24 October 2007
Bujumbura — The population of Gakungwe in Kabezi commune was ill-treated yesterday morning by the so called FNL dissidents who were recently relocated there after the visit the mediation team and the national defence army made to Rugazi and Randa last week in order to survey the situation in these waiting areas.
These dissidents, who are supposed to be guarded by the national defence forces, intimidated and beat the population of Gakungwe and also stole their livestock and destroyed their farms. This incident follows the attack that targeted these dissidents on 21 October, causing more than 30 deaths according to various sources.
The incident of yesterday morning that the national army has failed to explain has sparked another wave of displacement among the inhabitants of Gakungwe who had returned home after the bloody attack of 21 October. Ruziba and Kabezi are the destinations of this new wave of displacement created by the government of Burundi in this stronghold of FNL-PALIPEHUTU where the population and combatants have been cohabitating peacefully over the last few months.
The population now demands that the government relocates these dissidents elsewhere in order to avoid further clashes. Gakungwe was chosen by the government to harbour dissidents in a bid to encourage dissidence within FNL-PALIPEHUTU.
In late 2005, the government also tried unsuccessfully to encourage dissidence within this movement by creating many waiting areas. By that time it had warned that those who would not surrender would be defeated in battle. After much pressure, the government yielded and accepted talks which led to the deal that brokered in Dar es Salaam in July of last year.
The mediator in Burundi's peace process, Charles Nqakula, has indicated that the relocation of these dissidents to Randa in Bubanza province will be completed within this week.
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