23 October 2007
Bujumbura — An FNL attack carried out on the night of 21 October in the commune of Kabezi claimed the lives of 11 persons.
The victims include 9 FNL dissidents and 2 combatants who are still loyal to Agathon Rwasa. This attack targeted dissidents stationed in Gakungwe not far from the place where the European explorers Stanley and Livingstone once met. This area hosts around 365 dissidents who were transferred from the waiting area of Rugazi in Bubanza province. This attack sparked a wave of violence in this area that constitutes the stronghold of FNL-PALIPEHUTU.
The leaders of FNL-PALIPEHUTU, who indicate that they are fighting against the theft of their name, have already claimed responsibility for this attack. This attack follows the resumption of the activities of the truce monitoring commission that the FNL-PALIPEHUTU delegation boycotted on Saturday due to security concerns.
The facilitator of the peace process, Charles Nqakula, has already announced that all dissidents will be stationed at Randa in Bubanza province within this week and that he will do his best to supply them with food and insure that medical assistance is provided to them. This move is supported by the MRC-Rurenzangemero political party, a close ally of Burundi's ruling party.
The Spokesman of the army, Colonel Adolphe Manirakiza, indicates that this attack was a direct assault against Burundi's defence forces and that "restraint has got its limit." The government of Burundi set up this waiting area for dissidents in the south of Bujumbura city in an attempt to encourage dissidence among FNL combatants in the communes located in the south of Bujumbura rural.
The October 21st attack is the fourth assault against FNL dissidents since schisms started to appear within FNL-PALIPEHUTU in July of this year.
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