AFRICA/BURUNDI - “The acquittal of former Burundian president is a victory for justice and democracy”

Bujumbura (Agenzia Fides)- “The rule of law has triumphed, this is a victory for those who are struggling to build a democratic society in Burundi”. These were the reactions of the press and public opinion yesterday 16 January when the High Court of Burundi acquitted former president Domitien Ndayizeye, vice president Alphonse Marie Kadege, lawyer Isidore Ruyikiri, the leader of a small Tutsi party Deo Niyonzima and army officer Damien Ndarisigaranye, declaring them not guilty of planning a coup. Former rebel leader Alain Mugabarabona, accused of planning the complot was sentenced to serve 20 years in prison and another person found guilty was given 15 years after both men “admitted their guilt to the police and the court”.
“Undoubtedly the acquittal of the former president and most of the suspects is a positive event which puts the democratic process in Burundi back into motion” local Church sources told Fides. “Tension in the past months caused by Ndayizeye’s arrest had thrown dark shadows on the country’s stability and democratic progress. Many Burundians feared the arrest of the former head of state was an attempt by the present leadership to silence the opposition and create and authoritarian government”.
“Ndayizeye and the other acquitted persons were greeted at the prison doors by cheering crowds who accompanied them home singing for joy. The former President mentioned the hundreds of people in prison for years awaiting trial. Let’s hope this event will shed light on the conditions of these people and create the conditions for justice to be done” the sources told Fides.
The 7 suspects were arrested last August charged with planning a coup to oust President Pierre Nkurunziza. Following the arrest the Burundian government asked the United Nations to withdraw its representative who had started an investigation into the case (see Fides 31 August 2006). “Certainly the verdict was welcomed by the international community and highly critical diplomatic circles in Bujumbura” the sources told Fides.
The judge said the suspects had been acquitted because “they were accused by only one person and this did not suffice to find them guilty”.
The present government was formed after elections in 2005 won by the Force for Defence of Democracy, the main Hutu guerrilla group in Burundi. In 2003 after years of fighting the FDD signed a peace agreement with the national unity government, the former militia were integrated into the regular army and the political wing began to take part in the political life of the country. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 17/1/2007 righe 40 parole 498)