Burundi: Coup was planned
02/08/2006 21:32  - (SA)  

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Bujumbura - Burundi said on Wednesday it had strong evidence that former high-ranking politicians and a rebel leader arrested this week had planned to kill President Pierre Nkurunziza and overthrow government.

Government spokesperson Karenga Ramadhani said a coup had been planned for June 30 and 15 people, including military officers, were involved.

"We have their written plans, even some phone conversations on tape. I had the opportunity to listen to the tape."

Ramadhani said: "The plotters planned to first assassinate the head of state Pierre Nkurunziza, then the chairperson of the ruling party Hussein Radjabu."

"After that, they were going to dismiss the national assembly and the senate and put in place a body called the superior council."

Former vice-president detained

Ramadhani said Alain Mugabarabona, dissident of the Hutu rebel Forces for National Liberation (FNL) and leader of a small Hutu party, was the mastermind of the plan.

Burundi security services arrested Mugabarabona, along with his brother-in-law and a friend, former vice-president Alphonse Marie Kadege and two other former officials this week.

Local radio said Burundian authorities on Wednesday arrested Damien Ndarisigaranye, an army colonel, in connection with the alleged coup plot.

One official, for whom an arrest warrant has also been issued, criticised the arrests.

Pancrace Cimpaye, spokesperson for the main Hutu opposition party Frodebu said: "This is a government strategy to harass and eliminate all its opponents, so that we keep quiet about all the bad things we are witnessing now."

The government is holding peace talks there with the FNL.

'Fears of our party'

Cimpaye said he and ex-president Domitien Ndayizeye, along with Frodebu chairperson Leonce Ngendakumana, had met Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete.

"We explained the fears of our party with regards to the situation in our country, notably human rights violations."

"We asked him to involve himself to ask the government to respect the constitution and to stop illogical arrests of opponents."

Burundi's newfound peace is generally seen as an African success story, but rights watchdogs have warned its security services still commit abuses.

Nkurunziza, a Hutu, said five months ago three unnamed men were plotting a coup against him.

Burundi is tasting peace for the first time in more than a decade after a civil war killed more than 300 000 people.

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