6 December 2007
Bujumbura — Thousands of supporters of the former CNDD-FDD leader, Hussein Radjabu, were mobilised as he appeared in the Supreme Court today. More than 2,000 persons, mostly women, followed the hearing through loudspeakers 100 metres from the court. Anti-riot police were present.
Many of the supporters arrived at the court in the early morning although the hearing started in the afternoon. Supporters of Radjabu Hussein who came from the countryside in order to be present went through a series of police checkpoints which had been erected on the northern corridor and the road from Rumonge. People in Muslim accoutrements were mostly checked.
The court is to deliberate over a provisional release for the former leader of CNDD-FDD who never accepted his dismissal in the congress that was held in Ngozi in which he did not take part. He entered the central jail of Mpinda on 27 April 2007 after being charged with outrage to the person of the President of the Republic of Burundi and attempt at state security. His dismissal and arrest have created factions within the CNDD-FDD that resulted in a stalemate in the national assembly over the last several months as 20 members of the assembly who are still loyal to Hussein Radjabu joined the opposition.
The recent reshuffle of the cabinet helped diffuse the situation between the ruling party and the opposition, but did not bridge the gap between the two opposing wings of CNDD-FDD. Charles Nqakula, the mediator in Burundi's peace process, told the UN Security Council last week, that he pleaded for the release of Hussein Radjabu in order to create a climate of détente in Burundi.
The international association of members of the parliament has also demanded further clarifications on his arrest. Many Muslims demand his release also. It is still remembered that during the last celebrations of the end the Muslim fasting month of Ramadhan, the Muslim community demanded the former First Vice-President of the Republic, Dr. Martin Nduwimana, to release Hussein Radjabu. The date of the next hearing has not been determined. In the meantime, the former CNDD-FDD leader who was today jovial returned to his cell in the central prison of Mpimba.
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