Rwanda and Burundi: Humanitarian Needs (Hansard, 1 November 1994)

§ The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Chalker of Wallasey)
My Lords, our latest assessment mission found the situation relatively stable, though still tense. The humanitarian needs in Burundi and Rwanda are best met by continuing the process of reconciliation and creating conditions for refugees and displaced persons to return to their homes.

§ Lord Judd
My Lords, will the noble Baroness agree that the work being done in Rwanda by humanitarian agencies and, indeed, the military is outstanding? Has the Minister seen reports by the humanitarian relief agencies that only 30 of the proposed 147 human rights monitors are in place and that they have only seven vehicles between them? What can be done to put that right? In relation to Burundi, can the Minister assure the House that the grave mistake made by the Security Council in not taking the pre-emptive action recommended by the Secretary-General in Rwanda will not be repeated? What 764 is being done to ensure that the large number of human rights monitors called for by the humanitarian agencies and the UN Commissioner for Human Rights are in place?

§ Baroness Chalker of Wallasey
My Lords, certainly I give all praise to the humanitarian agencies and the military who have done so much to make life more reasonable for those who are back in Rwanda and a little less unreasonable for those who remain in the camps in Tanzania, Zaire, northern Burundi and the displaced persons' camps within Rwanda itself.
I am aware of the reports that fewer than one third of the human rights monitors are in place. I am told that the United Nations volunteers are now involved. But expertise is needed in these delicate situations and every effort is being made to find people with experience. It is not a job for well-intentioned amateurs.
Regarding the situation in relation to vehicles and other equipment, we are looking to help through various ways. We have already given £250,000 and four vehicles for the human rights monitoring in Rwanda. I am told that 18 further monitors are about to arrive, and that the European Union is looking at what further contribution it can make. In relation to Burundi, the report from the special representative indicates that we must get on with the job. We have been waiting for further proposals and are doing all we can to make sure that proper human rights monitoring exists in Burundi. I visited the country two months ago and the government are now trying to be helpful. However, they also need help from outside.

§ The Lord Bishop of Lichfield
My Lords, given the encouraging reports from the Chief of Defence Staff, who is on the spot in Rwanda at this moment, concerning the fine contribution being made by the 550 strong British military contingency—especially the field ambulance units and the Parachute Regiment—can the Minister tell us whether there is scope for increasing that form of medical relief? I understand that there is considerable need for it. Further, is the Minister able to tell us about the continuing progress of her laudable attempts to gain real help from the leaders of the neighbouring African states, to which she referred, especially President Museveni of Uganda, to bring concerted pressure on the Rwandan Patriotic Front to stop the revenge killings on the Hutus, to end the misappropriation of property and to ask the UN to bring the matter into the public arena of justice and reconciliation?

§ Baroness Chalker of Wallasey
My Lords, we are extremely proud of our Army medical relief teams, the Sappers and all others who have helped. But one of the valuable aids our Army men and women have given is to train local people so that they can hand over the way stations and small clinics to local people to run. But I agree with the right reverend Prelate that there is plenty more work to be done.
In relation to revenge killings, the numbers killed by the RPF are small compared with the numbers killed by others. I have spoken to the president and to the vice-president in Rwanda, who assure me that they are taking action against anybody who indulges in such horrendous practices. It is certainly not something 765 supported by President Museveni of Uganda or anybody else. It is what happens in war when tempers are deeply frayed.

§ Lord Avebury
My Lords, does the Minister have any information about the report by the UNHCR concerning revenge killings which is alleged to have been suppressed by the United Nations? Does she agree that it is important that these allegations should either be verified or refuted, because if they are verified, prosecutions of those responsible can be instituted by the RPF government; and if they are refuted, reassurance can be given to the refugees in the camps so they are not afraid of returning?

§ Baroness Chalker of Wallasey
My Lords, I know that the government in Rwanda have put before military courts those who were found guilty of having indulged in revenge killings. We believe that the atrocities by the RPF were not as extensive as the publicity suggested. However, the matter is being followed up by the RPF government in Rwanda and is being watched very carefully by the United Nations Secretary-General's special representative, to whom I shall be talking on Friday.

§ Viscount Waverley
My Lords, will the Minister accept that any package of humanitarian assistance should also factor in the needs of neighbouring countries such as Zaire and Tanzania so that an entire region will not be severely debilitated by the flood of refugees?

§ Baroness Chalker of Wallasey
My Lords, the £60 million contribution by Britain has been used already in Zaire, Tanzania and Burundi to help Rwandan refugees. We have certainly had very good value from that money through the British non-governmental organisations working in those three places.

§ Lord Molloy
My Lords, bearing in mind Britain's magnificent endeavours, would it not be possible for the United Nations to be approached to ensure that the example of our country can be followed by a few others in making their contribution, even if that effort is only two-thirds of that of Great Britain?

§ Baroness Chalker of Wallasey
My Lords, that is exactly what lies behind the initiative on preventive diplomacy enunciated by my right honourable friend the Foreign Secretary at the United Nations when he spoke there last month; and, indeed, we are following it up.

§ Lord Wright of Richmond
My Lords, does the Minister agree that, in addition to the admirable work of the military and of the humanitarian agencies, the work and the constant presence of the International Committee of the Red Cross in both Rwanda and Burundi deserve special commendation? Can she give an assurance that Her Majesty's Government will continue to support the work of the ICRC not only in Rwanda and Burundi but also in other parts of the world which have tended to slip from the headlines, such as Afghanistan?

§ Baroness Chalker of Wallasey
My Lords, I can give the noble Lord a complete assurance. We work not only with the ICRC but the Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies in many places throughout the world through our own British Red Cross. But they are not the 766 only ones. Save the Children, Oxfam, CARE, Concern and many others have been involved. We can be justly proud of British non-governmental organisations and those with which they work, particularly the ICRC.

§ Lord Rea
My Lords, does the noble Baroness agree that a high priority should be given to setting up the international court which has been proposed to try those accused of the genocide in Rwanda? Does she not feel mat if those responsible were brought to justice it would be the best deterrent to anyone in other countries who might be thinking of committing similar crimes against humanity? What are the Government doing to speed up that process?

§ Baroness Chalker of Wallasey
My Lords, we are pressing the international bodies concerned and other countries to proceed with this. At the moment there is some hesitation among the Rwandese themselves about how this is to be done. But we hope to make progress very quickly.