Burundi responding to criticism on democracy

NAIROBI – Marred by charges of democratic backsliding during its first year in power, Burundi’s young government is seeking to win back some of its early plaudits for a home-grown African success story after years of ethnic war.

The ouster of the ruling party’s unpopular chairman, the acquittal of suspects in a vague coup plot, and the release of jailed reporters are seen as first steps in reversing a slide that stirred foreign criticism and domestic discontent. But analysts say the coffee-growing central African nation – whose stability is crucial to peace in the volatile Great Lakes region – has a long way to go to salvage the newly positive image it gained during its 2005 election.”People have been released from jail, the (coup plot) case has been completed and the return of FNL – all these things are positive,” said Henri Boshoff, of South Africa’s Institute for Security Studies, referring to Burundi’s last rebel group, Forces for National Liberation, now on a ceasefire.”But there are still so many other things that need to happen.”After more than a decade of ethnic conflict that killed some 300 000 people, Burundi’s UN-backed peace process culminating in the 2005 election of President Pierre Nkurunziza’s government was widely hailed as a model African success story.But during 2006, the nation of 7 million appeared to be stumbling on its path to stability with reports of arrests, disappearances and torture allegations dogging the rule of the former rebel CNDD-FDD group.Charges of corruption – including questions about some state business deals – and the arrest of seven people, among them a former president in a coup plot case, also clouded the initial euphoria that came after the polls.Although former President Domitien Ndayizeye and four others were acquitted of the charges, two defendants were jailed after confessing to the plot, under what one said was torture.Analysts say the case damaged Burundi’s image badly.International pressure on the aid-dependent nation, which last year joined the East African Community bloc, and growing discontent in the ruling CNDD-FDD with former hardline chairman Hussein Radjabu forced the recent positive changes, they added.”(There was) pressure from regional and international actors that they don’t appreciate the way things are going in Burundi, everything from the level of corruption to the human rights abuses,” said International Crisis Group analyst Jason Stearns.”A very large factor was also internal pressure from within the CNDD-FDD.There was a lot of pressure from the military wing of the party to get rid of him, which is a key element.I don’t think the political leadership would have acted if they weren’t sure of the police, army, security services following suit.”INVESTIGATIONS NEEDED Before his downfall, Radjabu wielded huge influence through his control of the finance and intelligence arm of the group.A former vice president blamed him for Burundi’s turmoil, which saw numerous arrests of opposition members and activists.Nkurunziza, who admits abuses occurred, hailed his ouster.”This shows a willingness of emancipation,” said one local analyst, who declined to be named.”(Nkurunziza) didn’t want things to turn against him so he bowed to the pressure.”Several of Radjabu’s supporters were fired from the cabinet after opposing his removal and boycotting the deciding meeting, which diplomats said was an encouraging sign of democracy.But experts say the government still has to do more – like investigations into killings many say are the natural legacy of years of war and the only response former fighting men can conceive of to tackle dissent and criticism.Rights groups have cited incidents, where people accused of working with the FNL were taken to a military camp.Their bodies were found in a river days later in the northern Muyinga area.”I don’t think, by any means we can say that by changing a couple of figures, we’ve changed the system.The jury is still out on that,” Stearns said.The analyst urged investigations into the Muyinga case, as well as audits of some procurement contracts.”Will they go back and review these state contracts? Will they go back and put in prison some of the highest ranking army commanders? My feeling is they won’t but there could be incremental change in the right direction,” he said.Diplomats have welcomed the release of journalists jailed for their reporting on the coup plot case and of an anti-graft activist, accused of giving false reports that the authorities were involved in embezzlement.”There is definitely a change from a few months ago when people were scared.People are now breathing,” the local analyst said.”But we shall see how the government will deal with the media and civil societies.It’s still too early to say.”Nampa-ReutersBut analysts say the coffee-growing central African nation – whose stability is crucial to peace in the volatile Great Lakes region – has a long way to go to salvage the newly positive image it gained during its 2005 election.”People have been released from jail, the (coup plot) case has been completed and the return of FNL – all these things are positive,” said Henri Boshoff, of South Africa’s Institute for Security Studies, referring to Burundi’s last rebel group, Forces for National Liberation, now on a ceasefire.”But there are still so many other things that need to happen.”After more than a decade of ethnic conflict that killed some 300 000 people, Burundi’s UN-backed peace process culminating in the 2005 election of President Pierre Nkurunziza’s government was widely hailed as a model African success story.But during 2006, the nation of 7 million appeared to be stumbling on its path to stability with reports of arrests, disappearances and torture allegations dogging the rule of the former rebel CNDD-FDD group.Charges of corruption – including questions about some state business deals – and the arrest of seven people, among them a former president in a coup plot case, also clouded the initial euphoria that came after the polls.Although former President Domitien Ndayizeye and four others were acquitted of the charges, two defendants were jailed after confessing to the plot, under what one said was torture.Analysts say the case damaged Burundi’s image badly.International pressure on the aid-dependent nation, which last year joined the East African Community bloc, and growing discontent in the ruling CNDD-FDD with former hardline chairman Hussein Radjabu forced the recent positive changes, they added.”(There was) pressure from regional and international actors that they don’t appreciate the way things are going in Burundi, everything from the level of corruption to the human rights abuses,” said International Crisis Group analyst Jason Stearns.”A very large factor was also internal pressure from within the CNDD-FDD.There was a lot of pressure from the military wing of the party to get rid of him, which is a key element.I don’t think the political leadership would have acted if they weren’t sure of the police, army, security services following suit.”INVESTIGATIONS NEEDED Before his downfall, Radjabu wielded huge influence through his control of the finance and intelligence arm of the group.A former vice president blamed him for Burundi’s turmoil, which saw numerous arrests of opposition members and activists.Nkurunziza, who admits abuses occurred, hailed his ouster.”This shows a willingness of emancipation,” said one local analyst, who declined to be named.”(Nkurunziza) didn’t want things to turn against him so he bowed to the pressure.”Several of Radjabu’s supporters were fired from the cabinet after opposing his removal and boycotting the deciding meeting, which diplomats said was an encouraging sign of democracy.But experts say the government still has to do more – like investigations into killings many say are the natural legacy of years of war and the only response former fighting men can conceive of to tackle dissent and criticism.Rights groups have cited incidents, where people accused of working with the FNL were taken to a military camp.Their bodies were found in a river days later in the northern Muyinga area.”I don’t think, by any means we can say that by changing a couple of figures, we’ve changed the system.The jury is still out on that,” Stearns said.The analyst urged investigations into the Muyinga case, as well as audits of some procurement contracts.”Will they go back and review these state contracts? Will they go back and put in prison some of the highest ranking army commanders? My feeling is they won’t but there could be incremental change in the right direction,” he said.Diplomats have welcomed the release of journalists jailed for their reporting on the coup plot case and of an anti-graft activist, accused of giving false reports that the authorities were involved in embezzlement.”There is definitely a change from a few months ago when people were scared.People are now breathing,” the local analyst said.”But we shall see how the government will deal with the media and civil societies.It’s still too early to say.”Nampa-Reuters