VZCZCXRO4890
PP RUEHGI RUEHRN
DE RUEHJB #0584 2321658
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 201658Z AUG 07
FM AMEMBASSY BUJUMBURA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0497
INFO RUEHXR/RWANDA COLLECTIVE
RHMFISS/CDR USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC

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