25 January 2008
Bujumbura — Local officials continue to die amidst unclear circumstances in Bubanza province.
Unidentified persons clad in military attire killed the chief of Buringa zone in the commune of Mpanda last night. This comes after the killing of two administration officials in Mpanda and Rugazi communes of Bubanza two days ago. The government claims that the PALIPEHUTU-FNL movement carried out these selective killings in order to terrorize local administrative officials.
Security has been a serious issue in the province of Bubanza since December 2007. According to administrative sources in Bubanza, PALIPEHUTU-FNL combatants agreed in two separate meetings to resume using force to collect contributions and food from the civilian population. Other sources indicate that this rebel group is short on food. The National Defence Force has had repeated skirmishes with PALIPEHUTU-FNL combatants in Musigati commune of Bubanza province. During the fighting that occurred in early January of 2008, five combatants died and more than a thousand families fled to the parish of Musigati. These displaced people have no access to their farms which are currently being harvested by the FNL combatants.
The population of Bukinanyana commune in Cibitoke province has fallen into a panic. FNL combatants have started to leave the Kibira forest and flock to this commune in search of food.
PALIPEHUTU-FNL ceased using force to collect contribuitions from civilians after they reached a peace deal with the government of Burundi. For more than a year the government and the mediation have not given food to FNL combatants preparing to move to waiting areas, although they were quick to provide assistance to the so-called FNL-breakaway faction.
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