Signs of press liberalisation

There are signs of some press liberalisation in Burundi, following sharp criticism by Mandela over media restrictions in the country. Last Thursday, the opposition FRODEBU newspaper ‘La Lumiere’ asked why the regroupment camps had still not been dismantled. It noted that President Pierre Buyoya had pledged to close the camps, but wondered whether this was “by conviction or to appease the international community”. “Few camps have been dismantled, and those which have are not significant,” the paper wrote. “Why hasn’t the government followed up its words by concrete deeds?” It recalled that Buyoya had told a news conference the camps could not all be closed unless security returned, “yet these people were reportedly displaced to allow the armed forces to better maintain security”.

‘La Verite’, a pro-PARENA newspaper of radical Tutsis opposed to Buyoya, warned that unless a peace agreement was signed soon “shells and bullets will rain down us”. It said during a recent meeting with the vice-president, “young Hutus did not mince their words: the [peace] accords threaten to put a gun to our heads”. “We hope the ruling power in Bujumbura will have the good sense to allow us to benefit from Mozambique’s experience where the [rebel] RENAMO [forces] became part of the national army after 16 years of war without the rebellion getting the upper hand,” the paper said. Otherwise, it warned, FDD leader Jean-Bosco Ndayikengurukiye “will stay underground forever”. Observers point out that PARENA leader and former president Jean-Baptiste Bagaza is keen to resume a leading role in Burundian politics - hence PARENA’s pact with the external wing of FRODEBU - and to this end requires the early signing of a peace accord so as not to lose the momentum.