29 November 2007
Bujumbura — The defence minister, Lt General Germain Niyonyankana, and the minister of education and scientific research, Dr. Saidi Kibeya, did not attend a session in the national assembly to which they were invited.
These two ministers were to answer questions related to the relocation of so-called FNL dissidents currently stationed in Cibitoke. These two ministers, who did not attend a session in the national assembly held for this purpose for the second time, explained that they were not available since the cabinet had its first meeting since its appointment on 14 November today.
The relocation of the so-called FNL dissients to Cibitoke was carried out by the national defence force without any prior consultadtion with the provincial authorities of Cibitoke, according to the first statement of the governor of this province before he changed his tune. This relocation from Rugazi in Bubanza province to Karurama of Cibitoke province, which involved only 807 so-called FNL combatants, caused more than 700 pupils to flee from their school. The site of Karurama is less than 150 meters from the boarding secondary school of Cibitoke. The relationship between these armed combatants and pupils turned sour on the first day of this relocation.
The Education minister has repeatedly maintained that pupils must live in peace with the dissidents. Various meetings that were organised in Cibitoke failed to convince the parents of pupils from this secondary school to send back their children to study. Parents said that they would only send their children back to this school if these combatants are relocated to another place. The education minister must also face the opposition of members of parliament who take issue with his handling of the issue.
The defence ministry relocated these so-called FNL dissidents to Cibitoke after they were rejected by the local populations and targeted by combatants still loyal to Agathon Rwasa in Buterere and Gakungwe. The ministry of defence acknowledged shortly after the attack in Buterere which claimed 19 dissidents and a civilian that letting these rebels make camp close to civilians was a mistake. The defence ministry has continued to disappoint. The recent statement issued by the defence ministry, indicating that â-šrestraint has got its limits", was not received with welcome in the strongholds of FNL-PALIPEHUTU. In Bubanza province, the population has started fleeing their households, fearing that hostilities will resume in the wake of this statement that ordered FNL combatants to remain where they are stationed
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