DATE=2/5/99
TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT
NUMBER=5-42525
TITLE=BURUNDI UNITY
BYLINE=SCOTT STEARNS
DATELINE=BUJUMBURA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: FRIDAY WAS UNITY DAY IN BURUNDI -- A COUNTRY WHERE MORE
THAN 200-HUNDRED THOUSAND PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED IN ETHNIC
VIOLENCE DURING THE PAST SIX YEARS. V-O-A'S SCOTT STEARNS IN
BUJUMBURA REPORTS BURUNDI'S LEADERS SAY THEY ARE MAKING PROGRESS
TOWARD ENDING DECADES OF MISTRUST.
TEXT:
/// ACT - MILITARY BAND - FADE UNDER ///
BURUNDI'S UNITY DAY CELEBRATES THE START EIGHT YEARS AGO OF A
TRANSITION TO DEMOCRACY THAT LED TO THE COUNTRY'S FIRST
FREELY-ELECTED PRESIDENT, MELCHIOR NDADAYE.
PRESIDENT NDADAYE CAME FROM THE COUNTRY'S ETHNIC HUTU MAJORITY.
HIS ELECTION BROUGHT WITH IT THE HOPE THAT DECADES OF CONTROL BY
MINORITY TUTSI IN THE ARMY MIGHT FINALLY YIELD TO PEACEFUL
COOPERATION ACROSS BURUNDI'S ETHNIC DIVIDE.
BUT PRESIDENT NDADAYE LASTED ONLY A FEW MONTHS BEFORE
PARATROOPERS STORMED THE PALACE, KILLING THE PRESIDENT AND MUCH
OF HIS CABINET. PRESIDENT NADADAYE'S MURDER TOUCHED OFF A WAVE
OF ETHNIC VIOLENCE THAT CONTINUES TODAY WITH CROSS-BORDER RAIDS
IN THE SOUTH.
THERE HAS BEEN SOME PROGRESS IN BURUNDI. PRESIDENT NDADAYE'S
PARTY NOW HAS SEATS IN THE MILITARY GOVERNMENT THAT CAME TO POWER
IN A 1996 COUP. PEACE TALKS IN THE TANZANIAN TOWN OF ARUSHA
INCLUDE NEARLY 20 PARTIES WORKING TOWARD A NEW TRANSITIONAL
GOVERNMENT FOR BURUNDI.
THE PROBLEM WITH ARUSHA IS THAT IT DOES NOT INCLUDE THE BIGGEST
REBEL GROUP, WHICH IS STILL ACTIVELY FIGHTING THE GOVERNMENT OF
RETIRED MAJOR PIERRE BUYOYA. WITHOUT THEM, THERE IS NO CHANCE
FOR A CEASEFIRE.
U-S AMBASSADOR RUSTY HUGHES SAYS THAT DESPITE THE OBSTACLES,
BURUNDI IS MOVING SLOWLY TOWARD ETHNIC RECONCILIATION.
/// HUGHES ACT ///
THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THIS EVOLUTION
CONTINUE TO PARTICIPATE IN IT. BY THAT, I MEAN THE
DEPOSED PRESIDENT IS PARTICIPATING. AND THE PEOPLE WHO
RAN FOR THEIR LIVES AFTER THE COUP IN JULY OF '96 ARE
NOW PARTICIPATING IN THE PROCESS. AND THAT SUGGESTS
THAT RECONCILIATION IS POSSIBLE. BUT THERE IS A LOT OF
WORK LEFT TO DO BECAUSE THERE ARE KEY PLAYERS WHO ARE
NOT PARTICIPATING IN THE TALKS. AND THAT IS AN ISSUE
THAT WE ARE HELPING WITH AS BEST WE CAN.
/// END ACT ///
REGIONAL DIPLOMATS SAY THEY ARE TRYING TO INCLUDE REBELS IN THE
ARUSA TALKS BEFORE THE NEXT ROUND OF NEGOTIATIONS LATER THIS
YEAR.
EAST AFRICAN LEADERS LAST MONTH ENDED ECONOMIC SANCTIONS AGAINST
BURUNDI IN RECOGNITION OF THE PROGRESS PRESIDENT BUYOYA HAS MADE
IN ENDING BANS ON POLITICAL PARTIES, RESTORING THE CONSTITUTION,
AND REINSTATING THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY.
IN HIS UNITY DAY SPEECH TO THE NATION, PRESIDENT BUYOYA THANKED
HIS NEIGHBORS FOR ENDING THE EMBARGO, SAYING THE DECISION WILL
HELP BURUNDI'S SEARCH FOR PEACE.
/// BUYOYA ACT - FADE UNDER ///
PRESIDENT BUYOYA SAYS THOSE WHO FLED BURUNDI SHOULD COME HOME AND
HELP REBUILD THE COUNTRY. HE PARDONED REBELS WHO HAVE TAKEN UP
ARMS AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT, INVITING THEM TO JOIN THE NATIONAL
ARMY.
NOW THAT THE EMBARGO HAS BEEN ENDED, PRESIDENT BUYOYA SAYS ALL
BURUNDIANS ARE AGAIN EQUAL MEMBERS OF THE EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY
WHO SHOULD WORK TOGETHER TO IMPROVE THE COUNTRY BY BUILDING
NATIONAL UNITY.
PRESIDENT BUYOYA IS LIMITED BY ARMY OFFICERS AND TUTSI BUSINESS
LEADERS WHO ARE CAUTIOUS ABOUT MAKING TOO MANY CONCESSIONS TO THE
HUTU MAJORITY. HE SAYS HE HAS LEARNED FROM MISTAKES OF THE PAST
AND BELIEVES BURUNDI IS BETTER PREPARED FOR DEMOCRACY THAN IT WAS
IN 1993.
HUTU LEADERS FEAR THE MISTAKE THAT PRESIDENT BUYOYA HAS LEARNED
FROM IS THAT HE LOST THAT VOTE TO A HUTU MAJORITY. WHATEVER HIS
INTEREST IN BUILDING A MORE ETHNICALLY-BALANCED SOCIETY, THEY
WONDER HOW FAR HE WILL GO IN OFFENDING SOME OF HIS BIGGEST
SUPPORTERS. HUTUS IN THE BUYOYA CABINET SELDOM PARTICIPATE IN
REAL DECISIONS OF STATE.
/// ACT - DRUMMING - FADE UNDER ///
AMID THE CELEBRATION OF THIS UNITY DAY, BURUNDI REMAINS A DIVIDED
NATION WITH MORE THAN ONE-HALF MILLION PEOPLE DRIVEN FROM THEIR
HOMES AND MOST OF THE NATIONAL BUDGET SPENT FIGHTING REBELS WHO
BELIEVE THERE IS NO OTHER WAY TO PROTECT THEIR RIGHTS.
(SIGNED)
NEB/SKS/JWH
05-Feb-99 11:09 AM EST (1609 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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