DATE=12/16/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-243058
TITLE=CONGO / BURUNDI REBELS (L ONLY)
BYLINE=SCOTT STEARNS
DATELINE=NAIROBI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: REBELS IN BURUNDI SAY THEY ARE MAKING MILITARY GAINS
WHILE THE GOVERNMENT ARMY IS BUSY FIGHTING ACROSS THE BORDER IN
CONGO. BUT AS V-O-A'S SCOTT STEARNS REPORTS, BURUNDI'S ARMY
SAYS IT IS NOT INVOLVED MILITARILY IN CONGO'S CIVIL WAR.
TEXT: REBELS SAY THEY HAVE SOLIDIFIED POSITIONS IN THE HILLS
OUTSIDE THE CAPITAL, BUJUMBURA, WHILE CONTINUING TO TAKE NEW
GROUND IN THE SOUTHEAST NEAR THE BORDER WITH TANZANIA.
REBEL EXTERNAL AFFAIRS SPOKESMAN INNOCENT NIMPAGARITSE SAYS
FIGHTING HAS BEEN MADE EASIER SINCE MORE GOVERNMENT TROOPS ARE IN
CONGO HELPING THE REBELLION THERE.
/// NIMPAGARITSE ACT ///
IT IS A CHANCE FOR US BECAUSE SOME OF THE GOVERNMENT
ARMY HAD GONE INTO CONGO TO FIGHT THERE, TO SUPPORT THE
REBELS. WE DON'T HAVE A VERY BIG, A VERY STRONG FORCE
AGAINST US.
/// END ACT ///
BURUNDI'S GOVERNMENT SAYS IT IS NOT SUPPORTING CONGOLESE
REBELS, ALTHOUGH TRADE BETWEEN THE COUNTRY AND REBEL-HELD AREAS
IS STILL STRONG.
CONGOLESE LEADER LAURENT KABILA SAYS BURUNDI IS AS MUCH TO BLAME
AS UGANDA AND RWANDA FOR HELPING ORGANIZE THE REBELLION THAT NOW
CONTROLS MUCH OF THE EASTERN THIRD OF HIS COUNTRY.
MR. NIMPAGARITSE SAYS BURUNDIAN REBELS OPPOSE THE GOVERNMENT'S
INVOLVEMENT IN CONGO BECAUSE IT IS SPENDING PUBLIC MONEY ON
PERSONAL AMBITIONS TO UNSEAT PRESIDENT KABILA. MR. NIMPAGARITSE
SAYS RWANDA, UGANDA, AND BURUNDI SHOULD BE DOING MORE TO BRING
PEACE TO THEIR OWN COUNTRIES INSTEAD OF INVADING CONGO.
/// NIMPAGARITSE ACT ///
WE ARE AGAINST THE INVASION OF AN INDEPENDENT COUNTRY.
WE ARE FOR THE INTEGRITY OF EVERY COUNTRY. WE CONDEM
THE INVASION OF THAT COUNTRY.
/// END ACT ///
MOST OF BURUNDI'S REBELS ARE ETHINC HUTU WHO ACCUSE MILITARY
LEADER PIERRE BUYOYA AND HIS LARGELY-TUTSI ARMY OF BEING
RESPONSIBLE FOR THE 1993 ASSASSINATION OF THE FIRST
DEMOCRATICALLY-ELECTED PRESIDENT, A HUTU.
/// OPT /// MELCHIOR NDADAYE'S MURDER SET-OFF A WAVE OF
KILLINGS ACROSS BURUNDI THAT ULTIMATELY LED TO THE INSTABILITY
THAT BROUGHT MR. BUYOYA BACK TO POWER IN A 1996 COUP. /// END
OPT ///
EAST AFRICAN PEACE TALKS ON BURUNDI INCLUDE OFFICIALS FROM MR.
BUYOYA'S GOVERNMENT, POLITICAL PARTIES, AND THREE OF THE
COUNTRY'S SMALLER REBEL GROUPS. THOSE TALKS DO NOT INCLUDE THE
MAIN C-N-D-D / F-D-D REBELS RESPONSIBLE FOR MUCH OF THE FIGHTING
SINCE A FAILED JULY CEASEFIRE.
MR. NIMPAGARITSE SAYS WITHOUT HIS MOVEMENT, THERE IS NO CHANCE
FOR PEACE.
/// REST OPT ///
/// NIMPAGARITSE ACT ///
WE ARE CONVINCED THAT NO PEACE PROCESS IS POSSIBILE IN
OUR COUNTRY WITHOUT OUR MOVEMENT. WE ARE READY TO
NEGOTIATE, BUT IF IT IS NOT POSSIBLE, IF THEY REFUSE THE
PEACE PROCESS WITH OUR MOVEMENT, WE WILL BE OBLIGED TO
CONTINUE TO FIGHT.
/// END ACT ///
MORE THAN 200-THOUSAND PEOPLE HAVE DIED IN FIGHTING IN BURUNDI
DURING THE PAST FIVE YEARS. THE UNITED NATIONS SAYS MORE THAN
340-THOUSAND BURUNDIANS ARE SHORT OF FOOD AS FARMERS ARE DRIVEN
OFF THEIR LAND BY INSECURITY IN THE HILLS. (SIGNED)
NEB/SKS/JWH
16-Dec-98 8:40 AM EST (1340 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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