BRUSSELS, JULY 9, 1996

The Rally for Return of Refugees and Democracy in Rwanda (RDR) on many occasions proposed negotiations to the RPF Government.

Then proposed negotiation centre around security condition that would be a prerequisite to the repatriation of refugees and around issues related to the recovery by refugees of their property and to the establishment of institution that would safeguard freedom and security to every Rwandan.

- On the 11th May 1995, the RDR Chairman sent a letter to Prime Minister TWAGIRAMUNGU Faustin, asking him to open negotiations with representatives of refugees on the return of refugees.

- On the 15th May 1995, the Executive Secretary of RDR addressed another letter to the Kigali Government and to the International Community making the same request for negotiations.

- On the 11th September 1995, a document entitled "New Appeal for Rwandan Refugees" was issued by the RDR spokesman to draw attention of the Kigali Government and of the International Community on the necessity for dialogue.

- On the 27th December 1995, a letter was sent to Mr Paul KAGAME, Vice President and Minister of Defence, drawing attention on his responsibility in working for dialogue between the Kigali Government and Refugees.

- On the 8th February 1996, at the closing ceremony of the 1st congress of RDR held in Bukavu, the Chairman of RDR made a solemn appeal the Kigali Government and to the International Community calling for dialogue.

These appeals for dialogue supplemented by documents and memoranda sent to the UN General Secretary, to countries which sponsored the ARUSHA Peace Agreement, countries and organisations, main financial backers of Kigali Government, to different mediators in the Rwandan conflict including former US President Jimmy Carter have not produced results and have rather been rejected by RPF.

RDR, anxious to find a solution for a quick and peaceful return of refugees, had made on the 11th September 1995, proposals likely to facilitate the return of refugees. RDR has then proposed the creation of a point commission composed of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), representatives of the host countries and representatives of RDR. The Commission was to inspire confidence among refugees ready for repatriation. The same commission was to study practical modalities for the return of refugees and draw up a timetable for the return of refugees.

The main features of the proposals are centered around freeing properties illegally occupied by RPF and its sympathisers who came mainly from Uganda, Burundi and Zaïre; management of transit Center inside Rwanda and taking refugees repatriated to their home communes; guarantee of security which cannot be provided by RPF Army and its military Police; guarantee of impartial justice; and of arbitrary detention; reintegration of refugees in all social and professional sectors as provided for in the ARUSHA Peace Agreement and the drawing up of a time table for the resumption of political activities in the country.

The UNHCR, the RPF Government, the host countries have not responded positively to the appeal, espousing the Kigali position, following which involving refugees in the process of their return, comes to a de facto denial of the legitimacy of the Kigali Government. RDR had made those proposals out of its conviction that coercive measures applied on refugees to force them to return will not facilitate repatriation and restoration of peace in Rwanda.

RDR renewed its appeal the main donors of Rwanda who assisted in the Round Table Conference of Geneva held from the 19th to the 21st June 1996, requesting them to continue providing protection and enough means to refugees, while waiting for the creation of a conducive environment for a voluntary return of refugees to their home country. It also invited those countries to use those means to ensure that the Geneva Convention of 1951 on Refugees is fully respected and that rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights be respected especially right to life, to education of children, to shelter, to health, to work and to free movement.

RDR, once again requested the 32nd OAU Summit of Heads of State and Government, meeting in Yaoundé, Cameroon, to encourage, a quick and peaceful solution to the Rwandan conflict is to be found, "the holding of serious negotiations between the Kigali Government and representatives of refugees with the participation of the International Community under the same conditions as those which prevailed under the ARUSHA peace negotiations 1992/1993. The negotiations would deal mainly with updating the ARUSHA Peace Agreement and creating an enabling environment for voluntary return of refugees".

RDR, representative of refugees and of those who are excluded from the governance of the country, reiterates its total conviction that the Rwandan conflict being essentially social and political, must resolved through political means, through negotiations and not military force. A political, peaceful and durable solution to the Rwandan is still possible, but it cannot be found without the participation in a sovereign manner, of the entire Rwandan people including representatives of refugees and Rwandans excluded from the government of the country.

This is why, the Rally for the Return of Refugees and Democracy in Rwanda, RDR, renews its appeal to the Kigali Government and to RPF for a direct and sincere dialogue in order to reach an agreement that would enable a quick return of refugees and their reinstatement in their property as well as the creation of conditions that can restore durable peace in Rwanda. The Rally for the Return of Refugees and Democracy in Rwanda makes a new appeal to donors of Rwanda, to countries which sponsored the ARUSHA Peace Agreement and to countries which received Rwandan refugees, to use their influence on the Kigali Government and the RPF and bring them to accept the offer of dialogue.

Only frank and sincere dialogue between the RPF, Representatives or Refugees and Rwandan excluded from the government of the country can bring durable solution to the Rwandan crisis. On the contrary, intransigence and refused of dialogue by the Kigali Government will justify the position of those who propose radical solutions which risk to lead Rwanda into a new catastrophe that should be avoided at all costs.

The Rally for the Return of Refugees

and Democracy in Rwanda - RDR

François NZABAHIMANA

CHAIRMAN