Dr. Tim Gallimore, an American genocide researcher and former spokesperson for the Prosecution at the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) has accused the British Public Broadcaster, the BBC of genocide denial and producing a documentary with the objective of trying to instigate aid cut and destabilizing Rwanda.
Dr. Gallimore, an expert in international communication and media law clarified that, in his view, the documentary had the aim of inciting the British Public to call for aid cuts to Rwanda and that’s why it’s aired on BBC2, a channel largely for the same public.
Dr Gallimore was appearing through Skype before the inquiry committee on BBC’s controversial documentary titled ‘Rwanda’s Untold Story’ this Tuesday.
He also told committee members that since the documentary is questioning the real number of genocide victims and turning genocide victims into perpetrators, this is a clear indicator of genocide denial and revisionism.’
Dr. Gallimore questioned two American Professors, Alan Stam and Christian Davenport who claim in the documentary there was no genocide but at the same time argue that RPF never stopped the genocide. He said ‘if there was no genocide, how then does one argue over who stopped it?’
He criticized the BBC for having turned itself ‘into a platform for genocide deniers’ since all unfounded allegations in the documentary aren’t challenged by the journalist nor give alternative voices to the allegations.
In his testimony, Dr. Gallimore said the documentary; ‘Rwanda Untold Story’ has a misleading title since its content ‘are known falsehoods and rumors that have been circulating for the past 20 years. And this was a disservice to the UK audience who were fed on such material by the BBC’, he added.
He questioned the credibility of the interviewees that BBC chose for the documentary, since according to him, most of them are well known Rwandan fugitives while others are known genocide deniers and revisionists. He wondered how a reputable media house like the BBC could ignore its own as well as international professional journalistic standards.
As to why the BBC engaged itself in such unprofessional piece of work, Dr. Gallimore said ‘all accusations and allegations that have been made against the RPF government and President Kagame are aimed at misleading UK audience so that they start questioning as to why there is financial support that continues to go to this government hence destabilizing Rwanda by cutting all financial aid from UK.’
He then added: ‘there is some concerted effort within the BBC hierarchy to try to undermine UK’s continued financial and military aid to Rwanda.’
Since its broadcast, BBC’s documentary has attracted outrage from different quarters, including genocide survivors, academics and journalists. They all accuse the BBC of genocide denial and revisionism.
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