BURUNDI-PARLIAMENT OPENS/REAX Burundi parliamentarians report to work after disputed poll, opposition takes seats

Record ID: 146240

  • Title: BURUNDI-PARLIAMENT OPENS/REAX Burundi parliamentarians report to work after disputed poll, opposition takes seats
  • Date: 28th July 2015
  • Summary: BUJUMBURA, BURUNDI (JULY 27, 2015) (REUTERS) ***WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** INSIDE PARLIAMENT/MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT SEATED INSIDE MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT GETTING IN HER SEAT PHOTOGRAPHERS VARIOUS OF MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT SEATED EMPTY SEATS OF OPPOSITION MEMBERS WHO REJECTED THE ELECTIONS AGATHON RWASA, LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION AMIZERO Y'ABARUNDI COALITION WRITING ON
  • Embargoed: 12th August 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Burundi
  • Country: Burundi
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA639JOWW9JAQ7ID7HZVMPBL7YU
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Burundi's parliament sat for the first time on Monday (June, 27) after President Pierre Nkurunziza won a disputed election last week, with a leading opposition figure taking his seat despite having boycotted the vote.
    The United States called the July 21 presidential vote "deeply flawed", while regional observers said the poll "fell short" of being free and fair. The opposition, which also boycotted parliamentary elections held on June 29, has accused the government of violence and intimidation against its members.
    Agathon Rwasa, the leader of the opposition Amizero y'Abarundi coalition, said 20 members of his FNL party would take their seats to represent people who voted for them.
    Opposition politicians were split over whether to take up their seats in the parliament. They boycotted the polls but candidates' names were kept on the ballot papers and some of the lawmakers won seats in opposition strongholds.
    Although he rejected the recent presidential and parliamentary elections as not credible, Rwasa attended the parliament session, and denied betraying the coalition.
    Rwasa stressed that his participation in parliament would allow him ground to participate in the ongoing dialogue with the government.
    "Parliament is place where we can go and express ourselves, and where we can bring change through debate. So it's not that we have given up on our demands for democratic reforms, not at all. But we think that instead of making noise elsewhere, we might as well be part of the institutions, especially when it comes to the national assembly, which is mandated by the people. It's the people who have sent us here, so we don't want to disappoint them . They have a right to be represented. That's what we are trying to put in practice," he added.
    Nkurunziza's decision to seek a third five-year term plunged Burundi into its worst crisis since an ethnically charged civil war ended in 2005. The opposition says Nkurunziza's bid violated the constitution and could spark another conflict.
    But Charles Nditije, from the opposition UPRONA party that acts as the junior partner in the Amizero y'Abarundi coalition, said his party's 10 elected lawmakers would not take up their seats in the 121-member chamber.
    The United Nations mission in Burundi on Monday said while the polls were broadly peaceful on election day, the "overall environment was not conducive for an inclusive, free and credible electoral process".
    The government says the elections were fair and accuses the opposition of stoking tensions. Burundi says it wants good ties with donors but will not let them dictate policies.
    Burundi's electoral commission, CENI, said the opposition would be awarded any seats they won.
    On the streets of the capital Bujumbura, many say they want to see politicians put aside their differences and put their country first.
    "Maybe he (Rwasa) did not have the time to come and tell me whether or not he will participate in the elections, and I happen to have voted for him, so to see him change his mind and decide to participate in parliament, it's because he doesn't want to disappoint those that voted for him, and I thank them for making that decision," said one Bujumbura resident, Leonard Vyizigiro.
    "I ask the the national assembly to work together and put aside their political differences, and not say I belong to this party and you belong to that party, but instead work together," added another Bujumbura resident Georgette Nzeyimana.
    Last week Rwasa said a unity government should be formed immediately to stop Burundi slipping into conflict. He also called for a new election within a year.
    A presidential adviser said a unity government would not be opposed, but rejected as "impossible" the idea of cutting short any new mandate.
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