasts contributed to the dehumanization of Tutsis and encouraged ordinary citizens to take up arms against their neighbors. The station played a significant role in facilitating and coordinating the genocide, leading to the brutal deaths of approximately 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus.
In summary, RTLM was a Rwandan radio station that operated during the genocide, using hate speech and propaganda to incite violence against the Tutsi population. Its broadcasts fueled ethnic tensions and played a key role in the mass killings and atrocities of the genocide.
