1. As they marched along the road under a blistering sun, several refugees said they had been told by camp leaders that returning to Rwanda meant certain death. 2. Aid workers said the mass exodus from the camps Thursday appeared to have been planned in advance, perhaps at a meeting of camp leaders last week. 3. But in the same breath they acknowledge that the government regards the camp leaders as killers and will not negotiate with them. 4. But some camp leaders say the majority of victims of the massacres were Hutu, not Tutsi. 5. Camp leaders will even jolt you awake with a morning phone call, a not-so-gentle reminder to drag your body out of that warm bed. 6. In addition to exercise, camp leaders use drama therapy, history lessons and bonding methods. 7. Marc Herard, the camp leader, said that no one there wanted to return to Haiti. 8. The camp leaders have in effect used the refugees as hostages, intimidating them from returning to Rwanda. 9. The exodus from the Benaco camp followed talks between camp leaders and officials of the Tanzanian government Saturday and Sunday. 10. The military prosecutor and the mayor, Ghassan Shakaa, ordered the arrest of several Balata camp leaders and accused them of selling weapons. |
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