中央アフリカのブルンディで、市民戦争後の

祖国復興と 　

まだタンザニアの難民キャンプに残されている

多くの同胞のために

イエス・キリストの愛を惜しみなく注いでいる

　　フレデリックのミニストリー（福音宣教）を

ご紹介しましょう

　　ブルンディ国では

少数派のフートゥー族のフレデリック自身　市民戦争で祖国から追われ、

ケニヤでの11年間の難民生活を経て　     一年半前、       ブルンディに帰還したばかりです

Report of the seminar on land issues held in Makamba

from 3rd of October to 8th October 2007

Detailed description of activities and tasks during project implementation

Preparation
It has not been easy for us to get access to the three old refugee camps since there was a census going on in those camps. The census was being conducted by UNHCR in conjunction with the Tanzanian Government. In this census, refugees were to choose between:
1. being repatriated
2. getting a Tanzanian citizenship
3. being resettled in a third country
However, we were able to reach refugees via people who are residing in those camps (co-ordinators) and we went to meet them outside refugee camps.
In Burundi, the preparation has not been easy either. First of all, we met the three Governors who in turn introduced us to the 15 targeted commune administrators. Those administrators introduced us to the occupants. In the beginning, it has not been easy to convince the occupants to attend the seminar/consultation. They were very much suspicious, as they could not figure out what could be the outcome of the seminar but the tripartite co-operation assured them.
The purpose of the project was to bring refugees and occupants of their land to the same table to share their concerns and how to find possible solutions.

-1-

Consultation/seminar

After tedious preparation, the time of the consultation arrived. It was due to take place from 4th to 8th October 2007. The 15 refugee representatives from the 3 old refugee camps: 5 from Mishamo, 5 from Katumba and 5 from Ulyankulu arrived in Burundi on 3rd of October 2007. Participants to the consultation included:
" 7 Rema Ministries officers (some of them were facilitators)
" 3 Governors of Provinces (Bururi, Makamba and Rutana).
" 15 Administrators of targeted Communes.
" 15 refugees from refugee camps
" 15 land occupants
" 5 people who accepted to share the lands they are occupying with returnees. These people were brought in to share and give testimonies and act as guinea- pig and this was a marvellous idea from the different Governors of Provinces.
" 4 members of National Land Commission and other Properties
" 3 Bishops: bishop of the Anglican church, Makamba diocese, bishop of EUSEBU church and bishop of Calvary Evangelical Assembly
" Minister of Information and Spokesperson of Burundi Government
" 1 member from Bureau Integre des Nations Unies au Burundi (BINUB)
" 2 Advisors of the Governor of Makamba
" 1 environmental police officer
" Many journalists
" One Advisor of the province of Rutana and member of National Land Commission and other Properties
" Etc (many more people decided to attend without being invited by either Rema or local administration but because they had some interests in the issue at hand.)

-2-

Activities

The co-ordinator, Frederic Harerimana, introduced the consultation by addressing the audience. He thanked the attendants and underlined the scope, the objectives, aim and methodology of the consultation.
As the consultation took place in the premises of the Anglican Church, Bishop Nyaboho Martin Blaise welcomed the visitors and wished them well in the consultation. After the welcome address and reading of the word of God by the same Bishop, he showed that the idea of property and land was a crucial issue even in biblical times. He then invited the Governor of Makamba to welcome the other Governors and administrators and any participants to the workshop.
After the introduction and welcome, each Governor got an opportunity to present the land problems in their respective provinces. The problems look almost alike, apart from some specificity, in all those provinces reason why participants to the seminar were drawn from those provinces. Basically, refugees fled the country leaving their land behind. As they delayed to come back, their lands were occupied either by their siblings who never went into exile, or occupied by intruders, or redistributed by the Government to other people. Now that refugees are intending to come back, they wish to know what the Government will do for them as most of them only know to dig land. As days went on each facilitator took time to address the audience on the subject he has researched on after which, group discussions were organised.
The land Commission member, Issa Ngendakumana and the team from Land Commission and other Properties, thanked Rema Ministries to have organised the seminar and ifa zivik to have availed the funds to make the consultation a reality. Indeed, there were so many questions addressed to the team by the refugees. The team got the opportunity to tell the refugees that they should have a changed and flexible mind. After elaborating on the problems, they clearly showed them that many things have changed since they left and that there has been a population increase and growth leading to scarcity of land. Most refugees thought that once they come back, they would get back their land in its entirety, which is almost impossible.
The team however added that in case the Land Commission investigates and finds that the occupant has got another piece of land in another place, the latter has to relinquish the land to the initial owner.
The discussions we had were guided by the following topics:
" Nature of land conflicts in the province of Makamba and resolution attempts
" Nature of land conflicts in the province of Rutana and attempts of resolution
" Specificity of the land conflicts in the province of Bururi re refugees of the year 1972 and administrative attempts in favour of reconciliation.
" Religious, ancestral and traditional concepts of refugees of the year 1972 concerning the land problems and their repatriation.
" National land commission approaches in favour of reconciliation.
" Burundi law in regards of land: the provisions of the Home Affairs Ministry.
Journalists interviewed refugees, land occupants and those who accepted to share with returnees. The consultation was aired on the Burundi TV network and different Media in order to inspire any other stakeholders in the whole Burundi.

-3-

Achievement versus desired Goals

Our initial goal was to promote peaceful coexistence of the refugees returning home and the present landowners, so as to aid faster and organised repatriation.
In order to achieve this goal, Land Commission members shed light on different methodologies and strategies used to reconcile land owners and land occupants. Participants found the seminar very important and timely as it addressed their imminent felt needs. The three Governors attended the consultation/seminar and made an expose to the audience on land problems in their respective provinces to the astonishment of refugees who had never sat together with the highest provincial authorities. This gave to the refugees a hope that as the governors are aware of the problems they would intervene in solving land problems hence avoid any chaotic disputes on land.

Effects of consultation
The Refugees were able to air their concerns as to why they have not yet come back to Burundi and the major reason is that their lands are still occupied.
Occupants aired their views as to why they continue to occupy refugees' lands and asked to the Government to give them other alternatives.
Those land occupants, who accepted to share with returnees, were used as guinea- pig to convince, indulge and stimulate other land occupiers to do likewise when refugees come back.
After the seminar/consultation, some occupants vowed to go back and prepare to vacate other people's lands even before repatriation.
Other occupants still vowed to sensitise and mobilise other lands' occupants who did not attend the seminar to follow suit.

-4-
　

Measures of achievement

Bringing together 15 communal administrators, 3 Governors, members from National land commission and bishops shows how the land issue problem in Burundi is a crucial matter which needs crucial attention.
The presence of the journalists from National network Television and some other Media proved that the issue of land is crucial and should not be neglected if the Government is to avoid chaos.
The presence of the Minister for Information and Spokesperson for the Government proves that the issue at hand was crucial to the Government.
Refugees requested to be compensated for the 35 years the occupants have been exploiting their lands but they were clearly shown that due to circumstances that led to this exploitation of the lands, it would be impossible to compensate them for the following reasons:
" It would be difficult to calculate the amount of money they should be compensated.
" The government is struggling with many other issues like repatriating them and their goods
" There are internally displaced people who would also like to be compensated as well.
" If they were compensated, it could create an imbalance and everybody would wish to be compensated.

-5-

　

Impact of the seminar/consultation

The government promised to speed up the process of repatriating refugees and make proper preparations in collaboration with the Tanzanian Government.
The Government realised that as long as the refugees still live in exile, it will not live in peace. The government and other stakeholders as a result of the seminar agreed upon new land policies.
Refugees agreed to come back home after the seminar, as their fears got some sort of answer.
The number of lands to be cultivated will increase as the refugees come back.
Partnerships and networks developed among different stakeholders.
Harmonious relationships developed through sharing/and returning of land.
The land commission members realised that it was crucial for them to listen to the refugees before initiating any thing related to solving land wrangles between a refugee and somebody who never went into exile.
For those who do not know where they came from or were born in Tanzania, they were promised to be given land elsewhere where it could be available and found.
Occupants decided to share with returnees.
Much land is now available for returnees and for cultivation hence increasing arable land as some of those lands were hoarded.
The fact that different stakeholders including the occupants came together to discuss the issue of land is in itself a success.
Indeed, Rema Ministries is considered to have championed this work as it did much research on the issue of lands in Burundi and especially in the refugee camps.
Rema Ministries Organisation has been identified to be an entry point when it comes to dealing with refugee issues.

Frederic Harerimana

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