MISNA
Central African Republic
06.15.01
The President of the Central African Republic Ange Félix Patassé and his Defence Minister Demafout stated that 300 Rwandan mercenaries participated in the fighting in Bangui that followed a failed coup attempt, backing the rebels tied to ex-president André Kolingba. MISNA sources revealed that it is absolutely false information, released for motives of political convenience. A way to give the entire episode an international connotation, at the same time justifying the manhunt or Rwandans unleashed in the past days. At least eight have already been killed by the presidential guard and two families are reported missing, though they may easily have fled the area. Last Wednesday André Kanyarutoke, representative of the Rwandan community in the Central African capital, consigned a report to functionaries of the UNHCR (UN High Commission for Refugees) denouncing the ruthless persecution his nationals are subject to and asking for protection. There are a total of 240 Rwandan refugees in Bangui, many of which women and children. (BO)