18 December 2007
Bujumbura — All civil servants grouped in the two confederations of trade unions, COSYBU and CSB, returned to work today after a two week long strike. This return follows the decision made by the Second Vice-President of the Republic, Gabriel Ntisezerana, to set up a commission to provide a framework for discussions between the government and civil servants.
Students have returned to the Secondary school of Cibitoke which they left more than one month ago. The Vice-Minister in charge of the secondary education, Ernest Mberamiheto, attended the ceremonies marking this return. Students fled this school on 13 November 2007 after the relocation of more than 700 so-called FNL dissidents to Karuma, a location less than 150 metres from the school.
All elements have been set to allow these students to return. All the so-called FNL dissidents have been relocated to Buramata in the province of Bubanza, and the principal and the discipline prefect who were dismissed by the education minister, Dr. Saidi Kibeya, in connection with the departure of students, have all been reinstated in accordance with the demand of the national assembly.
The government had vainly tried to convince the population of Cibitoke that students had to cohabit with the dissidents. A series of meetings had been organized in all the communes of Cibitoke province in a bid to convince parents to send their children to Cibitoke secondary school. At that time the government met the opposition of the parents who were supported by members of the parliament.
Studies at Cibitoke secondary school will start on 18 December 2007. Due to the time spent home because of what the head of state calls "the price of peace", the school plans to cancel the Christmas holidays.
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