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August 2, 2023 French

Bernard Kouchner : « La France a été accusée, souvent à tort mais aussi à raison, d'avoir été du côté des gens qui ont organisé ces massacres. Mais qui d'autres que la France va aller sauver les corps ? »

Card Number 29039

Number
29039
Author
Poivre d'Arvor, Patrick
Author
Jacquemin, Marine
Author
Allémonière, Patricia
Date
21 juin 1994
Ymd
19940621
Time
20:00:00
Time zone
CEST
Uptitle
Journal de 20 heures
Title
Bernard Kouchner : « La France a été accusée, souvent à tort mais aussi à raison, d'avoir été du côté des gens qui ont organisé ces massacres. Mais qui d'autres que la France va aller sauver les corps ? »
Subtitle
L'OUA s'est officiellement opposée cet après-midi à une intervention française au Rwanda.
Size
34316 bytes
Pages nb.
6
Source
TF1
Public records
INA
Type
Transcription d'une émission de télévision
Language
FR
Abstract
- The OAU officially opposed this afternoon a French intervention in Rwanda. This does not prevent France, with the reaffirmed support of the UN Secretary General, Boutros Boutros-Ghali, from continuing to prepare its operation in the Central African Republic. The first elements have already arrived at the border between Zaire and Rwanda. But the bulk of the units are still concentrated in Bangui.
- The first French elements have taken position since yesterday evening [June 20] at the border with Rwanda. In all, about twenty men spread over two sites, Goma and Bukavu. Their mission: to check the technical installations of the two Zairian airports as well as the runways which will accommodate the bulk of the French forces no later than tomorrow [June 22]. In all, 2,500 men are planned for Operation Turquoise. 1,000 will be operational in Rwandan territory, the other 1,500 will be there in support.
- The fighting continues in Kigali, the Tutsi armed opposition maintains the pressure. The clashes are concentrated in the south of the capital. Today the wounded, dazed, transported to an area controlled by the rebels, were able to be fed and treated.
- French humanitarian associations work in difficult conditions. The French intervention project would not facilitate their mission, on the contrary: Pharmaciens sans frontières even decided to evacuate its last two representatives. Jean-Louis Machuron, president of PSF: "Currently, NGOs can no longer work in Rwanda, especially if they are French. The French position is completely absurd! It is not for her to act".
- On the ground, the rebels of the Patriotic Front are determined to oppose by all means the arrival of the French. This intervention, in the eyes of the opposition, aims to protect the murderers of the Rwandan people.
- Fairly violent demonstration today in front of the French embassy in Brussels: some 200 Rwandans were protesting mainly against a military intervention in Rwanda.
- Bernard Kouchner, back from Rwanda: "Can we allow this genocide to continue? Because there is genocide. France has often been accused, wrongly but also rightly, of having been on the side of the people who organized these massacres. And not to have denounced them as if we knew them. But who other than France is going to save the bodies? Does France alone have this mission to save massacres the Tutsi in particular, the friends of the RPF? I believe, yes, it must be done, on several conditions that everyone knows now. That we do not clash with the RPF! We do not go there to confront the rebels! But we protect the Tutsi and moderate Hutus. And everyone ! Let other armies, other soldiers come. Or, if we know that there is a genocide and that we do nothing, what will become of this world?".