[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 65 (Tuesday, May 4, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E742]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            RWANDAN GENOCIDE

                                 ______
                                 

                              HON. TED POE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                          Tuesday, May 4, 2010

  Mr. POE of Texas. Madam Speaker, I've spent my entire career 
advocating for victims, for those that have suffered at the hands of 
perpetrators both as a former judge in Texas and as founder and co-
chair of the Victims' Rights Caucus. It grieves me that people resort 
to violence and commit such atrocities to their fellow neighbor. On 
April 6, 1994 and for the next three months our world learned an 
important lesson--violence is not the answer, nor is watching and doing 
nothing.
  Sixteen years ago, beginning on April 6, 1994 more than 800,000 
persons were killed in the Rwandan genocide, many being Tutsis.
  A shot-down plane of Rwandan President Juvenal Habyarimana, a Hutu, 
and his death sparked the beginnings of the genocide because the very 
next day, April 7, 1994, the Rwandan Armed Forces (FAR) and the 
interahamwe went out and slaughtered thousands of people by setting up 
roadblocks and then going house to house killing Tutsis and moderate 
Hutus. The slaying went on for the next 100 days.
  On June 22, 1994 the U.S. used the word ``genocide'' only after the 
Security Council deployed French forces in South West Rwanda. On 
February 19, 1995 Western countries committed to sending $600 million 
in aid, with $60 million coming from the United States. Rwanda bears a 
deep and grave loss from this tragedy, and the international community 
has come around them to support, encourage and comfort.
  Much was said during this conflict, but little was done. We can do 
better. We must do better.
  We send our sympathies out to the loved ones who died in the Rwandan 
genocide. We know that they are still greatly missed even sixteen years 
later. May we remember this time when so many lost their lives, and may 
we do better in interceding during future conflicts. Let us always take 
a stand against violence.

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