Molotov

John Malecela, Permanent Representative to the United Nations
United Republic of Tanzania

Friends of the United Nations,

It may have escaped the notice of many countries, but the nation of Rwanda -Tanzania's neighbor and a prospective member of the East African Community- has spent the past decade on the verge of serious ethnic strife. Since the 1959 events now called Winds of Destruction, which prompted the independence of the country and its separation from Burundi, radical Hutus have taken it upon themselves to mislead their peace-loving brethren into repressing their fellow Africans, prompting the flight of hundreds of thousands of Tutsi into Burundi, the Congo, Uganda, and Tanzania.

This, in turn, has brought us to our present state, where the so-called inyenzi seek a return to their homeland, often finding themselves in a position where the use of violence is the means to that end. And while the United Republic of Tanzania does not endorse violence between Africans -or indeed, between fellow men and women- we find it symptomatic of the wretched state of affairs brought on by the government of Grégoire Kayibanda, and fear that without pressure from the international community, the situation will only get worse.

Therefore, I propose that the General Assembly adopts the following resolution, to be effective immediately:

Recognizing that the Kayibanda government of Rwanda has promoted ethnic conflict contrary to the spirit of the UN charter,
Acknowledging that the Kayibanda government consists at present of a single, pro-Hutu party which has enforced anti-Tutsi policies that threaten the stability of Eastern Africa, the United Nations General Assembly
Recommends that the government of Rwanda resolve to cease its policies of discrimation against the Tutsi and hold open, free elections under UN supervision by the end of 1968, and
Pledges to adopt non-binding moderate sanctions upon the Rwandan government should they refuse to do so.

Tanzania votes yes.

The Iraqi Republic supports this measure, and encourages all peace-loving nations to do likewise. We vote yes.

The Federal Republic of Nigeria votes yes

The government of Rwanda wholeheartedly rejects this proposal and asks for all peace loving countries to do similarly. Before our glorious liberation our lands were dominated by a Tutsi minority Monarchy that kept the vast majority of the population in chains. It appears that the Tutsi's propaganda are influencing the ears of others. We ask our allies in the West to not listen to this Agent of Chinese influence.

The French Republic votes no. This resolution does not present the whole picture. Rwanda and Burundi have been split into two nations, for good reason - they are culturally and ethnically distinct, a Hutu nation and a Tutsi nation, in their own homelands. Since the split, Tutsi militias, possibly backed by the government of Burundi and other foreign powers, have repeatedly made border incursions and raids in an effort to seize loot and territory from Rwanda - most notably in 1963, with the resulting violence causing the deaths of up to 14,000 people. Due to their past history as the ruling minority, the Tutsi and their allies may, perhaps, believe themselves to be the rightful rulers over the Hutu, but this is not in accordance with the principles of the UN Charter.

This is not a conflict, as framed falsely in this resolution, between an oppressive one-party state against a minority - it is the democratically-elected Kayibanda government - which, naturally in a nation that has a vast majority of Hutu and only nine percent Tutsi, represents mostly the Hutu - which defends itself against efforts by neighbouring nations to seize territory, as part of an ethnic conflict against the Hutu. The resulting violence and measures being taken against this takeover attempt is unfortunate, but a one-sided resolution that does not recognise the details of the situation is not the way.

If Rwanda is to take measures to relax its necessary security against ethnic aggression from foreign powers, then these must be made possible by ensuring the security and safety of Rwanda's borders and condemning and preventing the aggression of neighbouring countries and ethnicities against the Hutu. Only then, when the aggression ceases, will an end to this regrettable situation be in sight, and France will fully support measures to create peace in the region, with security for all.

The United States must also vote no, on the same grounds outlined by the French Republic's representative. One-sided resolutions favoring one ethnic group over the other only leads to more of the same in the future.

John Malecela, Permanent Representative to the United Nations
United Republic of Tanzania

While remaining deeply concerned about the actions of the Rwandan government and committed to finding a resolution for the present conflict, following discussions with representatives of the French government, we would like to temporarily withdraw this motion in preparation for a new joint resolution.

Gesar wrote:
John Malecela, Permanent Representative to the United Nations
United Republic of Tanzania

While remaining deeply concerned about the actions of the Rwandan government and committed to finding a resolution for the present conflict, following discussions with representatives of the French government, we would like to temporarily withdraw this motion in preparation for a new joint resolution.

The French Republic thanks the United Republic of Tanzania for their consideration of our concerns and will co-operate in the preparation and proposal of the joint resolution.