French youth's statement on French govt's role in the Genocide against Tutsi

In a strongly worded statement titled, “Tutsi Genocide: Now is time for the truth,” the youth cite facts that prove France’s involvement in the Genocide and call for an end to concealment of that responsibility. We are concerned by the Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, just like we are by any crime committed against humanity. We are even more concerned, as this crime is part of our country’s history. Our generation rejects the rule of silence and calls for the truth. This is why we will all go together to Rwanda, where we will bring this message to civil society and to the young Rwandan generation. Let’s state it clearly: Paris did support the Rwandan regime before, during and after the genocide perpetrated against the Tutsi population, which resulted in the death of over 800,000 people between April and July 1994. During François Mitterrand’s second seven-year mandate, a handful of highly ranked politicians, both right wing (conservatives) and left wing (liberals) personalities, carried on a secret political agenda, which lasted (at least) from 1990 to 1994. This secret agenda, which was never discussed in Parliament or with the French population, concretely meant a political, military and diplomatic support for the extremists that had organised themselves in the Hutu Power movement. This movement was recognised by the French state, which knew about its racist, totalitarian and genocidal structure. For the past 20 years, these politicians, in an attempt to save their honour, have refused to answer for their actions and kept trying to obstruct the bursting of the truth by denying France’s involvement, which often tends to sound like denial speech. However, facts speak for themselves. It is established that from October 1990 until late 1993, Paris gave its support to the extremist Hutu movement by forming and arming the National Gendarmerie, the armed forces and the presidential guard, which same forces would act as the spearheads of the Genocide. This support was provided although numerous diplomatic telegrams had warned Paris against the possibility of a complete extermination of the Tutsi population. This same direct support was never interrupted, neither during nor after the extermination. It is established that the genocidal government was formed at the French Embassy, under the aegis of the French ambassador, one day after the attack against Juvénal Habyarimana’s presidential plane. This represented the last step of a coup, which started a couple of hours prior to that meeting, with the attack and the assassination of Agathe Uwilingiyimana, a democrat and Rwanda’s prime minister. It is established that on April 27, 1994, in the midst of the Genocide, France stood out as the only state accepting to welcome Jérôme Bicamumpaka, the minister for foreign affairs of the genocidal regime, and Jean-Bosco Barayagwiza, founder of “Radio-la-haine” (Radio hatred), the dreadful Radio Mille Collines. It is established that the Turquoise Operation, launched on June 22 (1994) under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter, was not a neutral and humanitarian operation, although it was officially presented as such. Certainly, the Turquoise Operation’s orders did stipulate that its goal was to “stop the massacres”, but that they also aimed at “restoring the authority” of local “civilian and military” forces which had just perpetrated the Genocide. It is established that in order to rescue survivors of the massacres, French soldiers had to disobey orders given by top managers of the Turquoise Operation. This is supported by testimonies of survivors of the Bisesero hills, who were left by the French soldiers to face genocidal militia for three full days. It is established that this “military-humanitarian” operation was used to cover up the retreat of the genocidal government and of its militia to DR Congo, while under a contingent’s protection. This same contingent had received the order from high-ranking French political and military authorities to keep its weapons down while being deployed under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter. The list of incriminating facts is long, based on official documents, journalistic investigations and on the parliamentary enquiry mission of 1998. The facts referred to are non-exhaustive but say enough of the deep collaboration between certain high-ranking French officials and the regime responsible for perpetrating the Genocide. For the past 20 years, these top officials have been hiding behind “France’s honour”, which according to them is being challenged. Their despicable defence aims at dragging France down with them in order to hide their responsibility behind our country’s innocence. The question that needs to be asked today is simple and clear: does this handful of politicians represent France? To this question, the new France, that of our generation, answers no loud and clear. We, youth leaders of French political parties, of youth associations, fight now and support now the duty of truth. Searching for the truth about the Tutsi genocide is for us an absolute. It does not depend on a compromise in a given balance of power or of diplomacy, and it does not depend on a certain political support to a given regime or government. To all those who believe that a national lie is worth more than a truth that incriminates a few French personalities, we answer that France has always stood tall and proud when facing its past with courage and lucidity. The search for truth is a requirement, lifting the veil is an imperative. Across all democratic political beliefs, our generation rejects the poisoned heritage of the collaboration. We fight indifference, denial and the silence of the State.The fight against denial is for us non-negotiable. We do not intend to allow a couple of high-ranking officials talk in the name of France, in our name. We do not intend to allow them to use with impunity France’s name as a shield, when France had never been informed of their actions and is in no way responsible for their consequences. We claim and tell those people who manipulate the honour of our country that as time goes by, France and history will judge them even harder. We demand that those who endorsed this criminal policy, first of all those who are part of our groups have the courage to come forward and answer with facts and precision the questions that need to be answered about Paris’ involvement. Grey areas remain about the extent of every person’s responsibility. It is necessary to get into the specifics, to examine the facts and the multiple evidences. Opening archives immediately appears as an imperative in order to allow historians to work freely. We will go to Bisesero to bury those who were exterminated and to pay tribute to the French soldiers of the Turquoise Operation who, when confronted with a terrible and painful situation found the courage to disobey orders to save men, women and children who otherwise were doomed to die. By our presence we want to mark that of France in Rwanda during these times of commemoration, which will end on July 4. What is at stake is our relation to the truth. It is our relation to Africa. It is our capacity to confront history. It is our fundamental democratic values. What is at stake, it is the honour of our country. The real one. ** SIGNED: - Paul Morin, Executive Director of the European Grassroots Antiracist Movement – EGAM- Laura Slimani, Young Socialists President- Antoine Carette, Young Democrats President- Laura Chatel and Lucas Nédélec, Federal secretaries of the Young Ecologists, Nordine Idir, General secretary of the Movement of the Young Communists- Selim-Alexandre Arrad, Radical Party of the Left President- Sacha Reingewirtz, French Union of Jewish Student President- Raphaël Der Agopian, Young Armenian General Benevolent Union President- Blaise Cueco, SOS Racisme National Coordinator- William Martinet, National Union of Student of France President- Corentin Durand, National Union of High School Students President- Sonia Aïchi, Independent and Democratic Hgh School Student Federation President This statement is a translation from French