The destruction or burning of political party offices, arrests, fights between activists, theft of party flags are acts that show the new wave of political intolerance since the past few days.
Two CNL party activists who were beaten in Minago
A CNL party office in Gatete area in Rumonge commune was burned by unidentified people during the night of July 30, local administrative sources say. Two doors were damaged by fire.
On July 28, writings on the walls of the office of the CNL party on Murenge hill in the commune of Burambi were erased overnight.
On July 26, a CNL party office in Minago area in Rumonge commune was demolished by unidentified people. Four people were injured during the stone-throwing exchange between those who were guarding this office and another group. Two of them were seriously injured.
On 25 July, a flag of the CNDD opposition party was stolen in the locality of Magara in Bugarama commune by people who have not been identified so far.
On 24 July, human excrement was thrown on the walls of CNL party office in Kizuka area of Rumonge commune by unidentified persons.
Erasme Muke, representative of CNL party in Rumonge commune, says the party members are regularly and arbitrarily arrested, their offices destroyed and their meetings suspended. They do not have access to some places like stadiums. He requests that thorough investigations be conducted to identify alleged perpetrators. According to him, this could have a negative impact on the smooth conduct of the 2020 elections.
For a fair treatment
In a meeting with the leaders of the political parties, the administrative, police and judicial authorities, Diomède Niyonsaba, the secretary of CNDD-FDD party in Rumonge province, announced that it is the CNL party members who destroy or burn their own offices to incriminate the ruling party.
He cited the case of the CNL party office in Nyabiraba commune in rural Bujumbura as a case which “speaks volumes”. He asked the investigative agencies to identify the perpetrators and rigorously apply the law.
Samuel Manirakiza, representative of CNDD party asked that political parties be treated equally because they are in electoral competition to gain power through the ballot.
He asked that a political space be open to all political parties without a double standard.
The governor of the province ordered that offices that are established in shops, bars, restaurants be removed so as not to cause confusion. He said that this is especially observed in Burambi commune. He gave the investigating departments one week to identify those who were directly or indirectly involved in the acts of destroying or burning the party’s offices.
He promised leaders of political parties that meetings to evaluate the electoral process will be held regularly to rectify the situation if necessary to better prepare for elections.
Officials from civil society organizations say there is a climate of mistrust between activists from opposition parties and the activists of the ruling party. They call on political party leaders to educate their young people about democratic values, responsible citizenship, political tolerance and peaceful conflict resolution.
Mpanda, three CNL offices attacked
Attacks targeting the offices of the party of Agathon Rwasa are on the rise. Three of them were attacked last weekend in Mpanda commune. CNL party accuses the Imbonerakure of being behind these attacks. For the ruling party, people should avoid any speculation and wait for the results of investigations.
It was the turn of Mpanda commune to welcome the CNL president to proceed with the inauguration of its five offices in that commune. Activists of this party were mobilized for a complete makeover operation: Purchase of pots of paint and all necessary equipment, requisition of a draftsman. In fact, everything was planned so that the party offices look brand new last Friday on July 26. But killjoys came in.
In Rubira locality, the makeover had not yet begun when a group of men came and started creating panic. Members of CNL party fled leaving this group of men in front of the office. When Iwacu journalists went there on Monday, July 29, 4 days after the attack, they were surprised to see the flag of the ruling party fluttering in the air, a sign of scorning the Inyankamugayo (CNL party members) who were already happy to have an office in their locality.
On our arrival, tongues were loosened. “Three men came, closely followed by others who were unknown in this locality. The fight broke out. They scattered the sellers and started to fight the people who were there. Members of CNL ran away immediately,” says a young woman who witnessed the scene.
“They then dug a hole and planted the flag and called us to sing the national anthem together. Afterwards, they left,” says a woman who says she attended the scene from her house in fear.
Dieudonné Mvuyekure, leader of CNL party in this hill says he is confused. He has difficulty understanding what happened. He accuses the youth of the ruling party CNDD-FDD led by Désiré Sindayigaya, leader of this party in this locality, of being at the origin of the attack.
“There was Désiré Sindayigaya, Jérôme Nkurunziza, the secretary of the ruling party and a certain Eric who leads the Imbonerakure here. We know them. They are our brothers, our cousins. That’s why we did not want to worsen the situation. We are waiting for justice to do its job. “
In Murengeza area, people live in fear. The small party office was already painted green, red and black on a white background. It only remained minor final improvement on Thursday, July 25, when people accompanied by a certain Ceusi, chief of the Imbonerakure who lives in the area stopped the finishing work.
“They entered a house close to the office and asked for a hoe and scratched all the writings on the walls of the party’s office. It was still in daylight and everyone saw what they were doing, “says a resident on the scene.
A woman living around says that others returned in the night. They found some CNL youth who were on guard.
“We were able to identify Busenga, Baptiste and a certain Ntawuhinda and the chief of the police headquarters in the locality. We were surprised to see how he was able to assist troublemakers,” says a man on site.
“We are afraid that the situation will get worse if both sides come to blows. We have realized that it is the population that suffers the aftermath of the crisis after all, “said a woman who launched a direct appeal to the Head of state.” You have allowed CNL party to work legally but there are those who do not seem to agree with your decision by attacking the offices of other parties. Make it stop.”
At the center of Mpanda commune, in Musenyi zone, militants of CNL party had planned everything to make the office of this locality look brand new. They could not make it, however. Activists from CNDD-FDD party were there. According to Barthelemy Ngendabanyikwa, the Secretary General of CNL party in this locality, they were led by Désiré Sindayigaya, Ntahondereye and Jean Hakizimana commonly called Niyombare who is believed to be an agent of the National Intelligence service.
Joselyne Nijimbere, the owner of the house, says “they came with a padlock, blocked the door and left with the key.” I do not know when they will come back, she adds.
The administrator of Mpanda commune brought together the leaders of the political parties last Monday.
Some prohibitions were issued: Avoid establishing a political party’s office near the office of another rival party, markets, schools and churches.
Reactions
Agathon Rwasa: “A political party which is not powerful cannot be attacked.”
For the president of CNL party, there is fear. The fear of change, the fear of competition. He regrets that the police and judicial authorities are not doing their job because the perpetrators of these acts of vandalism are still free. We bring such cases to court but these acts keep increasing. For Agathon Rwasa the first to be interrogated are the members of the joint security committees and the police who conduct patrols day and night. In any case, the government must take its responsibility to stop these hooligans. “All this strengthens our determination. A political party which is not powerful cannot be attacked.”
Nancy Ninette Mutoni: “CNDD-FDD party leaves it to the competent authorities to do their job”
The ruling party’s communication and information officer believes that this is a strategy of terror that must be condemned instead of accusing each other on the basis of political differences. CNDD-FDD party leaves it to the competent authorities do their job, if necessary, to inform the national and international opinion through usual channels. Pending the completion of investigations, it is in our interest to avoid speculation and unfounded accusations. “Our party office was also vandalized last month. We suggest that other political parties let the justice and the police do their job.”
Analysis by Agnès Ndirubusa
Political intolerance takes on another turn. The destruction of political party offices reflects some kind of nervousness, a tendency to slow the movement of the opposition.
According to an observer, what happened in Rubira is not trivial. It’s a strong symbol. Putting a CNDD-FDD party flag in place of its opponent’s flag is meaningful. It is a question of marking one’s territory, claiming to be master of the place. All others must go elsewhere.
A few months before the elections, this wave of political intolerance is far from cooling down the spirits. If nothing is done to calm down the situation, the country runs towards exacerbated political intolerance that could prevent elections that are free, democratic and peaceful.
Asked about the resurgence of attacks, acts of vandalism of a political party’s offices, Pierre Claver Kazihise, the president of the National Independent Electoral Commission-CENI, has referred us to the relevant bodies.
But it turns out that we are in pre-election period. CNL party is currently opening offices in the different provinces of the country for the next polls in 2020.
Story written by Félix Nzorubonanya and Agnès Ndirubusa.
Translated into English by Pierre Emmanuel Ngendakumana
IWACU Open Data
