Rwanda
800,000 people killed in 100 days.
The entire world stands by and watches ...
What a tragedy ...
This is the story of the world's most shameful 100 days.
Rwanda was ruled by the Belgians for a long time. They split the native Rwandan population into two parts - Tutsi and Hutu. The Tutsis were taller and had narrower noses. The Belgians used the Tutsis to rule the country. When the Belgians left the country however, they handed over power to the Hutus, who took the opportunity to take revenge on the Tutsis.
In 1994, the Rwandan President Habyarimana (a Hutu) was about to sign a peace accord with the Tutsi rebel forces when his plane was shot down by his fellow Hutus ...
This was on April 6th, 1994
The Hutus pinned the blame for the assasination on the Tutsis and they proceeded to massacre the Tutsis ...
And what did the UN do ? And the West ? And the East for that matter ?
Heres the story of a 100 days (Source: PBS)
April 7
The Rwandan army and the Hutu militia kill thousands of Tutsis. The UNAMIR--United Nations Assistance Mission in Rwanda stand by while the slaughter goes on. They are forbidden to intervene, as this would breach their "monitoring" mandate.
April 9-10
France, Belgium and the US airlift their citizens out of Rwanda. Not one Rwandan citizen is helped in the process. Despite extensive media coverage of the atrocities, nobody cares about the Rwandans - The Belgian chief of the UN forces in Rwanda interprets this - "Nobody cares about the Rwandans, because you are Africans, not even niggers". The chief however does care deeply about the Rwandans and helps them hugely
April 11
2000 civilians are being sheltered at a school by the UN forces. Then, the UN forces are ordered to withdraw and almost instantly, the 2000 are slaughtered
April 21
The Red Cross estimates that upto 100,000 people have been killed. The UN reduces its force from 2,500 to 270
April 30
The UN Security Council passes a resolution condemning the killing but omits the word "genocide" - If the term had been used, the UN would have been legally bound to act to punish the perpetrators.
May 3
Clinton signs Presidential Decision Directive 25 which aims to limit US involvement in international peacekeeping efforts.
May 5
Anthony Lake, National Security Advisor:
"I want to work to save every child out there. And I know the president does, and I know the American people do. But neither we nor the international community have the resources nor the mandate to do so. So we have to make distinctions. We have to ask the hard questions about where and when we can intervene. And the reality is that we cannot often solve other people's problems; we can never build their nations for them ..."
May 11
At a State Department briefing, Mike McCurry is asked, "Has this government been able to determine whether any of the acts committed in Rwanda since April 6 constitute genocide?" He answers, "I don't know that they've made any legal determination on that."
May 13
The U.N. Security Council prepares to vote on restoring UNAMIR's strength in Rwanda. However, Madeline Albright delays the vote for four days.
May 17
The UN finally decides to send 5,500 soldiers back into Rwanda.
These troops were from India, Ghana, Ethiopia and Senegal. India sent a battalion (1/3 Gorkha Rifles) and some engineers & signallers totaling 925 all ranks which included 20 military observers and nine staff officers.
The 1/3 Gorkha Rifles assisted in the move of over 70,000 internally displaced persons as also the movement of about 7000 prisoners to other areas, it looked after eight orphanages, several schools and gave much needed medical assistance to the locals. Both the signal and engineer companies earned high praise for their devoted service.
I love India.
The US response
The actions authorized last night will help. They may save lives. But ultimately, the future of Rwanda is in Rwandan hands."
May 19
The UN requests the US to provide them with 50 Humvees. This doesnt come through because the US and UN can't agree on who will pay for them
June 22
France decides to deploy its forces to create a safe area - However, Tutsis continue to be killed in the safe area.
July
The Tutsi rebels capture Kigali and set up a government of national unity. The genocide is over. 800,000 Rwandans have been killed.
Rwanda has no resources, no gold, it doesnt produce anything .. It just survives on coffee and tea. Its the orphan that was left out in the cold ...
The entire world stands by and watches ...
What a tragedy ...
This is the story of the world's most shameful 100 days.
Rwanda was ruled by the Belgians for a long time. They split the native Rwandan population into two parts - Tutsi and Hutu. The Tutsis were taller and had narrower noses. The Belgians used the Tutsis to rule the country. When the Belgians left the country however, they handed over power to the Hutus, who took the opportunity to take revenge on the Tutsis.
In 1994, the Rwandan President Habyarimana (a Hutu) was about to sign a peace accord with the Tutsi rebel forces when his plane was shot down by his fellow Hutus ...
This was on April 6th, 1994
The Hutus pinned the blame for the assasination on the Tutsis and they proceeded to massacre the Tutsis ...
And what did the UN do ? And the West ? And the East for that matter ?
Heres the story of a 100 days (Source: PBS)
April 7
The Rwandan army and the Hutu militia kill thousands of Tutsis. The UNAMIR--United Nations Assistance Mission in Rwanda stand by while the slaughter goes on. They are forbidden to intervene, as this would breach their "monitoring" mandate.
April 9-10
France, Belgium and the US airlift their citizens out of Rwanda. Not one Rwandan citizen is helped in the process. Despite extensive media coverage of the atrocities, nobody cares about the Rwandans - The Belgian chief of the UN forces in Rwanda interprets this - "Nobody cares about the Rwandans, because you are Africans, not even niggers". The chief however does care deeply about the Rwandans and helps them hugely
April 11
2000 civilians are being sheltered at a school by the UN forces. Then, the UN forces are ordered to withdraw and almost instantly, the 2000 are slaughtered
April 21
The Red Cross estimates that upto 100,000 people have been killed. The UN reduces its force from 2,500 to 270
April 30
The UN Security Council passes a resolution condemning the killing but omits the word "genocide" - If the term had been used, the UN would have been legally bound to act to punish the perpetrators.
May 3
Clinton signs Presidential Decision Directive 25 which aims to limit US involvement in international peacekeeping efforts.
May 5
Anthony Lake, National Security Advisor:
"I want to work to save every child out there. And I know the president does, and I know the American people do. But neither we nor the international community have the resources nor the mandate to do so. So we have to make distinctions. We have to ask the hard questions about where and when we can intervene. And the reality is that we cannot often solve other people's problems; we can never build their nations for them ..."
May 11
At a State Department briefing, Mike McCurry is asked, "Has this government been able to determine whether any of the acts committed in Rwanda since April 6 constitute genocide?" He answers, "I don't know that they've made any legal determination on that."
May 13
The U.N. Security Council prepares to vote on restoring UNAMIR's strength in Rwanda. However, Madeline Albright delays the vote for four days.
May 17
The UN finally decides to send 5,500 soldiers back into Rwanda.
These troops were from India, Ghana, Ethiopia and Senegal. India sent a battalion (1/3 Gorkha Rifles) and some engineers & signallers totaling 925 all ranks which included 20 military observers and nine staff officers.
The 1/3 Gorkha Rifles assisted in the move of over 70,000 internally displaced persons as also the movement of about 7000 prisoners to other areas, it looked after eight orphanages, several schools and gave much needed medical assistance to the locals. Both the signal and engineer companies earned high praise for their devoted service.
I love India.
The US response
The actions authorized last night will help. They may save lives. But ultimately, the future of Rwanda is in Rwandan hands."
May 19
The UN requests the US to provide them with 50 Humvees. This doesnt come through because the US and UN can't agree on who will pay for them
June 22
France decides to deploy its forces to create a safe area - However, Tutsis continue to be killed in the safe area.
July
The Tutsi rebels capture Kigali and set up a government of national unity. The genocide is over. 800,000 Rwandans have been killed.
Rwanda has no resources, no gold, it doesnt produce anything .. It just survives on coffee and tea. Its the orphan that was left out in the cold ...
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