Robinson to begin visit to Rwanda at a dangerous time

THE President, Mrs Robinson, begins her third visit to Rwanda tomorrow at a time when the future of the central African republic stands on a knife edge.

Not since the dark days of the genocide three years ago have the prospects looked so gloomy. As the tempo of killings rises once more, there is a serious risk that Rwanda will slip into a murderous civil war similar to that which has engulfed neighbouring Burundi.

Already hundreds of civilians, including returned refugees and genocide witnesses, have been killed in the escalating conflict between the mainly Tutsi government and Hutu extremists who were the authors of the 1994 genocide.

But it was the murder of three Spanish aid workers, a Canadian priest and five UN human rights monitors last month that really transformed the situation.

As Concern's country director, Mr Dominic McSorley, explains, within two weeks the extremists managed to empty almost half the country of any real international presence.

"All we really need to know is that there are extremist groups within the country that as part of their strategy wish to reduce or remove the international presence and are prepared to kill expatriates to achieve this," he said.

If nothing else, this points to the very real security risk faced by the President in her three days in Rwanda. Aid workers travel in armed convoys, during daylight hours only, to trouble spots in the north west of the country.

The UN has imposed a nationwide curfew on its staff. "Ultimately, there are no guarantees of safety and security in Rwanda," Mr McSorley said.

During previous visits, Mrs Robinson made a point of talking to the Hutu refugees and their representatives in the camps. This time, however, she will remain in the capital, Kigali, as the honoured guest of the government.

There is serious concern about the human rights and justice situation in Rwanda. As a human rights lawyer, Mrs Robinson will be especially aware of these problems.

About 100,000 people have been imprisoned without trial for up to three years on suspicion of involvement in the genocide. Human rights abuses by the authorities are on the increase, helped by the withdrawal of international monitors.

"Fair trials in Rwanda can hardly be assured where there are no defence lawyers, no protection for witnesses and the judges and magistrates are drawn largely from one group, the Tutsis," Mr McSorley said.

The President faces a dilemma. Ireland's support for the rehabilitation process in Rwanda should not be equated with unequivocal support for the regime in Kigali.

After receiving a briefing from Irish aid agencies tomorrow evening, the President is scheduled to address the Pan African conference on peace, gender and development on Sunday.

She is expected to meet senior government officials and, on Monday, UN officials and human, rights monitors before returning via Brussels that evening.

Aid workers will tell her how Rwanda has been transformed by the return of an incredible 1.5 million refugees in 40 days late last year.

Both Concern and Trocaire are still committed to working in the country, but have trimmed their programmes to suit the changed circumstances.

Feeding programmes in high risk areas have been cut back, and the tracing of parents of lost children has also been curtailed.

However, other programmes are surviving with an increased input from local staff.