Sunday, June 08, 2003
800,000 MASSACRED IN 100 DAYS
I watched in incredibly heart wrenching documentary about the Rwandan genocide on the Independent Film Channel. I know myself and many others sometimes like to bash the UN but I have learned its an unfair generalization to bash the UN in its entirety. The power and buerocracy of the UN exists on multiple levels.
1. Field workers, military forces and support staff.
2. The professionel UN buerocracy
3. member nations/security council
The Commander of UN forces peace keeping operation in Rwanda was a Candadian by the name of Romeo Dallaire. This extrodinary man is one of the most courageous, honarable and moral men I have ever witnessed. When he arrived in Rwanda he told his UN superiors he needed 5,000 troops for the peace keeping operation. Kofi Annan requested 5,000 Candadian Troops that had the most experience for this kind of mission. The Canadian government refused. Instead member nations only caughed up a hodge podge of 2,500 badly equiped troops from 27 different nations.
Remember that the Rwanda peacekeeping mission happened after the failed peacekeeping mission in Somalia where American soldiers had been killed and dragged through the streets. The Non-African world had lost it's appetite for peace keeping.
The Canadian General knew that a genocide was being planned. He knew of a large illegal arms catch inside the city. He told (not requested) his superiors he was going to raid the arms catch and sieze the weapons (guns and thousands of machettes). The UN higher ups ordered him not too.
After the genocide began thousands of Tutsis took refuge behind a Belguim peacekeeping force. The Belgium government withdrew their forces from Rwanda and let thousands who begged for protection be massacred.
Instead of sending more forces to Rwanda the UN led by the United States decided to pull out of Rwanda. The Canadian General and his forces were ordered to leave Rwanda. The Canadian General along with 500 troops from Ghana refused to leave and managed to save thousands from being slaughtered.
I watched in incredibly heart wrenching documentary about the Rwandan genocide on the Independent Film Channel. I know myself and many others sometimes like to bash the UN but I have learned its an unfair generalization to bash the UN in its entirety. The power and buerocracy of the UN exists on multiple levels.
1. Field workers, military forces and support staff.
2. The professionel UN buerocracy
3. member nations/security council
The Commander of UN forces peace keeping operation in Rwanda was a Candadian by the name of Romeo Dallaire. This extrodinary man is one of the most courageous, honarable and moral men I have ever witnessed. When he arrived in Rwanda he told his UN superiors he needed 5,000 troops for the peace keeping operation. Kofi Annan requested 5,000 Candadian Troops that had the most experience for this kind of mission. The Canadian government refused. Instead member nations only caughed up a hodge podge of 2,500 badly equiped troops from 27 different nations.
Remember that the Rwanda peacekeeping mission happened after the failed peacekeeping mission in Somalia where American soldiers had been killed and dragged through the streets. The Non-African world had lost it's appetite for peace keeping.
The Canadian General knew that a genocide was being planned. He knew of a large illegal arms catch inside the city. He told (not requested) his superiors he was going to raid the arms catch and sieze the weapons (guns and thousands of machettes). The UN higher ups ordered him not too.
After the genocide began thousands of Tutsis took refuge behind a Belguim peacekeeping force. The Belgium government withdrew their forces from Rwanda and let thousands who begged for protection be massacred.
Instead of sending more forces to Rwanda the UN led by the United States decided to pull out of Rwanda. The Canadian General and his forces were ordered to leave Rwanda. The Canadian General along with 500 troops from Ghana refused to leave and managed to save thousands from being slaughtered.
