AFRICA/BURUNDI - “They killed a priest whose only aim was peace” local church sources in Bururi comment death of local Catholic priest

Wednesday, 20 October 2004

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Bujumbura (Agenzia Fides)- “He was loved by all and his only aim was peace” local Church sources in Bururi (Burundi) said of Father Gerard Nzeyimana a Catholic priest in Burundi ambushed and brutally shot dead on 19 October. “Father Gerard was killed on the same road although not in exactly the same spot where unidentified men murdered papal Nuncio Archbishop Michael Courtney on 29 December 2003” the sources told Fides. “It is impossible to say who was responsible for the death of Father Gerard, National Liberation Forces rebels as well as street gangs are in the area”.
Father Gerard was on his way back from Bujumbura with three Sisters and a local girl, when a group of armed men stopped the car. After beating the four women to make them hand over the few valuables and little money they carried, the criminals told the priest to get out of the car and with one shot in the head they killed him.
Father Gerard Nzeyimana, appointed episcopal vicar for Makamba area, “was not afraid to speak openly to denounce violence on civilians. He worked hard to promote reconciliation and peace and was throughout the diocese loved for his pastoral work” the sources told Fides
“The general impression is that they wanted to kill Father Gerard, but it is not clear whether the ambush was planned or not ” the sources concluded. Father Gerard Nzeyimana’s funeral was held this morning at 11 in Bururi cathedral.
With great difficulty Burundi is trying to put an end to a fierce civil war started in 1993 in which more than 300,000 have been killed. A transition process, started with peace agreements in 2000 and 2003, came to an abrupt halt when a referendum to approve a new Constitution was postponed. The referendum was to be held today 20 October in view of parliamentary and presidential elections. On 16 October the interim government announced new dates: 26 November for the referendum and 22 April 2005 for presidential elections. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 20/10/2004 righe 34 parole 432)