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<<previous | index | next>> FDD Abuses: “The Politics of the Stick”Even before the signing of the power-sharing agreements in late 2003, CNDD-FDD representatives assumed an increasingly visible role in public affairs in the Kamenge and Kinama sections of the city of Bujumbura. In several cases, their agents detained civilians in unofficial places of detention in private homes, accusing them of having supported the FNL.5 CNDD-FDD representatives summarily settled various local conflicts, including questions involving land, marriage problems, and failure to repay debts.6 According to several residents of these sectors, they imposed “the politics of the stick,” meaning they beat persons whose personal or political behavior they found unacceptable.7 Government officials and soldiers generally tolerated the appropriation of authority by the CNDD-FDD. “The soldiers just laugh,” said one Kamenge resident.8 Another commented, “The administration and the local respected people (bashingantahe) don’t say anything because they can’t say anything.”9 Another Burundian said, “The one who really governs is the one who has a gun.”10After the situation was publicized, national officials sought to temper the CNDD-FDD exercise of authority, but in some areas the former rebel agents continued to intervene in local affairs, undermining the authority of local government officials.11 In the early months of 2004, CNDD-FDD agents began exercising authority in some other parts of the country as well. In Ngozi province, FDD representatives reportedly summarily executed a man identified as a thief by the local people and in Bubanza province FDD agents detained persons without any authority to do so and in another case they supposedly beat a man so severely that he had to be hospitalized.12 In late April in Kiganda commune, Muramvya they arrested a leader of another rebel group, accusing him of recruiting new combatants for their opponents.13 [5] Human Rights Watch interviews, Bujumbura, February 4, 9, 20, and 23, 2004. [6] Human Rights Watch interviews, February 10, 20, and 23, 2004. [7] Human Rights Watch interviews, Bujumbura, 9, 10, 20, and 23 February, 2004. [8] Human Rights Watch interview, February 10, 2004. [9] Human Rights Watch interview, February 10, 2004. [10] Human Rights Watch interview, Bujumbura, February 3, 2004. [11] Agence France Presse, “Burundi: Des associations s’indignent des arrestations opérées par d’ex-rebelles,” December 18, 2003. [12] Human Rights Watch interviews, Bujumbura, March 26 and April 14, 2004. [13] Arib News, “Arrestation d’un officier de Ndayikengurukiye par les FDD/Nkurunziza,” April 20, 2004.
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