Soldiers held in Bujumbura prison go on strike

An estimated 300 imprisoned soldiers went on strike on Monday, at Mpimba Prison, the main prison in the Burundian capital, Bujumbura, paralysing the admission and transfer of new prisoners and preventing court hearings. The army prisoners are requesting temporary immunity, which had previously been granted to some 500 members of the main former rebel group, the Conseil national pour la defense de la democratie-Forces pour la defense de la democratie (CNDD-FDD) headed by Pierre Nkurunziza. Though accused of war crimes, they were released in March following a presidential decree. At the time only 11 detained solders were freed. The imprisoned soldiers suspended a strike they started 10 days ago, after Justice Minister Didace Kiganahe had pledged to look into their cases. But an imprisoned lieutenant, who requested anonymity, said the strike was resumed because the ministry was moving too slowly. A government decree last Friday granted temporary immunity to 100 army prisoners. But according to the lieutenant, "that number is totally wrong." He said only 28 detained soldiers had been released; the others on the list had either died or completed serving their sentences. Some of the soldiers have been in jail since the beginning of Burundi's 10-year civil war. They claim they had been forced to commit crimes by political leaders who are now free. Hundreds more soldiers and former CNDD-FDD rebels detained in prisons around the country are also threatening to strike unless granted temporary immunity. Moreover, prisoners who were members of Tutsi youth groups are seeking temporary amnesty. Some are members of extremist groups known as Sans echec (without restraint) accused of assassinating Hutu leaders during the crisis that broke out in October 1993 after the assassination of the democratically elected president, Melchior Ndadaye. Another group of prisoners had supported army soldiers during night patrols, saying they had been acting at the orders of politicians.