Political Murder & Threats: Tension Builds

Sub-Saharan Africa - Burundi
22 Jun 2005 - Missionary International Service News Agency

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As the legislative elections scheduled for next July 4 are approaching, a series of violent episodes has raised tensions in Burundi.

In the Kamenge quarter of Bujumbura, two leaders of the government party Front for Democracy in Burundi (Frodebu) were killed as they were holding a political meeting.

The man and woman, according to a reconstruction of the event, were killed by a grenade, while the police, sources say, is also looking into the possibility that the two leaders were killed directly in the style of an execution.

"No matter what happened, recently the tones of the policial confrontation have been raised and people are starting to become worried preferring not to talk about politics," said a source to MISNA.

The confrontation between the Cndd-Fdd – former rebels involved in the decade long civil war in Burudndi and now the main party in the country and Frodebu, party of current president Domitien Ndayizeye, has gotten more heated.

Both sides have been accusing each other of intimidating voters.

"A few individuals, whoever they are, will not be able to derail a peace process that is not deeply tied to the reality of Burundi and the will of its people," said a note form the UN in Burundi (ONUB) received by MISNA. "ONUB – continues the note – asks that such barbaric acts cease, as their only purpose is to intimidate the population and generate fear, just as the elections are approaching. Burundi has entered a new era after many years of fratricidal war and the majority of the population of this country is trying to build a new society that will be free of violence."

Burundi started its long elections process with a legislative consultation 2 weeks ago.

The process will end with the nomination of a new president and the shelving of the transition.

The process began in February when a referendum widely approved the adoption of a new constitution aiming to turn the page after the civil war that caused 300,000 dead since 1993 alone.

All electoral appointments have been characterized by an elevated affluence at the polls.

Copyright © MISNA 2005