Home Affairs Ministry spokesman Isaac Nantanga
The government statement comes in response to media reports that
purport the government of Burundi is attempting to recruit the refugees
from the camps.
On February 5, Al Jazeera published a report saying the Burundian
refugees are living in fear of their government’s militia who are hiding
in the camps and attempting to recruit them.
“Security at all refugee camps has been beefed up and we regularly
improve it,” said the Home Affairs Ministry spokesman Isaac Nantanga in
an exclusive interview with The Guardian yesterday in Dar es Salaam.
“We have police on the ground who perform regular patrols and
security operations at the camps....they also work inclusively with the
refugees and help them form community police from among their own
people,” he detailed.
The spokesperson said no official report of the media claims has
reached the ministry however, he asserted that the ministry will make
prompt follow up on the matter.
“We will follow this up with verve and anyone found in violation of
the camps’ rules and regulations or in any illegal act, will be
arrested, legal action will be taken and if need be they will be
deported,” he warned.
Nantanga recalled Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa’s recent visit and
inspection of the refugee camps where he warned against habouring of
militia, weapons and leaving the camps. The PM urged the refugees to
voluntarily surrender any weapons they have and to observe the set
regulations and laws.
“So the government is very vigilant with security at the refugee
camps and we continue to monitor their activities...this new development
will be addressed with the urgency and diligence it deserves,” he
summed up.
Reached for comments, UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident
Representative in Tanzania, Alvaro Rodriguez said there is need to
improve screening of the refugees to determine those with military
backgrounds.
“UNHCR has expressed concern that the civilian character of the
refugee camps may be eroded if the separation facility, for those
screened and found to have a military background, in Kagera Region is
not rapidly prepared,” he told The Guardian.
“To this effect, UNHCR is working with the Ministry of Home Affairs to address the matter,” he added.
He said at the moment, UNHCR does not have solid evidence on any
recruitment but has advised refugees that, seeking asylum means ‘seeking
safety and peace’ and that any attempt to recruit or to agree to be
recruited constitutes a violation of asylum rules.
“UNHCR also advises that the government of Tanzania has the primary
responsibility for safety and security in the camps,” he said.
The media report published by Al Jazeera reads in part; “Refugees
from Burundi, who fled violence in their country to neighbouring
Tanzania, have accused their government of sending armed men into a
UN-run refugee camp to hunt down opposition supporters.”
It goes on to state: “Several refugees have told Al Jazeera that
they fear for their lives and that there is no adequate security in the
camps in Tanzania to protect them.”
It further says that a refugee told Al Jazeera over a phone
interview that, “...the camp is currently not safe. We live in fear of
Burundian government militia who are in the camp.”
Since early last year, thousands of Burundian refugees have fled
the conflict plagued country and fled into Tanzania. The influx of
refugees was brought on after conflict erupted early last year when
President Pierre Nkurunzinza announced his intention to run for a
third-term in office.
The decision was followed by an attempted coup d’état and tensions have only gone from bad to worse since then.
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