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DATE=2/3/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-245051
TITLE=BURUNDI ATTACK (L)
BYLINE=SCOTT STEARNS
DATELINE=MAKAMBA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  REBELS IN BURUNDI HAVE ATTACKED A CAMP FOR DISPLACED 
CIVILIANS.  V-O-A CORRESPONDENT SCOTT STEARNS REPORTS THE ATTACK 
CAME IN THE THIRD WEEK OF FIGHTING NEAR BURUNDI'S BORDER WITH 
TANZANIA.
TEXT:  THE REBELS ATTACKED A CAMP SOUTHEAST OF THE TOWN OF 
MAKAMBA, ABOUT 30 KILOMETERS FROM BURUNDI'S BORDER WITH TANZANIA.
BURUNDI'S ARMY SAYS TROOPS STATIONED NEAR THE CAMP REPULSED THE 
ATTACK AND DROVE REBELS BACK ACROSS THE BORDER EARLY WEDNESDAY.
MORE THAN 20-THOUSAND CIVILIANS HAVE LEFT THEIR HOMES AROUND 
MAKAMBA IN THE PAST FEW WEEKS FOLLOWING NEW FIGHTING BETWEEN 
ETHNIC HUTU REBELS AND BURUNDI'S LARGELY TUTSI ARMY.  AS MORE AND
MORE CIVILIANS FLEE THE LUSH GREEN HILLS ALONG THE MARAGARAZI 
RIVER, REBELS WHO ONCE CAME TO THEIR VILLAGES IN SEARCH OF FOOD 
ARE NOW TARGETING DISPLACEMENT CAMPS WHERE INTERNATIONAL AID 
GROUPS ARE DISTRIBUTING RELIEF SUPPLIES.
THE ARMY IS REINFORCING POSITIONS HERE IN SOUTHERN BURUNDI, WITH 
MORE TROOPS AND LIGHT ARTILLERY.  COMMANDER BERNARD BIJONYA SAYS 
THEY ARE PREPARED TO MEET ANY REBEL CHALLENGE.
               ///  BIJOYNA ACT - FADE UNDER  ///
COLONEL BIJONYA SAYS HE HAS ENOUGH SOLDIERS IN THE AREA NOW AND 
THEY ARE DOING A GOOD JOB.  HE SAYS THE ARMY IS WORKING TO 
PROTECT THE PEOPLE FROM WHAT HE CALLS THE KILLERS WHO WANT TO 
KILL.
HUTU REBELS SAY THEY ARE FIGHTING FOR EQUALITY IN BURUNDI WHERE 
HUTU ARE THE MAJORITY.  BUT ETHNIC TUTSI STILL CONTROL THE ARMY 
AND MOST COMMERCE.
REBELS HOLD THE MILITARY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE 1993 ASSASSINATION 
OF BURUNDI'S FIRST DEMOCRATICALLY-ELECTED PRESIDENT, A HUTU, 
MELCHIOR NDADAYE.  THE MURDER SET OFF A WAVE OF ETHNIC VIOLENCE 
THAT HAS NOW CLAIMED MORE THAN 200-THOUSAND LIVES.  
THIS MOST RECENT ROUND OF FIGHTING IN SOUTHERN BURUNDI IS STAGED 
MOSTLY FROM CAMPS ACROSS THE BORDER IN TANZANIA.  COLONEL BIJOYNA
SAYS HE HAS RECEIVED LITTLE COOPERATION FROM TANZANIAN 
AUTHORITIES IN TRYING TO STOP THE CROSS-BORDER RAIDS.
               ///  BIJOYNA ACT - FADE UNDER  ///
COLONEL BIJOYNA SAYS THAT NORMALLY, COOPERATION IS WHAT YOU WOULD
EXPECT FROM A COUNTRY WITH WHICH YOU SHARE A BORDER.  
UNFORTUNATELY, HE SAYS, THAT IS  NOT  WHAT IS HAPPENING.  COLONEL
BIJOYNA SAYS BURUNDI IS HAVING A PROBLEM WITH ITS NEIGHBORS.
TANZANIA SAYS ITS TROOPS ALONG THE BORDER ARE  NOT  HELPING THE 
REBELS.  THE REBELS SAY THEY ARE  NOT  EVEN IN TANZANIA AND ARE 
OPERATING ENTIRELY INSIDE BURUNDI.
THE REBELS ACCUSE BURUNDI'S ARMY OF KILLING MORE THAN 180 PEOPLE 
AROUND MAKAMA IN THE PAST FEW WEEKS.  THEY SAY SOLDIERS BURNED 
PEOPLE ALIVE IN THEIR HOMES BECAUSE THEY ACCUSED THEM OF 
SYMPATHIZING WITH THE REBELS.
BURUNDI'S ARMY SAYS SOME CIVILIANS MAY HAVE BEEN KILLED IN THE 
CROSSFIRE.  BUT IT SAYS THERE HAVE BEEN  NO  RETALIATORY ATTACKS 
AGAINST THE LOCAL POPULATION.
                       ///  REST OPT  ///
THE THOUSANDS OF CIVILIANS WHO SOUGHT THE ARMY'S PROTECTION SEEM 
TO BEAR THAT OUT.  ONE MAN WHO LEFT HIS FARM SAYS IT IS THE 
REBELS WHO ARE CAUSING TROUBLE.  IF IT HAD BEEN THE ARMY, HE 
SAYS, HE SAYS HE WOULD HAVE RUN TO TANZANIA WHERE HE KNOWS THERE 
ARE ALREADY CAMPS WITH FOOD.  BUT HE IS STILL IN BURUNDI.  AND 
THAT, HE SAYS, SHOWS HE IS MORE AFRAID OF THE REBELS THAN THE 
ARMY.  (SIGNED)
NEB/SKS/JWH
03-Feb-99 1:08 PM EST (1808 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.