Madame Agathe
by Lorne Clarke copyright 2004
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Hercules is racing for the border
A blur of camouflage upon the trees
The midwife of the stillborn new-world-order
Bound for sanctuary 'neath the Fleur de Lis

As the balefires of Kigali fade behind her
Her thoughts have turned to Paris in the spring
But she leaves behind a legacy of slaughter
A gift to honor Leopold the King

The first rains of the season are descending
Roadblocks have completely shut the streets
Corpses stacked in windrows never-ending
The air is thick with the stench of rotting meat

Although the best laid plans are often shattered
Madame Agathe has not abandoned hope
She bows her head and prays on things that matter
Thanking God - and Mitterand - and the Pope

At the airport she accepts a sheaf of flowers
A limousine and forty thousand Francs
A gesture from the ones who sit in power
Pockets bulging with the cash from Rwanda's banks

When the people we abandoned call for justice
Will we find our cowardice too much to bear
Can we be surprised that they no longer trust us
When Agathe still walks the streets - and no one cares 

 
 
 
 
 
 

Notes
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Agathe Habyarimana is the widow of the late, assassinated President/Dictator of Rwanda.  There is more than ample evidence to support her indictment as the chief architect of the 1994 genocide.  More than enough to convict her of these terrible crimes against humanity.

Yet, after her husband's plane - which was itself a gift from President Mitterand of France - was shot down (under Agathe's orders) and the slaughter began, the government of France sent a "rescue" mission to Kigali and brought Madame Agathe to Paris where she lives today as an honored guest of the people of France.

Rwanda has repeatedly asked to have Agathe extradited for trial - but the French government steadfastly refuses to comply.

France is one of the nations which sits permanently oon the UN Security Council - and exercises full veto powers over its resolutions and actions.

France, the land of liberty, Equality & Brotherhood remains a sanctuary for Agathe - and other murderous criminals (like "Baby Doc" Duvalier)  - and the rest of the world just sits on its hands.