BURUNDI-RWANDA: Hundreds flee Gacaca courts

[ This report does not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations]

BUJUMBURA, 13 Apr 2005 (IRIN) - At least 500 Rwandans have arrived in northern Burundi since 29 March, fleeing prosecution in Rwanda's traditional justice system, known as Gacaca, local Burundian officials told IRIN on Wednesday.

The governor of Burundi's northern province of Ngozi, Felix Niragira, said the Rwandans had also fled their country fearing that ethnic massacres were imminent.

He said the Rwandans have sought refuge in Mwumba, Busiga and Marangara districts in Ngozi, as well as in the neighbouring Kirundo Province.

"We decided to keep all refugees together in Marangara," he said. "By Tuesday, we had registered 121, and 148 more arrived the same day. Another 394 went to Rushubije and Ntega in Kirundo."

The prefect of the Rwandan province of Butare, Hope Tumukunde, toured Rushubije on Tuesday to convince the refugees to return home.

"We are here because of fear of imminent ethnic massacres planned for 14, 15 and 16 April," the refugees told Tumukunde.

Despite Tumukunde's plea, only eight refugees agreed to return home. The refugees added that they felt that they were targets because all Tutsi survivors of the 1994 genocide in their area were wearing bracelets as distinguishing signs.

Other refugees said they fled the Gacaca courts because innocent citizens were being framed over the genocide, in which up to 937,000 people died, according to official estimates.

"Nobody should fear Gacaca, it is aimed at finding out the truth and reconciling Rwandans," Jean Pierre Bizimana, Rwanda's ambassador to Burundi, told IRIN in the capital, Bujumbura.

He added that it was only a matter of asking for forgiveness, to get a reduction of one's sentence.

"Those who will be judged by other courts will get heavier sentences," Bizimana said.

The two Burundian provinces of Ngozi and Kirundo have been experiencing a food shortage due to drought, and residents have been receiving aid from local NGOs and international relief organisations.

[ENDS]