A bloody battle for political supremacy is taking place in Burundi between Tutsis, the tradition ruling elite, and Hutus. As many as 100,000 people are estimated to have been killed by August 1995. Killings usually take place along ethnic lines, between members of the majority Hutu and minority Tutsi groups. No one has been brought to justice and the slaughter continues. As in previous massacres, educators, students and religious establishments are being targeted by both sides and students are being used to perpetrate genocide against their opponents. Roman Catholic priests, bishops and other church leaders, particularly Hutu, have been singled out by Tutsi armed groups apparently because of their leadership role, their criticism of violence against Hutu civilians and their history of providing education to Hutu children.
