DATE=2/4/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-245084
TITLE=BURUNDI FIGHTING (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=SCOTT STEARNS
DATELINE=GAHAMA, BURUNDI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: BURUNDI'S ARMY IS REINFORCING POSITIONS IN THE SOUTH OF
THE COUNTRY AFTER WEEKS OF FIGHTING WITH REBELS. AS V-O-A'S
SCOTT STEARNS REPORTS FROM THE BURUNDIAN TOWN OF GAHAMA, THIS
LATEST ROUND OF ETHNIC VIOLENCE HAS DISPLACED THOUSAND OF
CIVILIANS.
TEXT: MILITARY OFFICIALS SAY THEY'RE STEPPING UP PATROLS ALONG
THE BORDER WITH TANZANIA, AFTER A SERIES OF ATTACKS IN THE LAST
MONTH HAVE KILLED MORE THAN 180 PEOPLE.
REBELS SAY THEY'RE FIGHTING FOR EQUALITY IN BURUNDI, WHERE ETHNIC
HUTU ARE THE MAJORITY, BUT TUTSI STILL CONTROL THE ARMY AND MOST
COMMERCE. HUTU REBELS SAY THE GOVERNMENT IS TO BLAME FOR THE
RISING DEATH TOLL IN SOUTHERN MAKAMBA PROVINCE, BECAUSE THEY SAY
THE ARMY IS KILLING CIVILIANS IT BELIEVES SUPPORT THE REBELLION.
BURUNDI'S PRESIDENT, PIERRE BUYOYA, SAYS SOME PEOPLE MAY HAVE
BEEN KILLED IN CROSS FIRE, BUT HE SAYS MOST OF THE DEATHS WERE AT
REBEL HANDS, CARRIED OUT BY CROSS-BORDER RAIDS BY MILITIAMEN WHO
PRESIDENT BUYOYA SAYS ARE TOO WEAK TO CONFRONT HIS ARMY DIRECTLY.
///BUYOYA ACT///
MAKAMBA IS ON THE TANZANIAN BORDER. AGAIN, IT HAS BEEN
AN INCURSION FROM TANZANIA -- AN INCURSION OF THE
REBELS. AND THOSE MASSACRES ARE NOT THE ACTIONS OF THE
BURUNDIAN ARMY, BUT ACTION OF THE REBELS. THIS IS THE
DIFFERENCE.
///END ACT///
REBEL EXTERNAL AFFAIRS SPOKESMAN, INNOCENT NIMPAGARITSE, SAYS
PRESIDENT BUYOYA IS TRYING TO COVER-UP HIS FAILURE TO STOP THE
REBELLION BY LYING ABOUT REBELS HAVING BASES IN TANZANIA.
/// NIMPAGARITSE ACT ///
THIS IS WRONG. WE DON'T HAVE FIGHTERS IN TANZANIA OR IN
ANY COUNTRY, BUT OUR FIGHTERS ARE TRAINING INSIDE THE
COUNTRY AND THE GOVERNMENT ARMY KNOWS, VERY WELL, WHERE
WE ARE TRAINING -- IN THE FORESTS OF KIBIRA, MAKAMBA,
BURURI AND BUBANZA. THEY KNOW VERY WELL WHERE EXACTLY
WE ARE TRAINING, BUT THEY ARE NOT ABLE TO GET US OUT.
///END ACT///
BURUNDI'S ARMY SAYS IT IS GETTING THE REBELS OUT, AND THAT'S WHY
MOST HAVE CROSSED BACK INTO TANZANIA, WHERE THEY CAN GET FOOD AND
MEDICAL CARE AT REFUGEE CAMPS NEAR THE BORDER. STANDING ON A
RIDGE OVER THE MARAGARAZI RIVER WITH THE SWEEPING HILLS OF
TANZANIA LESS THAN A KILOMETER AWAY, BURUNDIAN ARMY COMMANDER
ISADORE NAHIMANA EXPLAINS HOW REBELS LAUNCHED THEIR ATTACKS
ACROSS THE BORDER.
/// NAHIMANA ACT IN KIRUNDI -- ESTABLISH AND FADE ///
CAPTAIN NAHIMANA SAYS REBELS CAME FROM A BASE IN THE TANZANIAN
TOWN OF MUSAGANA, BURNING HOUSES IN THE VILLAGE OF MUGINA, AND
LOOTING A NEARBY HEALTH CENTER BEFORE ADVANCING ON THE VILLAGE OF
MBIZI, WHERE THEY WERE PUSHED BACK BY BURUNDI'S MILITARY.
DURING THAT ATTACK, REBELS SWEPT THROUGH A SMALL COMPOUND OF
STONE HUTS -- HOME TO PASCAZI HARIAMANA.
/// HARIAMANA ACT IN KIRUNDI -- ESTABLISH AND FADE ///
MS HARIAMANA SAYS REBELS BURNED THE ROOFS OF THEIR HOUSES AND
DRANK ALL THEIR BEER, KILLING A NEIGHBOR WHO RESISTED. SHE SAYS
SOME PEOPLE ESCAPED AND TOLD THE ARMY, WHO OPENED FIRE ON THE
REBELS AS THEY FLED. //OPT// STILL, SHE'S NOT GOING BACK TO THE
COMPOUND UNTIL THINGS ARE SAFER IN MAKAMBA PROVINCE. FOR NOW,
SHE'S LIVING WITH SEVERAL HUNDRED OTHER PEOPLE IN SMALL, STICK
HUTS ON A HILL IN THE VILLAGE OF GAHAMA. //END OPT//
MORE THAN 20-THOUSAND PEOPLE ARE DISPLACED IN SOUTHERN BURUNDI.
MOST ARE ETHNIC HUTU. UNWILLING TO LEAVE THEIR HOMES FOR REFUGEE
CAMPS IN TANZANIA, THEY'VE DECIDED TO STAY IN BURUNDI UNDER THE
PROTECTION OF AN ARMY MANY STILL FEAR.
DAMIEN NIZEMBERE IS THE CHIEF OF THE VILLAGE. HE SAYS REBELS
CANNOT CLAIM TO BE FIGHTING FOR HUTU RIGHTS WHEN IT'S THE REBELS
WHO ARE DRIVING CIVILIANS OFF THEIR LAND.
/// NIZEMBERE ACT IN KIRUNDI -- ESTABLISH AND FADE ///
MR. NIZEMBERE SAYS "THERE'S NO WAY FOR REBELS TO THINK THEY'RE
LIBERATING US -- WHEN YOU SEE HOW WE'RE LIVING NOW IN THESE
CAMPS. WHAT WE NEED IN BURUNDI IS PEACE AND THE CHANCE TO GET
BACK TO OUR LIVES," HE SAYS, "WITHOUT ALL THIS FIGHTING THAT'S
CHASING PEOPLE FROM THEIR HOMES." (SIGNED)
NEB/SKS/PCF
04-Feb-99 8:04 AM EST (1304 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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