[Occupymendocino] A bank complicit in the Rwandan genocide

[ELLEN ROSSER]

* Almost 120.000 SumOfUs members are saying "never again!". Can you add
your name?*
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One of the biggest banks in the world could have been complicit in a
genocide that cost the lives of 800,000 people.

*Join us to ensure that financial institutions are held accountable for the
human rights abuses that they could be funding.*
SIGN THE PETITION
<https://act.sumofus.org/go/353811?t=1&akid=31977.1087352.KifoO6>

Ellen,

This is revolting.

In June 1994, in the midst of an arms embargo against Rwanda,*one of
the biggest banks in the world -- BNP Paribas* *--* accepted a request made
by the National Bank of Rwanda.

By doing so,* this French bank may have transferred funds that helped war
criminals buy the weapons that were used in the Rwandan genocide*.

Without the crucial funds transfer that BNP authorized, *80 tons of weapons
would probably never have been delivered to Rwanda and would consequently
not have been used to perpetrate the genocide* of 800,000 Tutsis, many of
whom were women and children.

Call on the French government to get to the bottom of this -- and to
strengthen financial sector regulations so that institutions are held
accountable for their involvement in human rights abuses.
<https://act.sumofus.org/go/353811?t=2&akid=31977.1087352.KifoO6>

BNP could have refused. Another bank refused to transfer the money needed
by Hutu commander Colonel Bagosora for the illegal arms purchase that
violated the UN embargo.

*The French bank could therefore have been the only bank to authorize this
transfer.*

Ellen, with your voice, we can try to make sure this never happens again.

France just elected a new President and legislature. With an international
outcry, we can move the new government to strengthen financial sector
regulations for BNP and others.

Call on the French government to get to the bottom of this -- and to
strengthen financial sector regulations so that institutions are held
accountable for their involvement in human rights abuses.
<https://act.sumofus.org/go/353811?t=3&akid=31977.1087352.KifoO6>

The evidence gathered since 1994 has convinced French NGOs Sherpa,
Collective of Civil Parties for Rwanda (*Collectif des parties civiles pour
le Rwanda* or CPCR), and Ibuka France that *BNP must have known about the
risks, but still approved the transfer.*

The NGOs have now have filed a lawsuit against the bank for complicity in
genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity.

*This is unprecedented: it’s the first time something like this has been
filed in France.*

If the facts are confirmed, this legal action would shed light on the
potential responsibility of financial institutions when it comes to war
crimes, and also human rights abuses.

Along with Sherpa, the CPCR and Ibuka France, SumOfUs is demanding that the
financial sector be held accountable. We want everyone to feel confident
that their savings will never be used in a financial transaction enabling
the perpetration of such abuses.

Never again: let’s come out in droves to demand the truth about the funding
of the Rwandan genocide. Will you please help hold the financial sector for
its involvement in human rights abuses?
<https://act.sumofus.org/go/353811?t=4&akid=31977.1087352.KifoO6>

Thanks for all that you do,
Nabil, Fatah, Marie and the team at SumOfUs
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