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Romeo Dallaire resigns from Canadian Senate | Romeo Dallaire resigns from Canadian Senate |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Retired Gen Romeo Dallaire, the UN commander in Rwanda during the 1994 genocide, will resign from the Canadian Senate, he has said. | Retired Gen Romeo Dallaire, the UN commander in Rwanda during the 1994 genocide, will resign from the Canadian Senate, he has said. |
His last day in office will be 17 June, he told colleagues on Wednesday. | His last day in office will be 17 June, he told colleagues on Wednesday. |
Mr Dallaire, 68, has acknowledged he suffered from post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after witnessing atrocities during the genocide. | Mr Dallaire, 68, has acknowledged he suffered from post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after witnessing atrocities during the genocide. |
He has said he plans to dedicate his time to research on the disorder as well as other humanitarian causes. | He has said he plans to dedicate his time to research on the disorder as well as other humanitarian causes. |
"It is with some sadness, but indeed much optimism, that I announce that I am resigning from my seat," Mr Dallaire said in the Senate on Wednesday. | "It is with some sadness, but indeed much optimism, that I announce that I am resigning from my seat," Mr Dallaire said in the Senate on Wednesday. |
"There are so many things to do, as well as increasing opportunities to do them, that I find myself short of that most precious of commodities: time." | "There are so many things to do, as well as increasing opportunities to do them, that I find myself short of that most precious of commodities: time." |
Among Mr Dallaire's planned endeavours after leaving office are to serve as a senior fellow at the Montreal Institute for Genocide and Human Rights Studies at Concordia University, and as a member of the UN Secretary General's Advisory Committee on Genocide Prevention. | Among Mr Dallaire's planned endeavours after leaving office are to serve as a senior fellow at the Montreal Institute for Genocide and Human Rights Studies at Concordia University, and as a member of the UN Secretary General's Advisory Committee on Genocide Prevention. |
He will also conduct research on PTSD in conjunction with the University of Southern California, and has been contracted to write two books on PTSD and conflict resolution, he said. | He will also conduct research on PTSD in conjunction with the University of Southern California, and has been contracted to write two books on PTSD and conflict resolution, he said. |
Prime Minister Stephen Harper thanked Mr Dallaire for his work via Twitter following the announcement. | Prime Minister Stephen Harper thanked Mr Dallaire for his work via Twitter following the announcement. |
"Thank you Senator Dallaire for your service to Canadians. Best wishes for the future," he wrote. | "Thank you Senator Dallaire for your service to Canadians. Best wishes for the future," he wrote. |
'Out of steam' | 'Out of steam' |
Between April and June 1994, an estimated 800,000 ethnic Rwandan Tutsis and moderate Hutus died at the hands of Hutu extremists. | Between April and June 1994, an estimated 800,000 ethnic Rwandan Tutsis and moderate Hutus died at the hands of Hutu extremists. |
The killings ended that July when the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF), a Tutsi-led rebel movement, marched into Kigali and seized control of the country. | |
As commander of the UN mission in Rwanda, Mr Dallaire sought to warn the UN hierarchy about the planned massacre but was denied permission to intervene. | As commander of the UN mission in Rwanda, Mr Dallaire sought to warn the UN hierarchy about the planned massacre but was denied permission to intervene. |
He remained in Rwanda through the killing to protect those seeking refuge and has been credited with saving thousands of lives. | He remained in Rwanda through the killing to protect those seeking refuge and has been credited with saving thousands of lives. |
Mr Dallaire retired from the Canadian forces in 2000 as a lieutenant general and was appointed to the Senate to represent Quebec as a liberal in 2005. | Mr Dallaire retired from the Canadian forces in 2000 as a lieutenant general and was appointed to the Senate to represent Quebec as a liberal in 2005. |
In December he suffered a minor road accident, which he attributed to a lack of sleep due to stress over a spate of recent military suicides and the stress of the coming anniversary of the Rwandan genocide. | In December he suffered a minor road accident, which he attributed to a lack of sleep due to stress over a spate of recent military suicides and the stress of the coming anniversary of the Rwandan genocide. |
"I simply ran out of steam," he told Senate colleagues following that incident. | "I simply ran out of steam," he told Senate colleagues following that incident. |
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