Citation
HH 2
UNCLASSIFIED
PTQ4062
RELEASED IN FULL
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 01
ACTION AF-01
KIGALI
INFO
AID-00
EUR-01
ADS-00
PM-00
SS-00
PMB-00
LOG-00
EB-01
L-01
PA-01
SSO-00
NISC-01
01258
PTQ4062
230902Z
CIAE-00
FBIE-00
M-00
PRS-01
STR-01
DSCC-00
SMEC-00 OASY-00 DODE-00
H-01
TEDE-00 INR-00
NSAE-00 NSCE-00 OIC-02
P-01
SCT-00
SP-00
TRSE-00 T-00
USIE-00
PRME-01 DRL-09
G-00
BE5526 230907Z /38
O 221004Z APR 95
FM AMEMBASSY KIGALI
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0539
AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS IMMEDIATE
RWANDA COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
CONFIDENTIALKIGALI 001258
BRUSSELS FOR AS MOOSE PARTY
CORRECTED TEXT PAR 2 AND 4
E.O. 12356: DECL 5/22/95
TAGS: PINS, MOPS, PHUM, RW
SUBJECT: EXCHANGE OF FIRE AT KIBEHO CAMP;
CASUALTY TOLL IN THE HUNDREDS
1. C --ENTIRE TEXT
2. THE ONGOING SECURITY SITUATION AT KIBEHO INTERNALLY
DISPLACED PERSONS (IDP) CAMP IN SOUTHWESTERN RWANDA TOOK
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE
REVIEW AUTHORITY: JOHN L MILLS
DATE/CASE ID: 14 MAY 2007 200103014
UNCLASSIFIED
DS-00
10-10
OMB-01
SR-00
SNIS-00
/033W
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 02
KIGALI 01258 230902Z
A TURN FOR THE WORSE APRIL 21 WITH WHAT APPEARS TO HAVE
BEEN ATTEMPTED BREAKOUTS BY ARMED ELEMENTS USING FELLOW
IDP'S AS SHIELDS. THIS WAS A FURTHER TRAGIC BREAKDOWN IN
RPA'S EFFORTS TO EMPTY THE CAMP WHICH BEGAN ON TUESDAY
APRIL 16 WHEN RPA SURROUNDED KIBEHO CAMP AND THE RUSH OF
INMATES TOWARD URANIA'S ZAMBIA BATTALION CRUSHED SEVERAL
TO DEATH. ON THURSDAY AND FRIDAY, ROCK THROWING
INCIDENTS DREW DIRECT FIRE FROM RPA WITH SEVERAL DOZEN
CASUALTIES. A WESTERN OBSERVER IN THE CAMP APRIL 21
REPORTED CONDITIONS AS PITIABLE, IDPS AS VERY FRIGHTENED,
AND RUMORS CIRCULATING ABOUT A DESPERATION BREAKOUT. A
SEPARATE DATT REPORT ADDRESSES THE EVENTS OF THE DAY IN
SOME DETAIL
3. AT LEAST TWO DIFFERENT BREAKOUT ATTEMPTS APRIL 21
RESULTED IN EXTENDED EXCHANGES OF FIRE WITHIN THE CAMP
BETWEEN IDP ELEMENTS WHICH UNAMIR'S AUSTRALIA MEDICAL
UNIT (AUSMED) ON THE SCENE REPORTED AS BEING ARMED WITH
MACHETES, GRENADES, AND AK-47S. AUSMED REPORTING PRAISED
RPA AS BEING "CONTROLLED AND DISCIPLINED" IN THE FACE OF
BREAKOUT ATTEMPTS. REPORTS OF THE CASUALTY TOLL FROM
OBSERVERS ON THE SCENE AT VARYING TIMES RANGE FROM 30 TO
POSSIBLY ONE THOUSAND DEAD. THE MORE SERIOUS OF THE TWO
BREAKOUT ATTEMPTS OCCURRED JUST AS DUSK WAS FALLING,
MAKING CASUALTY COUNTS IMPRACTICAL BEFORE SUNUP. AUSMED
REPORTS THAT IN THIS SECOND ATTEMPT, AS MANY AS FIVE
THOUSAND IDPS RUSHED THE RPA POSITION, AND THAT THE RPA
RESPONDED WITH MACHINE GUN AND MORTAR FIRE.
4. NOT MUCH MORE THAN THIS IS KNOWN AT THE PRESENT TIME.
AS REPORTS OF CONTINUED FIGHTING REACHED KIGALI AFTERNOON
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 03
KIGALI 01258 230902Z
APRIL 22, AMBASSADOR CALLED PRESIDENTIAL COUNSELLOR
MURIGANDE AND PRESSED FOR IMMEDIATE HIGHEST LEVEL ACTION
TO STOP THE VIOLENCE AND SAVE LIVES. WE URGE CAUTION IN
ATTRIBUTING CAUSE OR RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE VIOLENCE
UNTIL MORE FACTS ARE KNOWN. THOUGH WE CANNOT ESTIMATE
FIGURES, WE HAVE RELIABLE REPORTS THAT THERE ARE
CASUALTIES ON BOTH SIDES. AUSMED BELIEVES THERE MAY BE
HUNDREDS DEAD AND THOUSANDS WOUNDED.
UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED
5. WE HAVE HEARD INFORMALLY THAT UNAMIR MAY REQUEST
MEDICAL ASSISTANCE FROM THE U.S., PARTICULARLY SURGEONS
EXPERIENCED IN DEALING WITH GUNSHOT WOUNDS. THIS EMBASSY
HAS NOT/NOT RECEIVED A FORMAL REQUEST FOR ASSISTANCE. WE
UNDERSTAND THAT AUSMED IS WAITING UNTIL DAYLIGHT TO
DETERMINE IF SURGICAL RESOURCES ARE ADEQUATE FOR NEEDS ON
THE GROUND.
6. UNAMIR HAS CALLED AN EXTRAORDINARY BRIEFING FOR
SUNDAY APRIL 22, WITH AN EXPECTED VISIT TO THE CAMP BY
HIGH-LEVEL UNAMIR OFFICERS. USAID OFFICER
SCHWARZENDRUBER IS SCHEDULE TO GO TO THE SITE WITH UNREO,
AND DATT AND EMBASSY OFFICER WILL ATTEMPT TO HITCH A RIDE
ON UNAMIR HELICOPTERS. RAWSON
CONFIDENTIAL
UNCLASSIFIED
