|
Burundi rebels shun yet another meeting
2007-10-27 11:02:44
By Judica Tarimo
Burundi`s remaining active rebel group, Pelipehutu-FNL, has once again rejected the South Africa mediator in the Burundi peace-talks, further derailing regional initiatives intended to bring about durable peace in the war-torn country.
Impeccable sources told The Guardian that the rebel movement had played down an invitation to attend a meeting of the Joint Verification Monitoring Mechanism (JVMM).
The FNL is pressing regional leaders to replace the mediator, South Africa`s Minister of Safety and Security, Charles Nqakula.
The closed-door JVMM meeting was held in Bujumbura between October 20 and 21, and drew delegates from countries which are party to the Burundi peace-talks—Uganda, South Africa and Tanzania.
JVMM is a regional initiative designed to serve as a vehicle for implementation of the Burundi`s ceasefire agreement.
`There are two reasons why the rebel group boycotted the meeting—-first, they are don’t like the mediator, secondly, the status of the person who signed the invitation letter sent to FNL leader Agathon Rwasa, was low,` a source told The Guardian.
The FNL rebels have repeatedly accused the South African mediator as biased and unfair.
According to the source, the invitation letter was signed by the mechanism chairman, General Steven Marumo, whose status was apparently low given the sensitivity of the peace-talks.
`Their spokesperson said they wanted a high-ranking figure to sign the invitation letter, like the Chairman of the countries party-to Burundi peace-talks,` said a senior official from the Foreign Affairs ministry in Dar es Salaam.
`They also said they would not attend JVMM until regional leaders did away with the South Africa mediator. They put this as a condition,` he said.
However, the JVMM proceeded with the meeting despite the rebels` refusal to attend.
`In fact, the meeting played down the FNL condition of replacing the South Africa mediator, saying the group was too small to derail regional initiatives towards durable peace in Burundi,` according to the source.
During the meeting, experts discussed the establishment of assembly areas for those who have left their positions in the FNL to be admitted to those assembly points.
The Bujumbura meeting had been convened to finalise a programme on the establishment of the assembly areas, thus paving way for disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration processes.
According to the source, JVMM experts agreed to form a special committee that would be responsible for the enhancement and coordination of political relations in Burundi.
`The meeting appointed the South African envoy to the Great Lakes Region to lead the process. The regional mechanism is moving forward despite these ups-and-downs,` said a foreign affairs official.
Countries which are party to the Burundi peace talks have repeatedly called on PALIPEHUTU-FNL to rejoin the JVMM initiative aimed at resuming implementation of the Comprehensive Ceasefire Agreement.
In July, Paliphehutu-FNL walked out of the Joint Verification and Monitoring Mechanism (JVMM). They have refused to go back since then.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs and International, Benard Membe, recently asked members of the diplomatic corps accredited to Tanzania, to support the regional initiatives by convincing the rebels to accept the South Africa mediator.
The regional initiative is chaired by President Yoweri Museveni who is deputised by President Jakaya Kikwete. President Thabo Mbeki represents the Facilitation Country.
|
