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The Government and Armed Forces Responsible for the Reign of Terror in Rwanda

Report of the International Commission Concerning Human Rights Violations in Rwanda Since 1 October 1990.

MONTREAL - 8 March 1993 – Acts of genocide, rape and war crimes have created a climate of terror throughout Rwanda since the outbreak of civil war in October 1990. Responsibility for these actions belongs primarily to the country's armed forces and government authorities.

In a report made public today, members of the International Commission Concerning Human Rights Violations in Rwanda Since 1 October 1990 denounced the systematic massacres of members of the minority Tutsi ethnic group. Although local authorities are responsible for allowing these crimes to occur, says the report, their superiors must bear the ultimate blame for having systematically encouraged such actions. The refusal of senior government officials to order an inquiry into these events and the President's absolute authority over the courts have completely paralyzed the judicial system. In this context, soldiers repeatedly rape and extort without fear of prosecution.

"Women have been raped on a phenomenal scale by soldiers" said one of the members of the Commission, Mr. William Schabas, Professor of Law at the Université du Québec é Montreal. "It's clearly not safe for them to be anywhere near the front lines."

While pointing a finger at the Head of State and the government, the report also exposes the crimes of the opposition Rwanda Patriotic Front, responsible for attacks on hospitals, schools and refugee camps. According to some reports Front members have also organized the kidnapping and deportation of individuals to neighboring Uganda.

The President of the Union inter-africaine des droits de l'homme, Mr. Halidou Ouedraogo presented a serie of recommendations aimed at the parties involved in the conflict. Among other things he insisted that "the President of the Republic must make a public statement in favour of peace" and immediately dissolve the armed militia of the MRND of which he is president.

The report calls on members of the international community to cease all military assistance to the belligerents and to urge the parties concerned to conclude a peace agreement, following the cease-fired signed earlier today in Dar-es-Salaam.