Rebels’ decision “understandable”

Burundi analyst, Jan van Eck of the South-Africa based Centre for Conflict Resolution said PALIPEHUTU-FNL’s decision to stay away was “disappointing but understandable”. “They have been further from the process than the other rebellions and need more time to prepare themselves,” he told IRIN from Arusha on Wednesday. He said the FNL still felt alienated from the process and stressed they had to be “willing participants”. Van Eck said he believed the new signing date of 28 August - put back from 20 July - was still not a realistic timeframe for a truly implementable peace agreement. The armed rebellions, which had been excluded for two years, had only a month to prepare and this was not tenable.

The draft peace accord is now on the table and the various delegations are busy studying and absorbing it, Van Eck told IRIN. He said Wednesday’s deliberations were dominated by the draft, noting that the rebel groups would need more time to consider it.
Another important factor was that rebel leaders would have to network with their fighters in the field and gain acceptance of the agreement.
Mandela, who arrived in Arusha on Wednesday, was due to meet regional leaders and heads of delegations. Van Eck said the mediator was trying to inject urgency into the peace process, but the “harsh realities of Burundi” could not be rushed. “It is more important that Burundians are given enough time to sign an agreement they genuinely believe in,” he remarked.