PUBLIC
    AI Index: AFR 16/12/00
    30 May 2000

    Further information on UA 114/00 (AFR 16/08/00, 10 May 2000)
    and follow-up (AFR 16/10/00, 16 May 2000)

    Fear of ill-treatment, fear of "disappearance" and new concern: Unlawful killings

    BURUNDI

    Salvatore KARARAYE
    Berchmans BIZIMANA
    Gaspard NDABIGEZE
    Innocent NDAYIZEYE (previously "Innocent")
    Albert BUCUMI
    BIGIRIMANA

    Killed:

    Jean BERAHINO, aged around 80
    Cyrille SINIWENUMWE, aged around 30
    Immaculée BANZENDORE (f), aged around 50
    Anatasie NTIRUZOMPERAKO (f), aged around 45


    At least four inhabitants of Kavumu "regroupment" camp are reported to have died after being beaten by soldiers and gendarmes during a search of the camp on 7 May. The deaths of the four people named above were reported to members of the Human Rights Commission of Burundi's National Assembly, who visited the camp on 22 May.

    Amnesty International remains gravely concerned for the safety of a man, Bigirimana, who "disappeared" on 7 May after he was taken from the camp to a nearby military post at Cinkona, where he is alleged to have been severely beaten. Soldiers have since denied that he was ever held at Cinkona.

    Gaspard Ndagibeze and Innocent Ndayizeye, who were detained in the cells of the Police Spéciale de Roulage (PSR), Special Haulage Police, in Bujumbura, have since been transferred to Mpimba Central Prison, near Bujumbura, accused of collaborating with armed opposition groups. Amnesty International no longer considers them at risk of torture or ill-treatment.

    Salvatore Kararaye and Berchmans Bizimana have been released and are reported to have returned to the Kavumu camp. All six of those originally detained at the PSR are reported to have been ill-treated in custody.

    FURTHER RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send telegrams/telexes/faxes/express/ airmail letters in French or in your own language (Please check whether postal services are operating to Burundi from your country):
    - calling for the arrest and "disappearance" of Bigirimana to be immediately investigated and for his whereabouts to be made public;
    - calling for an immediate, independent investigation into the deaths of Jean Berahino, Cyrille Siniwenumwe, Immaculée Banzendore and Anatasie Ntiruzomperako;
    - calling for an immediate, independent investigation into reports that six other camp inhabitants detained at the PSR were ill-treated in custody;
    - calling for the findings of both investigations to be made public and for those responsible to be
    brought to justice;
    - calling for public clarification of the charges against Gaspard Ndagibeze and Innocent Ndayizeye, and of the progress of their case-files.

    APPEALS TO (Please note it can be difficult to get faxes through. Please keep trying):

    Procureur Général de la République
    Monsieur Gérard NGENDABANKA
    Procureur Général de la République
    Bujumbura
    Burundi
    Telegrams: Procureur general, Bujumbura, Burundi
    Fax: + 257 24 15 03
    Salutation: Monsieur le Procureur général de la République
    / Dear State Public Prosecutor

    Minister of Defence
    Colonel Cyrille NDAYIRUKIYE
    Ministre de la Défense Nationale
    Ministère de la Défense Nationale
    BUJUMBURA
    Burundi
    Telegrams: Ministre Defense, Bujumbura, Burundi
    Fax: + 257 22 39 59 / 22 71 05
    Salutation: Monsieur le Ministre / Dear Minister

    Minister of Justice
    Monsieur Térence SINUNGURUZA
    Ministre de la Justice et Garde des sceaux
    Ministère de la Justice
    BP 1880, BUJUMBURA
    Burundi
    Telegrams: Ministre Justice, Bujumbura, Burundi
    Fax: + 257 22 21 48
    Salutation: Monsieur le Ministre / Dear Minister

    Public Prosecutor, Rural Bujumbura
    Procureur de la République de Rural Bujumbura
    BUJUMBURA
    Burundi
    Telegram: Procureur Bujumbura rural, Bujumbura, Burundi
    Salutation: Monsieur le Procureur de la République

    COPIES TO:

    Monsieur Eugène NINDORERA
    Ministre des Droits de la Personne humaine, des Réformes institutionnelles et des Relations avec l'Assemblée nationale, Ministère des Droits de la Personne humaine, des Réformes institutionnelles et des Relations avec l'Assemblée nationale, BUJUMBURA, Burundi
    Fax: + 257 21 75 49

    and to diplomatic representatives of Burundi accredited to your country.

    BURUNDIS AMBASSAD
    SKEPPSBRON 8
    111 30 STOCKHOLM
    FAX 08-21 97 08

    PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY. Check with the International Secretariat, or your section office, if sending appeals after 2 July 2000.


    Source: Amnesty International, International Secretariat,
    1 Easton Street, WC1X 8DJ, London, United Kingdom

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