Ex-rebels die of hunger in cantonment site

Following the deaths of three former rebels at a cantonment site in northwestern Burundi, government minister Pierre Nkurunziza – also a former rebel leader - asked his administration on Monday to act rapidly and to end hunger, congestion, and poor medical as well as hygienic conditions at the site. "It [the deaths] is a shame on all the structures set up to support the peace process in Burundi," Nkurunziza, who visited the Buramata cantonment site in the northwestern province of Bubanza, said. The former combatants reportedly died of hunger. Nkurunziza, leader of the Conseil national pour la defense de la democratie-Forces pour la defense de la democratie (CNDD-FDD), accused the transitional government, the UN Mission in Burundi, known as ONUB, and the country's Joint Ceasefire Commission of failing in their missions. The Buramata Cantonment Centre, now hosting at least 3,700 ex-combatants, had been primarily established for 900 ex-rebels from Kaze–FDD of Jean Bosco Ndayikengurukiye, FNL–Icanzo of Alain Mugabarabona, CNDD of Léonard Nyangoma, and Frolina of Joseph Karumba. The ex-fighters were to await demobilisation or integration in the newly formed National Defence Force, incorporating former rebel movements in the country. Former CNDD-FDD combatants waiting to return to civilian life joined these ex-combatants on Thursday. "The first CNDD-FDD combatants arrived on Thursday and on Sunday, but since then they have received no food," Nkurunziza said. The ONUB military spokesman, Maj Adama Diop, said ONUB's mandate did not include the feeding of the former fighters. ONUB's role, he said, was "to transport combatants to disarmament and cantonment camps and set up security arrangements". He declined to comment on the government's inability to provide food for the combatants. Since the formation of the country's new defence forces in December, the welfare of all former combatants fell under the responsibility of the government. The government's spokesman was not available for comment. The ex-combatants at Buramata have been complaining since 2004 about their poor living conditions, particularly the lack of medicine, clothes and firewood. State-owned national television showed footage on Monday of some of the ex-combatants at the cantonment site. They were shabbily dressed and had no tents for shelter. "Look at us with these old T-shirts and trousers - no shoes - we get nothing from the government," a former combatant said.