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DRAFTED BY: AF/C: KCAISTON
APPROVED BY: AF/C: AXRENDER
4AF3B0 260024Z /38
P R 260020Z MAY 94
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO AMEMBASSY BUJUMBURA PRIORITY
AMEMBASSY KAMPALA PRIORITY
INFO AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA
AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS
AMEMBASSY DAR ES SALAAM
USMISSION GENEVA
AMEMBASSY KINSHASA
AMEMBASSY NAIROBI
AMEMBASSY PARIS
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
AMEMBASSY YAOUNDE
CONFIDENTIALSTATE 140371
YAOUNDE FOR DATT
CONFIDENTIAL
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STATE 140371 260021Z
E.O. 12356: DECL: OADR
TAGS: MOPS PINR PHUM PREL RW
SUBJECT: RPF POSITION ON CEASE-FIRE, EXPANDED UNAMIR OPERATIONS
REF: STATE 138779
1.
CONFIDENTIAL - ENTIRE TEXT.
2. SUMMARY. ON MAY 23, AF/C DIRECTOR ARLENE RENDER MET
WITH RPF VICE CHAIRMAN PATRICK MAZIMHAKA AND RPF OFFICIAL
GERALD GAHIMA. ALSO ATTENDING WERE U.S. AMBASSADOR TO
RWANDA DAVID RAWSON AND RWANDA DESKOFF KEVIN AISTON
(NOTETAKER). MAZIMHAKA SAID THE RPF WOULD NOT AGREE TO A
CEASE-FIRE AS LONG AS THE KILLINGS CONTINUE BEHIND GOR
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE
REVIEW AUTHORITY: CHARLES L DARIS
DATE/CASE ID: 11 JUN 2007 200103014
UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED
LINES. HE THOUGHT THE EXPANDED UNAMIR FORCE SHOULD BRING
PROTECTION TO THREATENED ENCLAVES RATHER THAN CREATING A
STATIC LARGE PROTECTION ZONE WHICH THE TRAPPED CIVILIANS
WOULD BE UNABLE TO REACH. ACCORDING TO MAZIMHAKA, THE
RPF HAD NO PREFERENCE FOR HOW OR WHERE THE UN TROOPS
ENTERED RWANDA. WHILE THE RPF MIGHT NOT GIVE THE UN
CONTROL OF KIGALI AIRPORT, THEY WOULD ALLOW THE UN TO USE
IT. HE DENIED REPORTS OF RPF ATROCITIES AND SAID THE RPF
THINKS AS MANY AS ONE MILLION TUTSIS MAY HAVE BEEN
KILLED. END SUMMARY
RPF: NO CEASE-FIRE AS LONG AS KILLINGS CONTINUE
3. RENDER REITERATED OUR IMMEDIATE GOAL TO STOP THE
KILLING, REVIEWED OUR ATTEMPT TO ARRANGE THE SAFE
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EVACUATION OF TRAPPED CIVILIANS, AND REPEATED OUR DESIRE
TO SEE A CEASE-FIRE IN PLACE AND RESUMPTION OF TALKS
BETWEEN THE TWO SIDES.
4. MAZIMHAKA AND GAHIMA MADE CLEAR THAT THE RPF WAS NOT
INTERESTED IN PURSUING A CEASE-FIRE AS LONG AS THE
KILLINGS CONTINUED IN GOVERNMENT-HELD TERRITORY. THE RPF
WANTS THE INTERIM GOVERNMENT TO CALL FOR AN END TO THE
KILLINGS AND THEN HAVE SOME NEUTRAL PARTIES (EITHER THE
UN OR RELIEF ORGANIZATIONS) TO SEEK OUT THE CIVILIANS
TRAPPED IN VARIOUS ENCLAVES BEHIND GOR LINES. ONCE THAT
HAPPENS, MAZIMHAKA SAID THE RPF WOULD BE WILLING TO
DISCUSS A CEASE-FIRE WITH GOR MILITARY AUTHORITIES.
MAZIMHAKA REITERATED THE RPF'S LONG-HELD POSITION THAT IT
WILL NOT NEGOTIATE WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF THE INTERIM
GOVERNMENT.
5. RENDER NOTED THAT CONTINUED FIGHTING BY THE RPF MIGHT
ONLY INCITE THE GOR MILITARY AND MILITIAS TO MORE
KILLINGS. MAZIMHAKA REJECTED THIS ARGUMENT, SAYING THAT
THE KILLINGS WERE PLANNED LONG AGO, STARTED BEFORE THE
RPF OFFENSIVE, AND WOULD CONTINUE EVEN IF THE RPF AGREED
TO A CEASE-FIRE. GAHIMA ADDED THAT RTLM IS STILL ON THE
AIR (BROADCASTING FROM TRUCKS) AND INCITING VIOLENCE.
6. IN THE FACE OF THE RPF'S RELUCTANCE TO DISCUSS A
CEASE-FIRE, RENDER URGED A TWO-TRACK APPROACH IN WHICH
THE RPF WOULD PURSUE DISCUSSIONS ON A CEASE-FIRE AT THE
SAME TIME THAT THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY WORKED TO STOP
THE KILLINGS AND RESOLVE THE PROBLEM OF THREATENED
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CIVILIAN ENCLAVES. SHE STRESSED THE NEED FOR THE RPF TO
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STATE 140371 260021Z
MAKE COMPROMISES ON THIS POINT. MAZIMHAKA STUCK TO HIS
POSITION AND SAID THE RPF CANNOT NEGOTIATE AS LONG AS THE
KILLING CONTINUES; THEY WILL GO ALL THE WAY TO THE
BURUNDI BORDER IF NECESSARY.
AND AFTER THE CEASE-FIRE?
7. MAZIMHAKA SAID THE RPF THOUGHT THE ARUSHA AGREEMENT
WAS STILL VALID, BUT THAT NOT EVERY CLAUSE CAN BE
IMPLEMENTED GIVEN THE CHANGED CIRCUMSTANCES. (WHEN ASKED
WHAT NEEDED CHANGING, HE CITED ONLY THE PROVISION
REQUIRING HABYARIMANA TO CONTINUE AS PRESIDENT DURING THE
TRANSITION.) HE SAID THAT AS SOON AS THE FIGHTING STOPS
THE INTERNAL POLITICAL PARTIES AND THE RPF SHOULD PROCEED
DIRECTLY WITH FORMATION OF THE BROAD-BASED GOVERNMENT.
THE ARUSHA ACCORD WOULD BE APPLIED TO EXCLUDE ANY PARTY
THAT HAS VIOLATED THE ACCORD. IN THAT REGARD, THE
PARTIES WOULD "EVALUATE" THE CONDUCT OF THE MRND
(HABYARIMANA'S PARTY). ALTHOUGH HE DID NOT DECLARE
DEFINITIVELY THAT THE RPF WOULD DEMAND THAT THE MRND
WOULD BE EXCLUDED FROM THE GOVERNMENT, THE INTENTION TO
DO SO WAS IMPLICIT IN HIS STATEMENT.
8. RENDER CAUTIONED AGAINST EXCLUDING GROUPS FROM THE
POLITICAL PROCESS AND ASKED HOW MODERATE MRND SUPPORTERS
WHO OPPOSED THE KILLINGS WOULD BE REPRESENTED IF IT IS
DECIDED THAT THE MRND SHOULD BE EXCLUDED FROM THE
GOVERNMENT. MAZIMHAKA SAID IT WOULD BE VERY DIFFICULT TO
JUDGE THIS ISSUE ON AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS; THE PARTIES WILL
HAVE TO JUDGE THE MRND AS A WHOLE, BASED ON ITS
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POLICIES. HE STRESSED THAT ANY EXCLUSION WOULD BE DONE
LEGALLY, ACCORDING TO THE RULES SET FORTH IN THE ARUSHA
ACCORDS.
WHAT WENT WRONG WITH ARUSHA?
9. MAZIMHAKA SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THE MATTER WITH THE
DISTRIBUTION OF POWER AMONG THE PARTIES SET FORTH IN
ARUSHA. THE PROBLEM WAS THAT HABYARIMANA AND THE MRND
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SI I
NEVER INTENDED TO IMPLEMENT THE ACCORDS. RATHER, HE AND
HIS ASSOCIATES HAD LONG PLANNED THE CURRENT EFFORT TO
WIPE OUT THE MODERATE OPPOSITION AND TUTSIS.
RPF WILL LET UN USE AIRPORT
10. MAZIMHAKA CONFIRMED THAT THE RPF HAD TAKEN CONTROL
OF THE AIRPORT AND THE GOVERNMENT'S KANOMBE MILITARY
BASE. WHEN ASKED WHAT HAPPENED TO THE GOR TROOPS THAT
HAD HELD THESE TWO POSITIONS, MAZIMHAKA REPLIED THAT 25
GOR SOLDIERS WERE KILLED AND THE REST FLED. HE DID NOT
KNOW HOW MANY RPF TROOPS WERE KILLED. HE ADDED THAT
AFTER KANOMBE FELL, A STREAM OF MILITIA FROM THE AREA
SURRENDERED TO THE UN AND TURNED IN THEIR ARMS.
11. MAZIMHAKA SAID THE AIRPORT WAS NOW "SECURE ENOUGH",
AND NOTED THAT TWO HOURS EARLIER A UN FLIGHT LANDED AND
TOOK OFF WITHOUT BEING SHOT AT. MAZIMHAKA SAID THE RPF
WOULD ALLOW THE UN TO HAVE FULL USE OF THE AIRPORT, BUT
WAS NONCOMMITTAL ON THE IDEA OF MAKING THE AIRPORT A
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STATE 140371 260021Z
NEUTRAL ZONE. (COMMENT: WHEN THE GOR HELD THE AIRPORT,
THE RPF HAD SAID THEY WERE WILLING TO MAKE THE AIRPORT A
UN-CONTROLLED NEUTRAL AREA; NOW THAT THEY CONTROL THE
AIRPORT, THEIR POSITION SEEMS TO HAVE CHANGED SOMEWHAT.)
RPF VIEWS ON EXPANDED UNAMIR
12. MAZIMHAKA SAID HE DID NOT THINK THAT IT WOULD BE
PRACTICAL TO HAVE STATIC PROTECTIVE ZONES. HE SAID THE
UN WOULD NEED A WAY TO GET THE TRAPPED POPULATIONS INTO
THE ZONES; THE TRAPPED CIVILIANS COULDN'T BE EXPECTED TO
COME TO THE UN ENCLAVE. IN HIS VIEW, IT WAS BETTER TO
SEND THE SOLDIERS TO WHERE THE PEOPLE ARE CONGREGATED:
THE UN SHOULD FAN OUT INTO THE GOR ZONE AND SEARCH OUT
CONCENTRATIONS OF THREATENED CIVILIANS, THEN SET UP A
PROTECTED CAMP FOR THEM. RENDER RAISED THE LOGISTICAL
DIFFICULTIES OF SUPPORTING NUMEROUS SMALL UN ENCLAVES
SPREAD OUT AROUND THE COUNTRY. IF THAT WERE A CONCERN,
MAZIMHAKA SAID THE UN MIGHT ESTABLISH A LARGE PROTECTION
ZONE AND SEND RESCUE MISSIONS OUT FROM THE ZONE AND
TRANSPORT THE TRAPPED CIVILIANS BACK TO THE UN ZONE.
13. RENDER ASKED WHAT THE REACTION OF THE RPF WOULD BE
IF THEY THOUGHT GOR TROOPS OR MILITIA HAD FLED INTO A UN
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PROTECTED AREA. MAZIMHAKA SAID THEY WOULD NOT OBJECT AS
LONG AS THE FLEEING TROOPS/MILITIA WERE DISARMED BY THE
UN AND KEPT ON RWANDAN TERRITORY. THEY DID NOT WANT
THESE PEOPLE FLOWN OUT OF RWANDA AND GIVEN ASYLUM ABROAD.
14. MAZIMHAKA SAID THE RPF DID NOT HAVE A PREFERENCE HOW
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STATE 140371 260021Z
THE UN ENTERED RWANDA AND WOULD DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO
FACILITATE THE EFFORT. WHILE THEY MIGHT NOT GIVE THE UN
CONTROL OF KIGALI AIRPORT, THEY WOULD ALLOW THE UN TO USE
IT. AISTON NOTED THAT AS LONG AS THE AIRPORT WAS HELD BY
ONE SIDE OR THE OTHER, IT RISKED COMING UNDER FIRE.
MAZIMHAKA REPLIED THAT THE RPF COULD MAKE SURE THE UN
PLANES WERE NOT SHOT DOWN; HE ADDED THAT THERE ARE OTHER
AIRFIELDS (HE MENTIONED THE NORTHEAST) WHERE THE UN COULD
COME IN.
ONE MILLION DEAD?
15. MAZIMHAKA SAID THE RPF THINKS THAT CLOSE TO ONE
MILLION TUTSIS HAVE BEEN KILLED AND THAT MAYBE 100,000 TO
200,000 TUTSI REMAIN ALIVE. THEY COME TO THIS CONCLUSION
BASED ON THE FACT THAT IN THE HALF OF THE COUNTRY THEY
NOW CONTROL, THERE ARE PRACTICALLY NO TUTSIS LEFT; THE
POPULATION IS ALMOST ALL HUTU.
RPF DENIES ATROCITIES
16. MAZIMHAKA DENIED REPORTS OF RPF ATROCITIES THAT HAVE
BEEN COMING OUT OF TANZANIAN REFUGEE CAMPS. HE CLAIMED
THAT THOSE MAKING THE REPORTS WERE HUTU MILITIA MEMBERS
AND OTHER TUTSI KILLERS. AS PROOF, HE POINTED TO THE
HUGE PILE OF MACHETES THAT THE FLEEING REFUGEES HAD
DEPOSITED AT THE TANZANIAN BORDER. ACCORDING TO
MAZIMHAKA, THE INTERNATIONAL PRESS AND MEMBERS OF
INTERNATIONAL NGO'S IN RWANDA HAD TRAVELED FREELY IN THE
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STATE 140371 260021Z
RPF ZONE AND NONE OF THESE IMPARTIAL OBSERVERS HAD
REPORTED SIGHTING ANY INSTANCES OF RPF ATTACKS ON
CIVILIANS.
THE FAILED ORPHAN RESCUE
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17. MAZIMHAKA SAID THE RPF HAD REFUSED TO AGREE TO THE
PLANNED RESCUE OF THE ORPHANS BECAUSE THEY THOUGHT THE
ORPHANS WERE GOING TO BE TAKEN TO FRANCE AND ADOPTED BY
FOREIGNERS. THE RPF DID NOT WANT TO SEE THESE CHILDREN
TAKEN OUT OF THE COUNTRY WHEN THEIR FAMILIES MIGHT STILL
BE ALIVE SOMEWHERE. THEY ALSO THOUGHT THE MILITIA
MEMBERS WHO HAD DEMANDED TO ACCOMPANY THE ORPHANS TO THE
AIRPORT WOULD TRY TO ESCAPE ON THE SAME PLANE.
UNHRC SPECIAL SESSION
18. RENDER NOTED THAT AMBASSADOR RAWSON WAS TRAVELING TO
GENEVA TO ATTEND THE UNHRC SPECIAL SESSION AND THAT OUR
DELEGATION WOULD BE LED BY GERALDINE FERRARO. MAZIMHAKA
SAID RPF REP JACQUES BIHOZAGARA WOULD BE IN GENEVA AND
THAT THE RPF INTENDED TO ASK THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY
NOT TO "STICK ITS HEAD IN THE SAND" ON RWANDA. RENDER
REPLIED THAT IT WAS THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY THAT HAD
CALLED THE SESSION, AND THAT WE WOULD BE TAKING STRONG
POSITIONS THERE. GAHIMA NOTED THAT THE INTERIM
GOVERNMENT WOULD BE REPRESENTED AT THE SESSION AND THAT
IF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY WOULD ALLOW THOSE WHO
COMMITTED THE ATROCITIES TO BE HEARD, THE RPF SHOULD BE
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STATE 140371 260021Z
HEARD AS WELL. RAWSON REPLIED THAT HE THOUGHT THE
COMMISSION WOULD WANT TO HEAR FROM ALL SIDES AND
EXPRESSED THE U.S. HOPE THAT THAT WOULD HAPPEN.
CHRISTOPHER
CONFIDENTIAL
<< END OF DOCUMENT >>
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