26 September 2007
Bujumbura — The police arrested three persons who are suspected to be FNL combatants on this Monday 24 September 2007.
They were arrested between the quarters of Heha and Gituro of Kamenge commune in the mayorship of Bujumbura.
It is unknown where they are currently being held. According to sources, this arrest was facilitated by the dissidents of FNL who were patrolling along with the national police. During the interior minister's visit to FNL dissidents stationed at Rugazi on Monday 18 September 2007, he advised them to work together with security forces by giving information concerning actions that the mainstream wing of FNL-PALIPEHUTU might be planning to undertake.
This hunt for supporters of FNL-PALIPEHUTU recalls the search carried out by the government of Burundi two years ago. During that period, many people were killed in Muyinga province and in the Kinama commune of the mayorship of Bujumbura on the grounds that they were supporters of FNL-PALIPEHUTU. Suspected FNL supporters who were not killed were held in inhumane conditions or paraded before the public in an attempt to undermine support for FNL-PALIPEHUTU. Human rights activists and the international community condemned this action of the government.
These arrests are seen by some as an attempt by the government to toughen its stand after talks between the government of Bujumbura and leaders of FNL-PALIPEHUTU froze. FNL leaders still demand a new mediator and mediation team.
However, Tanzania, the country that is hosting the talks, still supports Charles Nqakula as the mediator of Burundi's lengthy peace process.
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