France Prepares to Intervene in Rwanda --- To Protect the Killers, the Rebels Charge

As the genocidal slaughter continued in Rwanda in 1994 and rebel forces advanced in an effort to halt the bloodshed, there was no indication that any country was willing to intervene to prevent further killings. Then, suddenly, there was talk of possible French military intervention. Although then UN Secretary General Boutros Boutros Ghali said the idea should be taken seriously, other UN officials involved with the situation in Rwanda privately expressed deep reservations and rebels of the Rwandese Patriotic Front voiced strong opposition to any French operation.

One UN military official calls the prospect of French military intervention in Rwanda "frightening."

Another official, this one a civilian involved in humanitarian affairs, fears the presence of French troops will only make matters worse.

These officials are joined by private relief workers in expressing firm, although anonymous, opposition to the idea of a French operation in Rwanda. One scared relief worker says he wants to be on the next plane out of the country, if French troops do come in.

Among the chief reasons cited by these officials for their concern is the adamant opposition to French intervention voiced repeatedly by the rebel Rwandese Patriotic Front, or RPF. The comments of senior rebel officials, as well as the broadcasts of rebel radio, make clear the RPF stands ready to fight French soldiers who show up in Rwanda.

The rebels' opposition is based on their accusation that the government in Paris -- in the words of one recent rebel broadcast -- "is directly responsible for the massacres and genocide which took place, and are still taking place" in the country. The rebels argue this is the case because France has intervened in the past to prevent the Rwandan government from being overwhelmed by RPF forces.

The rebels also accuse France of providing millions of dollars worth of arms and ammunition to Rwandan government forces -- and helping train militia from the majority Hutu ethnic community who have been accused of mass killings of members of the minority Tutsi group.

Since the latest violence erupted in Rwanda, the rebels have also criticized France for providing visas to senior Rwandan officials allegedly responsible for ordering the massacres.

The predominantly Tutsi rebels claim that after hundreds of thousands of civilian lives have been lost in Rwanda, the only reason why France would want to intervene is clear -- to protect the murderers.

UN officials admit they have been able to do little to prevent the killings in Rwanda. But they argue that they have had success in reaching agreements with both the government and rebel sides to evacuate civilians to safety. Those lives might otherwise have been lost in the bloodshed. They suggest a French presence could upset that effort and could, in the end, lead to a higher casualty toll.

France did later intervene, setting up a “protected” zone in southwestern Rwanda. In future postings, we’ll see exactly what happened when they did.