Resolution on the Situation of Human Rights Defenders in Burundi
The Forum for the Participation of NGOs at the 49th African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights Session, meeting in Banjul (The Gambia), from 25 to 27 April 2011,
Condemning the assassination on the night of 8 to 9 April 2009 of Ernest Manirumva, former vice-president of the Observatory for the Fight against Corruption and Economic Embezzlement (OLUCOME) and deploring that due to delays in judicial proceedings, more than two years later, the exact circumstances of the murder are yet to be revealed;
Condemning the multiple acts of intimidation and other forms of pressure from the authorities in Burundi against representatives of civil society calling for full light to be shed on the exact circumstances of the murder of Ernest Manirumva especially the repeated acts of intimidation against Pierre Claver Mbonimpa, president of the Association for the Protection of Human Rights and Detained Persons (APRODH), Pacifique Nininahazwe, managing director of Forum for the Strengthening of Civil Society (FORSC), Gabriel Rufyiri, president of OLUCOME, and his family and Irambona Claver, a member of OLUCOME;
Deploring the violent dispersal, on April 8 2011, of a peaceful march held in remembrance of Ernest Manirumva’s assassination held in Bujumbura by several NGOs and the subsequent arrest by the police, of Gabriel Rufyiri and Irambona Claver;
Strongly condemning the indictment issued on April 13 2011, by the Deputy Prosecutor of Bujumbura, seeking the life sentence against journalist Jean-Claude Kavumbagu, editor of the online newspaper NetPress, imprisoned since 17 July 2010 for publishing an article questioning the ability of the Burundian security forces to prevent an attack on Somali Islamist group Al Shabab;
Recalling that several other journalists in Burundi, including Elyse Ngabire and Dieudonné Hakizimana of the newspaper Iwacu and Thierry Ndayishimiye of the newspaper Arc-en-ciel have been arrested and temporarily detained for their journalistic activities;
Regretting the expulsion in June 2010 of the representative of Human Rights Watch, in response to the publication of a report on the pre-election political violence;
Recalling the resolutions ACHPR/Res.69 (XXXV) 04, ACHPR (XXXXI) 06 and ACHPR/Res.119 (XXXXII) 07 on protection and human rights defenders of human rights in Africa;
The Forum for the Participation of NGOs at the 49th Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights request the ACHPR to consider adopting at this 49th Session a resolution:
Condemning acts of threats and harassment currently targeting human rights defenders in defiance of the provisions of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights;
Calling on the Judiciary in Burundi to determine, as soon as possible, the truth about the exact circumstances of the murder of Ernest Manirumva and try those suspected of involvement in his murder;
Calling for the immediate and unconditional release of journalist Jean-Claude Kavumbagu;
Urging the Burundian authorities to carry out transparent and independent investigations into all cases of violations against human rights defenders, and bring offenders to trial before independent courts;
Deciding to send, in accordance with its mandate, a mission to promote human rights in Burundi, in order to meet the authorities, political parties of the opposition, civil society organizations and representatives of the international community and address the concerns and recommendations contained in this resolution.
