Lawyers, Civil Society Allege Bias and Political Manipulation by Ruling Party
The ousting of 22 National Assembly members, following a Constitutional Court decision that they could not sit as “independents,” raises serious concerns about double standards given that other independent deputies supporting the government remain in parliament, Human Rights Watch said today. The affected parliamentarians had been elected as members of the ruling National Council for the Defense of Democracy-Forces for the Defense of Democracy (Conseil national pour la dйfense de la dйmocratie-Forces pour la dйfense de la dйmocratie, CNDD-FDD), but had left or been expelled from the party following internal divisions....
Stop Arbitrary Arrests, Beatings of Alleged FNL Members
Burundian police and judicial officials should immediately release the scores of persons still detained solely as suspected members of a movement long opposed to the government, Human Rights Watch said today. They should also instruct security forces to cease such arrests....
Climate of Impunity Contributes to Illegal Detention, Beatings and Torture
The Burundian government should take immediate steps to end the climate of impunity that facilitates illegal detention, mistreatment and torture of individuals by the police, Human Rights Watch said in a new report released today....
Burundian authorities should promptly investigate grenade attacks on four prominent opposition politicians and bring those responsible to justice, Human Rights Watch said today.
The attacks on the politicians’ homes took place almost simultaneously on March 8, 2008, suggesting they were a coordinated effort to intimidate the political opposition to the ruling party, the National Council for the Defense of Democracy-Forces for the Defense of Democracy (Conseil National pour le Dйfense de la Dйmocratie-Forces pour le Dйfense de la Dйmocratie, CNDD-FDD). They followed two months of growing tension between the CNDD-FDD and opposition political parties....
Burundi should formally request that Tanzania extradite Col. Vital Bangirinama to ensure he comes home to face justice over the 2006 Muyinga massacre, Human Rights Watch said today. Burundi must also ensure that Bangirinama, a Burundian military officer accused of involvement in the summary execution of at least 31 civilians in Muyinga province, receives a trial in accordance with international standards and that he and any witnesses are guaranteed protection....
Government Should End Military Impunity, Show Commitment to Justice
The Burundian government should bring to trial soldiers accused of the 2006 killings of 31 civilians in Muyinga province, Human Rights Watch said today. Human Rights Watch urged the government to prosecute all military personnel implicated in the killings, regardless of rank....
Financial Support Needed for Reforms in Justice and Healthcare
Donors meeting May 24-25 with the Burundian government should provide support for justice reform, but also urge the government to end impunity for serious human rights abuses, Human Rights Watch said today....
When the United Nations Peacebuilding Commission meets with representatives of the Burundian government tomorrow, this new UN body designed to promote recovery for countries after armed conflicts should emphasize the crucial need for human rights protection in Burundi, Human Rights Watch said today....
Prosecute Agents Implicated in Killings, Torture, and Arbitrary Detention
The government of Burundi must bring to justice members of the national intelligence service (SNR) at all levels of the chain of command responsible for serious rights abuses, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today. Over the past year, SNR agents have been implicated in at least 38 extrajudicial executions and more than 200 arbitrary arrests, some involving torture....
Burundian state hospitals routinely detain patients who are unable to pay their hospital bills, Human Rights Watch and the Burundian Association for the Protection of Human Rights and Detained Persons said in a new report released today. The patients can be detained for weeks or even months in abysmal conditions....
The government of Burundi must ensure that individuals who were arrested this week in connection with an alleged coup plot are not tortured by agents of the National Information Service, Human Rights Watch said today....
Authorities Must Provide for Their Rehabilitation and Reintegration
The Burundian government is detaining rather than rehabilitating former child soldiers associated with the rebel National Liberation Forces, Human Rights Watch said in a briefing paper released today....
Prominent Peace Advocate Imprisoned
The former parliamentarian and activist Térence Nahimana should be released at once, Human Rights Watch said today, adding that his imprisonment raises questions about freedom of expression in Burundi....
Releases of Detainees Underline Need for Speedy Justice
Burundian authorities and United Nations experts, due to meet Monday, should ensure the speedy establishment of mechanisms to address grave violations of international law committed in political and ethnic conflicts in this central African nation, Human Rights Watch said today....
Torture and Killings Persist, While Progress on Justice for War Crimes Stalls
Donors beginning aid discussions with Burundi’s government on February 28 must press for an end to summary executions, torture and other human rights violations, Human Rights Watch said in a report issued today....