Burundi: Communique de Presse du Parti Uprona (18.09.2020)

Burundi: UN Report sheds light on the Human Rights Violations by state operatives [Imbonerakure]

Since the Burundian crisis and the total control of power by the ruling regime of CNDD-FDD. The violence has escalated. The army, the police and the youth wing of the party have used violence, intimidation and brutality to enforce control of the Republic. They have promoted the leadership of the youth wing, Imbonerakure. The current day President Evariste Ndayishimiye is following the same program and same structure as his predecessor. Using the same means to silence critics and activists.

United Nations and Multi-National Organizations have meet a hostile behaviour. The Burundian government have also left the Rome Statute, which means they are not connected to the International Criminal Court. That they did to shield itself from prosecution and from investigation. Still, even doing that, the UN has still conducted investigations and prepared this report, which was prepared for the Human Rights Council period from the 12^th September to 2^nd October 2020. Therefore, this has gone public and the same struggles remains. The change of head of state didn’t change behaviour, only amplifying old human rights violations and conducting same violence against own citizens.

The CNDD-FDD and Ndayishimiye is following the same actions. Using the same means. It is worrying and that it’s not creating headlines or a stir. Says a lot as the innocent are beaten, tortured and killed. The Imbonerakure are allowed to act as the jury, the judge and the hangman. While the public can fear if they are dissidents or affiliated with organizations that is not sanctioned by the state.

Just take a look:

“The perpetrators of these human rights violations were mainly members of the Imbonerakure and local administrative officials acting alone or jointly with the police or the National Intelligence Service. In cases of arbitrary arrest and detention, the responsibility lies mainly with police and National Intelligence Service officers, but also with members of the judiciary” (United Nations, P: 7, 2020).

“Several members of the CNL have been murdered in reprisal for their political activities. Violent clashes between the Imbonerakure and members of the CNL have resulted in injuries and deaths on both sides. Members of the Imbonerakure have also beaten up activists from the CNL individually or in small groups; some victims have been seriously injured, and some of these incidents constitute a form of torture” (United Nations, P: 8, 2020).

“People with a specific profile, such as currency traders and former members of the FAB (the former Burundian army), have been found dead a few days after their disappearance, obviously having been executed. The police have also conducted operations in which people have been summarily executed instead of being apprehended. Bodies bearing signs of violence continue to be found in public places, and the authorities make no attempt to establish the victims’ identities or the circumstances of their death” (United Nation, P: 11, 2020)

“The Commission has updated its list of alleged perpetrators of crimes against humanity, which remains confidential in order to protect sources and to respect the presumption of innocence of the alleged perpetrators. However, the Commission reserves the right to share the list. The Commission is extremely concerned about the fact that some of the individuals on the list hold senior positions in the new Government and have been promoted within the defence and security forces since the new President, Mr. Ndayishimiye, took office” (United Nations, P: 16, 2020).

We are seeing similar reports to what has happen during Nkurunziza. The CNDD-FDD is continuing to punish CNL and Ex-FAB. That is something they have continued to do during its reign. In Burundi that is status quo and the government are reigning with impunity. Using force against civilians and dissidents. This is what they do know and what they are known for.

This UN Report isn’t stating anything shocking, but a continued state of affairs, which deserves recognition. Since, this is totalitarian and tyranny, where the arms of the government is apprehending, assaulting and killing the ones who defies its rule. CNDD-FDD wants to be known for this, but hopes the headlines isn’t catching up on them. As they want to do this in silence and with as little reporting as possible. Because this is weakening their standing and the general perception of the Republic.

The new President Ndayishimiye wants to be glorified leader and a respected one. He doesn’t want to be remembered a bloody tyrant. Even if that is true, he got blood on his hands and that is his legacy. Just as it was the same for Nkurunziza, now its Evariste’s time to be so. The silence is deafening and we can wonder when somebody is really ringing the alarm. Peace.

Reference:

United Nations – Report of the Commission of Inquiry on Burundi (13.08.2020)

Burundi – Message de Red Tabara : Au Peuple Burundais et au Monde « Nous n’Avons Plus d’Autres Choix Que de Lutter pour la Survie et la Dignite de Notre Peuple» (15.09.2020)

Burundi: Red-Tabara – Communique (23.08.2020)

Burundi: OLUCOME – Communique de Presse No. 014 – Portant sur un rappel aux serviteurs Burundais a se conformer a la loi Anti-Corruption en viguer a travers la Declaration de leurs biens au Debut et a la fin de leurs Fonctions (28.07.2020)

Burundi: Olucome – Objet: Demande urgente de prendre d’autres measures drastiques contre le Covid-19 (21.07.2020)

Burundi: Mise en place d’un gouvernement oligarchique issue d’un Hold Up electoral – Declaration des organisations de la societe civile Burundaise independante (03.07.2020)

Burundi: OLUCOME – Objet: Mise en application de votre discours prononce en date du 30 juin 2020 au parlement en rapport avec les coompus au Burundi (02.07.2020)

Burundi: Mouvement pour la Solidarite et la Democratie (MSD) – Communique (19.06.2020)

Opinion: Evariste Ndayishimiye will not bring peace…

This is it huh? This is what it all boiled down to? Swearing-in the General, the former Rebel Leader and loyal commander of the previous blood-thirsty ruler Pierre Nkurunziza. Today, the eminent and newly minted President Evariste Ndayishimiye was sworn-in in Gitega, Burundi.

After “winning” the May election and his predecessor allegedly dying of COVID-19 or the Coronavirus recently. The man was able to do this because the appointed Constitutional Court validate his request and ensured a safe journey into inauguration. Even if was months ahead of schedule and the predecessor hadn’t finished his last pet-pees before leaving planet earth.

Why do I don’t have faith in the man?

Well, you can tell who you are by the friends you associate yourself with. This is the loyal cadre who has gone up the ranks, been in various of positions and ran a political party in the midst of oppression and violence against the ones who stood in their way. The bloodshed and suffering put on Burundi. Has been on the watch and during the time of “Neva” or Ndayishimiye.

The President will by all means follow the foot steps of Nkurunziza. As his been the Party Secretary and is a hot headed General. That’s why we can expect more pain. It would be a shocker. Especially since he spoke with same regards about foreigners like the predecessors. They don’t want them to look or see the evil they do.

The CNDD-FDD and all of its state apparatus will use force and intimidate. If not silence and make their enemies stop. That is what this government do. They even have a violent youth wing (Imbonerakura) of the party, which is known results in that field. How the come as gang against their enemies and destroy them completely.

So with this knowledge and natural cynicism, I doubt the men who is around “Neva” and the ones who follows him will bring peace. They will continue their path. These men cannot stop now. The leadership has used this tactic since the civil war. They will not let it go now. That is all they know. This will not change. 15 years of it under Nkurunziza will not suddenly vanish with the new guy.

That is naive and foolish at best. Especially when the whole team is still behind. The only man who has left was the head and the “supreme guide”. There rest is still there and they know the drill. Peace.