From: amnesty@amnesty.oil.ca
Date: Wed, 10 Nov 1999 23:16:09 -0500
Message-Id: <199911110416.XAA14453@amnesty.oil.ca>
To: amnesty-L@oil.ca
Subject: BURUNDI: On the threshold of disaster
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* News Release Issued by the International Secretariat of Amnesty
International *
News Service: 211/99
AI INDEX: AFR 16/29/99
11 November 1999

Burundi

On the threshold of disaster

Burundi is on the verge of a humanitarian and human rights crisis
Amnesty International warned today, in response to the escalation of the
internal conflict over the past few weeks.

"Failure to take immediate meaningful steps to protect the civilian
population could have catastrophic repercussions on the human rights
situation in the country," Amnesty International said.

"With the peace talks due to resume shortly, all parties to the conflict
have an opportunity to prevent a further slide into disaster," the human
rights organization added. "The search for a new facilitator should be
used as an opportunity to revitalize and strengthen the peace process."

Reports of "disappearances" and incidents of torture in the capital,
Bujumbura have increased in recent weeks and serious human rights
violations, including extrajudicial executions, have been reported in
the regroupment camps. Members of the armed forces claim that armed
opposition groups have infiltrated the camps, which, if true, further
endangers the lives of civilians. Armed opposition groups have also
stepped up their attacks against civilians in many provinces of the
country.

Furthermore, a number of parties in Bujumbura, angry at the perceived
failure of the government and security forces to adequately protect the
capital, are deliberately inciting ethnic tension and making veiled
calls for violence.

During three weeks in September, the predominantly Tutsi army forcibly
relocated more than 320,000 people, mainly Hutus, from the province
around the capital into around 50 temporary sites or camps, some of
which are still inaccessible to humanitarian organizations. Conditions
are appalling and many have no access to shelter or water. In the first
week of the regroupment at least 30 people, mostly women and children,
are reported to have died as a result primarily of dehydration.

The killing of two expatriate UN workers in Rutana province on 12
October has further exacerbated the situation in the camps as
international organizations have withdrawn most personnel.

"The government has claimed that the operation to forcibly relocate
civilians into camps was carried out to protect the lives of the
civilian population, but in reality it has exposed them to famine,
disease, fear and human rights violations."

Reports indicate that up to 36 people, including 22 women, may have been
executed by members of the armed forces near the Kibembe regroupment
camp, Rural Bujumbura province on 29 October. The soldiers were
apparently angry that the civilians had complained about the conditions
in the camps. The government claims that those killed were members of
the armed opposition.

Repeated attacks on Bujumbura, by Hutu dominated armed opposition
groups, resulting in hundreds of deaths, have led to a security
crackdown by the government. Scores of people have been arrested, many
arbitrarily, and accused of collaboration with armed opposition groups.
Dozens of people have "disappeared" in recent weeks in Bujumbura.

Juvénal Niyonzima and Michel Manirambona "disappeared" following their
reported arrest by soldiers in the Cibitoke area of the capital,
Bujumbura, on 26 September. Léovin Nzeyimana, who "disappeared" on 19
September, was extrajudicially executed by soldiers and buried in a
secret grave in the Kamenge district of Bujumbura. At least 15 other
bodies are reported to be buried in the immediate vicinity.

Amnesty International is concerned at increasing reports of torture. Déo
Nzeyimana was arrested by soldiers on 22 September 1999 and tortured
while detained at the Brigade spéciale de rercherche (BSR), Special
Investigation Unit, in Bujumbura. He is reportedly accused of
threatening security and passing information on human rights violations
and the population displacement in the area around the capital to the
international media.

At night screams of pain, groaning and cries can be heard coming from
the headquarters of a military intervention squad Bujumbura, groupement
d’intervention de Bujumbura, which appears to be used as a secret
detention centre. All access to the building is denied to independent
observers, and no one knows how many people are held there.

Armed opposition groups also committing serious human rights abuses.
While the province around the capital has been particularly affected by
conflict, there are recent reports of renewed activity by the armed
opposition in the northern provinces of Cibitoke and Kayanza and along
the Burundi-Tanzania border.

On 6 October, a regroupment camp in Mubimbi commune was attacked by an
armed opposition group and reportedly killed ten civilians and injured
three others. Six people were killed including two soldiers in an ambush
on an aid vehicle in Kabezi zone, Bujumbura rural south,on 10 October,
reportedly by members of the armed opposition wearing military uniforms.
On 20 October, over 25 people killed by members of the armed opposition
on Busimba colline, Muramvya province.

"The international community must ensure that all parties to the
conflict take all necessary measures to ensure the safety of the
civilian population and prevent yet another human rights disaster in
Burundi," Amnesty International concluded.

ENDS.../
Amnesty International, International Secretariat, 1 Easton Street,
WC1X 8DJ, London, United Kingdom
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