While I am not clear in myself as to what Canada should have done in relation to Iraq, I can’t recall ever being so clear as when I understood what was happening in Rwanda and how democracies, the world community, whoever was at the wheel failed. Canadian General Romeo Dallaire is testifying this week at United Nations International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda. I do not think I will ever forget the CBC radio piece on Rwanda in 1994 when he was interviewed and described walking into a stadium where children had been butchered wondering why he was walking on sausages when he realized they were all little severed fingers. 800,000 people died there just ten years ago in a few weeks to people with only rifles and machetes. Yesterday, he identified the accused who gave the orders:
Dallaire, who led the ill-fated 1994 United Nations peacekeeping mission in Rwanda, rose to his feet, glanced around, then fixed an icy glare on his former nemesis. “He’s on the extreme right, in the last row,” Dallaire said, pointing at Theoneste Bagosora…
…Today Dallaire is expected to testify about the secret informant who warned in January, 1994, that death squads were compiling lists and training to kill thousands of people a day. When Dallaire told U.N. headquarters in New York he planned to raid the arms caches of the death squads, he was told not to take any military action, that he had to remain neutral.
They told him not to act on a plan. I can’t get around the numbers. 267 World Trade Centres. Downstream in Burundi, the river was red with human blood and parts. Then you remember fifteen years before that two and a half times that many died in Cambodia.
[Original comments…]
AMADOU DEME – September 10, 2004 9:23 PM
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My name is Amadou Deme and I had the honor to serve under General Romeo Dallaire in Rwanda during the genocide; as Intelligence Officer.
I have never met such a Great General, a tremendous Professional and extremely courageous. Nobody else could talk about the leadership he demonstrated. Alone, he was the Force Commander, the Special Representative, the camp Commander almost the everything…Taking risks every single day (fire, mortar shells, threats, stress). We were just amazed by his energy, clairvoyance.
Nothing could stop him to do what he wanted: to save people of Rwanda. He is a Great example for the entire Humanity, Thanks God there are people like him in this Universe.
Canada, his family and his friends are gifted to have such a man. He will always remain in our mind and will have our admiration.
Thanks to his little team as well (major Beardsley and his colleagues).
God bless him
Alan – September 10, 2004 9:33 PM
Thank you for that wonderful tribute, Mr. Deme.
Alan – March 9, 2005 4:46 PM
There is a great line I had not heard before about Dallaire in this article on his receipt of a medal from Canada for his work: “a man who screamed into the void and never stopped screaming.”
Alan – March 25, 2005 1:38 PM
And now Senator Dallaire has become a landed Gaspesian.