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RALLY FOR THE RETURN OF | |
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4, RUE A. CLUYSENAAR 1060 BRUXELLES BELGIQUE Tél: 32-2-5348035 Fax: 32-2-5348053 |
7, RESIDENCE MONTESQUIEU 49000 ANGERS FRANCE Tél/Fax: 33-41489987 |
December 11,1996
PRESS RELEASE Nº111
The ongoing forced repatriation of rwandese refugees in Tanzania should not overshadow the pathetic situation of their colleagues still trapped in Eastern Zaïre.
While the UNHCR is moving on rwandese refugees in Tanzania who have been given until 31 st December to cross back into Rwanda, the plight of the over half a million refugees still perishing in the forests in Eastern Zaïre seems to be a forgotten issue.
Indeed, so far the excuse for the non-assistance to them had been the unpredictable security situation in the rebel held territory where the refugees were scattered.
According to the latest information at our disposal, most of the refugees have managed now to reach the government controlled areas of KISANGANI, WALIKALE and LUBUTU, where they can be reached from KINSHASA.
What is therefore the reason of not assisting those refugees, whose sole crime is to have fled westward, when others were forced to move eastward?
The fact that the few zairean charitable organisations are now able to reach them is enough proof that the UNHCR and other humanitarian organisations who were present in the camps before they were destroyed by RPA and their proxies, can resume their activities.
Regarding the situation in the refugee camps in Tanzania, the UNHCR should entirely blame itself for the mess created by its decision to force refugees back home without considering the existing legal provisions, and therefore face the consequences instead of looking for scapegoats.
Blaming so called Hutu extremists or militiamen for the resistance of refugees is to belittle the maturity of the refugees. They know better than anybody else what is the prevailing security situation inside Rwanda.
It should be borne in mind that some of the refugees now on the run in northern Tanzania had escaped at close shave in Eastern Zaïre and crossed into Rwanda a few weeks ago. When
they found the situation unbearable, they crossed again into Karagwe -Tanzania. Others escaped from UVIRA early October 1996 and managed to cross into Tanzania, by the lake.
So they perfectly know why they are fleeing and do not need "Hutu extremists or militiamen" to tell them what to do in order to survive.
