Bujumbura (Fides Service)- Three former rebel soldiers died of hunger in a camp for former rebel militia in north east Burundi. The news was reported by the Burundian army chief of staff.
“The members of the FDD (Forces for the Defence of Democracy, the main rebel group which signed an agreement with the Burundian government) died of hunger after their arrival at a camp in Buramata (25 km from the capital Bujumbura)” said Gen. Adolphe Nshimirimana, former commander of the FDD integrated into the new unified army comprising regular army troops and former rebel militia. “The men died of malaria but because they were already weak with hunger” said a representative of the United Nations in Burundi.
At least 18,000 former FDD troops are involved in the programme of disarmament and demobilisation established by the peace agreement and started on January 25. First of all former rebels are grouped in camps run by the FDD. They are then disarmed by UN peacekeepers and sent to one of 4 camps run by the government. At Buramata there are 3,500 former FDD soldiers and 300 other men from 5 smaller rebel groups. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 22/2/2005 righe 20 parole 237)