-Caveat Lector- Team arrives in Rwanda to probe alleged UN inaction during genocide KIGALI, Sept 1 (AFP) - Three independent investigators arrived in Rwanda on Wendesday to probe allegations that the United Nations did nothing to halt the 1994 slaughter of up to 800,000 people. It is the first time the team, comprising Swedish former prime minister Ingvar Carlsson, South Korean former foreign minister Han Sung-Joo and Nigerian General Rufus Kupolati, have set foot on Rwandan soil to investigate the claims made by families of the genocide victims. They will specifically investigate the role played by Secretary General Kofi Annan, who at the time of the killings was head of the UN peacekeeping operations. During their three-day stay in Rwanda, the team will meet various Rwandan officials, survivors of the genocide and journalists. Annan finally agreed to the investigation in January. Until now the team has pursued its enquiries at UN headquarters in New York. Upon arrival in Kigali, Carlsson said he and his colleagues had accepted Annan's request for an enquiry "on the condition we are fully independent." "We have full access toward materials" including cables sent from here to the UN secretariat, and from the secretariat to the UN Security Council, he added. Canadian General Romeo Dallaire, who was head of the UN peacekeeping force in Rwanda at the time, said UN officials failed to respond to his warnings of preparations for genocide. Annan has blamed the Security Council for inaction. "We will look at the responsibility (of) member countries of the UN," Carlsson said. The Swede explained the mission's two objectives: "First to give all the facts on how this terrible genocide could happen, how the international community could have let it happen, why they didn't react in a stronger or quicker way. "The second objective is to draw conclusions for the future in order that hopefully this will never happen again." Carlsson said the investigation has three phases. The first involved inspection of all relevant materials, including those in the UN archives. The second, now under way, began with a two-day international seminar in Geneva with experts, reseachers, book authors and non-governmental organisations. "We continue now in the region," he said. Carlsson said the team would spend three days in Rwanda before travelling to Uganda and Tanzania. Washington, Paris and Brussels are among other possible destinations, he added. "The third phase is to present to the Secretary General before the end of this year, a report with our conclusions about what could have been done, if we failed and why, and what should be done in the future," he said. Two parliamentary commissions, in Belgium in December 1997 and France in December 1998, cited errors made by the United Nations in the management of the crisis. -- ----------------------- NOTE: In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. section 107, this material is distributed without profit or payment to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving this information for non-profit research and educational purposes only. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml ----------------------- DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion and informational exchange list. Proselyzting propagandic screeds are not allowed. Substance—not soapboxing! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory', with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright frauds is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRL gives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credeence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/CTRL.html http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
