The Burundians want justice and peace. A study done by Observatoire de l’Action Gouvernementale (OAG ) shows that 83% of the population want a TRC to be created, 82% want a special tribunal for crimes against humanity.

Burundi has demobilised the majority of its fighters and former child soldiers are being cared for. Refugees have returned home. Leaders in exile return, former rebels form parties. A Truth and Reconciliation Commission has been decided. These and other step towards peace are huge – given the history and situation of the country (2).

But, alas, the peace process itself costs money and requires many types of independent expertise.

Why does the international community let Burundi down?

People walking the road to peace should be rewarded. But where in this world shall Burundi’s government and NGOs find the human assistance and the peace aid to meet all the Arusha goals in time?

The United Nations 2004 Consolidated Appeal for Humanitarian Aid to Burundi amounted to US$ 119 million or 7 US$ per inhabitant, not a big sum by any standards in the international community. The de facto percentage covered was a meager 46%. Due to this and to adverse climate conditions, hunger is now widespread in the northern provinces; the donor community has reacted very slowly, particularly after the Tsunami catastrophe.

It’s tough surroundings. Burundi is number 171 out of the 175 countries on UNDP’s human development index. The GNP per capita is US $145. There is one doctor per 100,000 citizens and one single psychiatrist in the whole country, and 40,000 die annually because of AIDS. That is 13 times the victims of September 11!

To tell a dying patient that when he has recovered on his own, he may get a little medicine is plain cruel. However, this is how we deal with many post-war cases outside the media limelight – like Burundi. No one really invests in peace (3). But ask yourself, what would a new African genocide cost? What would be the price for not giving peace – and other – aid in time? And who would pay that price?

Get the priorities of the world right !

Here is an African country that ought to hit the headlines for its struggle towards development and peace. It’s a story of hope, it makes good news. What human folly, what wrong priorities in our world, to ignore the places where peace is deeply desired and perfectly possible! What cruel injustice to the 7 million Burundians – while the Bush administration spends US $1 billion a week in Iraq where it’s unwanted?

Peace aid aims at indigenous conflict-management, violence prevention and reconciliation in one. It reduces suffering inside and between human beings. What better place to begin giving peace aid but Burundi?

If Burundi’s struggle for peace these years is not worth supporting, which peace process is? And what better way to show others that peace pays?

Notes

1. For much more about Burundi, see the TFF Burundi Forum.

2. TFF recently posted a series of links about Burundi where you can learn more about the situation in Burundi right now.

3. TFF has approached the ministries of foreign affairs of Norway, Sweden and Denmark asking whether they would be willing to consider a funding proposal for our project with the 11 civil society organisations that work hard in support of the peace process. Stating various reasons, none of them were willing to consider a meeting or receive such a proposal.

© TFF and the author 2005

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