Rwanda 1 94 A r p i r l 6,

Transcription

1 Rwanda 1994 April 6, 1994 Rwandan President Habyarimana and the Burundian President are killed when Habyarimana's plane is shot down near Kigali Airport. Hutu extremists, suspecting that the Rwandan president is finally about to implement the Arusha Peace Accords, are believed to be behind the attack. The killings begin that night. April 7 The Rwandan Armed Forces (FAR) and Hutu militia (the Interahamwe) set up roadblocks and go from house to house killing Tutsis and moderate Hutu politicians. Thousands die on the first day. 1

2 April 7 Some U.N. camps shelter civilians, but most of the U.N. peackeeping forces (UNAMIR) stand by while the slaughter goes on. They are forbidden to intervene, as this would breach their "monitoring" mandate. On this day, ten Belgian soldiers are tricked into giving up their weapons. They are tortured and murdered. 2

3 April 9-10 France and Belgium send troops to rescue their citizens. American civilians are also airlifted out. No Rwandans are rescued, not even Rwandans employed by Western governments in their embassies, consulates, etc. April 11 At the Don Bosco school, protected by Belgian UNAMIR soldiers, the number of civilians seeking refuge reaches 2,000. That afternoon, the U.N. soldiers are ordered to withdraw to the airport. Most of the civilians they abandon are killed. April 14 One week after the murder of the ten Belgian soldiers, Belgium withdraws from UNAMIR 3

4 April 21 The U.N. Security Council votes unanimously to withdraw most of the UNAMIR troops, cutting the force from 2,500 to 270. The International Red Cross estimates that tens, perhaps hundreds of thousands of Rwandans are now dead. April 28 An estimated 175,000 crossed into Tanzania in one 24-hour period, in one of swiftest and most massive refugee movements of the 20th century. 4

5 April 28 State Department spokeswoman Christine Shelley is asked whether what is happening in Rwanda is a genocide. She responds: Secretary of State Warren Christopher did not authorize officials to use the term genocide until May 21 The US and the genocide in Rwanda 1994: Evidence of Inaction. A National Security Archive Briefing Book Ed. by W.Ferroggiaro - August 20, 2001 April 30 In one day, 250,000 Rwandans cross the border into Tanzania. More than 600,000 persons will be killed in the next two months 5

6 April 30 The U.N. Security Council passes a resolution condemning the killing, but omits the word "genocide." Had the term been used, the U.N. would have been legally obliged to act to "prevent and punish" the perpetrators. 6

7 May 2 Kofi Annan: "here we are watching people being deprived of the most fundamental of rights, the right to life, and yet we seem a bit helpless..." May 3 Clinton signs a Presidential Decision Directive (PDD 25), that aims to limit U.S. military involvement in international peacekeeping operations. Madeline Albright: May 17 "... Sending a U.N. force into the maelstrom in Rwanda without a sound plan of operations would be folly... these choices are not easy ones (...) Ultimately, the future of Rwanda is in Rwandan hands." The International Red Cross estimates 500,000 Rwandans have been killed 7

8 June 10 At a State Department briefing, spokesperson Christine Shelley is asked: "How many acts of genocide does it take to make genocide?" "That's just not a question that I'm in a position to answer." "Well, is it true that you have specific guidance not to use the word 'genocide' in isolation, but always to preface it with these words 'acts of'?" "I have guidance which I try to use as best as I can... There are formulations that we are using that we are trying to be consistent in our use of I don't have an absolute categorical prescription against something, but I have the definitions " June 22 The Security Council authorizes the deployment of French forces in south-west Rwanda--"Operation Turquoise. They create a "safe area" in territory controlled by the government. However, killings of Tutsis continue in the safe area. 8

9 The Rwandan Patriotic Front 9

10 02/10/2012 Gisenyi 4 July

11 refugees decided on their own where to settle in, where to incamp 11

12 Goma 14 July

13 At Kibumba refugee camp, 15kms from Goma, conditions were atrocious. People lived in subhuman conditions without a safe source of water or shelter. The camp was situated 3kms from the Rwanda border and at the foot of an active volcano. 13

14 Mid-July The Tutsi RPF forces capture Kigali, the genocide is over. An estimated 800,000 Rwandans have been killed in 100 days. Mid-July The Hutu government flees to Zaire, followed by a tide of refugees. The French end their mission and are replaced by Ethiopian U.N. troops. The RPF sets up an interim government of national unity in Kigali. Although disease and more killings claim additional lives in the refugee camps, the genocide is over. 14

15 15

16 60 Minutes scandal headline was that the narrow-minded, bureaucratic slow-witted UN (WHO in particular) prevented life-saving supplies to be given out and thus killed Rwandans for no reason. Indeed, WHO rejected the acceptance or use of the vaccine. The vaccine was not used. Vaccine didn t control spread Vaccine didn t work at all without preceding exposure Vaccine implementation was impossible; mounting an immunization of 1 million unregistered population beyond capabilities Opportunity costs would have been lethal: all resources were needed in water systems, primary care, CHWs, outreach, education by the time the vaccine was offered, cholera was no longer the most important disease to worry about 16

17 1995 Multi-donor evaluation: 150,000 Un-necessary deaths 17

18 Most of the needs in emergencies, affecting the largest numbers of people, we refer to as primary care needs. Primary health care addresses the mostcommon diseases on a population basis, with simple, inexpensive technology. The crisis in Goma highlighted the need for people who understood primary care (like ORS), because so many of the highly-trained physicians who were sent by NGOs into Goma did not know what to do. Goma Frankly, no one knows why so many people died. The large numbers of individuals dying, including whole families, appears to be some combination of fatigue, dehydration, malnutrition and exposure to multiple infections. March 25, 1998 In Kigali, Rwanda President Clinton apologizes to the victims of genocide. May 7, 1998 In Kigali, Rwanda U.N. Secretary-General, Kofi Annan apologizes to the Parliament of Rwanda 18

19 March 1999 The International Federation of Human Rights Leagues and Human Rights Watch release a report titled, "Leave None to Tell the Story." The 900-page report criticizes the U.N., the U.S., France and Belgium for knowing about preparations for the impending slaughter and not taking action to prevent the killings. 19

20 20

21 21

22 Laurent Nkunda Paul Kagame Joseph Kabila 22