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.
More than five billion francs were lost during the strike. At the beginning, the government refused to begin any talks with civil servants and that made these confederations decide on an unlimited strike. This strike that started with less vigour gathered momentum when the trade union grouping nurses followed the striking movement. The consequences of the strike that the government had downplayed became more and more noticeable as public hospitals became paralysed.
Civil servants demanded the implementation of the promise made by the head of state on May Day to increase their salaries by 34 percent. This promise was to go into effect with the beginning of the month of July. The head of state, Pierre Nkurunziza, explained in his fourth phone-in interview that he granted to the public on 15 December that he â-šwill do whatever he can to make sure civil servants get their increase." He added that he had calculated everything and consulted all sides before making the promise, â-šbut the payment of colossal sums of money to the Interpetrol Company made all my plans fall into pieces."
The case between the government of Burundi and the Interpetrol Company is now in the hands of the justice system. It concerns the six billion francs that the former Finance Minister, Ms Denise Sinankwa, is accused of having paid illegally to the Interpetrol Company. The verdict of the concerned court is still unknown, yet the government has already shown that it will come out victorious.
The monthly payments for all civil servants in Burundi amounts to approximately five billion of francs. The sum that is being disputed by the government and Interpetrol Company would serve to pay civil servants for one month only.
Burundi is currently trapped in a swirl of strikes. COSYBU and CSB have decided to return to work while workers of the Justice ministry threaten to go on strike on the grounds that the government has failed to implement their demands.
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