Citation
June 15, 1994
GENOCIDE = RWANDA
CONDEMNATION = H. RES. 453
Dear Colleague:
The internationally accepted definition of genocide is the intentional destruction of any national, ethnic, racial, or religious group, causing them serious physical or mental harm, in whole or in part, by killing its members, imposing conditions of life calculated to bring about their physical destruction.
I have introduced H. Res. 453, a resolution which expresses my condemnation of the current situation in Rwanda and also calls the atrocity a genocide.
Please cosponsor H. Res. 453. Call Ann Jacobs in my office at 5/1313 if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
Alcee L. Hastings
H. RES. 453
Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives with respect to the situation In Rwanda.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
JUNE 13. 1994
Mr. HASTINGS submitted the following resolution: which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs
RESOLUTION
Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives with respect to the situation in Rwanda.
Whereas an ethnic cleansing of the minority Tutsi tribe is being carried out by the majority Hutu tribe in Rwanda;
Whereas as many as 500,000 innocent people may have been slaughtered;
Whereas ere has been little to no progress in brokering a cease-fire after more than two months of slaughter;
Whereas international observeres have stated that a cease-fire does not seem to be forthcoming;
Whereas more than 500,000 children have been orphaned;
Whereas Catholic clergy have been executed;
Whereas millions of people face starvation;
Whereas the United Nations has been unable to resolve the conflict in Rwanda;
Whereas the United States on February 25, 1989, ratified and entered into the Convention of the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide;
Whereas the convention stipulates that genocide, whether committed during peace or war, is an international crime which must be prevented and punished; and
Whereas the Convention defines genocide as the intentional racial, or religious group, in whole or in part, by killing its destruction of any national, ethnic, members, causing them serious physical or mental harm, imposing conditions of life calculated to bring about their physical destruction: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives (1) strongly condemns the atrocities being carried out in Rwanda; and (2) calls such atrocities genocide.
