Citation
From James Bone in New York and Catherine Bond in Kigali.
BRITAIN is refusing to meet a senior official from the Hutu-dominated
government in Rwanda because of its role in a genocidal campaign
against the Tutsi minority.
Jerome Bicamumpaka, the Foreign Minister in the government formed after
the death of President Habyarimana in a plane crash on April 6,
requested a meeting this week in New York with Sir David Hannay, the
British Ambassador at the United Nations. Under pressure from human
rights groups, Sir David refused, even though he regularly deals with
the Rwandan UN Ambassador.
Mr Bicamumpaka is being accompanied by Jean-Bosco Barayagwiza, a
leading Hutu hardliner who is accused of helping to incite the killing
of more than 200,000 people. Mr Barayagwiza is leader of Coalition for
the Defence of the Republic, a political party that controls the
militia thought to be responsible for many of the killings.
The Security Council continued yesterday to discuss the formation of a
peacekeeping force to deliver aid and establish secure areas
in
Rwanda. Boutros Boutros Ghali, the UN Secretary-General, has called for
5,500 peacekeepers to be based in Kigali, and has obtained troops
commitments from Ghana, Nigeria, and Tanzania.
Jose Ayala Lasso, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, ended a
two-day visit to Rwanda yesterday after meeting military leaders on
both sides of the civil war. Senor Ayala Lasso said he had received
pledges from government and rebel representatives that trapped refugees
would be allowed to move. I don't want to see another innocent
civilian's life lost,
he said.
