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Burundi rebel leaders leave Dar for home
2008-05-17 09:37:13
By Guardian Reporter
The entire top leadership of the Burundi PALIPEHUTU FNL rebel group, save for its leader Agathon Rwasa, left yesterday for Burundi aboard a Tanzania government plane.
To see them off at Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam was FNL guerilla leader Agathon Rwasa, who told reporters: ``Home is home. We are going back to Burundi to demonstrate our resolve for peace. However, for the attainment of durable peace, the Burundi government has to agree to all our recommendations.``
The top leadership of Palipehutu FNL has been based in Tanzania.
It remains the only rebel group after the signing of the Burundi peace accord in Arusha, whose implementation saw a rival guerilla group CNDD-FDD return to Burundi and win elections. CNDD is now the party in power in Burundi.
Recently, there has been renewed fighting in Burundi, with Palipehutu FNL fighters being blamed for the fresh outbreak of violence, which has even occurred in the Burundian capital of Bujumbura.
The Palipehutu FNL rebels, whose command post was in Tanzania, refused to go back to Burundi in spite of calls from regional leaders. They had given two conditions for returning to Burundi.
First, they are demanding their immunity from prosecution to be guaranteed by constitutional provisions.
Secondly, they say they have no faith in South African chief mediator Charles Qakula, although African leaders insist that he retains his role.
The Burundi government has refused to amend the constitution.
Tanzania has been blamed in diplomatic circles for sheltering the Palipehutu FNL and puffing them up.
However, there are unconfirmed reports that the Tanzanian government has become fed up with the rigidity of the FNL and given them an ultimatum for returning to Burundi.
The FNL leaders who left yesterday for Burundi include spokesman Pasteur Habimana.
The Guardian tried in vain to get comments from Tanzanian authorities on the matter yesterday.
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