BURUNDI - GENOCIDE.
THE FUNERALS OF THE ARMY HANDBALL TEAM SLAUGHTERED BY THE TERRORISTS-GENOCIDERS.
BUJUMBURA, AUGUST 9, 2000 (NET PRESS). THE BURIAL OF SENIOR STAFF STUDENTS MEMBERS OF THE ARMY HANDBALL TEAM TOOK PLACE THIS MORNING IN ISCAM (SENIOR STAFF TRAINING INSTITUTE) PREMISES. ISCAM COURTYARD WAS OVERCROWDED BY OVER TEN THOUSAND PEOPLE WHO HAD COME TO PAY TRIBUTE TO THE VICTIMS OF AUGUST 6, 2000 ON NR (NATIONAL ROAD NUMBER) 7. AMONG THE CROWD WERE FAMILY MEMBERS OF THE DEPARTED, RELATIVES AND FRIENDS, BOTH ARMY OFFICERS AND CIVILIAN HIGH RANKING OFFICIALS GATHERING AT ISCAM WHERE A REQUIEM MASS AND THE BURIAL OF THE 27 CORPSES TOOK PLACE .
THE BURIAL CEREMONY WHICH STARTED WITH A MASS CELEBRATED BY THE ARMY CHAPLAIN, ATHANASE NDIKUMANA AND MANY OTHER YOUNG PRIESTS AMONG WHOM MANY ARMY CHAPLAINS, WAS MARKED BY THE DAY'S MOVING HOMILY. ONE WILL KEEP IN MEMORY CHAPLAIN ATHANASE NDIKUMANA'S PREMONITORY WORDS, REMINISCENT OF THE LATE ARCHBISHOP JOACHIM RUHUNA'S AT THE FUNERARY CEREMONIES OF 1996 BUGENDANA VICTIMS. CHAPLAIN NDIKUMANA READ THE DAY'S GOSPEL FIRST AND THEN AFTERWARDS QUESTIONNED ARUSHA PEOPLE'S INTELLIGENCE AND WISDOM, WONDERING IF INTELLIGENCE AND WISDOM SHOULD BE UTILIZED TO GENERATE DESPAIR, DEATH AND MASSACRES OF YOUNGSTERS AMONG WHOM MANY HAD EMBARKED ON LIFE-SAFEGUARDING STUDIES AS MEDICINE. "WHAT IS BEING NEGOTIATED AT ARUSHA ?" WAS THE QUESTION RAISED BY MOST OF THOSE PEOPLE GATHERING THERE, ASTOUNDED AND TETANIZED BY AMAZEMENT AND MELANCHOLY IN FRONT OF THE 27 COFFINS OF THE YOUNG MEN SLAUGHTERED BY PALIPEHUTU-CNDD TERRORISTS-GENOCIDERS WHO ARE NEGOTIATING WITH THE GOVERNMENT REPRESENTED AT THE DAY'S CEREMONY BY THE THREE PRESIDENTS OF THE REPUBLIC.
WHEN THE REQUIEM MASS WAS OVER, A LONG PROCESSION STARTED FROM THE CHURCH TOWARDS THE CEMETERY ISCAM IN A WIDE COURTYARD. COFFINS OF THE DEPARTED CARRIED BY THEIR BROTHERS IN ARMS WERE LEADING , FOLLOWED BY CATHEDRAL REGINA MUNDI CHOIR AMONG WHICH SEVERAL ARMY OFFICERS, AND FINALLY FAMILY MEMBERS OF THE 27 VICTIMS AND OFFICIALS.
AT THE BURIAL PLACE, ISCAM COMMANDER BRIEFLY REVISITED EACH DEPARTED'S LIFE, COMPRISING 3 CAPTAINS WORKING AT ISCAM INSTITUTE AND TWO OF THEM HAD JUST COMPLETED A 12-YEAR TERM IN SERVICE OF THIS NATION, MANY OTHERS BEING OFFICERS CANDIDATES, 2 JUNIOR OFFICERS AND 2 ISCAM SOLDIERS. ALMOST ALL OF THEM WERE MEMBERS OF THE MILITARY HAND-BALL TEAM AND WERE KILLED SHORTLY AFTER WINNING A CUP AT SPORTS EVENTS ORGANIZED IN BURURI TOWN. THE CUP WOULD NOT BE BROUGHT TO BUJUMBURA, SAID THE COMMANDER. HE ADDED THAT THE ALMIGHTY IS UNLIKELY TO CONSULT THE EXECUTIONERS OF THOSE INNOCENT BOYS ON HOW TO RESTORE PEACE IN BURUNDI.
AFTER ISCAM COMMANDER'S REVISITING THE DEPARTED, THE HEAD OF STATE, MR. PIERRE BUYOYA AND HIS TWO DEPUTIES, MR. FREDERIC BAMVUGINYUMVIRA AND MR MATHIAS SINAMENYE, OPEN BURIAL CEREMONIES, FOLLOWED BY COLONEL CYRILLE NDAYIRUKIYE, DEFENCE MINISTER, AND ARMY CHIEF OF STAFF AND GENDARMERIE CHIEF OF STAFF, RESPECTIVELY MAJOR GENERAL VINCENT NIYUNGEKO AND COLONEL NDARYIYUMVIRE.
THE MOST PATHETIC MOMENT WAS THEN THE MOMENT OF THE FAMILIES, RELATIVES AND FRIENDS OF THE DEPARTED WHO WERE FOLLOWING EACH OTHER BEFORE BOWING FOR THE LAST FAREWELL IN GROUPS OF 3 FAMILIES. MANY WERE CRYING, WHILE TEARS WERE COULD BE SEEN IN THE EYES OF PEOPLE PRESENT, ESPECIALLY WHEN MAHWANE FAMILY WAS BOWING OVER THE GRAVES OF ITS TWO SONS WHO HAD CHOSEN TO SERVE IN THE ARMY. THE MOMENT WAS A VERY MOVING ONE INDEED.
AFTER THE DEPOSITING FLOWERS, COLONEL CYRILLE NDAYIRUKIYE, DEFENCE MINISTER, CONVEYED HIS CONDOLENCES TO THE AFFLICTED FAMILIES AND THE NATIONAL ARMY. HE POINTED OUT THAT THE FAMILIES WHOSE CHILDREN HAVE SACRIFICED THEMSELVES FOR THIS NATION WILL BE HONOURED IN DUE COURSE. HE TOLD THE OTHER FAMILIES WHO ONLY GENERATE MURDERERS TO GIVE ADVICES TO THEIR CHILDREN BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE. TOMORROW, THEY MAY BE REGRETTING IRREVERSIBLY THEIR SILENCE AND COMPLICITY WITH. MINISTER NDAYIRUKIYE FINALLY CALLED FOR THE RESTRAINT, SOLIDARITY AND UNITY AS TO NYABIRABA HOLOCAUST VICTIMS WHO WERE ONLY GUIDED BY SPORT SPIRIT AND UNITY, WHICH IS THE ONLY WAY THAT WILL HELP BURUNDI TO GET OUT OF THE MESS IT IS IN NOW .
OVER TEN THOUSANDS PEOPLE WHO HAD COME TO ATTEND THE CEREMONIES REMINDED THE BUGENDANA'S IN 1996. ONLY CAMERAS WERE PROHIBITED FROM TAKING PICTURES AND RECORDING. IN FACT FROM THE MEDIA OPINION, CEREMONIES WERE HELD BEHIND CLOSED DOORS. IT IS A PITY THAT THE WORLD WILL NOT BE ABLE TO WITNESS PICTURES OF THE CEREMONIES AND BE ABLE HOLD EVIDENCE TO HISTORY ABOUT THIS CRIME AGAINST HUMANITY. VERY FORTUNATELY, THERE WAS AN ARMY CAMERAMAN AND PHOTOGRAPHER WHO WERE ALLOWED TO OPERATE.
AS FOR THE OUR EDITORIAL OFFICES, CONDOLENCE MESSAGES ARE STILL POURING IN, AMONG OTHERS BY MUKASI-OBEDIENT UPRONA, ' RESEAU INTERNATIONAL DE LUTTE CONTRE LE GENOCIDE' (INTERNATIONAL NETWORK AGAINST GENOCIDE), COSYBU ALL-TRADE CONFEDERATION, TERENCE NSANZE'S ABASA (BURUNDO-AFRICAN SAFEGUARDING ALLIANCE) PARTY, BURUNDI UNIVERSITY TRADE UNION, THE ASSOCIATION OF BARUNDI DOMESTIC PRODUCTS CONSUMERS, NZOJIBWAMI-OBEDIENT FRODEBU, THE ASSOCIATION OF MILITARY WAR WIDOWS AND ORPHANS, PARENA PARTY, GENOCIDE RESEARCH CENTER, RADDES PARTY, RWAGASORE REVOLUTIONNARY YOUTH (JRR) AND ANTI-GENOCIDE WOMEN'S ASSOCIATION.
ALL THESE CONDOLENCE MESSAGES CONDEMN THAT CRIME AND REQUEST ARMY FORCES TO HAVE RESTRAIN ITSELF. SOME OF THEM ASK THE GOVERNMENT TO DECREE A ONE-DAY NATIONAL MOURNING AS A TRIBUTE TO OFFICERS GENOCIDE-VICTIMIZED. (SEE THOSE MESSAGES ON "NET PRESS" WEB SITE "RUGAMBA").
BURUNDI - ECONOMY.
OPTIMISM IS PREVAILING IN NON TRADITIONNAL ITEMS EXPORTING CIRCLES.
BUJUMBURA, AUGUST 9, 2000 (NET PRESS). FOLLOWING A 2-YEAR "DEADLOCK", NON TRADITIONNAL AND PERISHABLE (SUCH AS FRUITS, VEGETABLES, FLOWERS , PLANTS AND "ETHNIC" ITEMS SUCH AS BANANAS...) PRODUCTS EXPORTERS SAY THEY ARE VERY OPTIMISTIC TODAY. ONE OF THEM TOLD "NET PRESS" THIS MORNING THAT "THE SOLUTION IS FINALLY AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL", SINCE, ACCORDING TO HIM, "PLANES ARE AVAILABLE NOW, AS WELL AS PRODUCTS AND CUSTOMERS, AND ON THE OTHER HAND, EXPORTERS ARE READY NOW".
THE MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT, POSTS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS MAY BE NOW ASKED TO ACT ALONGSIDE 'AIR BURUNDI' NEW MANAGING DIRECTOR WHO SHOULD STRIVE TO WORK OUT CONTRACTS WITH COMPETENT COMPANIES INSTEAD OF CONTINUING TO GIVE PRIVILEGES TO COMPANIES WHICH ONLY MEET OPERATION DIFFICULTIES OR EXIST ONLY BY NAME. IT MAY BE RECALLED THAT, MR. ADRIEN SIBOMANA, SOBUGEA (BUJUMBURA AIRPORT MANAGING AUTHORITY) MANAGING DIRECTOR, HAD WRITTEN IN HIS CAPACITY OF GEXHOBU (BURUNDI HORTICULTURE EXPORTING GROUPS) WROTE ON 7 JULY, 2000 TO THE MINISTER FOR TRANSPORT ASKING HIM TO MAINTAIN IN FORCE THE INCREASE IN ROYALTY TAXES FOR MARTIN AIR AND DAS AIR COMPANIES CHARGED WITH "HAVING GAINED MONOPOLY POSITIONS (IN EUROPE) AND OF "SWEEPING ALL THE AVAILABLE IMPORTED FREIGHT WHILE REFUSING TO TRANSPORT IN RETURN OUR EXPORT PRODUCTS". IN THAT LETTER, MR. SIBOMANA WAS RECALLING THAT AFTER 2 MEETINGS WITH TRANSPORT MINISTER, TWO COMPANIES (DEMAVIA AND AEROASSISTANCE) HAD BEEN "SELECTED FOR THE TRANSPORT OF OUR PRODUCTS", BUT ADDED THAT THE TWO COMPANIES WERE HAVING OPERATION DIFFICULTIES , BECAUSE THEY "DO NOT HAVE FREIGHT ON THEIR WAY BACK" (IMPORTED PRODUCTS TO BE CARRIED FROM EUROPE TO BURUNDI). AND, IF THESE PLANES DO NOT GET CARGO TO CARRY UPON THEIR RETURN, THEY WOULD BE FACING LOSSES.
AS FOR THE EXPORTER TALKING TO "NET PRESS", HE WAS WONDERING WHY MR. ADRIEN SIBOMANA IS INSISTING ON GIVING MONOPOLY OF BURUNDI "PERISHABLE" PRODUCTS TO MINOR COMPANIES "WHICH DID PRATICALLY NOTHING FOR THE LAST 2 YEARS" AND EXCLUDING "LARGE AND COMPETENT WELL-ESTABLISHED SOLID INTERNATIONAL COMPANIES SUCH AS MARTINAIR AND DAS AIR WHICH ARE MOREOVER ALREADY OPERATING IN BURUNDI IN THE SO-CALLED TRADITIONNAL SECTOR (COFFEE, TEA...)". IT IS OPPORTUNATE TO POINT OUT THAT ACCORDING TO MR. SIBOMANA HIMSELF, "IN SPITE OF PRIVILEGES ACCORDED TO COMPANIES WHICH HAVE ACCEPTED TO HANDLE OUR PERISHABLE FREIGHT (TARIFF DISCOUNTS TO SOME AND ROYALTY INCREASES TO OTHERS), THE SITUATION OF BURUNDI PERISHABLE TRANSPORTATION DID NOT IMPROVE AT ALL".
TO REMEDY THE SITUATION, MR. SIBOMANA RECOMMENDED THAT THE PRINCIPLE OF ECONOMIC LIBERALIZATION IN AIR TRANSPORT BE "REVIEWED" WHILE MANY OTHER PEOPLE THINK OTHERWISE. "WE HAVE TRAPPED OURSELVES WHEN WE, IN FACT, IMPOSED AN EMBARGO ON OURSELVES. SO AS TO FIND A SOLUTION, IT IS OBVIOUS THAT WE MUST ALLOW TO OPERATE COMPANIES WHICH CAN AFFORD IT AND NOT TO EXCLUDE THEM FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE ONES WHICH ARE NOT ABLE TO DO SO", OTHERWISE, CAUTIONNED ONE "PERISHABLE" EXPORTER, THIS COUNTRY WILL KEEP LOSING A LOT OF MONEY.
BURUNDI - SECURITY.
CANKUZO PROVINCE DWELLERS ARE STILL FEARING TANZANIA-ORIGINATED TERRORISTS-GENOCIDERS' ATTACKS.
CANKUZO, AUGUST 9, 2000 (NET PRESS). CANKUZO LOCAL SOURCES ARE QUOTED AS SAYING THAT THE POPULATION IS STILL FEARING POTENTIAL ATTACKS OF THE TERRORISTS-GENOCIDERS. INDEED, THEY MAY BE SEEN WHILE MOVING ALONG THE BORDER, ESPECIALLY IN TANZANIAN PLACES SUCH AS MUHANGE, MALENGA AND BUGIRIRO. FURTHERMORE, THE TERRORISTS-GENOCIDERS ARE REPORTEDLY PRESENT ON THE HILL NDEKE, KIGOMA DISTRICT BORDERING TANZANIA AND CANKUZO PROVINCE, WHERE THE SAVANNA AREA OFFERS VERY FAVOURABLE CONDITIONS FOR MILITARY EXERCISES. THE ABOVE-MENTIONNED SOURCES THINK THAT AFTER THE RECENT ATTACKS AGAINST CANKUZO PROVINCE, THE TERRORISTS-GENOCIDERS MIGHT HAVE RUN AWAY IN TANZANIA TO REORGANIZE THEIR TROOPS AND COME BACK WITH RENEWED STRENGTH. ACCORDING TO TANZANIA-ORIGINATED RUMORS, TERRORISTS-GENOCIDERS ARE REPORTEDLY READY TO ATTACK ALL THE PROVINCES BORDERING TANZANIA ON THE EVE OF SIGNING ARUSHA ACCORDS.
BURUNDI - NEGOTIATIONS.
"MR. BUYOYA WILL CERTAINLY BE CHOSEN TO LEAD THE 6-MONTH INTERIM PERIOD", ACCORDING TO "IRIN".
JOHANNESBURG, AUGUST 9, 2000 (NET PRESS). ACCORDING TO OUR "IRIN" COLLEAGUES QUOTING A PERSON FROM THE MEDIATOR'S CIRCLES, "MR. BUYOYA WILL CERTAINLY BE LEADING DURING THE 6-MONT INTERIM PERIOD AND MOST OF THE PARTIES SEEM SATISFIED WITH THAT CHOICE, PROVIDED A CLEAR LEGAL MECHANISM WHICH CAN NOT BE MANIPULATED IS ESTABLISHED". IT MAY BE RECALLED THAT ACCORDING TO ARUSHA DRAFT ACCORDS, THE TRANSITION PERIOD WILL MAINLY DEAL WITH MATTERS RELATING TO THE ORGANIZATION OF TRANSITION ADMINISTRATION, NEGOTIATING A CEASE-FIRE, ARMED FORCES REFORM, REFUGEES' REPATRIATION, DISARMAMENT OF CIVILIANS AND MOBILIZATION OF INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE.