Post by Yaw on Apr 11, 2004 19:34:50 GMT -5
From today's Toronto Star, in Romeo Dallaire's one public speaking event during his trip to Rwanda, he stated that Rwandans should press for reparations from the countries that abandoned them in 1994. Story copied in below to preserve it from the Star's back issue payment program.
Rwandans urged to seek restitution
World ignored '94 genocide: Dallaire
Saying `sorry' is not enough, he says
ALLAN THOMPSON
SPECIAL TO THE STAR
BUTARE, Rwanda—Rwanda should press for reparations from the countries that abandoned the tiny African nation during the 1994 genocide, Roméo Dallaire declared here yesterday.
The retired Canadian general who commanded the ill-equipped United Nations mission during the genocide has long accused such countries as France, Belgium, the United States and Britain of abandoning Rwanda in the full knowledge that tens of thousands would die.
But Dallaire, on a pilgrimage to mark the 10th anniversary of the beginning of the genocide, has never before broached the thorny subject of reparations.
On the last day of the trip, he spoke to more than 3,000 students and local residents who packed a soccer stadium at the National University of Rwanda, in Butare.
The speech was supposed to have been held in a lecture theatre, but had to be moved outside because so many people showed up to hear Dallaire deliver his only public address during this visit, his first return to Rwanda since the catastrophe that saw 800,000 people die.
"You have suffered the genocide, you were abandoned and there should be reparation made by that same international community that abandoned you and left you to die, day after day, by the thousands,'' he said.
"It is for you to take up this struggle in the international community because you have the right, you have suffered.''
Dallaire's mission was virtually abandoned by the world community and after his U.N. bosses told him that he had no mandate to intervene, Dallaire watched helplessly as Hutu extremists carried out a plan to exterminate the minority Tutsi and Hutu moderates.
In the blunt, one-hour speech, Dallaire urged Rwandans to pressure members of the international community to make amends for their role during the genocide.
"Continue to harass those countries,'' he said, to a round of applause and murmurs from the audience. "Render the guilt of that international community far, far stronger than letting them simply come here and say `we're sorry, we didn't know, and can we be friends again' and through that throw some dollars to wash their hands.''
And Dallaire also told the audience that his own mission was a complete and utter failure.
"In front of you, I must say, that Roméo Dallaire, commander of the force, failed the people of Rwanda,'' he said.
"He told the truth, and I appreciate that,'' said 47-year-old Claver Buzizi, a genocide survivor from Bisesero, who was in the audience. "Not many in the international community will say these things.''
Nathan Mugume, a journalism student, said many Rwandans regard Dallaire as someone who "tried his best, with a very ill-equipped army. He was betrayed by the U.N., by the authorities,'' Mugume said.
Dallaire and his wife Elizabeth — who was visiting Rwanda for the first time — were to return to Canada today after a pilgrimage that allowed the retired general to retrace his steps in Rwanda. He was accompanied by a crew from Toronto-based White Pine Pictures, which is producing a documentary about his return to the country.
Dallaire, who has suffered post-traumatic stress disorder and depression leading to suicide attempts since his return to Canada, kept his emotions largely in check during his tour around Rwanda, even during a stop yesterday at a gruesome genocide memorial in Bisesero, in western Rwanda.
With his wife at his side, Dallaire was escorted into a tin shed where more than 1,000 bleached skulls have been arranged in neat rows on plywood sheets. At the other end of the room, thousands of tibia and other bones were piled up like firewood.
After the film crew packed up, Dallaire stood alone in the office for several minutes. As he left the place where he had hunkered down during the slaughter, abandoned by the world community, he paused for one last look. Then he wiped tears from his eyes and flicked off the lights.
World ignored '94 genocide: Dallaire
Saying `sorry' is not enough, he says
ALLAN THOMPSON
SPECIAL TO THE STAR
BUTARE, Rwanda—Rwanda should press for reparations from the countries that abandoned the tiny African nation during the 1994 genocide, Roméo Dallaire declared here yesterday.
The retired Canadian general who commanded the ill-equipped United Nations mission during the genocide has long accused such countries as France, Belgium, the United States and Britain of abandoning Rwanda in the full knowledge that tens of thousands would die.
But Dallaire, on a pilgrimage to mark the 10th anniversary of the beginning of the genocide, has never before broached the thorny subject of reparations.
On the last day of the trip, he spoke to more than 3,000 students and local residents who packed a soccer stadium at the National University of Rwanda, in Butare.
The speech was supposed to have been held in a lecture theatre, but had to be moved outside because so many people showed up to hear Dallaire deliver his only public address during this visit, his first return to Rwanda since the catastrophe that saw 800,000 people die.
"You have suffered the genocide, you were abandoned and there should be reparation made by that same international community that abandoned you and left you to die, day after day, by the thousands,'' he said.
"It is for you to take up this struggle in the international community because you have the right, you have suffered.''
Dallaire's mission was virtually abandoned by the world community and after his U.N. bosses told him that he had no mandate to intervene, Dallaire watched helplessly as Hutu extremists carried out a plan to exterminate the minority Tutsi and Hutu moderates.
In the blunt, one-hour speech, Dallaire urged Rwandans to pressure members of the international community to make amends for their role during the genocide.
"Continue to harass those countries,'' he said, to a round of applause and murmurs from the audience. "Render the guilt of that international community far, far stronger than letting them simply come here and say `we're sorry, we didn't know, and can we be friends again' and through that throw some dollars to wash their hands.''
And Dallaire also told the audience that his own mission was a complete and utter failure.
"In front of you, I must say, that Roméo Dallaire, commander of the force, failed the people of Rwanda,'' he said.
"He told the truth, and I appreciate that,'' said 47-year-old Claver Buzizi, a genocide survivor from Bisesero, who was in the audience. "Not many in the international community will say these things.''
Nathan Mugume, a journalism student, said many Rwandans regard Dallaire as someone who "tried his best, with a very ill-equipped army. He was betrayed by the U.N., by the authorities,'' Mugume said.
Dallaire and his wife Elizabeth — who was visiting Rwanda for the first time — were to return to Canada today after a pilgrimage that allowed the retired general to retrace his steps in Rwanda. He was accompanied by a crew from Toronto-based White Pine Pictures, which is producing a documentary about his return to the country.
Dallaire, who has suffered post-traumatic stress disorder and depression leading to suicide attempts since his return to Canada, kept his emotions largely in check during his tour around Rwanda, even during a stop yesterday at a gruesome genocide memorial in Bisesero, in western Rwanda.
With his wife at his side, Dallaire was escorted into a tin shed where more than 1,000 bleached skulls have been arranged in neat rows on plywood sheets. At the other end of the room, thousands of tibia and other bones were piled up like firewood.
After the film crew packed up, Dallaire stood alone in the office for several minutes. As he left the place where he had hunkered down during the slaughter, abandoned by the world community, he paused for one last look. Then he wiped tears from his eyes and flicked off the lights.