From: barnhart@netcom.com (Aaron Barnhart)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.african
Subject: IPS:RWANDA: GLIMMER OF UNDERSTANDING AT
Date: 20 Aug 92 05:37:05 GMT
Reply-To: barnhart@netcom.com
Organization: Netcom

Copyright Inter Press Service 1992, all rights reserved.  Permission to re-
print within 7 days of original date only with permission from 'newsdesk'.

Area: Asia, southern
Title: RWANDA: GLIMMER OF UNDERSTANDING AT PEACE TALKS


an inter press service feature

by paul chintowa

arusha, tanzania, aug 14 (ips) -- representatives of rwanda's
government and the rebel rwandan patriotic front (rpf) meeting
are optimistic that they would strike an agreement soon on
restoration of law and order in the land-locked central african
state.

the two belligerent sides which started meeting here tuesday
to work out a peaceful settlement to the ethnic-inspired
conflict in their country friday indicated they were nearing a
compromise to end hostilities.

according to a source close to the negotiations, both sides
are agreed to end the 22-month civil war in africa's most
densely populated nation.

proposals for political changes, which may see rwandan
president juvenal habyarimana stepping down, were being drafted
at the talks conducted behind closed doors.

''efforts to end the war will be meaningless if a new
political structure (that accommodates interests of the two
parties) is not set up'', the source said.

''there must be a greater democracy and the rule of law if
peace is to return to rwanda'', the official added.

the peace talks are being held under the auspices of the
organisation of african unity. the war in rwanda has displaced
around 250,000 people in less than two years.

the rpf, a largely tutsi ethnic movement, is demanding the
repatriation of thousands of rwandan refugees scattered in
neighbouring countries, absorption of its fighters into the
rwandan army, the resignation of president habyarimana, a new
constitution and a share in the government.

habyarimana has ruled the country since 1973 and has not
indicated that he would bow out of office.

''unless our demands are met, we will not lay down arms'',
rpf's chair, alex kanyarengwe, remarked before the talks opened
here tuesday.

with a 10,000-strong army, the rpf invaded northern rwanda
from neighbouring uganda in october 1990 and occupied several
towns. (more/ips)


rwanda: glimmer (2)

the government in kigali, rwanda's capital, accuses
uandan president yoweri museveni of supporting the rebels, many
of whom had served in his national resistance army. uganda has
constantly denied the charge.

france has sent troops to support the tiny rwandan army.

habyarimana, from the hutu ethnic group that dominates the
rwandan government apparatus, had resisted allowing rwandan
refugees to return home on the grounds that the country was
''overpopulated''.

rwanda is among a few african countries with a
population density of around 220 per sq km. its total population
is officially estimated at 7.2 million.

a belgian colony until independence in july 1962, rwanda has
experienced continuous tension between the hutu (85 percent of
the population) and tutsi (14 percent) ethnic groups.

while the tutsi have largely been in control of government in
neighbouring burundi, also part of the former rwanda-burundi
belgian colony, those in rwanda feel they have been deliberately
politically and economically marganalised.

belgium, france, nigeria, tanzania, uganda, the united states
and zaire have sent observers to the rwandan peace negotiations.

the negotiations are expected to take about 10 days, and an
observer attending the talks told ips friday that there were
still ''some issues to be sorted out before a peace accord is
signed''.

prospects for settlement of the rwandan conflict, the
observer who wanted to remain anonymous said, have been enhanced
by the presence of french and ugandan delegations, key players
in the conflict.

''there is more hope than disagreement to end the war'', said
rwanda's minister of foreign affairs, boniface ngulinzira.

under the ''arusha agreement'' brokered by tanzania early
july between the rwandan government and the rpf, a 50-member
neutral military observer group (nmog) was to be deployed after
the cease-fire which came into force jul. 31. violations of the
ceasefire have been reported and nmog has not yet assembled.

although some observers agreed with oau secretary general
salim ahmed salim who felt that the proposed troops were enough,
a western diplomat suggested that at least a 5,000-strong
contingent would be reaslistic to deal with the situation.
senegal has already despatched 10 military officers to kigali.

the nmog will be formed by nigeria, rwanda government, rpf,
senegal and zimbabwe. (end/ips/pc/ar/oa/92)

-- 
Aaron (Barnhart@netcom.com) -- posting from Evanston, Illinois
Newsgroups: soc.culture.african,soc.culture.african.american