Citation
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L
OUTGOING CODE CABLE
IMMEDIATE
To: BOOH-BO0H/DALLAIRE, UNAMIR,, KIGALI ONLY =
FROM: P ANNAN, UNATIONS, NEW YORK AN 5
DATE: 28 April 194 :
NUMBER: UNAMIR: 1351 TT ONIY .
5
SUBJECT: Security Council consultations
1. The Security Council held informal consultations on Rwanda
this afternoon to discuss further action to address the situation
in Rwanda. Mr. Gharekhan briefed the Council on the latest
developments. The representative of Nigeria reported that the
African group had recommended to the OAU that an urgent meeting
of its "central mechanism for conflict resolution" be convened to
ensure coordination of the various efforts undertaken to arrange
a cease-fire and to prepare specific proposals which would be
submitted to the UN Security Council for its consideration.
2. In this context, he expressed the view that there had so far
been toc much emphasis on the fighting between RGF and RPF forces
and that more attention should be given to the slaughter of
innocent civilians. The other members of the Council expressed
similar concerns regarding the reports of continuing atrocities
in the country and the representative of Czech Republic
circulated the attached draft Presidential statement.
3. Some members of the Council suggested that the statement
should be more action oriented and that it should not contain
language that could make UNAMIR'‘s job more difficult or put the
lives of its personnel in danger. Mr. Gharekhan stressed the
importance of this last point and suggested that the statement
should call on the parties to cooperate with UNAMIR in order to
keep the airport open. He pointed out that it was essential both
for UNAMIR and for the delivery of humanitarian assistance that
the airport be kept open.
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3, The representative of the United States said there had beer
reports suggesting that the RGF was seeking to buy additional
weapons and suggested that the Council should perhaps consider
the idea of an "arms embargo". It was agreed that the members c
the Council would consult their capitals overnight on this idea
and on the proposed Presidential statement.
4. The Security Council is expected to hold further
consultations on Rwanda tomorrow afternoon, with a view to
adopting a Presidential statement. We would be grateful for any
suggestions you may have regarding specific points that the
proposed Presidential statement should contain and those which
should be avoided. In order to be able to convey your views to
the President of the Council, we would need to receive feedback
from you, either by cable or orally, by 10:00 a.m. our time
tomOorrow.
5, Please find attached for your information, an ICRC press
release, as well as a statement issued today by the OAU central
mechanism for conflict resolution. These two documents were
distributed to Council members during the consultations this
afternoon. Regards.
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—*
RWANDA - draft presidentiai statement
L0001609
The Security Council is absolutely appalled and horrified over continuing reports of
indiscriminate slaughter of innocent civilians in Kigali and various other localities in
+, Rwanda. It notes that according to rellable reports, transmitted to the Council by the
Secretary-General in his Special Report (S/1994/470), the current wave of killings
was. started by unruly members of the Presidential Guard, joined by elements of the
Rwandese Government Forces (RGF, over which the interim Government,
established on April 8, had failed to establish its authority. Unruly RGF soldiers
were also responsible for the brutal murders of Mrs. Agathe Uwilingiyimana, Prime
Minister, and several other ministers, of the provisional Government that stemmed
from the initial implementation of the Arusha Accords, as well as for the deaths of
10 members of the Belgian contingent serving with UNAMIR.
In addition to information available from the Secretary-General, the Security Council
has considered information available from well-respected NGO's. AI this
information points to one thing: the horrors of Rwanda's killing flalds has few
precedents in the recent history of the world. Fhe Security Council reaffirms that the
systematic killing of any ethnic group, with intent to destroy it in whole or in part
constitutes an act of genocide as defined by relevant provisions of international law.
The Security Council. points out that genocide cannot be condoned or tolerated, let
alone justified, under any circumstances: not by civil war, not by the death of a
leader, whatever suspicions surround.it, not by past history. The Council further
points out that an important body of international law exists that deals with
perpetrators of genocide.
The Security Council. warns the interim Government of Rwanda of the responsibility
it bears for immediately reining in and disciplining all elements of the RGF and of
the Presidential. Guards responsible for the brutalities. The Councit calls upon the
interim Government.of Rwanda to assure that any group, organization, movement,
militia or individual :under its control should cease and desist from all acts of
genocide against any.part of the population of Rwanda. The Council also calls upon
_the interim Government of Rwanda to invesitage all acts of genocide and to
severety punish those responsible for their commission. The Council furthermore
expresses its hope that forces that are currenily engaging the RGF and the
Presidentiat Guard will not resort to comparable counlermeasures.
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SECRETARIAT EXÉCUTIF DE L'ORGANISATION EXECUTIVE SECRETARIAT OF THE ORGANIZATION
© DE L UNITE AFRICAINE AUX NATIONS UNIES OF AFRICAN UNITY TO THE UNITED NATIONS
346 EAST SOTH STREET. NEW YORK, NV. 10022 10001610
TELEPHONE (212) 319-5490 TELEX 425084 ORGA Ui
TELEFAX (212) 319-7135
NY/OAU/POL/82/94
April 28, 1994
Mr. President,
Following the instruction of the OAÛU Secretary
General, H.E, Dr. Salim Ahmed Salim, I have the honour to
forward the attached communique issued today 28 April 1994,
by the Central Organ, at Ambassadorial level, of the OAU
Mechanism for Conflict Prevention, Management and
Resolution.
Please accept, Mr. President, the assurances of my
highest consideration.
0. no
Ib ima Sy
Ambassador
Permanent Observer of the
Organization of African Unity
to the United Nations
H,E. Mr. Colin Keatings
Permanent Representative of New Zealand
to the United Nations
President of the Security Council
United Nations
New York, N.Y. 10017
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EXECUTIVE SECRETARIAT CF THE ORGANIZATION
@:::: EXECUTIF DE L'ORGANISATION
OF AFRICAN UNITY TO THE UNITED NATIONS
DE L'UNITE AFRICAINE AUX NATIONS UNTES
ro ue 346 EAST SOTH STREET. NEW YORK, N.Y. 10022 L0001611.
TELEPHONE (212) 319-5490 TELEX 425084 ORGA Li
TELEFAX (212) 319-7135
MEETING. OF THE CENTRAL ORGAN, AT AMBASSADORIAL LEVEL
OF THE OAU MECHANISM FOR CONFLICT PREVENTION, MANAGEMENT
AND. RESOLUTION,. ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA
28 APRIL 1994
COMMUNIQUE
l1.. The Central Organ of the OAU Mechanism for Conflict
Prevention, Management and Resolution met today, 28 April 1994,
in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, at Ambassadorial level, and heard à
report from the. OAU Secretary General on the Arusha consultations
in particular, of 23 to 26 April 1994 on Rwanda, and on the
efforts in general, made by the President of the United Republic
of Tanzania, in. his capacity as Facilitator, in order to bring
@ about. an immediate ceasefire. between the Rwandese armed forces
and those of the Rwandese Patriotic Front and implementation of
the: Arusha Peace Agreement. et
2. The Central .Organ notes, with grave concern, outrage and
indignation, that the massacres and wanton killings have
continued unabated; in a systematic manner, in Rwanda and have
led to further human suffering and the displacement of thousands
of cthers outside: the country.
3. The Central Organ further notes, with regret, that the Peace
Conference convened by H. £E. President Ali Hassan MWINYI in
Arusha, Tanzania, could not take place on 23 April because of the
absence. of the delegations of the Rwanda government and of the.
Rwandese. Patriotic Front.
4. The Central Organ, however, notes with satisfaction the
results of the consultations, at various times and at different
leveis, in Arusha, involving the OAU Secretary-General, the Prime
Minister and First Vice President of the United Republic of
Tanzania, the Secretary General of the Rwandese Patriotic Front,
the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary
General às well as representatives of the Observer countries and
the Representative of the OAU Current Chairman to the Arusha
Peace tailks.
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5. The Central Organ also learnt with appreciation of the
initiative taken by H.E. President Mobutu Sese Seko, in his
capacity as Mediator, to convene a meeting at Gbadolite, Zaire,
on Sunday 24: April 1994.
. 6. The, Çentral Organ notes, with deep concern, that the
unilateral ceasefire announced at different times by the Rwandese
Patriotie Front and by the. Rwanda government was not observed and
that the hostilities have continueg.
7... The Central Organ demands the immediate end to the massacres
of thousands: of civilians including women, children, the aged and
the sick. which. continue to be systematically perpetrated,. In
this context,, the. Central Organ calls upon the Rwandese Armed
Forces and .those 6©f the Rwandese Patriotic Front to put an
immediate end, to the armed hostilities. It urges the two
parties to commence immediately, negotiations, in order to agree
on the modalities of the ceasefire and its consolidation.
9. The Central Organ expresses its dismay at the decision of
the: United. Nations Security Council to reduce drastically UNAMIR
Forces in Rwanda at the. very time when the situation has
deteriorated.. The Central Organ calls for continued and
effective United: Nations involvement.in the Rwanda Peace Process.
10. The Central Organ further calls on the two parties to
commence. without. delay, within the framework of the Arusha Peace
process, discussions on the immediate implementation of the
Arusha Peace Agreement.
11. The Central Organ appeals to the neighbouring countries to
continue to deploy concerted efforts in order to assist in ending
the current tragedy in Rwanda.
12. The Central Organ pays tribute to the aid agencies and other
humanitarian non-governmental organizations which have, under
very difficult conditions, been providing humanitarian assistance
to the people of Rwanda. The Central Organ calls upon the
parties to the Conflict to ensure the safety and security of the
NGO personnel .and to create conditions which will facilitate the
provision of humanitarian assistance to the population.
13. The Central Organ requests the Secretary General to continue
to monitor developments in Rwanda and to examine how best the OAU
could, within its means, contribute to ending the hostilities and
the resolution of. the conflict in the context of the Arusha Peace
Agreement...
ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA
28. April, 1994:
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INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE OF THE RED CROSS
LO001613
UPDATE NO'7 ON ICRC'ACTIVITIES IN RWANDA '
26 April 1994
Violence still raging in Rwanda
Hundreds of thousands of people killed.in.the last two weeks, one million or more
displaced persons, hospital patients executed... no words can describe what is
happening in Rwanda today. Only the look in the eyes of the expatriates coming back
from this appalling massacre telis it all.
The ICRC is shocked. and: extremely concerned by the sheer scale of this horrific
tragedy.
ICRC concentrates:its forces in Kigali
In:the present:circumstances the ICRC. is unable to protect the victims of this
catastrophe and has-even:had to leave temporarily the southern town of Butare,
powerless to act, after witnessing systematic massacres and an unimaginable level
of violence.
The ICRC's activities are now concentrated onthe capital, Kigali, where the delegation
continues to treat one hundred wounded in its own hospital and assist the Kigali:
Central Hospital; where 600 patients are undergoingtreatment. These figures pale into
insignificance compared to.the number of wounded in need of medical attention.
The arrival on-22 of April of. a second convoy from Bujumbura has allowed the ICRC
to.replenish its stocks of medicine and medical and surgical material, À new surgical
team-arriving.with:the.convoy has taken over from the previous teams who were
working for weeks. under very stressful conditions.
In spite of the delegation’s unrelenting efforts, very little can be done at the moment
to:protect the:victims: of violence and fighting. The ICRC has therefore decided to
adapt the number of its staff to the activities being carried out.
At: present 15.expatriates are working at the delegation in Kigai, including staff
seconded by the American; Danish, Netherlands and Finnish National Societies.
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Preparing for relief operations
An ICRC team from.Uganda has managed to contact some of the displaced people
who had returned to the northern part of Rwanda before the latest crisis as well as
the displaced people who left Nyacyonga camp after the most recent outbreak of
violence.
The ICRC is now taking steps to launch a new assistance programme in the north of
the country and is currently identifying the population most in need, it is visiting
Byumba and setting up a logistics base in Kabale, Uganda. Another base has been set
up in Ngara, Tanzania, in order to assist some 250,000 displaced people in the
Rusomo area (south-east Rwanda).
At this stage, however, the ICRC does not want to encourage people to concentrate
around food distribution centres, since this could put them even more at risk.
Deteriorating situation in Burundi
The security situation in Burundi is deteriorating rapidiy. Some areas of Bujumbura are
very tense after the government's ultimatum for armed civilians ta surrender their
weapons by 6 PM on 25 April.
The ICAC is now reinforcing its team in:Buüjumbura where some 14 expatriates are
already present, including two people seconded by the Canadian and Netherlands
National Societies.
Finance.
The Emergency Appeal launched by the {CRC in December 1993 was drawn up on the
basis of a big assistance operation for 600,000 displaced people. At this stage, all the
indications are that this number will most probably swell.
The ICRC's 1994 Emergency Appeal for Rwanda stands at CHF 39,601,347 (USD
27,693,249 at today’s exchange rate). So far, only CHF 4,284,674 has been pledged
and received.
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