[Congressional Bills 103th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 207 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

103d CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 207

 Expressing the sense of the Senate regarding the tragic humanitarian 
                  and political catastrophe in Rwanda.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

               April 26 (legislative day, April 11), 1994

Mr. Simon (for himself, Mr. Jeffords, Mrs. Kassebaum, Mr. Kennedy, Ms. 
 Moseley-Braun, Mr. Pell, Mr. Wofford, and Mr. Feingold) submitted the 
        following resolution; which was considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Expressing the sense of the Senate regarding the tragic humanitarian 
                  and political catastrophe in Rwanda.

Whereas on April 6, 1994, Presidents Juvenal Habyarimana of Rwanda and Cyprien 
        Ntaryamira of Burundi were killed when their plane was shot down just 
        outside Kigali, leading to an eruption of violence in Rwanda;
Whereas the systematic and indiscriminate massacre of civilians, estimated in 
        the tens of thousands, is a crime against humanity;
Whereas the violence currently being perpetrated by the Rwandan government 
        forces and their allied militias, as well as the Rwandan Patriotic 
        Front, against members of both the Tutsi and Hutu ethnic groups is 
        deplorable and violates all standards of human rights;
Whereas food shortages and lack of medical supplies in Rwanda, and the 
        evacuation of humanitarian relief workers, has put millions of lives at 
        risk;
Whereas a peace accord signed in Arusha by the Habyarimana government and the 
        Rwandan Patriotic Front in August 1993 created the basis for formation 
        of an integrated transitional government in Rwanda;
Whereas the United Nations Security Council voted in October 1993 to deploy a 
        force of 2,500 peacekeepers, the United Nations Assistance Mission for 
        Rwanda (UNAMIR) to assist in implementation of the Arusha accords;
Whereas tens of thousands of Rwandans have sought the protection of UNAMIR 
        forces and refuge from the continuing violence;
Whereas a number of contributing nations have withdrawn their troop contingents 
        from the UNAMIR operation and other nations contributing forces may 
        follow suit; and
Whereas continued unrest and violence in Rwanda threatens the stability of the 
        entire Central African region: Now, therefore, be it:
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) deplores the brutal and systematic massacre of 
        civilians and individuals sympathetic to the political 
        opposition in Rwanda by the Rwandan military and associated 
        groups, as well as the Rwandan Patriotic Front;
            (2) urges the United Nations and the Organization of 
        African Unity to continue efforts to gain agreement on a 
        credible cease-fire and to facilitate negotiations between the 
        parties to the conflict, based upon the Arusha accords;
            (3) calls on all parties, including the Rwandan army, 
        related militias, particularly Colonel Bagosora, Colonel 
        Augustin Bisimungu, Captain Pasqual Simbikangwa and Colonel 
        Mpiranya, as well as the Rwandon Patriotic Front--
                    (A) to exercise restraint and control over their 
                forces,
                    (B) to accede to an immediate and unconditional 
                ceasefire,
                    (C) to respect such cease-fire and ensure the 
                safety of innocent civilians,
                    (D) to guarantee free passage of humanitarian 
                assistance to all in need of such aid, and
                    (E) to recommit themselves to the principles set 
                forth in the Arusha accords;
            (4) calls on the United Nations to consider carefully both 
        military and diplomatic options which are consistent with the 
        Arusha accords and will ensure the safety of innocent 
        civilians, assist in monitoring an eventual cease-fire or peace 
        agreement, facilitate the delivery of humanitarian relief, and 
        ensure the viability of these options;
            (5) commends President Clinton for his swift condemnation 
        of and response to this crisis, and applauds the efforts of the 
        United States Ambassador to Rwanda, David Rawson, in ensuring 
        the safe and swift evacuation of Americans from Rwanda;
            (6) urges President Clinton to continue diplomatic efforts 
        at the highest levels to achieve prompt resolution of the 
        political and humanitarian crisis in Rwanda.
    Sec. 2. The Secretary of the Senate shall transmit a copy of this 
resolution to the President.

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