Letter: Rwanda: leaders are to blame

Sir: Your editorial ('Peacemaking: a task for Africans') of 12 May rightly recognises the moral imperative of acting to stop the mass killings in Rwanda, while at the same time recognising the difficulties that will confront any United Nations force sent to the country to try to do that.

It is now clear beyond doubt that the killing was carefully planned in advance, to liquidate all actual and potential opposition. The names of those responsible are known - they include senior members of the Rwandese interim government. Unfortunately, the international community has yet to issue a resolute and unequivocal condemnation of these killers. This has demoralised the many ordinary Rwandese who are horrified at the bloodletting in their country, and deeply opposed to it.

Opposition groups, including the rebel Rwandese Patriotic Front, are not involved in the mass killing. The RPF has certainly committed human rights abuses, but to put it on a par with the government militias is a travesty. As a result it is deeply suspicious of the UN, and has less and less reason to refrain from indiscriminate violence itself.

If the perpetrators of genocidal violence are seen to escape international censure, this is an appalling advertisement for the success of such political methods.

It is imperative that the Rwandese government and all who represent it should be made into international pariahs. European governments should expel all Rwandese ambassadors at once, they should push for the creation of a special tribunal to investigate crimes against humanity and bring to justice those responsible, and they should simply condemn, loudly, publicly and repeatedly, the crime that is being committed.

Yours sincerely

ALEX DE WAAL,

Co-director

JOSEPH MUTABOBA

Consultant

African Rights

London, SE1