AFRICA/BURUNDI - More than 8,000 attend funeral of Catholic priest killed in ambush: “the priest was a target” local sources told Fides

Bujumbura (Fides Service)- “We have lost another man of peace” said a priest who attended the funeral of Father Gerard Nzeyimana from Bururi diocese killed in an ambush on 19 October. The funeral was held in Bururi cathedral on 20 October. “Father Gerard was loved by all. This was seen by the fact that at least 8,000 people including other Christians and Muslims came to his funeral. A delegation of Protestants sung a hymn and representatives of the local Muslim community said a prayer for the dead as the coffin was lowered into the grave” the priest told Fides. “Father Gerard was 65 but he looked twenty years younger and worked tirelessly to promote peace and reconciliation openly denouncing evil from which ever side it came. In his area he started a programme of educaiton to peace in view of the next general election” the priest said
In the meantime new details with regard Fr Gerard’s murder have emerged. “He was obviously a target. They assassins stopped the car and demanded the priest’s passport before killing him. This was obviously to make sure of his identity and then they shot him”. Most people think the killers were members of the National Liberation Forces rebels FNL”.
Unlike the main rebel group Forces for Democracy FDD, the FNL, the second largest rebel group has not signed an agreement with the government. In 2003 the FDD signed an agreement with the government in which it is now represented. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 21/10/2004 righe parole)