CARE Burundi prepared this statement
for a donors conference that took place in Brussels this week
The progress made in the Burundi peace
process during 2003 is a very positive sign for the future of the country.
The joining of the CNDD-FDD into the accords and the recent decision by
the FNL-PALIPEHUTU to start discussions bode well for peace. After 10 years
of fighting, Burundi and its citizens are beginning to look to a future
of peace and development for their children. With peace on the horizon,
there are many issues that must urgently be addressed if the peace process
is going to proceed.
CARE recommends that the international community:
- Support the national government in making
clear policies for fair and equitable distribution of resources, including
land, at the community level
- Support community decision-making structures
(such as local government and Bashingantahe, traditional conflict resolution
groups) to plan how incoming refugees and displaced people will coexist
harmoniously with the communities in which they settle
- Support civil society in taking an active
role in the development of the country
- Support efforts for an independent and
private media
- Continue to provide much-needed humanitarian
assistance to returnees, communities and ex-combatants
- Support national economic and social development to recover from 10 years of war and entrenched poverty
Over the last 10 years, donors and NGOs have provided humanitarian assistance to the victims of the conflict. Houses and water sources have been re-built, sites constructed for displaced people and food and non-food items distributed. While all needs have not been met, much has been done to help the Burundi population cope with the consequences of conflict. However, much of this assistance has been done with limited participation of community members and little, if any, involvement of marginalised members of the communities in decision making and planning. As a result, in rural areas, assistance has not been provided equitably and some populations have benefited at the expense of others. Furthermore, much humanitarian assistance has been provided with little respect for the dignity of the populations (failing to include them in the process) or recognition of their internal capacities to handle shocks and cope with long-term stresses.
The next steps for Burundi are the return of refugees and displaced populations to their homes or to new communities, the demobilisation and reintegration of armed groups, and the elections. None of this can happen if the international community and Government of Burundi do not focus their efforts on supporting inclusive community decision-making structures and involving communities in planning and implementation.
In recent months, much discussion and planning has taken place at the national level regarding the return of refugees and reintegration of ex-combatants. Planning has taken place centrally and focused on the number of schools, health centers and water sources. Little or no discussion has taken place at the community level. The focus has been on the support for returnees, and little attention has been placed on the communities that stayed and continued to eke out a living through 10 years of civil unrest. In most provinces there have been no discussions about communities' readiness to receive returnees and little planning has taken place regarding their needs.
Recent discussions that CARE International has held with the Bashingantahe and local NGOs reveal a great deal of confusion around land tenure and people's rights*. This is a critical issue if the estimated 800,000 people are going to return to their hills of origin. CARE and several partners are working together with community decision-making structures, the Bashingantahe and local government to address these issues and to plan for the return of refugees and displaced people. These types of efforts must happen throughout the country if the returnees are going to be welcomed and integrated and peace maintained.
In the last 10 years, poor Burundians of all ethnic backgrounds have been the victims of the conflict. They have lost assets and children have not been educated; they have been forced to flee their houses at night to avoid bandits and search for edible crops. If there is going to be a positive change in Burundi, the international community and the Government of Burundi need to focus their efforts on rebuilding community decision-making structures, reinforcing civil society and creating an opportunity for the poor and marginalised to plan their own futures and voice their opinions: for the last 10 years they have been ignored and silent.
Rebuilding society and reinforcing people's confidence in the Government is critical as they need to regain material assets, their dignity and respect. Once the poor and marginalised of Burundi have been included in the peace process and planning for the future, the transitional Government of Burundi and international community can effectively plan for the upcoming elections. To hold elections before the people of Burundi have regained trust and have been involved in the planning of their future could be very dangerous for the peace process.
We commend the efforts that the transitional Government of Burundi and the international community have taken to move the peace process forward in Burundi. Burundi is at a critical turning point and caution must be taken to ensure the process continues in a positive direction. The Burundian population needs to be informed and involved in the process.
Burundi has been a forgotten crisis for 10 years. With peace finally coming to this country, we have a chance to help the Burundians build a future of peace and development for their children.
About CARE in Burundi: CARE International established an office in Burundi in 1994 to help people affected by civil unrest. The initial programme focused on distributing non-food items to internally displaced people and returning refugees in the northern part of the country. CARE continues to provide humanitarian assistance, as well as community-level infrastructure rehabilitation programmes and has recently developed programmes that reinforce civil society's capacity to rebuild the country through education, human rights and peace building.
Notes
* Similar conclusions have been made by the International Crisis Group in its two briefing papers: Burundi Bombe Foncière, October 2003 and Réfugies et Déplacés - Burundais, December 2003
For more information, contact: Kassie McIlvaine, Director of CARE Burundi, kassie@cbinf.com, tel: +257 21 4660