29, MAY 1994 --AIR CARE-- IS CONTACTED BY SISTER PATRICIA R., WHO IS LOOKING FOR A HELICOPTER AND PILOT TO RESCUE NUNS IN KIBUYE, RWANDA
1-10 JUNE -- AM IN CONSTANT COMMUNICATION WITH SR. PATRICIA REGARDING THE NUNS IN RWANDA. SHE EXPLAINS THAT THE SITUATION IN KIBUYE IS CRITICAL. I AGREE THAT, IF A HELICOPTER CAN BE LOCATED, I WILL VOLUNTEER TO RETURN TO RWANDA AND ATTEMPT TO FLY A RESCUE MISSION.
A HELICOPTER IS LOCATED AND A BRIBE OF $6,000.00/ DAY- 3 DAY MINIMUM IS AGREED UPON--TO BE PAID IN ADVANCE, BY WIRE TRANSFER.
CONTACT SR. PATRICIA WHO IS ADVISED THAT THE COST WOULD BE A MINIMUM OF $18,000.00 FOR 3 DAYS. SHE COMMENTS THAT “THIS IS A LOT OF MONEY” AND I AGREED WITH HER. SHE ADVISED ME THAT SOMEONE ELSE WOULD HAVE TO MAKE A FINANCIAL DECISION ON THE HELICOPTER.
SR. JUDITH CONTACTED ME SAYING THAT THE HELICOPTER RESCUE ATTEMPT FOR $18,000.00 HAD BEEN APPROVED. SHE ALSO ADVISED ME THAT SHE WOULD MEET ME IN GOMA, AS SHE WAS ALSO DEPARTING SHORTLY. SR. JUDITH ALSO ARRANGED FOR MY TICKETING TO AND FROM RWANDA.
I CONTACTED THE HELICOPTER PEOPLE FOR WIRE TRANSFER INSTRUCTIONS. WHEN I CALLED THE SISTERS TO PASS THEM ON, I FOUND THAT SR. JUDITH ,WHO WAS LEAVING THE NEXT DAY, HAD PLANNED TO PAY THE MONEY IN GOMA. MY IMPRESSION WAS THAT SHE WOULD COLLECT THE FUNDS IN BRUSSELS. I WAS DEEPLY CONCERNED OVER MY INABILITY TO WIRE TRANSFER THE FUNDS IN ADVANCE FOR THE AIRCRAFT.
I THEN CALLED SR. PATRICIA OVER THIS CONCERN. SHE ADVISED ME THAT I WAS THE LAST HOPE FOR THE SISTERS RESCUE. THIS CONCERNED ME GREATLY -- I THEN CONTACTED THE HELICOPTER PEOPLE AND ADVISED THEM THAT I WOULD PAY CASH IN ADVANCE WHEN I ARRIVED IN AFRICA. THEY AGREED.
IT WAS VERY APPARENT TO ME THAT THE SISTERS OF ST. MARY HAD LITTLE OR NO MONEY AVAILABLE TO SUPPORT THIS EFFORT. SR. PATRICIA AND I DISCUSSED FUNDRAISING AS A MEANS OF COVERING THE COSTS FOR BOTH THE SISTERS OF ST. MARY AND AIR CARE INT'L . I AGREED TO CALL MR. DREW M., FROM “AS THE SPIRIT LEADS” AND HE ALLOWED US TO GAVE THE PHONE NUMBERS OF THE SISTERS OF ST. MARY OVER THE AIR ASKING PEOPLE TO ASSIST THE ORDER DIRECTLY WITH FUNDING.
WHEN I ARRANGED FOR THE HELICOPTER TO BE POSITIONED, IT WAS UNDERSTOOD THAT THIS AIRCRAFT WOULD BE DOING AN UNAUTHORIZED FLIGHT. IT IS AGREED THAT THIS AIRCRAFT WILL BE FLOWN AND POSITIONED FOR ME SOMETIME DURING THE WEEK OF 20 JUNE 1994. IT IS AGREED THAT THE POSITION WOULD BE A SECRET .
I TOLD NO ONE INVOLVED WITH THE HELICOPTER WHERE OR WHAT MISSION WOULD BE. NO ONE, WHO KNEW ABOUT THE MISSION, KNEW WHERE THE HELICOPTER WAS FROM OR WHERE IT WAS POSITIONED. I HAVE BEEN FLYING IN AFRICA A LONG TIME AND KNEW THAT MY SECURITY RESTED IN NOT LETTING PEOPLE KNOW.
HAD ANYONE WITH THE HELICOPTER EVEN SUSPECTED IT WAS GOING INTO RWANDA THEY WOULD NOT HAVE COOPERATED .
AIRCRAFT CROSSING BORDERS REQUIRE INTERNATIONAL FLIGHT PLANS TO BE FILED AND APPROVED BEFORE THE FLIGHT TAKES PLACE. TO EXPECT THE HELICOPTER TO BE SEEN BEFORE THE FLIGHT WOULD HAVE MADE ABOUT AS MUCH SENSE AS THE SISTERS OF ST. MARY SHOWING THE ORPHANS TO THE MILITIA IN KIBUYE. THE CHANCES FOR THE ORPHANS WOULD HAVE BEEN ABOUT THE SAME AS OF THE HELICOPTER.
THE ACTUAL RENTAL OF ANY HELICOPTER TO DO THIS MISSION WAS IMPOSSIBLE . THERE IS NO WAY ANY HELICOPTER WOULD HAVE RECEIVED PERMISSION FROM THE GOVERNMENT TO ENTER RWANDA. THERE WOULD BE NO INSURANCE AVAILABLE TO COVER THE COST OF THIS HELICOPTER SHOULD IT BE LOST IN A WAR ZONE.
THE RENTAL COST OF A HELICOPTER OF THIS TYPE IN NORMAL OPERATIONS WOULD HAVE BEEN 3 TO 4 TIMES HIGHER THAN THE BRIBE PAID
12 JUNE -- I SPOKE WITH THE WHITE HOUSE -NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL-(MR. MD) AND WAS ADVISED THAT THE BEST THEY ( THE N.S.C.)COULD OFFER WAS A “ROWBOAT”. MR. M.D. SAYS HIS OFFICE WOULD OFFER WHAT EVER ASSISTANCE IT COULD IN OUR ATTEMPTED HELICOPTER RESCUE. HE SAYS THAT AMERICAN EMBASSIES IN THE REGION WOULD BE ADVISED.
HE ADVISES ME THAT AMERICAN EMBASSY KINSHASA HAS BEEN ALERTED AND WILL ASSIST IN WHAT EVER WAY THEY CAN. HE ASKS THAT HIS OFFICE NOT BE MENTIONED. THE PLAN IS ALSO CLEARED WITH MR. F. K. WHO IS AN ASSISTANT TO CONGRESSMAN D.P. M.C., A MEMBER OF THE CONGRESSIONAL BLACK CAUCUS.
18, JUNE 1994 -- ARRANGE FOR HELICOPTER TO BE IN POSITION FOR 22 JUNE AND THEN DEPART U.S.
19, JUNE --ARRIVE BRUSSELS AIRPORT AND SPEAK WITH TWO SISTERS OF ST. MARY. THEY ARE VERY WORRIED ABOUT NUNS. I AM AGAIN ADVISED THAT SR. JUDITH HAS THE FUNDS AVAILABLE TO PAY FOR THE AIRCRAFT.
20, JUNE 1994-- ARRIVE KINSHASA. NO COMMERCIAL FLIGHTS AVAILABLE BECAUSE FRENCH MILITARY HAS TAKEN AIRCRAFT TO MOVE FRENCH COMMANDOS AND FRENCH FOREIGN LEGION INTO GOMA.
21 JUNE 1994--3:00 A.M. CALL FROM MR. G.W.S. CHARGE d AFFAIRE, AMERICAN EMBASSY, KINSHASA, ZAIRE, ADVISING THAT HE HAD BEEN IN TOUCH WITH SOMEONE IN WASHINGTON AND HE WOULD BE AVAILABLE IN 5 HOURS TO ISSUE A “ A TOUTES LES AUTORITIES CIVILES ET MILITARIES” ON EMBASSY STATIONARY FOR MY RESCUE ATTEMPT IN RWANDA.. THIS WAS DONE.
22 JUNE 1994 --PAY $500.00 BRIBE FOR FLIGHT IN BOEING 707 TO GOMA. AM PICKED UP AT GOMA AIRPORT BY AN INDIVIDUAL WHO IDENTIFIES HIMSELF AS A BELGIUM GOVERNMENT OFFICER ASSIGNED TO GOMA .HE DRIVES ME TO THE CONVENT TO MEET THE SISTERS OF ST. MARY. PRESENT ARE SISTERS MARIE JULIENNE AND JUDITH AND A NUMBER OF OTHER NUNS. AT THIS MEETING I AM VERY UPSET TO DISCOVER THE ACTUAL NUMBER OF PEOPLE TO BE EVACUATED WAS NOT 30, AS I HAD BEEN TOLD, BUT 43 TOTAL ---ALL OF MY OPERATIONAL PLANS HAD BEEN BASED ON A MAX. OF TWO FLIGHTS -NOT 3- AS THE AIRCRAFT CAN ONLY CARRY A MAX. OF 15.
MORNING OF 23 JUNE 1994--SISTERS MARIE JULIENNE /JUDITH ACCOMPANY ME ON A VISIT ACROSS THE BORDER TO THE MERIDIAN HOTEL IN GISENYI, RWANDA TO MEET WITH MINISTER DANIEL MBANGURA. THE STATED PURPOSE OF THE MEETING:
1) LIST OF ESSENTIAL MEDICINES AND FOODS
2) AGREEMENT BETWEEN G.O.R. AND AIR CARE TO ASSIST REFUGEES
3) SEEK AGREEMENT TO MOVE SISTERS OF ST. MARY FROM KIBUYE TO GOMA.
4) PERMISSION TO DRIVE FROM GISENYI TO KIBUYE TO ASSESS CONDITIONS.
IT WAS MY DISTINCT IMPRESSION THAT MINISTER MBANGURA WAS NOT OVERLY IMPRESSED NOR DID HE BELIEVE THE PLEADINGS OF MARIE JULIENNE AND JUDITH TO ALLOW ALL OF THE NUNS TO LEAVE FOR VACATION. IT WAS ALSO MY IMPRESSION THAT HE FELT THAT THE NUNS WERE MORE NEEDED IN KIBUYE.
IT WAS ALSO AGREED THAT SR. MARIE JULIENNE AND I WOULD MEET AGAIN WITH MINISTER DANIEL MBANGURA ON MONDAY 27 JUNE BACK IN RWANDA AT THE MERIDIAN HOTEL TO COMPLETE THE VARIOUS AGREEMENTS AND GIVE HIS DECISION ON THE BUS ISSUE.
IT WAS AGREED BY GOVERNMENT OF RWANDA TO ISSUE A PASS FOR ME TO DRIVE TO KIBUYE AND DO AN ASSESSMENT OF THE BUS CONCEPT.
EVENING OF 23 JUNE 1994 --THERE IS A LONG DISCUSSION AT THE CONVENT REGARDING THE ABILITIES OF HELICOPTERS. WHEN IT IS FINALLY EXPLAINED TO ME THAT NOT ONLY ARE THERE 43 PASSENGERS TO BE CARRIED OUT ,BUT THAT THE MILITARY IS LOCATED AT THE BASE OF THE HILL NEXT TO THE CONVENT A DECISION IS REACHED-- AT THE END OF THIS DISCUSSION BY MARIE J. AND OTHER SISTERS PRESENT-- SR. JUDITH SAYS THE “HELICOPTER MISSION IS TOO DANGEROUS” AND CANCELS THE MISSION .
I WANT TO REPEAT AGAIN THAT THIS MISSION WAS NOT CANCELED BY ME. BUT BY THE SISTERS.
HAD I BEEN GIVEN AN ACCURATE NUMBER OF PASSENGERS AND BEEN GIVEN AN ACCURATE DESCRIPTION OF THE LOCATION OF THE MILITARY IN RELATION TO THE CONVENT I WOULD NEVER HAVE ATTEMPTED THIS RESCUE. IN FACT I WOULD HAVE NEVER LEFT THE UNITED STATES.. MY SOLE PURPOSE UP TO THAT POINT HAD BEEN TO FLY A HELICOPTER RESCUE ATTEMPT. WITH THE MISSION CANCELED BY SR. JUDITH, THE DISCUSSION THEN TURNED TO BOATS OR A BUS,-- I WAS ASKED BY THE SISTERS TO SEE WHAT I COULD DO TO HELP IN THESE AREAS.
WITH THE HELICOPTER MISSION CANCELED, I LEFT THE CONVENT SO AS TO CONTACT THE HELICOPTER PEOPLE AND EXPLAIN THE CANCELLATION. IT WAS LATE AT NIGHT WHEN THE DECISION WAS REACHED BY THE SISTERS TO CANCEL. WE WERE NOW INTO DAY TWO OF THE AGREEMENT. I SAID TO THE HELICOPTER REPRESENTATIVE THAT I WOULD TRY TO HAVE THE MONEY TO PAY FOR THE HELICOPTER BY THE NEXT MORNING.
LATE ON THE EVENING OF JULY 23, 1994 I MET WITH MR. MVONDO, FINANCIAL DIRECTOR B.D.G.E.L. BANK, IN GOMA, AND 10 PROMINENT RWANDESE CATHOLIC MEN AND WOMEN WHO WERE COMMITTED TO HELPING THE HUMANITARIAN PLAN OF ARRANGING THE BUS EVACUATION OF THE NUNS. I DISCUSSED WITH THEM MY CONCERN REGARDING THE MEETING WITH MINISTER MBANGURA AND THEY AGREED TO ASSIST IN WHAT EVER WAY THEY COULD. I DID NOT REVEAL TO THEM THE PRESENCE OF THE ORPHANS
A MEETING WAS ALSO ARRANGED THAT NIGHT WITH A BELGIAN BUSINESS MAN , LIVING IN GOMA. THE PURPOSE OF THE MEETING WAS TO INQUIRE ABOUT BOATS, DRIVERS AND GUARDS SO AS TO ALLOW FOR A BACK UP PLAN TO CROSS LAKE KIVU AND ATTEMPT THE RESCUE--SHOULD THE BUS FAIL. THE BOATS AND PERSONNEL WERE ARRANGED FOR. A PRICE OF $3,000.00 WAS AGREED UPON.
MR. MVONDO ARRANGED A 3:00 A.M. MEETING --WITH MR. CLEOPHAS KANYARWANDA, PRESIDENT B.D.G.E.L. BANK ,TO DISCUSS THE PLAN FOR A BUS AND RWANDAN GOVERNMENT PERMISSION TO TAKE IT TO KIBUYE AND RETURN WITH THE NUNS.
MR. KANYARWANDA ,TRULY BELIEVING HE COULD MAKE A DIFFERENCE AS A CATHOLIC AND PRESIDENT OF THE LARGEST BANK DEALING WITH BURUNDI, RWANDA AND ZAIRE, AGREED TO CROSS THE BORDER AT GOMA THE NEXT MORNING(JUNE 24) AND DISCUSS WITH GOVERNMENT MINISTERS MUSABYIMANA GASPARD (DIRECTEUR DE CABINET), MBANGURA DANIEL(CHIEF DE CABINET) AND DR. BIZIMUNGU CASMIR(MINISTER OF HEALTH) IN GISENYI, SAFE PASSAGE FOR THE NUNS.
MR. KANYARANDA, WHO WAS APPOINTED TO HIS POSITION BY THE PRESIDENTS OF ZAIRE, RWANDA AND BURUNDI AGREED TO ALLOW ME TO TAKE HIS 4 WD VEHICLE FROM GOMA AND AROUND LAKE KIVU TO KIBUYE.
NOW THAT THE HELICOPTER MISSION HAD BEEN CANCELED, THE PURPOSE OF MY VISIT TO KIBUYE WAS TO ASSESS THE SITUATION FOR A BOAT OR BUS EVACUATION.
ON THE MORNING OF THE 24 th. BEFORE DEPARTING FOR KIBUYE I SPOKE WITH EITHER SR. MARIE J. OR SR. JUDITH ABOUT THE NECESSITY OF PAYING OFF THE HELICOPTER TEAM AS THE COST WAS STILL MOUNTING. I WAS ADVISED AT THAT TIME THAT SR. MARIE J. WOULD GIVE ME THE NECESSARY FUNDS ON MONDAY JUNE 26.
MR. KANYARANDA, WHILE WE WERE ON OUR WAY TO KIBUYE SUCCESSFULLY NEGOTIATED THE EVACUATION, BY BUS OF THE NUNS WITH THE VARIOUS GOVERNMENT MINISTERS IN GIYENYI.
UNFORTUNATELY, WE ARRIVED IN KIBUYE MINUTES AHEAD OF THE FRENCH MILITARY HELICOPTERS . I WAS WAITING TO SPEAK WITH THE PREFECTURE OF KIBUYE WHEN THE HELICOPTER UNITS SET DOWN NEXT TO THE BUILDING I WAS IN. THIS, APPARENTLY WAS SEEN BY THE OFFICIALS BOTH IN GISENYI AND KIBUYE AS SOMETHING PLANNED. AS YOU KNOW-IT WAS NOT.
MR. KANYARANDA WAS SEEN AS A MAN WHO HAD GIVEN HIS CAR TO AN AMERICAN SPY. THIS SPY WAS SEEN AS HELPING TO CHANGE THE FRENCH CONCEPT OF THEIR MISSION IN RWANDA, FROM ONE OF ASSISTING THE FORMER GOVERNMENT IN ITS WAR AGAINST THE R.F.P. TO ONE OF SIMPLY PROTECTING CIVILIANS ,MUCH TO THE DETRIMENT OF THE FORMER GOVERNMENT. THIS IS NOT TRUE. AS YOU KNOW LT.COL. G.B. ,COMMANDER OF THE FRENCH UNITS AND HIS ASSISTANT ADRIEN AND I WERE HARDLY THE BEST OF FRIENDS . THE ABOVE INFORMATION HAS ONLY RECENTLY BEEN GIVEN TO ME.
AFTER THE FRENCH CAME AND LEFT, AS YOU KNOW, I WENT UP TO THE CONVENT WHERE WE MET UNTIL LATE THAT NIGHT. IT WAS AGREED, BY ALL OF THE NUNS PRESENT, THAT BECAUSE OF THE CLOSE PROXIMITY OF THE MILITIA TO THE DOCKS, BANDITS IN THE LAKE AND THE UNEXPECTED ARRIVAL OF THE FRENCH IN KIBUYE THE ONLY OPTIONS LEFT WAS TO LEAVE KIBUYE EARLY THE NEXT MORNING SO AS TO ALLOW ME TO EXPLAIN THE SITUATION TO SR. MARIE JULIENNE IN GOMA AND TO ATTEND THE MONDAY MEETING WITH THE MINISTERS IN GISENYI. I HAD NO WAY OF KNOWING THAT THE PLAN HAD ALREADY BEEN APPROVED. WHEN I LEFT KIBUYE I HID THE LIST OF NAMES PROVIDED TO ME BY THE NUNS OF ALL OF THE ORPHANS TO BE RESCUED.
WHEN I ARRIVED BACK IN GOMA ON SATURDAY I IMMEDIATELY CONTACTED SR. MARIE J. GAVE HER THE LIST AND APPRAISED HER OF THE SITUATION IN KIBUYE. SHE REACHED THE DECISION TO CONTACT THE FRENCH MILITARY FOR ASSISTANCE.
DURING THE MEETING WITH THE FRENCH MILITARY COMMANDER THEIR ASSISTANCE WAS ASKED FOR BY SR. MARIE J.. THE COMMANDER MADE IT CLEAR THAT ANY OPERATION INVOLVING THE FRENCH MILITARY WAS GOING TO BE DONE ONLY BY THE FRENCH.
FROM THAT POINT ON I WAS EXCLUDED FROM WHATEVER PLANS WERE WORKED OUT BETWEEN THE SISTERS OF ST. MARY AND THE FRENCH COMMANDOS.
ON SUNDAY I SPOKE WITH SR. MARIE J. ABOUT THE MONDAY MORNING MEETING WITH THE MINISTERS IN GISENYI. SHE ADVISED ME THAT SHE HAD NO PLANS TO THE TO RETURN. SHE ALSO ADVISED ME NOT TO GO . I ADVISED HER THAT I HAD AGREED TO BE THERE.
ON EITHER SUNDAY OR MONDAY SR. MARIE J. ARRIVED AT MY HOTEL WITH A LARGE SUM OF MONEY IN BOTH BELGIAN FRANC AND AMERICAN DOLLARS TO PAY FOR THE HELICOPTER. I ADVISED HER THAT I HAD NEGOTIATED THE COST OF THE HELICOPTER DOWN FROM $18,000.00 TO $12,500.00-- PROVIDED THEY WERE PAID IMMEDIATELY. SHE GRACIOUSLY GAVE ME NOT ONLY THE NECESSARY FUNDS TO COVER THE COST OF THE HELICOPTER-- BUT SHE ALSO HANDED ME AN ADDITIONAL SUM OF DOLLARS IN BOTH U.S. AND BELGIUM CURRENCY TO COVER ANY OTHER ADDITIONAL COSTS I MIGHT HAVE INCURRED . I TOLD HER AT THAT TIME IT WASN'T NECESSARY TO GIVE ME ANY MORE THAN WAS NECESSARY TO COVER THE HELICOPTER COST. AGAIN SHE VERY GRACIOUSLY INSISTED THAT THERE WERE OTHER BILLS TO BE PAID BY ME FOR THE TRIP. AT THAT TIME I TOLD HER THAT I WOULD DO MY BEST TO KEEP TRACK OF ALL OF THE BILLS AND IF THERE WAS ANY MONEY LEFT OVER AFTER THE BILLS WERE PAID, I WOULD RETURN THIS SUM.
THE HELICOPTER REPRESENTATIVE WAS IMMEDIATELY CONTACTED AND PAID.
ON MONDAY MORNING I PROCEEDED ACROSS THE BORDER FOR MY MEETING WITH MINISTER MBANGURA TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE OF THE BUS. I WAITED FOR HOURS FOR MY MEETING. A VERY ANGRY MILITARY MAN FINALLY APPROACHED ME IN THE LOBBY OF THE HOTEL AND TOLD ME “IT IS BEST YOU LEAVE RWANDA” THIS I DID. I HAD NO WAY OF KNOWING THEN THAT AS THE LAST FOREIGNER THEIR GOVERNMENT RECEIVED THAT THESE PEOPLE FELT THAT SOMEHOW I HAD BETRAYED THEIR TRUST.
WHEN I TRIED TO FIND MY BANK FRIENDS THEY WERE NO LONGER AVAILABLE. WHEN I RETURNED TO MY HOTEL IN GOMA I IMMEDIATELY KNEW THAT SOMETHING WAS VERY WRONG. BY THIS TIME MR. KANYARANDA, MR. MVONDO AND THE BELGIUM BUSINESS MAN WERE AWARE OF THE RUMORS AND THE PROBLEMS THEY WERE ABOUT TO FACE.
WHEN I SPOKE TO SR. MARIE J. ON MONDAY SHE ADVISED ME THAT THE FRENCH WANTED TO MEET AGAIN. SHE FELT AT THAT THE FRENCH WOULD HELP IN KIBUYE AND THEN SHE ASKED ME WHAT I COULD DO FOR THE NUNS NORTH OF BUTARE, RWANDA. I SAID I DID NOT KNOW BUT I WOULD TRY AND HELP.
AT OUR MEETING WITH THE FRENCH MILITARY OFFICER NAMED “ADRIEN” WHO HID HIS RANK AND LAST NAME I WAS ASKED BY HIM IF I THOUGHT I COULD MAKE MY WAY TO WHERE THE 22 NUNS WERE LOCATED.
IT WAS SUGGESTED BY HIM THAT SHOULD I BE ABLE TO LOCATE THE NUNS AND ARRANGE FOR THE R.P.F. NOT TO SHOOT AT THE FRENCH HELICOPTERS. I WAS TO CALL THE FRENCH EMBASSY IN BUJUMBURA, BURUNDI AND PASS A MESSAGE TO THE FRENCH MILITARY. A PHONE NUMBER AND INSTRUCTIONS FOR CONTACTING THE EMBASSY WERE GIVEN TO ME. THIS INFORMATION WAS GIVEN TO THE AMERICAN EMBASSY IN BOTH NAIROBI AND KAMPALA.
WHILE SLEEPING IN MY HOTEL ROOM THAT MONDAY NIGHT, I WAS AWAKENED DURING THE NIGHT WITH SOMEONE TAPPING ON MY WINDOW. WHEN I TRIED TO TURN ON THE LIGHTS, I FOUND THERE HAD BEEN A POWER FAILURE. A FEW MINUTES LATER THERE WAS A KNOCK ON MY DOOR. I WAS ASKED IN A WHISPER TO COME OUT OF MY ROOM AS THERE WAS A PROBLEM. I REFUSED TO OPEN THE DOOR AND DECIDED IT WAS TIME TO LEAVE ZAIRE AS I NOW FELT MY LIFE WAS IN DANGER.
WHEN SUNRISE CAME I WAITED FOR SR. MARIE J. TO COME TO THE HOTEL FOR ME. WHEN IT BECAME APPARENT THAT NO ONE WAS COMING ,I WALKED INTO TOWN TO THE I.C.R.C. OFFICE AND ADVISED THEM THAT I WAS WORRIED ABOUT MY SAFETY. THEY AGREED TO EVACUATE ME TO NAIROBI IMMEDIATELY.
AS I WAS BOARDING THE FLIGHT FOR NAIROBI I SAW THE NUNS FROM KIBUYE ARRIVING IN THE FRENCH HELICOPTERS. THIS WAS REALLY A LOW POINT FOR ME.
WHEN I ARRIVED IN NAIROBI I IMMEDIATELY WENT TO THE U.S. EMBASSY TO GIVE A FULL REPORT ON THE SITUATION. NO ONE SEEMED TO KNOW MUCH ABOUT RWANDA, UNTIL AN AMERICAN EMBASSY WOMAN NAMED L .B-T CAME INTO THE ROOM. SHE HAD BEEN IN KIGALI WHEN THE WAR STARTED AND HER LIFE WAS ALMOST LOST. SHE ADVISED ME THAT MY BEST COURSE OF ACTION TO HELP THE NUNS WAS TO PROCEED IMMEDIATELY TO KAMPALA AND ADVISE THE EMBASSY OF THE SITUATION. THIS I DID.
WHEN I ARRIVED AT THE EMBASSY MRS. J. B. AND I SPOKE AT LENGTH ON THE SITUATION IN RWANDA. SHE ADVISED ME THERE WAS NOTHING THE EMBASSY COULD DO AND THAT IT WOULD PROBABLY BE BEST FOR ME TO GET SOME REST AS IT WAS OBVIOUS I WAS EXHAUSTED.
I HAD MADE NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS WHILE IN KAMPALA TO FIND THE BEST WAY TO GET INTO SOUTHERN RWANDA TO ASSIST THE NUNS. WHEN NO NOTHING WORKED, I DECIDED TO HEAD BACK TO THE U.S. WHEN I ARRIVED IN BRUSSELS THERE WAS A MESSAGE WAITING FOR ME ADVISING ME THAT IT IMPORTANT FOR ME TO RETURN TO UGANDA, SO AS TO ASSIST THE NUNS.
WHEN I ARRIVED IN KAMPALA I MET WITH PARTIES WHO TRIED TO HELP ME DEVISE A PLAN TO GET TO THE NUNS. IT BECAME APPARENT THAT THE SITUATION IN RWANDA WAS SO FLUID THAT NO ONE COULD HELP.
I LEFT AFRICA AND RETURNED TO THE U.S.
IN AUGUST I RETURNED AGAIN TO RWANDA AND WAS ABLE TO LOCATE THE REMAINING 22 NUNS. I FAXED THE LETTERS GIVEN TO ME BY THE NUNS TO BELGIUM AND OFFERED TO AGAIN HELP IN ANY WAY I COULD.
I WAS CONTACTED BY SISTER JUDITH ABOUT THE BALANCE OF ANY FUNDING LEFT OVER FROM MY TRIP. I AGREED THAT I WOULD BE HAPPY TO SEND A CHECK FOR ANY MONEY NOT SPENT ON THE TRIP. WHEN I ADDED UP THE VARIOUS BILLS I FOUND THAT THE NUNS OWED AIR CARE MONEY.
I CALLED NAMUR TO SPEAK WITH SR. MARIE JULIENNE BUT WAS NOT ABLE TO TALK WITH HER.
I AM AGAIN ENCLOSING A COPY OF MY BILLS,THE ADDITIONAL MONEY OVER AND ABOVE THE COST OF THE HELICOPTER AND PARTS OF MY DAILY CALENDAR.
I HAVE CONTACTED THE HELICOPTER PEOPLE AND ASKED, IF POSSIBLE, TO SEND TO YOU A RECEIPT FOR THE BRIBE.
I DO NOT REMEMBER THE TOTAL VALUE OF THE BELGIUM MONEY THAT MARIE J. GAVE ME AS IT WAS GIVEN TO THE HELICOPTER REPRESENTATIVE IMMEDIATELY. BUT IF MY MEMORY IS CORRECT THE TOTAL VALUE OF ALL MONEY WAS $15,000.00.
THE TOTAL OF THE BILLS INCLUDING THE HELICOPTER ARE IN EXCESS OF $16,500.00
I WANT TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT I SPECIFICALLY WENT TO GOMA TO DO A HELICOPTER RESCUE FLIGHT. THE FLIGHT WAS CANCELED ON THE NIGHT OF 23, JUNE 1994 BY THE SISTERS OF ST. MARY.
THE SISTERS OF ST. MARY WERE LESS THAN CANDID WITH THE INFORMATION THEY PROVIDED TO ME AND GOVERNMENT OF RWANDA AS TO THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE AT KIBUYE.EVERYONE AT THE MEETING IN GISENYI, INCLUDING THE MINISTER, KNEW THAT THAT THE REASON GIVEN FOR THE DEPARTURE OF THE NUNS WAS NOT ACCURATE.
AS EVERYONE KNEW FROM THE BEGINNING THIS WAS A ONCE IN A LIFE TIME RESCUE AND AS SUCH I DO NOT UNDERSTAND TO THIS DAY WHY RECEIPTS FOR THE BRIBES ARE EXPECTED. I HAVE SAID FROM THE BEGINNING I WOULD BE HAPPY TO PROVIDE A RECEIPT FOR THE FUNDS SPENT ON YOUR BEHALF.
IN RETROSPECT, THE WISEST THING I SHOULD HAVE DONE WHEN THE SISTERS OF ST. MARY CANCELED THE FLIGHT THAT NIGHT WAS TO DEMAND FULL PAYMENT FOR THE HELICOPTER, PAY OFF THE REPRESENTATIVE AND LEAVE ZAIRE. AT NO TIME DID I ASK OR EXPECT ANY THING FROM THE SISTERS FOR ME.
FROM THE BEGINNING THE ONLY MONEY DISCUSSED WAS THE AMOUNT NECESSARY TO BUY MY TICKETS AND THE $18,000.00 BRIBE. I DID NOT ASK FOR AT ANY TIME MONEY FOR MYSELF OR FOR EXPENSES. THE MONEY THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN PAID WOULD HAVE BEEN THE ENTIRE $18,000.00 AND MY EXPENSES. BY THE TIME I PAID THE BRIBE MONEY FOR THE HELICOPTER, THE REPRESENTATIVE KNEW I WAS SOMEHOW INVOLVED WITH KIBUYE. HE WAS ANGRY AND FRIGHTENED THAT I HAD PLANNED TO USE THE AIRCRAFT IN RWANDA. HE WAS HAPPY TO TAKE $12,500.00 AND LEAVE. I HAVE LOST HIS FRIENDSHIP.
I HAVE LOST THE TRUST AND FRIENDSHIP OF NOT ONLY THE BANKERS IN GOMA, BUT ALSO OF THOSE RWANDESE BOTH IN AND OUT OF GOVERNMENT WHO WERE TRYING TO HELP THE NUNS OF KIBUYE
YOU NEED TO KNOW THAT THE BANKERS HAVE BEEN IN DEEP TROUBLE OVER THEIR DESIRE TO HELP. I THINK THAT THE LEAST THAT SHOULD BE DONE IS FOR THE SISTERS OF ST. MARY TO CONTACT THE BANKERS AND TRY AND HELP THEM AS THEY TRIED TO HELP YOU.
I AM SENDING A COPY OF THIS DOCUMENT TO VARIOUS PEOPLE IN AND OUT OF AFRICA , INCLUDING THOSE WHO WERE MOST DAMAGED IN THEIR EFFORTS TO HELP.
Allen Campbell
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