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DATE=12/16/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=U-N-RWANDA REPORT (L-O)
NUMBER=2-257223
BYLINE=BRECK ARDERY
DATELINE=UNITED NATIONS
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO:  An investigative panel appointed by U-N 
Secretary-General Kofi Annan says the 1994 genocide in 
Rwanda was caused in large part by a lack of political 
will at the United Nations.  Correspondent Breck 
Ardery reports from the United Nations. 
TEXT:  In a lengthy report, the panel says the murders 
of an estimated 800-thousand people in Rwanda might 
have been prevented had the U-N Security Council acted 
decisively and provided adequate resources.  The 
report focuses on the events leading up to April of 
1994 when ethnic conflict in Rwanda led to the mass 
murder of Tutsis and some moderate Hutus.
Panel Chairman Ingvar Carlsson, the former Prime 
Minister of Sweden, said the small U-N force in Rwanda 
at the time lacked both the mandate and the resources 
to stop the genocide.
            /// CARLSSON ACT ///
      There was a lack of will to take on the 
      commitment necessary to prevent the genocide.  
      The mission was smaller than the recommendations 
      from the field (said it should be).  It was slow 
      in being set up.  It had administrative 
      difficulties.  It lacked well-trained troops and 
      functioning materiel.
            /// END ACT /// 
The panel said it had unlimited access to all U-N 
documents connected with the tragedy.  In addition to 
reviewing documents, the panel also interviewed more 
than 100-people.
Reacting to the report, U-N Secretary-General Annan 
acknowledged the failure of the United Nations in 
Rwanda and expressed his deep remorse.  At the time of 
the genocide, Mr. Annan was in charge of U-N 
peacekeeping operations.
            /// REST OPT ///
During the genocide in Rwanda, many people were killed 
inside churches where they had fled to seek safety.  
Mr. Carlsson said he was deeply moved when, while 
visiting one of those churches, he saw a pair of shoes 
that had belonged to a small girl.
            /// CARLSSON ACT ///
      Her crime was that she was a Tutsi or maybe from 
      a family of moderate Hutus.  She probably did 
      not know much about that.  But I will assure you 
      I will never forget, I will never forget those 
      two little shoes.  To me it is a symbol of the 
      evil of the genocide, the terrible evil. 
            /// END ACT ///
Mr. Carlsson said that, in addition to U-N officials 
and national governments that did not do enough to 
prevent the tragedy in Rwanda, there were a number of 
governments that did not care at all.   (SIGNED) 
NEB/UN/BA/LSF/RAE 
16-Dec-1999 13:49 PM EDT (16-Dec-1999 1849 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.