Linda Melvern - A People Betrayed: The Role of the West in Rwandas Genocide

PRAISE FOR THE NEW EDITION

It is thanks to the patience and dedication with which Linda Melvern works and her well-earned international reputation for excellence in journalism that she gained access to new, crucial information. Melvern gets us closer to the truth and the truth gets us closer to a better world. What an achievement! Linda Polman, author of We Did Nothing: Why the Truth Doesnt Always Come Out When the UN Goes In

PRAISE FOR THE FIRST EDITION

The best overall account of the background to the genocide, and the failure to prevent it the investigation is hers, and hers alone. She discovered so much that we did not know. (Lt Gen. Romo Dallaire, Force Commander, UN Assistance Mission for Rwanda (UNAMIR), 1994, and author of Shake Hands with the Devil: The Failure of Humanity in Rwanda )

Melvern offers a vivid picture of the role of Western nations in abetting, ignoring and allowing Rwandas genocide. ( New York Times )

Quite extraordinary: precise, and yet overwhelming; a fine balance in the face of depravity Linda Melvern has written an extraordinary account of the Rwanda genocide, and the shocking failure of the West to lift a finger What Melvern demonstrates so powerfully is that where Western geopolitical interests are absent, Western morality and civilized concerns are nowhere to be found A brave and compelling book. (Richard Falk, Princeton University)

This is a devastating account of lies, deceit, complacency and tragic neglect Linda Melvern deserves our thanks for investing so much in breaking the silence and revealing the truth. (Glenys Kinnock, MEP)

Linda Melvern has written a compelling description of the most dramatic aspects of the genocide. (Astri Suhrke, International Affairs )

Lifts the lid on the international communitys failure to prevent the genocide. Outlines how the slaughter was aided and abetted by international indifference, loans and weapons deals. (Geoff Cumming, New Zealand News )

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Linda Melvern is an investigative journalist and writer. For four years she was a reporter with The Sunday Times , including as a member of their award-winning Insight Team. Since leaving the paper to write her first book, she has written widely for the British press and also lectures on international issues. She is an Honorary Professor in the Department of International Politics, University of Wales, Aberystwyth. Her books include:

Conspiracy to Murder (2006)

United Nations (World Organisations Series) (2001)

The Ultimate Crime: Who Betrayed the United Nations and Why (1995)

The End of the Street (1986)

Techno-Bandits (1984) (co-authored)

A PEOPLE BETRAYED

the role of the West in Rwandas genocide

Linda Melvern

New updated edition

Zed Books

LONDON | NEW YORK

A People Betrayed: the role of the West in Rwandas genocide was first published in 2000 by Zed Books Ltd, 7 Cynthia Street, London N1 9JF, UK and Room 400, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010, USA

This ebook edition was first published in 2009

www.zedbooks.co.uk

Copyright Linda Melvern 2009

The right of Linda Melvern to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by her in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988

Set in Monotype Plantin and Gill Sans Heavy by Ewan Smith, London
Index:
Cover designed by Rogue Four Design

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying or otherwise, without the prior permission of Zed Books Ltd.

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data available

ISBN 978-1-78360-270-4

CONTENTS

ABBREVIATIONS