/ 12 July 2001

BURUNDI REBELS COMPLAIN ABOUT FISHING BAN

ONE of the main armed Hutu opposition groups in Burundi on Tuesday accused the mainly Tutsi government of using a fishing ban for self-enrichment and to starve those its accuses of helping rebel fighters. On June 25, the government banned fishing on two ports on Lake Tanganyika, Runonge and Nyanza-Lac, citing security reasons and claiming the ports were used by rebels based in the neighbouring DRC. “In fact, the real aim is to funnel the lake’s products into the hands of a small minority that monopolises the semi-industrial fishing trade, working to the benefit senior officers and shady politicians,” alleged a statement released by the Forces for the Defence of Democracy. – AFP

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