[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 61 (Monday, April 3, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5080-S5081]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                   BURUNDI: ON THE BRINK OF DISASTER

 Mr. FEINGOLD. Mr. President, the Central African nation of 
Burundi is once again on the brink of disaster. Exactly 1 year after 
the world witnessed a genocide in Rwanda, and 1\1/2\ years after ethnic 
violence between Hutus and Tutsis killed more than 100,000 people in 
Burundi, we are watching a similar catastrophe unfold before our eyes 
again. We must do what we can to try to deter another bloodbath.
  After months of a tense calm in Burundi, political violence began 
escalating in the last several weeks as extremist Tutsi militia, with 
the complicity of the Tutsi-dominated military establishment, stepped 
up attacks against Hutus, and Hutu extremists prepared for military 
activity. The violence directly threatens the power-sharing agreement 
negotiated in September 1993, and disrupts what we all had hoped would 
be a transition to coexistence in Burundi.
  In the last couple of weeks, Amnesty International reports that 
hundreds of people have been killed or disappeared in Burundi, and 
thousands of Hutus have fled their villages to seek refuge in Zaire and 
elsewhere. Some are being held hostage in their own villages, 
surrounded by hostile armed youths and cut off from outside contract. 
Rwandan refugees who sought refuge in Burundi last year are now 
beginning to flee to Zaire and Tanzania out of fear that similar terror 
will prevail in the refugee camps.
  The latest round of violence comes on the heels of the assassination 
in early March of the Minister for Mines and Energy, Ernest 
Kabushemeye, a Hutu leader, and the discovery of the dismembered body 
of a retired Tutsi army officer, Lt. Col. Lucien Sakubo. A week later, 
17 more, including 3 Belgians and a 4-year-old child, were killed in a 
highway ambush by Hutu extremists outside of Bujumbura. Last weekend, 
at least 200 people were killed 
 [[Page S5081]] in the capital, according to Amnesty, and more than 100 
people were found dead, lying along a rural road south of Bujumbura.
  The situation in Burundi has so deteriorated that families of 
American and European diplomats are being urged to leave. After 
initially resisting such guidance, the dependents of the United States 
Ambassador to Burundi, Robert Krueger, also left this week.
  The Prime Minister of Burundi, Antoine Nduwayo, has issued a plan of 
action designed to strengthen law and order in Burundi, and the 
majority leader of the Burundian Parliament, Bubugive, is traveling 
throughout Africa to coordinate regional efforts to help Burundi. We 
should be prepared to offer any support we can for these diplomatic 
initiatives.
  Mr. President, the U.N. Special Representative, Ahmedou Ould 
Abdallah, has told the Associated Press that ``this country * * * is 
headed toward collision with disaster.'' And, in reaction to the 
violent sweeps of Hutu neighborhoods by Tutsi gangs last weekend, 
Burundi's President, Sylvestre Ntibantunganya, predicted, ``I really 
see a genocide, because those things were
 well prepared and carried out fairly systematically.''

  Genocide is a loaded word, and I use it very carefully and sparingly. 
Given the past events, Burundi's current crisis could explode into a 
second genocide in Africa within a year.
  President Clinton has taken a personal interest in Burundi, 
broadcasting a plea over Voice of America to the people of Burundi to 
``say no to violence and extremism.'' National Security Adviser Tony 
Lake and Secretary of State Christopher have called for diplomatic 
intervention. Our Ambassador to Burundi has done a stellar job at 
communicating the dangers and involving himself where appropriate. I 
admire and thank him for his commitment.
  As events were worsening this week, U.N. Secretary General Boutros 
Boutros-Ghali proposed that a U.N. peacekeeping force be earmarked for 
intervention so that if there is a need, troops can be promptly 
deployed.
  Last week, the U.N. Security Council also issued a warning that those 
responsible for ethnic violence in Burundi could eventually be tried in 
international courts for crimes against humanity. I was encouraged by 
this since I, along with the Senator from Kansas, Senator Kassebaum, 
chair of the Africa subcommittee, and 10 of our colleagues sent a 
letter to our Ambassador to the United Nations, Ambassador Madeleine 
Albright, urging her to support the request made by the Government of 
Burundi to the U.N. Security Council to establish a judicial commission 
of experts. This commission would be essential to investigating those 
who have committed past human rights violations, and could serve as a 
deterrent for others. If extremists who perpetuate ethnic violence in 
Burundi go unpunished, further violence would only be encouraged.
  Wednesday marks the anniversary of the beginning of the genocide in 
Rwanda. The Subcommittees on African Affairs of both the House and the 
Senate will hold a joint hearing on Central Africa. I urge my 
colleagues to pay attention to this hearing because we will hear 
testimony on the aftermath of last year's violence, and examine options 
to avert another catastrophe this year. I also expect we will discuss 
how American initiatives, such as the African Conflict Resolution Act, 
introduced by the distinguished Senator from Illinois and past chair of 
the subcommittee, Senator Simon, can help avoid future tragedies.
  Our national attention is properly turned to rescissions, 
constitutional amendments, and other pressing domestic matters now. But 
we would be remiss to ignore disaster elsewhere because it will come 
back to haunt us. We may be called upon to contribute money and 
supplies for humanitarian relief; or support U.N. troops deployed to 
quell the rampant, sickening violence; or deal with destabilization in 
Africa because of a massive refugee spillover; or we may face other 
unforseen long-term consequences, such as threats to our health, 
environment, food supplies, and who knows what, if we completely ignore 
Central Africa.
  I urge my colleagues to join us in confronting the complicated 
problems in Central Africa, and to consider the price we may pay--not 
to mention the humanitarian disaster that may result--if we pretend 
Africa does not exist.


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