[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 81 (Wednesday, June 5, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Page S5852]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              DEATH OF RED CROSS RELIEF WORKERS IN BURUNDI

  Mr. KASSEBAUM. Mr. President, yesterday three Swiss Red Cross relief 
workers were killed in Burundi. I want to express my condolences to the 
International Committee of the Red Cross and the families of the 
deceased.
  The ICRC staff were attacked as they returned from a project 
providing humanitarian relief to the civilian Burundian population. 
ICRC is the largest humanitarian organization in Burundi, providing 
water to over 200,000 people, as well as cans, pots, and blankets. The 
Red Cross agricultural programs keeps 150,000 people alive.
  Over the years, when I have traveled in Africa, I have always been 
impressed with the courageous work of the ICRC. From Somalia to Rwanda, 
Angola to Liberia, the ICRC performs critical functions--often, as we 
saw yesterday, at great personal risk. In many of these crises, I 
simply do not know what we would do with the ICRC.
  The International Red Cross has long been identified as a neutral 
organization which meticulously avoids taking sides in armed conflicts. 
For that reason, the brutal attack on the relief officials--in a 
vehicle clearly marked with Red Cross emblems--is particularly 
outrageous.
  Mr. President, while much of the rest of the world--and even most of 
Africa--is moving forward into the 21st century, some countries 
continue to deteriorate into almost medieval levels of brutality with a 
total disregard for human life. Over the past year, the violence in 
Burundi has increased dramatically as both the Burundian military and 
rebels based in Zaire have killed civilians at will.
  While the extremists pursue a strategy of intimidation, the civilians 
of Burundi suffer. In recent months, thousands of innocent people have 
been killed. Tens of thousands have been displaced from their homes, 
many forced into Zaire and Tanzania.
  As the level of violence grows, Burundi risks spiraling totally out 
of control into a cycle of genocidal brutality.
  Mr. President, it is difficult to know what to do in this type of 
situation. Clearly, as security permits, we will support humanitarian 
relief operations. The United States and our Europeans allies will 
continue to engage in active diplomatic efforts to stop the killing. I 
commend the administration, particularly National Security Adviser Tony 
Lake, for taking a trip to Burundi to signal high-level concern. And 
the United Nations is exploring a numbers of options to address the 
continued violence.
  But I believe the primary responsibility--and the most effective 
means--to stop the killing lies with those on the African Continent.
  First and foremost, the Burundians themselves must stand up and say 
that enough is enough. The military--the primary perpetrators of the 
violence--must end the brutality and perform as a neutral, professional 
force protecting, not killing, their citizens. The Hutu rebels based in 
Zaire must stop their campaign of terror. All parties must stop 
spreading fear and pursue their goals through dialog.
  Mr. President, the neighboring states--those most affected by the 
insecurity in Burundi--must play an active role in reestablishing 
stability in the region.
  Former President Nyerere of Tanzania is leading an active diplomatic 
initiative to bring the Burundian parties together. I commend President 
Nyerere for his efforts, and the United States should continue to 
strongly support him.
  I would urge the Organization of African Unity to become more engaged 
in Burundi. The Secretary General of the OAU has issued a statement on 
Burundi. But the OAU, in order to be relevant, must stop talking about 
ending conflict and begin to take actions to stop conflicts.
  Finally, as the primary host to refugees from Rwanda and Burundi, 
Zaire has a clear interest in promoting peace in Burundi. Yet, all 
evidence points to the continued destabilizing role of Zaire in central 
Africa. President Mobutu and Prime Muinister Kengo must use their 
influence to stop the arms trafficking to the Hutu rebels based in 
Zaire. They must arrest the intimidators spreading fear among refugees. 
And they must improve security on the border.
  Over the years, I have been one of the first to criticize President 
Mobutu for his human rights and economic policies in Zaire. He has 
destroyed the physical and social infrastructure of his country, 
potentially one of Africa's richest and most powerful. Now he is 
feeding instability in Burundi and Rwanda despite the interests of the 
Zairian people in stability. President Mobutu should understand that 
his role in central Africa will be noted and remembered by the United 
States.
  Mr. President, once again I want to express my deep sadness over the 
brutal murder of the three International Committee of the Red Cross 
relief workers in Burundi. They died in a noble cause: helping innocent 
civilians stay alive. It is my hope that their deaths will be among the 
last in Burundi--and not just one more tragic event in the continued 
slide into uncontrollable ethnic brutality.

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