BURUNDI'S GOVERNMENT TAKES THEIR MESSAGE ON THE

UNCLAS BUJUMBURA 000584 SIPDIS SIPDIS SENSITIVE DEPT FOR AF/C E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PINR PREL BY SUBJECT: BURUNDI'S GOVERNMENT TAKES THEIR MESSAGE ON THE ROAD ¶1. (SBU) Summary: Just prior to his departure for Burundi's interior on August 9, Burundi's Minister of Good Governance, Venant Kamana, briefed the Ambassador on the government's message he intended to convey to communal representatives concerning various political issues plaguing the nation. Kamana described 4 critical areas of concern that he will address: the political problems in the National Assembly following the formation of President Nkurunziza's new government; the Interpetrol scandal which threatens to jeopardize international budgetary assistance; the disposition of various human rights cases including the massacres in Muyinga; and the recent delay in the negotiations with PALIPEHUTU-FNL which is causing insecurity among the population. In his meeting with embassy officials, Kamana said very little concerning the stalled peace process with the PALIPEHUTU-FNL. End Summary. ¶2. (SBU) In a meeting with the Ambassador on August 9, Minister of Good Governance Venant Kamana characterized the legislative problems within the National Assembly as primarily a dispute over the constitutionality of Nkurunziza's government. Kamana explained that there are two major points of contention between the government and the major opposition parties. According to Kamana, the opposition claims that they have constitutional rights to a proportion of government positions based on the election results of 2005. Without denying their right to the positions, Kamana countered that opposition parties have the option to join or not to join the government as positions are offered. Kamama claimed that oppostion parties had been asked by Nkurunziza to submit candidates for positions within the government; however, Nkurunziza construed their refusal to comply as a desire not to participate in the government and therefore formed a new cabinet independently. Kamana suggested that any further dispute about the constitutionality of the government be decided by the constitutional court and further warned that any attempt to claim that the government is unconstitutional and without authority would provoke public disorder. To unlock the political stalemate threatening Burundi's progress, the Minister endorsed the idea of dialogue, but not negotiations, between Nkurunziza's governmnet and the opposition. ¶3. (SBU) In addressing the Interpetrol scandal and the disposition of the case involving the alleged extrajudicial killings in Muyinga, Kamana complained that the Front for Democracy in Burundi (FRODEBU) is using the resolution of these issues as a condition for participating in the government. In light of the recent arrest of the former Central Bank Governor, Kamana did not understand FRODEBU's claim that nothing was being done with respect to the Interpetrol. Kamana also disputed FRODEBU's assertions that various cases of embezzlement have been ignored and said that cases of embezzlement have never been filed at the office of the Prosecutor General. Kamana acknowledged that the Muyinga case is currently in the hands of the military prosecutor who has current jurisdiction. Countering FRODEBU's suggestion of creating commissions within the Parliament to investigate the various financial scandals which have plagued the nation, Kamana suggested that the cases were better suited for the judicial system, Kamana also urged the opposition parties to show restraint and patience in the adjudication of suspected scandals. ¶4. (SBU) Comment: Nkurunziza and his National Council for the Defense of Democracy - Forces for the Defense of Democracy (CNDD-FDD) loyalists are clearly going on the offensive by addressing their concerns and reasons for the economic and political stagnation directly to the people. Unfortunately, the message that they are delivering is primarily a defensive one, void of solutions and full of blame meant to disparage CNDD-FDD's political opposition. Although Burundi's president has wide popularity and appeal throughout the country, it will likely wane as he pays more attention to his political survival than the economic and social survival of his people. There is a lot of time for Burundi to prosper or for Burundi to fail before the elections of 2010. Nkurunziza will be responsible for either scenarios. For the sake of Burundi's impoverished, perhaps it is better for Nkurunziza to stay in Bujumbura and initiate dialogue and cooperation to ensure everyone's survival. End Summary. MOLLER