BURUNDI-POLITICS U.N. warns of mounting political crisis in Burundi

Record ID: 144029

  • Title: BURUNDI-POLITICS U.N. warns of mounting political crisis in Burundi
  • Date: 14th August 2015
  • Summary: GENEVA, SWITZERLAND (AUGUST 14, 2015) (REUTERS) VARIOUS EXTERIORS OF UNITED NATIONS HEADQUARTERS VARIOUS OF NEWS BRIEFING UNDERWAY (SOUNDBITE) (English) SPOKESPERSON FOR THE UN HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS, RAVINA SHAMDASANI, SAYING: "The human rights situation in Burundi continues to deteriorate with at least 96 people having been killed since the beginning of elect
  • Embargoed: 29th August 2015 13:00
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  • Location: Switzerland
  • Country: Switzerland
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA9XTIOFM8HUNSQB6LPY474MB8D
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Burundi's leaders need to renounce violence and resume their dialogue to prevent the country's political crisis from escalating, the United Nations human rights office said on Friday (August 14).
    Tensions have been high in the central African state since late April when President Pierre Nkurunziza decided to seek a third term in office, a move his opponents and Western powers said violated the constitution and which triggered a failed coup in May.
    Ravina Shamdasani, spokeswoman for the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, told a news briefing in Geneva that at least 96 people had been killed since the start of election-related violence in April.
    She said there have also been at least 60 cases of people being tortured in police and intelligence services custody, adding that the number of those killed, detained or tortured may be much higher.
    "The human rights situation in Burundi continues to deteriorate with at least 96 people having been killed since the beginning of elections related violence in late April, mostly among the opposition. At least 600 people were arrested and detained during this period. Although, a good number of them have since been released. There have been at least 60 cases of tortures," Shamdasani said.
    The violence has continued since Nkurunziza was re-elected on July 21.
    Shamdasani said at least eight members of the ruling CNDD-FDD party had been shot dead by unidentified gunmen in the past two weeks.
    In early August, a human rights activist who openly opposed Nkurunziza's bid for a third term was also shot and seriously wounded.
    "Burundi has been slipping closer to the edge, with every high profile attack and killing and we call on leaders on all sides to take concrete steps to renounce the use of violence and to resolve differences peacefully," Shamdasani said.
    The UNHCR says more than 181,000 people have fled to neighbouring countries due to the violence.
    "We also call on the government to take measures to ensure the protection of civil society members and journalists. The prevailing violence in the country has had serious consequences for the enjoyment of a whole host of human rights. UNHCR has documented that more than 181,000 people have sought refuge in neighbouring countries," Shamdasani said.
    A Burundi government spokesman said those involved in torture and killing were acting on their own accord and "will be prosecuted and punished accordingly". He gave no details of any arrests.
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