VZCZCXYZ0000
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHJB #0253 1361504
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 151504Z MAY 08
FM AMEMBASSY BUJUMBURA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0948
INFO RUEHXR/RWANDA COLLECTIVE
RHMFISS/CDR USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC

UNCLAS BUJUMBURA 000253 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR AF/C 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PINR PREL BY
SUBJECT: WISE MAN'S COUNCIL SAYS DON'T MISS GOLDEN 
OPPORTUNITY FOR PEACE 
 
REF: BUJUMBURA 246 
 
¶1.  (SBU)  SUMMARY:  In a May 9 meeting with Ambassador 
Moller, executive members of the Bashingatahe, Burundi's 
traditional wise men, advised that: 
-- the Government of Burundi (GOB) is positioned to take 
advantage of the PALIPEHUTU-FNL's (FNL) intent to return to 
the negotiating table to conclude a final, lasting peace; 
-- elections in 2010 will be successful if a peace agreement 
is concluded with the FNL; and 
-- a transparent election commission must be put in place to 
assure free and fair 2010 elections. 
 
This meeting is one in a series of discussions with political 
leaders and influential groups addressing the tensions 
exacerbated by the recent FNL armed attacks and the stalemate 
in the National Assembly that has effectively blocked 
legislative progress. END SUMMARY. 
 
¶2.  (SBU) Representatives of the Bashingatahe insisted that 
the impending return of the FNL to peace negotiations 
presents a particularly advantageous opportunity for the GOB 
to finalize a peace agreement. (reftel)  Failure to do so at 
this point could lead to continued violence up to and 
including the 2010 elections.  In order to successfully 
negotiate with the FNL, the Bashingatahe representatives 
recommended that President Nkurunziza become personally 
involved in negotiations, and that the international 
community vigorously support such efforts.  Further, the 
representatives stated the Burundian public needs to take 
ownership of the problem with the FNL and encourage Burundi's 
leaders to resolve the current dispute between the government 
and the rebels.  In order to fully involve Burundians in the 
process, representatives suggested enlarging the purview and 
membership of the Joint Verification and Monitoring Mechanism 
(JVMM), the organization charged with negotiating the 2006 
cease-fire agreement between the FNL and GOB, to include more 
members from civil society. 
 
¶3.  (SBU) Bashingatahe representatives counseled that while 
the 2010 election campaign is already underway, peace with 
the FNL is essential to assuring that 2010 elections are free 
and fair.  In addition to concluding a peace agreement with 
the rebels, the GOB must establish a transparent, neutral and 
independent electoral commission that can responsibly ensure 
a transparent electoral process.  Voter education and 
preparation is another important requirement for guaranteeing 
a free and democratic election, as the principles of 
democracy and political campaigning are new to many Burundian 
citizens.  The Bahsingatahe representatives suggested using 
its network of 100,000 members to drive a voter education and 
preparation campaign, as it is a neutral, bi-ethnic, and 
bi-gender group that is especially well respected in rural 
areas. 
 
¶4.  (SBU) COMMENT:  While the Bashingatahe earnestly 
advocated expanding the JVMM to include broader civil society 
representation, Post judges such a move to be ill-advised. 
The JVMM is a technical committee as opposed to the 
aptly-named Political Directorate that deals with policy 
direction and the "healing" aspect that interests the wise 
men.  Adding civil society representatives to this technical 
committee would likely make it unwieldy and transfer focus 
from the practical details that the JVMM manages. 
 
¶5.  (SBU)  That said, Post fully endorses the Bashingatahe 
statement that the international community must suggest 
vigorous, early pre-election preparations to make free, fair 
and transparent elections in 2010 more likely.  Without such 
preparations and democratic elections, Burundi's nascent 
democracy could face a very uncertain future.  END COMMENT. 
MOLLER