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Bujumbura-Burundi.
BURUNDI - NEGOTIATIONS.
SOME OF THE MAIN POINTS OF THE DRAFT ACCORD.
PRETORIA, AUGUST 25, 2000 (NET PRESS). SOME MAIN ITEMS OF THE DRAFT ACCORD ARE NOW APPEARING ON INTERNET. THE TRANSITION PERIOD SHALL BEGIN WITHIN THREE TO SIX MONTHS AFTER THE SIGNING OF THE ARUSHA ACCORD AND WILL BE CONDUCTED BY A PRESIDENT APPOINTED ACCORDING TO THE AGREEMENT (AND ASSISTED BY A VICE-PRESIDENT FROM THE OPPOSITE ETHNIC GROUP) WHO SHALL NOMINATE A GVT COMPRISING 60% OF PRO-HUTU PARTIES AND ANOTHER 40% OF TUTSI ORIENTED ONES. THE CURRENT PARLIAMENT SHALL BE ENLARGED TO INCLUDE REPRESENTATIVES OF ALL THE PARTIES HAVING NEGOTIATED THE ARUSHA ACCORDS AND MEMBERS OF THE CIVIL SOCIETY. DURING THAT PERIOD, ALL THE BILLS SHALL BE ADOPTED AT A 2/3 MAJORITY, AND THE NOW CONSTITUTION AS WELL.
AS FOR THE ELECTIONS, THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC AND THE 100 MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY SHALL BE ELECTED AT A UNIVERSAL SUFFRAGE BUT THE FIRST PRESIDENT SHALL BE ELECTED BY THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY AND THE SENATE AT A 2/3 MAJORITY. BOTH THE ARMY AND THE POLICE SHALL INCLUDE 50% OF TUTSI AND 50% OF HUTU THROUGH INTEGRATION OF "REBEL FORCES". ACCORDING TO THE SAME DOCUMENT, "THE ACCORD ALSO PROVIDES FOR, DESPITE TUTSI OPPOSITION, THE PRESENCE OF AN INTERNATIONAL PEACE-KEEPING AND SECURITY FORCE".
REGARDING NATIONAL RECONCILIATION, THERE IS NO AGREEMENT IN RESPECT TO THE IDEA OF A GENERAL AMNESTY SUGGESTED BY THE FRODEBU. AN AD HOC COMMITTEE SHALL BE CREATED FOR THAT MATTER BY THE TRANSITION GVT. HOWEVER, THE AMNESTY SHOULD IN NO CASE INCLUDE GENOCIDE CRIMES, WAR CRIMES AND CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY TO BE DEFERRED TO A WOULD BE INTERNATIONAL TRIBUNAL. ON THE OTHER HAND, A "COMMITTEE ON TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION" SHALL BE SET UP BY THE TRANSITION GVT, AND IT SHALL HAVE A 3-YEAR MAXIMUM MANDATE TO CLARIFY THE HISTORY OF THE COUNTRY AND PURSUE CRIMINALS IN ORDER TO ERADICATE IMPUNITY, A MAJOR FACTOR OF BURUNDI CONFLICT.
ACCORDING TO SOME PEOPLE, THE MAIN ISSUES OF THE DRAFT ACCORD OCCULT THE GENOCIDE. THE SAME PEOPLE DEPLORE THE FACT THAT THE DEPLOYMENT OF AN INTERNATIONAL FORCE IS SOUGHT FOR AT ANY COST AND BELIEVE THAT, REGARDING THE ELECTIONS, TUTSI PEOPLE SHALL NO MORE HAVE THE CHANCE TO RULE THIS COUNTRY AND THAT, SUBSEQUENTLY, THERE SHOULD BE AN POWER SHIFT, I.E. A PERIOD FOR HUTU PEOPLE AND ANOTHER FOR TUTSIS. FINALLY, THE SAME PEOPLE WISH THAT ELECTION MODALITIES BE ALIKE FOR ALL PRESIDENTS.
BURUNDI - NEGOTIATIONS.
MORE REACTIONS REGARDING POSSIBLE SIGNING OF BURUNDI PEACE ACCORDS.
CANADA-BASED "INTERNATIONAL NETWORK OF ORGANIZATIONS FIGHTING BURUNDI GENOCIDE" SAYS : "THE MEDIATION IS FORCING BY ALL MEANS THE SIGNING, ON AUGUST 28 , 2000 OF A SHAMEFUL AGREEMENT ".
OTTAWA, AUGUST 25, 2000 (NET PRESS). CANADA-BASED "INTERNATIONAL NETWORK OF ORGANIZATIONS FIGHTING BURUNDI GENOCIDE " HAS WRITTEN TO UN SECRETARY GENERAL, MR. KOFI ANNAN, AND TO US PRESIDENT, MR. BILL CLINTON, "TO INFORM THEM PERSONALLY" AND TO CAUTION THEM ABOUT A POSSIBLE "CYCLE OF UNPRECEDENTED VIOLENCES" LIKELY TO BE TRIGGERED BY THE SIGNING OF THE ARUSHA ACCORDS. IN THE OPINION OF THE NETWORK , SINCE THE OUTBREAK OF BURUNDI CRISIS, BOTH THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY AND THE UN IN PARTICULAR HAVE BEHAVED IN "A NON RESPECTABLE AND OPEN TO CRITICISM MANNER" IN SPITE OF A REMARKABLE VOLUME OF CONTACTS WITH UN RANKING OFFICIALS AT ALL LEVELS".
WHILE THE UN S/1996/682 REPORT OF THE INTERNATIONAL ENQUIRY COMMITTEE ON BURUNDI HAS CONCLUDED THAT ACTS OF GENOCIDE WERE COMMITTED AGAINST THE TUTSI MINORITY UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF THE FRODEBU PARTY, THE NETWORK DEPLORES THAT "THE MEDIATION FORCES PEOPLE TO SIGN, ON AUGUST 28, 2000 A SHAMEFUL AGREEMENT" SO THAT IT MAY "CREATE CREDIBILITY AND RESPECTABILITY TO THE LEADERS OF THAT PARTY". THE NETWORK HAS ALSO REMINDED PRESIDENT CLINTON THAT DURING HIS HISTORICAL VISIT TO KIGALI (RWANDA) IN 1998, HE HAD "PLEDGED TO NO MORE ALLOW SUCH A TRAGEDY (THE RWANDAN GENOCIDE) TO TAKE PLACE NOWHERE ELSE IN THE WORLD". AND ASKED HIM IF HE HAD MEANWHILE CHANGED HIS MIND. (SEE www.cbinf.com/netpress.bi, RUBRIC "AGORA").
"WHEN THERE IS NO OVERALL AGREEMENT, THERE IS NO AGREEMENT AT ALL", SAYS BELGIAN "LE SOIR".
BRUSSELS, AUGUST 25, 2000 (NET PRESS). WHEN BARUNDI NEGOTIATORS LEFT THIS MORNING FOR ARUSHA AS ONE PARTICIPANT SAYS, TO ATTEND THE LAST "PLENARY", CERTAIN MEDIA CONTINUE TO QUESTION THE MUCH ADVERTISED SIGNING OF THE ARUSHA PEACE ACCORDS, OF WHICH THE BELGIAN DAILY "LE SOIR", WHOSE AUGUST 23, 2000 ARTICLE OF MS. COLETTE BRAECKMAN READS AS FOLLOWS : "BARUNDI PEOPLE ARE RELUCTANT TO PEACE". SHE WRITES : "IN SPITE OF ALL PRESSURES EXERTED TO REACH A COMMON GROUND, MISUNDERSTANDING PREVAILS. THE ANNOUNCED PEACE ACCORD IS FAR FROM BEING OBTAINED...". SHE WONDERS IF MR. NELSON MANDELA PERSUASION STRENGTH WILL BE ABLE TO FORCE BARUNDI OPPONENTS TO "FINALLY SIGN THE ACCORD THAT SHOULD RESTORE PEACE IN THEIR COUNTRY". AND ADDED THAT "A FEW DAYS BEFORE THE DEADLINE , STILL THERE IS UNCERTAINTY", EVEN IF, "COMMITTED SOUTH-AFRICAN DIPLOMATS SAY THAT THE PEACE ACCORD WILL FOR SURE BE SIGNED ON AUGUST 28, 2000 AT ARUSHA, IN TANZANIA".
MEANWHILE, SAID THE BELGIAN DAILY, A MAXIMUM PRESSURE IS BEING EXERTED OVER ALL THE PARTIES IN ADDITION TO A HUGE MEDIATIZATION. ON THE OTHER HAND, THE DAILY BELIEVES THAT THE SOUTH-AFRICANS WHO RECENTLY HOSTED THE 19 "BURUNDIAN FACTIONS" INVITED THEM TO SIGN "IF NOT THE ACCORD TREATY AS A WHOLE, AT LEAST CERTAIN ASPECTS , AND OUTSTANDING ISSUES BE SUBJECT TO FURTHER NEGOTIATIONS". HOWEVER, IN THE END OF MS. COLETTE BRAECKMAN'S ARTICLE, SHE RECALLS AN OLD SAYING IN BELGIAN POLITICS : "WHEN THERE IS NO OVERALL AGREEMENT , THERE IS NO AGREEMENT AT ALL".
ACCORDING TO CANADIAN "NATIONAL POST", "MANDELA IS LIKELY TO CREATE A TRAGEDY IN BURUNDI IN A NEAR FUTURE".
OTTAWA, AUGUST 25, 2000 (NET PRESS). ACCORDING TO THE AUGUST 24, 2000 CANADIAN PAPER "NATIONAL POST", "IN SPITE OF DEMONSTRATIONS OF PROTEST AND AMBUSHES THAT RESULTED IN OVER 100 CASUALTIES LAST WEEK, FORMER SOUTH-AFRICAN PRESIDENT AND MEDIATOR IN THE BURUNDI CONFLICT, MR. NELSON MANDELA IS STILL COMMITTED TO HIS DEADLINES IN FINDING SOLUTIONS TO BURUNDI CIVIL WAR" AND TO SHOW "HIS DETERMINATION, THE OLD ANTI-APARTHEID MILITANT HAS MADE ARRANGEMENT IN ORDER TO SECURE THE PRESENCE, AT THE SIGNING CEREMONY OF THE AGREEMENT, 12 WORLD LEADERS OF WHOM BILL CLINTON".
BUT, AS EMPHASIZED BY THE "NATIONAL POST", "THE CLOSEST THE DATE OF SIGNATURE, THE MOST INCREASED BECOMES OPPOSITION TO THE DRAFT ACCORD".
IN THE "NATIONAL POST'S" OPINION, "FACING THE BAD EXAMPLE OF NEIGHBOURING DR CONGO WHERE LUSAKA ACCORDS HAVE BEEN A PATENT FAILURE, MR. MANDELA IS AWARE THAT HIS BIGGEST CHALLENGE IS NOT THE SIGNING OF THE DRAFT ACCORD, BUT ITS IMPLEMENTATION". QUOTING A WESTERN DIPLOMAT, THE CANADIAN DAILY PAPER POINTED OUT THAT THE FORMER SOUTH-AFRICAN PRESIDENT "WHO MANY PEOPLE CONSIDER ALMOST AS A GOD" HAS BEEN ESPECIALLY EFFICIENT IN THE INTERBURUNDIAN PEACE PROCESS, BUT HE PRESSES A BIT HARD OVER BARUNDI NEGOTIATORS. THE SAME DIPLOMAT HAS ADDED THAT MR. MANDELA, WHILE EXERTING SUCH PRESSURES, MUST REMAIN REALISTIC : "IF HE PRESSURES TOO HARD, HE IS LIKELY TO CREATE A TRAGEDY IN BURUNDI".
BURUNDI - TRADE UNION.
THE COSYBU AND NON AFFILIATED TRADE UNIONS TO ORGANIZE A SIT-IN AT THE BSR (GENDARMERIE SPECIAL INVESTIGATION BUREAU).
BUJUMBURA, AUGUST 25, 2000 (NET PRESS). THE DAY OF SIGNING THE PEACE ACCORDS AT ARUSHA MAY BE COINCIDING AT BUJUMBURA WITH A SIT-IN ORGANIZED BY THE COSYBU CONFEDERATION AND NON AFFILIATED TRADE UNIONS TO BE HELD AT GENDARMERIE BSR WITH THE OBJECTIVE OF GETTING DR. PIERRE-CLAVER HAJAYANDI OF COSYBU JAILED ON AUGUST 18, 2000 RELEASED. HE WAS ARRESTED FOR "CONVEYING, ON BEHALF OF TRADE UNIONS, WORKERS' CONCERNS", SAYS A COMMUNIQUE OF SIGNATORIES OF THE AUGUST 17, 2000 STRIKE NOTICE.
THUS, BOTH COSYBU CONFEDERATION AND NON AFFILIATED TRADE UNIONS DEMAND THE "IMMEDIATE AND UNCONDITIONNAL" LIBERATION OF DR. PIERRE-CLAVER HAJAYANDI AND CALL ON ALL THE WORKERS TO MASSIVELY RESPOND TO THE SIT-IN TO BE ORGANIZED AT THE AREA WHERE COSYBU CHAIRMAN IS BEING DETAINED THIS AUGUST 28, 2000 FROM 8 O'CLOCK, UNLESS HE IS SET FREE IN THE MEANTIME. THEY FINALLY REITERATE THEIR THANKS TO THE WORKERS AND EXHORT THEM "NOT TO BE DISCOURAGED AND AVOID PROVOCATION", AND REMIND THEM THAT "ONLY SOLIDARITY AND UNITY SHALL MAKE IT POSSIBLE TO RECOVER THEIR DESPOILED RIGHTS".
BURUNDI - EDUCATION.
"MALICIOUSNESS", THE DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNAL COLLEGES ACCUSED OF CORRUPTION.
BUJUMBURA, AUGUST 25, 2000 (NET PRESS). HIS NAME IS JEAN-MARIE RURANKIRIZA AND HE IS DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNAL COLLEGES AND ACCUSED BY MR. PIERRE-CLAVER BAVUGIRIJE, FORMER TEACHER AT RUSAKA COMMUNAL COLLEGE, OF HAVING CONFISCATED HIS LETTER OF APPOINTMENT. ACCORDING TO A LETTER TO THE 2nd VICE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC, MR BAVUGIRIJE CLAIMS TO HAVE REFUSED TO GIVE "BIF 70,000 AS PASSIVE CORRUPTION" TO THE DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT. THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE TWO PERSONS DEGENERATED SINCE 1997, WHEN MR. BAVUGIRIJE MANAGED TO OBTAIN A LETTER OF APPOINTMENT ON HIS OWN, BUT WAS DENIED SALARY FOR 29 MONTHS. HE UNDERTOOK MANY ACTIONS TO BE PAID HIS WAGES, WITHOUT SUCCESS. THE DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNAL COLLEGES "HAS PROMISSED TO PAY HIM THE EQUIVALENT OF A 10-MONTH SALARY OUT OF THE 29. BUT MR. BAVUGIRIJE REFUSED THAT ARRANGEMENT BUT ALL HIS CLAIMS FOR THE UNPAID SALARY HAVE REMAINED UNANSWERED. THUS, MR BAVUGIRIJE THINKS THAT HE IS A VICTIM OF A "LASTING REVENGE" ESPECIALLY BECAUSE THE DIRECTOR TOLD HIM THAT IF HE REFUSES THOSE CONDITIONS, HE WAS GOING TO WASTE HIS TIME, ENERGY AND MONEY. MR. PIERRE-CLAVER BAVUGIRIJE IS OUTRAGED BY THE ATTITUDE OF SUCH A HIGH RANKING OFFICIAL, AND ONLY DEMANDS TO BE PAID AS SOON AS POSSIBLE HIS DUES OF 29-MONTH SALARY AND REINSTATEMENT IN HIS JOB.
AS FOR MR. JEAN-MARIE RURANKIRIZA, DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNAL COLLEGES, MR. BAVUGIRIJE'S WORDS ARE MERE "MALICIOUS GOSSIP". HE SAYS THAT MR.BAVUGIRIJE IS "MENTALLY DEFICIENT". HE ALSO ADDS THAT THE PROBLEM IS BAVUGIRIJE'S GRADUATE PAPER UNRECOGNIZED BY THE MINISTRY OF LABOR, BUT THAT A "LIMITED CONTRACT" HAS ALREADY BEEN SIGNED IN BAVUGIRIJE'S FAVOUR AND MR. BAVUGIRIJE IS LIKELY TO GET HIS WAGES SOON. ACCORDING TO MS. DOROTHEE MUSONGERA, CHIEF OF PERSONNEL WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF SECONDARY EDUCATION, MR. BAVUGIRIJE'S REGISTRATION WAS IRREGULAR AND ACCORDING TO HER, "IT IS ADMINISTRATIVELY NOT NORMAL" TO PAY HIM.
BURUNDI - PUBLIC CONFERENCE.
THE "ACCORD-CADRE" COALITION TO HOLD A PUBLIC CONFERENCE.
BUJUMBURA, AUGUST 25, 2000 (NET PRESS). THE "ACCORD-CADRE COALITION FOR THE RESTORATION OF THE RULE OF LAW" IS TO HOLD NEXT SATURDAY, AUGUST 26, 2000 A PUBLIC CONFERENCE FROM 10 O'CLOCK AT 'CARREFOUR DE LA JRR' AT NGAGARA AND THE TOPIC WILL BE "WHAT NEXT".