Mugunga, April 27, 1995

Since the massacres of KIBEHO that started on April 18, 1995, and which culminated on April 22, 1995 by the killing of over 8.000 persons, there are divergent opinions about the motive that sparked off this new crime against humanity.

This is not the first time for RPF to massacre innocent populations after regrouping them or summoning for a meeting.

Each time, RPF eliminate any embarrassing evidence. This is how populations of Kibungo, Byumba and Kidaho were decimated.

In Rusumo commune, over 1.700 persons were summoned for a meeting, massacred and buried in mass graves.

So is Kigarama commune at a location called Kamarashavu, where 3.800 persons were massacred and immediately buried.

Other innocent persons met the same fate in Kabarondo commune: 780 victims, Muhazi commune: 590 victims, Kayonza commune: 950 victims, Rukara commune: 994 victims, Birenga commune: 1.319 persons ( ref: testimonies contained in a pamphlet entitled: Le Non-dit sur les massacres au Rwanda ", by an NGO called " SOLIDARITE-Rwanda ", Oct. 1994).

In the prefecture ( district) of Byumba, one could mention from testimonies at our disposal; 678 persons killed after having been assembled in Ngarama, 170 at Muhura commune, 2.400 at Murambi commune, 2.300 at Muvumba commune. These testimonies are not exhaustive for others for the northern and a western zone of Byumba, Kinihira and the prefecture (district) of Ruhengeri particularly the communes of Kidaho and Kinigi are still being put together.

Given what took place in KIBEHO , one can imagine the horror that was experienced by the districts of Kigali, Gitarama, Butare, Gikongoro, Kibuye and Cyangugu where according to reliable sources ( Monique MUJAWAMARIYA, Sept. 1994, Amnesty International, Oct. 1994, Filip Reyntjens, Dec. 1994 ), very few people survived.

It is therefore necessary and urgent to condemn, in the strongest terms possible, these massacres of innocent populations that perish because of their ethnic background.

Indeed, in order to finish off hutus, RPF has decided to collectively label all of them " INTERAHAMWE ".

Formerly used to designate youth activist of MRND party this denomination is currently used to designate all hutu or any other person who do not subscribe to the ideology of RPF and who must therefore be eliminated at any cost.

Faced with this situation, RDR calls upon the international community and international media, not to be fooled by RPF. In this connection, RDR protests against the attempt to accreditate the RPF scenario according to which children and women still under siege in KIBEHO camp, who do not know where to go, are hostages of militia barricaded inside the compound. This

is an unsmart alibi by RPF to justify this n^th horror committed by RPA.

R.D.R condemns all massacre no matter who commit them. It deplore the irresponsible behaviour of the UN Secretary General representative in Kigali, Mr SHAHARYAR KHAN, who like President Pasteur Bizimungu, wants to play down the magnitude of the tragedy, as if the killing of even one or two persons should not be strongly condemned.

R.D.R finds it very unrealistic to entrust the Kigali government with investigating these massacres, whereas it is the masterminder of the latter.

Similarly, the suggestion by Mr SHAHARYAR KHAN to put in place a joint UNAMIR-Government team can't reach any serious conclusion, because it will likely end up like the investigation into the massacres of Kinihira supervised by Brigadier Romeo DALLAIRE, former UNAMIR commander, and which never released any report. R.D.R rather supports the proposal by Amnesty International to set up a special and independent ad hoc commission of enquiry.

R.D.R would like to bring to the attention of the international community, that what has just took place in BIRAVA, Kibeho, Rusatira and Kanombe commune, where RPF and its military wing, RPA, continue to institutionalize revenge, the Kigali government which has no more control over the army, can no longer pretend to have the moral authority to rule Rwanda.

Dr BUTARE Innocent

Executive Secretary