8 January 2008
Bujumbura — PALIPEHUTU-FNL has resumed its old habit of using force to obtain contributions from the population. This policy was decided upon during various meetings of FNL in the Kibira forest and Rukoko savannah in late December 2007, as administrative sources in Bubanza province say.
Since these meetings, changes have been noticed in the way this movement collect contributions. In Musigati commune, fighting between the national army and FNL combatants claimed the life of one soldier in late December 2007. FNL combatants had come out of the Kibira forest to collect food from the local people who subsequently fled to the headquarters of the commune following these clashes. Two FNL combatants were killed in Bukeye last week as they were trying to rob the population. In Gihanga commune, about 90 cows were stolen in the afternoon of Sunday 6 January. FNL combatants stationed in Rukoko forest are held responsible for this theft. The efforts to find these cows and their keeper have revealed that they are now in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
This change in the way FNL collects contribution is one of the signs that the peace accord signed in Dar Es Salaam is no longer holding firm. FNL combatants who were stationed at various positions on the hills of Bubanza have now retreated to the Kibira forest in fear of fighting.
Despite this situation that augurs a resumption of hostilities, the ruling party is still opposed to the resolution of some members of the parliament to set up a commission that would look into the disagreements that appeared in the talks between PALIPEHUTU-FNL and the government of Burundi. The ruling party is, however, still open to providing some posts to the leaders of PALIPEHUTU-FNL. As the spokesman of CNDD-FDD, Léonce Ndarubagiye, says, this has to be done in full accordance with the Constitution of the Republic of Burundi.
President Nkurunziza and Agathon Rwasa did not discuss the provision of posts to FNL members in the deal that was brokered in Dar es Salaam in 2006. General Niyombare, the assistant military chief of staff who represents the government in the Joint Verification and Monitoring Mechanism, recently said that providing posts to this movement will also be discussed in the Joint Verification and Monitoring Mechanism.
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