Claiming that the presidential guard eliminates Tutsi from Kigali, Operation Order Amaryllis recognizes de facto that genocide has begun

Number: 413
Date: 8 avril 1994
Author: Germanos, Raymond
Title: Ordre d'opération Amaryllis
Source: EMA
Public records: MIP
Abstract: To avenge the death of President Habyarimana, the chief and the assistant of the presidential security killed in the crushing of the apparatus which occurred on April 6, 1994 in the evening, the members of the presidential guard carried out from the 7 morning reprisals in the city of Kigali: attack by the RPF battalion; arrest and elimination of opponents and Tutsis; encirclement of UNAMIR premises and limitation of its movements.
Comment: On April 8, 1994, France decided to intervene in Rwanda to evacuate its nationals. The Amaryllis operation order reveals that the genocide of the Tutsi has begun. Indeed, we read at the beginning that "to avenge the death of the president […] members of the presidential guard carried out retaliatory actions in Kigali from the morning of 07" including "the arrest and elimination of opponents and Tutsi". What does "elimination of the Tutsi" mean if not to destroy the Tutsi ethnic or racial group, as such? On April 8, the authors of this operation order recognize de facto that the genocide of the Tutsi has begun. Faced with this genocide, the operation order prescribes an attitude of neutrality. We read on page 3: "The French detachment will adopt a discreet attitude and a neutral behavior vis-à-vis the various Rwandan factions". However, France, having signed the Convention for the Prevention and Repression of crime of genocide, undertook to prevent and punish it or at least to refer it to the United Nations. Which she didn't.
Citation: OBJ/OPÉRATION AMARYLLIS TXT PRIMO : SITUATION : POUR VENGER LA MORT DU PRÉSIDENT HABYARIMANA, DU CHEF ET DE L'ADJOINT DE LA SÉCURITÉ PRÉSIDENTIELLE TUÉS DANS L'ÉCRASEMENT DE L'APPAREIL SURVENU LE 06 AVRIL AU SOIR, LES MEMBRES DE LA GARDE PRÉSIDENTIELLE ONT MENÉ DÈS LE 07 MATIN DES ACTIONS DE REPRÉSAILLES DANS LA VILLE DE KIGALI : - ATTAQUE DU BATAILLON FPR, - ARRESTATION ET ÉLIMINATION DES OPPOSANTS ET DES TUTSI, - ENCERCLEMENT DES EMPRISES DE LA MINUAR ET LIMITATION DE SES DÉPLACEMENTS.