Citation
3140 – 31-05
Amb Gharekhan informed that the SG’s Special Envoy I. Riza has
completed his mission and returned on Monday to New York. As we
informed, it resulted in an agreement of the RPF to start discussions
with the military leadership of the RGF on a cease-fire and other
matters.
The first direct contact of both parties since 6 April took place at
the UNAMIR Kigali HQ, under the mediation of the UNAMIR commander. He
handed over a draft cease‐fire agreement developed by the UN. The
RPF demanded that the RGF cease the massacres. The RGF appealed to its
units and to militias to be more tolerant of Tutsis. On the other
hand, RGF troops massacred 500 civilians on 28 May who had sought
refuge in a monastery north of Kigali.
Agreement was also reached on continuing exchanges of civilians across
the battle lines.
Thus on Monday 246 persons were moved from the Mille Collines Hotel
and 290 persons from the stadium.
The military situation in Kigali continues to be tense. Heavy weapon
firing is heard at night. It appears that RGF troops and civilians
from RGF controlled areas are leaving Kigali for the South. The lines
of both sides in town have, however, not shifted. In areas under RGF
control, militias are maintaining roadblocks. The RPF has supposedly
assumed partial control over the road from Kigali to Gitarama and from
Gitarama further south to Butare. On 31 May, a military observer from
Senegal was killed after his car was hit by a mortar round.
Mr. Riza is preparing a report for the SG after which the SC will be informed.
