JRS again warns against repatriations

The Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) has reiterated its warning against the repatriation of Burundi refugees from camps in western Tanzania. The international advocacy organisation noted that only days before the repatriation of some 430 people by the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to Burundi last week, the president of Burundi, Pierre Buyoya, had warned that violence was threatening the peace process in Burundi. Speaking during talks with his Ugandan counterpart, Yoweri Museveni, he had given "a clear warning that the work of the transitional government, put in place after the peace accord of 2000, was being hindered by the continuing violence," JRS stated in its bi-monthly news bulletin on 2 April. "Despite the continuing violence and warnings that the repatriation of refugees living in Tanzania may be premature, both the Burundi and Tanzanian governments have been encouraging refugees to return home to Burundi," it added. The UN World Food Programme (WFP) reported in its emergency report of 28 March that "the Makamba, Ruyigi and Muyinga provinces, where imminent repatriation is being planned, have been marked by insecurity". As a result, WFP reported, its planned activities there had been periodically cancelled or postponed since November 2001. Meanwhile, a two-day tripartite meeting between representatives of UNHCR and both the Burundi and Tanzanian governments began on Wednesday. A UNHCR official in Tanzania told IRIN it was a "routine meeting" which would address issues surrounding the repatriation of the 48,000 Burundians who had signed up with the UN agency to return home. While not encouraging refugees to return, UNHCR has agreed to facilitate the return of those who wish to do so voluntarily. With both the Burundi and Tanzanian governments keen to see the repatriation of the refugees, local media in both countries are awash with rumours and allegations regarding the repatriation process. The Tanzanian Guardian newspaper, reported on Monday that 150,000 refugees in Tanzania had volunteered to go home. The newspaper said diplomatic sources had "hinted that during the [tripartite] meeting, delegates would in fact discuss the possibility of repatriating all refugees who have registered themselves in UNHCR's sub-offices in Kigoma Region and Kagera", in western Tanzania. Sources had hinted that the planned repatriation might be carried out this month, if logistics, especially transport, medicines, food and some tents allowed, the Guardian reported. A UNHCR official reiterated to IRIN on Wednesday that repatriation would remain voluntary and that people were not going to be forced to return to Burundi. Expresso news agency in Burundi reported that "the Tanzanian government is trying to persuade the Burundi government to prepare to receive many Burundi refugees in the near future". Referring to allegations regarding the recruitment of rebel fighters from refugee camps in Tanzania, the agency said: "The Tanzanian government has explained to the government of Burundi that the best way to deal with Hutu rebel infiltration would be to cut them [off] from their rear base which is the Burundi refugee camps... of Kigoma and Ngara". Net Press in Burundi reported on Tuesday that an "intimidation campaign" was going on in the camps, with "genocidal terrorists" and "criminals" (i.e. rebel supporters) threatening the returnees with execution on arrival in Burundi. UNHCR is currently aiding about 350,000 Burundians in western Tanzania. Another 470,000 reside in Tanzania, but are not receiving help.