Washington - Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney (D-GA), a member of the International Relations Committee and Ranking Member of the International Operations and Human Rights Subcommittee, recently issued an urgent warning to Attorney General Janet Reno to fully investigate allegations of gross violations of human rights in considering a former Prime Minister's petition for asylum.

McKinney has learned that Pierre Celestin Rwigema has fled Rwanda and may seek asylum in the United States despite wide-spread and credible reports of gross violations of human rights. These violations include crimes against humanity and genocide, that were allegedly committed by the government of Rwanda during Mr. Rwigema's tenure as Prime Minister.

A joint letter from McKinney and Congressman Christopher H. Smith, Chair of the International Operations and Human Rights Subcommittee, raises numerous human rights concerns including an International Rescue Committee (IRC) study. The study showed that at least 1.7 million people died needlessly in the past 24 months due in part to Rwanda's military occupation of Eastern Congo.

A March 2000 report from Amnesty International (AI) stated, "The year 1999 started with one of the largest massacres by the RCD and allied troops from Rwanda and Burundi at Makobola in South-Kivu province. The RCD, together with Rwandese and Burundian forces, then reportedly set on the local population shooting at any local person they saw."

As McKinney stated in the letter to Reno, "The Makobola massacre is merely illustrative of the continuing pattern of horrendous abuses committed by the Rwandan government. Internationally respected non-government organizations have uniformly condemned the human rights abuses against citizens of Rwanda and neighboring DRC by the Rwandan government."

"In addition," the letter continues, "we believe Mr. Rwigema may have important information about continuing gross violations of human rights in Rwanda. We hope and trust that appropriate United States government officials will make diligent efforts to obtain this information and to ensure that it is given proper weight in the development of U.S. policy toward Rwanda and in assessing his right to asylum in this country."

"The United States must never become a safe haven for war criminals," McKinney continued, "and if he is complicit in these crimes, he should in no way be considered for asylum in this or any other nation that holds democracy and human rights sacred."

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