5 April 1996

RDR regrets to register its greatest disappointment, over declarations made by the US-EU delegation, during its stay in Kigali .

A member of this delegation who is none other than a USAID Director Mr. ATWOOD, after only one day of an official and guided visit, claimed that there was no more obstacle to the return of refugees. He went on to call for a starvation of refugees, in order to compel them to go back home.

This utterance from a high ranking american official is astonishing and indeed shocking , given the hitherto known american values of democracy and unwavering commitment towards fairness, and human rights. It is hoped that the US administration will distance itself from Mr ATWOOD declaration.

While reputable organisations such as Amnesty International, the UN Commission for Human Rights, the UN committee for the Elimination of Discrimination, numerous NGOs and the Vatican as well as fleeing former members of RPF government, all point out that a return of refugees under the prevailing conditions in Rwanda would be highly risky, one can ask himself how, after a one day "official" visit, Mr ATWOOD discovers the contrary.

Even the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Madame Sadako OGATA who has men on the ground, called on the RPF government, during her statement in Addis Ababa on 29 February 1996, to show " strong and unequivocal signals aimed at ensuring respect for human rights, and at reassuring refugees about their security upon return and the restitution of their property ". She called also for " the release of all persons not guilty of genocide in order to dispel the prevailing perception among refugees of fear and arbitrariness".

RDR would like to restate that there are humane, civilised and very efficient means to convice refugees to go back home. They need first and foremost strong guarantees for their security and dignity.

They need to be assured that their property have been vacated, and therefore will not be harrased or killed while claiming them once they return. They need to see the rule of law and the judicial system starting to work by ending arrests and detentions, that people who have been languishing in deadly prisons are brought before courts of law, that political persecution is ended and political participation is open to all people of different political shades and tribes

Indeed, if there is no more security problem in Rwanda, what is the purpose of the curfew in the northern part of the country?

What about insurgency measures in the districts of Cyangugu, Kibuye and Gikongoro, and the numerous explosions rocking the country almost daily ? How come that up-to-date, people including prominent former RPF allies, are still fleeing the country ? All these factors are source of concerns for refugees, and discourage them from returning.

RDR fully appreciates sacrifices made by donor agencies in catering for the welfare of refugees, but donors should equally express their fatigue towards RPF that impedes the return of those refugees. In any case the repatriation should be voluntary.

It would be sad and shameful indeed, to use food relief as a political weapon just to help strengthen RPF hold on power.

It should be known that any initiative that tends to mystify or exonerates RPF from its responsibilities in the rwandese tragedy is bound to fail, whatever the amount of political weight thrown behind it.

For RDR

NZABANDORA Chris

Director of Information