Kibeho: The Storm Explodes As Hutu Extremists With Guns And Machetes Emerge

On Saturday, April 22, 1995, the situation was no longer being minimized as aid workers and UN officials said they believed hundreds and possibly as many as one thousand people may have been killed in an outbreak of violence at Kibeho, the displaced camp for ethnic Hutu in southwestern Rwanda that had been ordered closed by the government. I reported the latest from Nairobi as I made hasty preparations to head for Rwanda.

Ismael Diallo, the chief UN spokesman in Rwanda, will only say that there have been a large number of casualties at the Kibeho camp, where conditions are described as chaotic and confused.

However UN and relief agency sources now confirm the trouble erupted when a crowd of several thousand refugees tried to break through a Rwandan army cordon thrown up around the facility since its closure was announced.

Eyewitnesses say that among the refugees were suspected Hutu extremists armed with guns and machetes who attacked the soldiers. The troops responded by firing on the crowd. Grenade explosions could also be heard but it was not clear who was responsible for the blasts.

Rwandan authorities have called Kibeho a haven for militiamen responsible for last year's massacres of a half million or more ethnic Tutsi. Many of the displaced Hutu have been reluctant to leave, however, fearing possible reprisals.

I filed that report after filing the following the day before. As you can see the casualty toll was small with officials saying only that at least 13 people had been killed and 24 wounded --- this after Rwandan troops allegedly opened fire at Kibeho. Although troubling, the incident appeared unextraordinary and rather than leave for Rwanda, I again filed from my base in Nairobi on Friday, April 21, 1995 after conducting interviews by phone.

A UN spokesman in Kigali says the casualties occurred late Thursday (4/20) at the Kibeho camp. Ismael Diallo quotes Rwandan military authorities as saying they were forced to open fire after several of the displaced people attempted to seize a weapon from a soldier.

In a telephone interview, spokesman Diallo says despite the shooting incident, the situation at Kibeho and other southwestern camps is calm. He acknowledges conditions at the overcrowded facilities are -- in his words -- really difficult.

But, the UN spokesman rejects suggestions by some relief agencies a humanitarian disaster is in the making. Mr. Diallo says food, water, and medicine are reaching the refugees and conditions are improving.

The Rwandan government ordered the camps closed this week, calling them havens for extremists involved in last year's ethnic and political massacres. Tens-of-thousands of displaced are awaiting transportation home. UN spokesman Diallo says at least 70 vehicles are currently involved in the return operation, which officials estimate will take several days.

Mr. Diallo says some of the refugees, all members of the Hutu ethnic community, are still reluctant to leave the camps. He says they fear possible reprisals from the Tutsi-dominated army. But, the UN spokesman says extremist Hutu elements may be intentionally stirring such fears by spreading rumors and precipitating incidents.