Rebel group objects to cantonment site

The larger faction of the Conseil national pour la defense de la democratie-Force pour la defense de la democratie (CNDD-FDD) rebel group is opposed to the cantonment of fighters loyal to leaders of two smaller rebel groups at a site it considers its stronghold, the group's spokesman told IRIN on Friday. The spokesman, "Major" Gelase Daniel Ndabirabe, said the cantonment that began on Thursday was a violation of a ceasefire agreement signed between the CNDD-FDD faction led by Pierre Nkurunziza and the government in December 2002. A unit of the African Union peacekeeping force in Burundi cantoned the first group of 22 fighters loyal to the Forces Nationales de Liberation (FNL) rebel faction led by Alain Mugabarabona on Thursday at Muyange, 30 km northwest of the capital, Bujumbura. More fighters are expected at the cantonment site on Monday, an FNL spokesman said. The CNDD-FDD faction led by Jean Bosco Ndayikengurukiye has indicated that its fighters would soon be cantoned. However, Ndabirabe said that according to the ceasefire agreement his faction signed with the government, Muyange, in Bubanza Province, is one of sites that was to be used for the cantonment of fighters loyal to Nkurunziza. "We urge the African peace Mission in Burundi [AMIB] to canton combatants of Ndayikengurukiye and Mugabarabona elsewhere, in areas totally controlled by the government as the two rebel groups are represented in the transitional government," he said. Asked if his movement planned to attack the Muyange site, he responded, "The South African soldiers protecting the site should quit the place, and if there is no reaction, appropriate decisions would be taken." The AMIB commander, Maj-Gen Sipho Binda, said the force was in the country to strengthen peace and security, not to engage in offensive military activities. "AMIB has the necessary means to accomplish its task and protect its troops," he said. The spokesman of the FNL faction led by Mugabarabona, Charles Kabagambe, said they would ignore the CNDD-FDD threat because they believed that the Muyange cantonment site was well secured by AMIB. The larger FNL faction led by Agathon Rwasa, which has refused to enter into negotiations with the government, has said it would not interfere with the cantonment process. "We agreed with Ambassador Mahmadou Bah, representing AU in Burundi and who is coordinating the cantonment process, that our men can move in different areas under our control without any problem; we will not attack the combatants of Mugabarabona, but if they attack us we will respond," Pasteur Habimana, the faction's spokesman, said.