RWANDANS IN BURUNDI: ASYLUM SEEKERS BEGIN RETURNING

UNCLAS KIGALI 000445

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR AF/C, DRL AND PRM/AFR
KAMPALA FOR REFCOORD
GENEVA FOR RMA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREF PREL UNHCR RW BY
SUBJECT: RWANDANS IN BURUNDI: ASYLUM SEEKERS BEGIN RETURNING

REF: A. STATE 14934

B. KIGALI 73

SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASS, PLEASE PROTECT ACCORDINGLY

Rwandans in Burundi
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1. (U) In an 8 May meeting with poloff, UNHCR External
Relations Officer Beatriz Garcia reported that the flow of
Rwandans departing for Burundi has stopped and that there are
unconfirmed reports that several hundred Rwandans have left
northern Burundi and returned to southern Rwanda. UNHCR has
one returnee monitoring officer in southern Rwanda who will
continue to investigate and report on the developing
situation. RwandaTV recently showed scenes of GOR officials
ceremoniously greeting and welcoming Rwandans returning
across the border.


2. (SBU) In a 22 April meeting with poloff in Bujumbura,
UNHCR representative France Lau reported a total of 19,570
Rwandan asylum seekers in northern Burundi. Of that number,
under five percent had received refugee status and the
remainder were designated as "illegal immigrants" by both the
GOR and GOB. All individuals denied refugee status are
eligible to appeal the decision; however, Lau said the appeal
process would be slow as there are only two legal aides
assisting the denied applicants. She opined that very few
would succeed in their appeal. Lau reported no overt
pressure from either government to forcibly return the asylum
seekers. (Note. In mid-June 2005, approximately 5,000
Rwandan asylum seekers were involuntarily returned to Rwanda
by GOR police and military units. The operation was supported
by GOB security forces. End note).


3. (SBU) According to Lau, the primary reason for granting
refugee was the demonstration of a well-founded fear of
persecution if returned to Rwanda. The primarily Hutu asylum
seekers generally did not use gacaca as a reason for fleeing
Rwanda, but tended to use a more general "atmosphere of fear"
rationale. The recent drought in south Rwanda and subsequent
food insecurity was also considered a factor. Lau said she
was not aware of any recruitment of Rwandans by Democratic
Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) in the Burundian
camps.

Burundians in Rwanda
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4. (U) Separately, Garcia reported that the Nyamure Refugee
Camp, in the former Butare Province, has been closed in order
to consolidate UNHCR operations. Approximately 1,500
Burundian asylum seekers were transferred to the Kigeme
Refugee Camp in the former Gikongoro Province. The estimated
2,500 refugees in Kigeme have been encouraged by UNHCR to
return to Burundi and are transported back if they decide to
return. (Note. UNHCR expects to be able to voluntarily
repatriate approximately 2,000 of the refugees in 2006. End
note).
ARIETTI