On
Burundi, ICP
Asks UN Of
Speeches by
Senate
President,
Nkurunziza
Deadline
By Matthew
Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS,
November 2 --
As killings in
Burundi
increase, on
October 23
Inner City
Press asked UN
Ambassador
Matthew
Rycroft about
the status of
the draft
Presidential
Statement in
the UN
Security
Council. He
said there are
differing
views, but the
UK is
concerned
about the
"threat of
genocide." Video here.
On
November 2
Inner City
Press asked UN
Spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric about
two speeches
given in
Burundi (the
full text of
one is below).
Video
here, UN transcript
here:
Inner City
Press: In
Burundi, there
was a speech
by the
President of
the Senate
[Révérien
Ndikuriyo]
saying that
opposition
neighborhoods
may be razed
[or raided.
Some] people
are calling it
a genocide
speech.
There's also a
speech by the
President,
saying anyone
who doesn't
disarm within
the next five
days will be
treated as an
enemy of the
State.
So, I'm
wondering, not
to overdo it,
but things
seem pretty
serious.
I wanted to
know:
what is the UN
doing?
Spokesman:
"It's clear
that those in
position of
power, whether
in Government
or in the
opposition,
have a
responsibility
not to incite
fear or hate
of any
kind. I
think that's
very important
and that
whatever
security
measures the
Government
takes fully
comply with
international
law and
respect for
the right of
people to
freely
assemble and
protest."
After
Burundi was
elected to the
UN Human
Rights Council
with 162 votes
on October 28,
on October 31
security
forces in
Burundi opened
fire on a
funeral
procession in
Buringa,
killing
many.
These are the
Burundian
forces that UN
Peacekeeping
under Herve
Ladsous keeps
in service,
offering
waivers
while the
Government
keeps the
payments?
It is
reported the
Burundian
authorities
are accusing a
medical NGO of
offering
treatment to
insurgents,
and are ready
to attack.
Frankly, the
weak UN
Security
Council
Presidential
Statement
which France
belatedly
proffered in
the Council,
then didn't
even hold a
question and
answer
stakeout
about, is
woefully
insufficient,
as is the UN
Secretariat's
response.
Now from
Burundi this
speech, of
which we will
run a Google
Translate:
I told you
that there is
no Island in
Burundi; you
can not say "I
hide behind
the window and
the police
pass and then
I throw a
grenade at
them," Do you
think that
when they take
notes and
pictures they
do not see how
these people
carry? (...)
Do you think
it is not well
recorded
somewhere? As
I told, you
are the
leaders of the
District, will
give them the
message
because you
know each of
you, and if
you do not
know the
people you
lead, you are
good for
nothing! Go
warn them so
that tomorrow
there is no
regret. I will
say this
clearly:
intimez orders
to your
subordinates,
say the heads
of Groups of
10 households,
in the case of
guns, collect
them; if it
grenades,
collect them
too. (...) I
do not know if
you enter me!
Hein !! Go to
Mogadishu
first, and
you'll know
what it is
that the
National Army.
(...)
You will stay
here in
Bujumbura, you
will not go
into the bush,
and if you
try, we will
not spare you;
the bush is
already
undermined,
reserved for
something
else; you will
stay in homes.
You will fall
here in homes.
We will solve
everything
right here in
homes. (...)
And we do not
do the
feelings when
it's time to
take action!
And I told you
clearly. I
said the same
to common
people, and he
loves me,
citizens do
not reproach
me so far! If
we start this
is over. If
you hear the
signal with an
instruction
that it must
end, emotions
and tears have
no place! It's
like that, you
are the Heads
of Districts,
go talk to the
residents of
your
neighborhood,
if someone
says "I accept
to die", then
you say to
those who will
execute the
mission "on
this part, we
must pulverize
"(ie ed
exterminate",
they are to
die for! I
order you,
come on! You
are the Heads
of Districts,
and you have
under your
command the
heads of
Groups of 10
households. Go
to this
message
clearly!
(...).
I said
something in
passing that
it is even
possible to
have more
opportunities
to get the
parcels. Yes,
it is possible
to get some
plots. I do
not know if
you grasp what
I mean! If you
really want to
have plots
(note "work"
and) you will
have! Go
forward the
message, and
do not say "if
they still
derive" What
are you going
to change if
they shoot? I
know how
guerrilla
works because
I was part of
a guerrilla.
(...) They
come out of
the houses and
we measure
ourselves with
them on the
heights of the
mountains and
into the bush.
Go to Cibitoke
in
Bukinanyana! I
went there two
days later
(note saying
the attacks of
rebel groups),
were fired at
them even
hidden under
rocks. (...)
You have
elected
summers,
people trust
you, tell them
the truth! Do
not play the
game "never
mind, we
launched a
grenade at a
police
officer" and
you start to
sing
(celebrate).
And the
message that I
give you is
light. Go with
this message
and pass it
on!
There are
people who
induce others
into error,
saying, "go
ahead, all is
well, there is
no problem, we
will join you"
and suddenly
you see 100
people killed
in a short
period time
Cibitoke, more
than one
hundred were
killed within
a period of
time. In just
two days, more
than 100
people on the
ground! 70
guns seized!
Here.
Mutakura and
Cibitoke is
what area?
What is the
length of
Cibitoke
District?
(...) How many
meters
separate the 1
st and last
Avenue? Will
measure! Do
not behave
like children
of the city!
NO! Do not
behave as
citizens. Will
measure the
number of
meters
(length)
between the
various
Avenues of
Cibitoke area!
The District
has Mutakura
how many
Avenues? I
tell you
sincerely, go
warn them so
they do not
come to say
"if I had
known."
I understand
you to say
that we know
Mogadishu,
military
aircraft
jumped
directly to
the
battlefield,
and advanced
pulling
immediately.
And here, now
Mogadishu is
secure! Let no
man therefore
mistaken in
believing
specialist.
Parachuter is
not a problem.
Even if you go
into the
forest of
Kibira
parachutists
shall go the
same way (note
that
Mogadishu) and
only one of
you will
survive and
this is one
that will make
the report.
Even in houses
(note in
Quarters) it
will be poor.
(...) If it is
decided that a
serious
operation
should be done
in a given
place, after
being
thoroughly
prepared, it
will be
perfectly
realized. No
one will go to
Muyinga,
Kirundo nobody
will go. No!
Everything
will be
resolved even
there (in
neighborhoods).
There is one
thing you do
not
understand,
perhaps, when
he says (note
President
Nkurunziza
with his maxim
"Who will
light the
fire, it will
burn the home
itself!) That
one who dares,
everything
will end with
him is that if
you burn
tires, it is
yourself that
will suck the
suffocating
smoke; if you
start firing
bullets, all
will end at
home. If you
sow disorder
in the
District, it
is in your
District that
all will end
and any
attempt will
be destroyed
thereby! (...)
The day will
be given
permission to
work and that
the current
restraint
would come to
an end, where
will you go?
If we were to
say, "now,
work! "Proceed
with the kora
operation
(work)! In the
event that
either you
that we
intimate the
order to take
action, as you
continue to
float you and
to be around
these
"people", say
months how you
could do it!
Have you
learned so far
that an order
had been given
to work? Have
you learned?
Wait! The day
we say work,
you'll see the
difference!
The police is
currently
hiding to
shelter
grenades, but
you will see
the difference
on the day
they receive
the message to
work. (...)
The day they
receive the
order to truly
work on behalf
of the country
and for the
safety of
Neighbourhoods,
they will
operate
seriously! It
will not be
like now when
we try to be
lenient
including
pulling arms
for ...
..huuuummm ...
.When they are
ordered to
work
seriously,
they will
work.
It is not yet
ordered them
to work.
Currently, we
are still
light (...)
The day we let
go the people
and that the
order of work
will be given
to you
station! Even
hidden under
the bed, you
will be
evicted. The
Day they will
be told,
"Work! ", too
bad for you. I
know that even
the police are
not happy,
they say "that
lets us do the
work as we
have learned,
we are tired
of making us
throw grenades
from behind!"
Now they ask
we give them
permission to
work to put
into practice
what they have
learned and
these stories
will end.
In areas of
peacekeeping
missions, they
refused to
keeping the
peace forces
to shoot, but
after we gave
them the order
to fire.
Initially, we
had shot and
we lost men,
but
afterwards,
they were told
to "take
action" and it
was finished
in zero
seconds.
Simply give
permission to
work, the fire
draws fire and
continue.
With us in the
savannas of
Kumoso (Ed
South East of
Burundi in the
provinces of
Makamba,
Rutana and
Ruyigi), when
there are bush
fires
extinguish and
protect areas
not yet
reached, we
burned some
not orientions
reached yet
and the fire
in the
direction of
the first two
fires met in
the middle and
it was their
end! This is
how we do in
the Kumoso
during the dry
season. It
does not
extinguish
bush fires
with dry
banana leaves
or with leaves
of the trees!
NO! If you
bring the
leaves of
trees, they
burn before
your eyes and
there is even
the risk that
you will leave
life. When you
see a bushfire
surprise you,
you give
yourself away,
you light a
second fire,
you oriented
toward the
first and they
meet in the
middle. That's
it.
That is why we
often pay
visits to
people.
Populations
within the
country are
awakened. That
is why they
say that
anyone who is
not from their
local needs.
We can not
accept to be
served a menu
which we do
not know how
it was
prepared, we
do not eat a
food which we
know how to
prepare. But
you, because
of the culture
and mentality
of the city,
you accept
everything!
This then
poses a
problem.
You did it is
said that only
the military
or police are
doing what
they are told?
We still use
the sweetness!
(...) Do you
think the
government
will accept
its police
continue to be
killed so that
he could allow
them to work!
At one point
he will say NO
and order will
be given to
complete the
task. (...)
When giving
the order to
take action,
tear gas are
no longer a
tool. When we
realize that
there is need
to work in a
given place
and a decision
is made to
take action,
it does not
take itself
with tear gas.
Tear gas is
used only when
citizens run
into the
street to stop
them ......
but when we
say that there
is a real
mission to
carry out
somewhere when
you have to
work working.
It begins by
identifying
the place of
performance of
the work. We
do not go to
work where
there is no
sufficient
volume of
work; we go
where there is
work and I
know that in
such cases,
everything
works and
successfully.
Then the one
who suggested
that working
with Kamenge
and Kinama,
that's a point
but I think it
is not
necessary. Is
it worth
telling
residents to
get out of
these
neighborhoods?
What would
eventually be
your role?
Should I use
whistles? Are
you not the
Heads of the
District? It
is not
necessary to
extract the
whole area of
??the world.
You do not
point the
objects, you
control people
and no person
must live in
the city
without being
identified,
given that
there are
administrative
structures to
the base with
Heads of
Groups of 10
households.
You should not
even wait
until there is
a transaction
(note the Kora
operation),
you should
instead, on
your own
initiative,
saying: "In
this place
there are
elements that
1,2,3,4,5 are
not in order
"and you will
be sending you
a message by
phone to
advise those
who are to
save and you
call the
police for
taking action
and you will
return
afterwards.
Do-not I even
said there way
to be rewarded
with plots? Eh
... it's not a
game ... I am
like that ...
do not look at
me! I'm used
to the war.
On
October 28,
Inner City
Press asked UN
spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric about
another
threat. From
the UN
transcript:
Inner City
Press: this is
a tweet
from the
official
account of
Pierre
Nkurunziza,
President of
Burundi:
"No one living
abroad should
consider
himself
superior to
those who
stayed in
Burundi since
most of them
have left
their families
here."
So people see
this as an
open-source
threat to
retaliate
against the
families of
those who have
fled the
country.
And I'm
wondering…
Spokesman:
I haven't seen
the
tweet. I
shall look at
it.
Inner
City Press
showed it to
him on his way
out. Earlier
on October 28,
Burundi got
162 votes for
the UN Human
Rights
Council, less
than the other
also unopposed
candidates,
but still
enough to get
on the
Council. The
UN Security
Council had
just issued a
Presidential
Statement,
here,
which gave
weight to the
Museveni
"mediation,"
and which the
US
later
"welcomed."
Usually it's
the penholder
(France) which
speaks. But
not here, not
on Burundi
(see Ladsous,
below).
On
October 27,
the UN said
Secretary
General Ban
Ki-moon called
the AU
(below); Inner
City Press
asked Ban's
spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric is
any closer to
naming the
envoy he
called
"immanent"
months ago.
Dujarric said
he should have
used another
word.
Inner
City Press
asked Dujarric
of reports
that Burundian
police in the
UN's MINUSCA
mission in
Bangui have
not received
benefits in
months, and of
a letter sent
to Ban and
Herve Ladsous
about the
Burundian
troops.
Dujarric said
he would check
on both. Here
is the full
text of the
UN's read-out:
"Today, the
Secretary-General
called H.E.
Dr. Nkosazana
Dlamini Zuma,
Chairperson of
the African
Union
Commission, to
discuss the
situation in
Burundi.
The
Secretary-General
welcomed the
decision made
by the African
Union’s Peace
and Security
Council on 17
October to
address the
political
impasse and
deteriorating
security
situation in
Burundi. He
noted that
such
comprehensive
and resolute
action could
offer Burundi
the
opportunity to
put an end to
the continuing
violence and
find a
consensual
political
solution on
the way
forward.
The
Secretary-General
assured the
Chairperson of
the African
Union
Commission
that the
United Nations
stands ready
to provide any
support
necessary to
advance the
implementation
of the
measures
agreed upon by
the members of
the African
Union Peace
and Security
Council.
"
On
October 28
Burundi is
poised for
election to
the UN Human
Rights
Council, as
one of five
African Group
candidates for
five seats.
Meanwhile on
October 26,
the European
Union adopted
the letter
to President
Pierre
Nkurunziza
that Inner
City Press
asked the UN
about last
week, here.
Can EU
members on
October 28 not
vote against
Burundi's
"Human Rights"
Council
candidacy at
this time? And
other Western
NGOs coming to
the UN early
this week to
set forth
their
positions,
will they just
phone it in
with regard to
Burundi? Watch
this site.
Inner City
Press: I
wanted to ask
on Burundi,
just this
morning the UK
Ambassador
said that the
UK is
concerned of a
threat of
genocide, is
the word that
he used, so
I'm wondering
under Rights
Up Front what
are your
thoughts about
Burundi and
what the UN or
the
Secretariat
can do.
SG Ban: "On
this genocide
issues, I hope
there should
be some
creative
investigations
by the
relevant
experts and
there should
be, first of
all, a clear
understanding
and
investigations.
And if the
conclusion is
that there
were such kind
of genocide
issues, then
there should
be
accountability,
justice must
prevail and
perpetrators
must be
brought to
justice."
But
what is the UN
Secretariat
DOING about
it?
On
October 22,
Inner City
Press asked
Ban's deputy
spokesperson
Haq:
Inner City
Press: I
wanted to ask
you a question
about
Burundi.
The EU is
preparing a
letter to
invite the
Burundian
parties to
Brussels to
have a
discussion
about
diffusing the
situation.
And I wanted
to know, not
just what does
the UN think
about it, but
is there any
UN role in
this?
And, if not,
what does it
say about the
UN sort of
action on
Burundi?
It's one thing
to defer maybe
to the AU but
this is the
UE. What
is the UN
doing about
this?
Deputy
Spokesman:
We are
following up
with all the
various
initiatives by
regional
parties
including the
African Union
and the
European Union
and, of
course, our
Envoy dealing
with the Great
Lakes Region
has been
appraised of
this so we are
continuing to
follow-up.
ICP:
But, I mean,
is the EU
really, can
you… it is a
regional
organization
but is it a
regional
organization
with respect
to Burundi?
Deputy
Spokesman:
That is
question for
the European
Union, not for
me.
ICP:
Have you been
contacted I
guess is my
question?
Deputy
Spokesman:
But regarding
this, we have
been in touch
with a variety
of regional
bodies
including
through the
office of the
Special Envoy
for the Great
Lakes Region
but also
through our
Department of
Political
Affairs and
will keep
appraised of
all the
various actors
in this.
Back on
October 20,
Ban's deputy
spokesperson
Haq cited back
to a written
statement by
Secretary
General Ban
Ki-moon more
than a week
ago; he said
generally that
MONUSCO like
all UN mission
affirms the
right of
freedom of the
press. Really?
Later
on October 20
after Inner
City Press
asked UN
rapporteur on
torture Juan
Mendez about
Guantanamo and
US prisons, in
the hall after
waiting
through a
number of
questions in
Spanish Inner
City Press
asked him if
he'd received
complaints
about, or
acted on,
Burundi. No,
he said, not
yet. Really?
Update: later
on October 20
it was
announced that
the UN's Jeff
Feltman will
briefing the
Security
Council behind
closed doors
on October 21.
But what
outcome with
the Council's
penholder,
France, even
ask for?
On
October 16
Inner City
Press asked
Haq if the UN
thinks the
government can
investigate
itself. This
was based on
UN Secretary
General Ban
Ki-moon's
October 15
statement that
"The
Secretary-General
condemns the
killing of
nine civilians
and two police
officers in
Bujumbura on
13 October...
He urges
Burundian
authorities to
undertake a
rigorous and
prompt
investigation
into the
circumstances
and motives
behind these
despicable
crimes in
order to
ensure that
their
perpetrators
are brought to
justice."
So can
the Nkurunziza
government
investigate
itself (as the
UN purports to
be
investigating
or "auditing"
itself in the
wake of
corruption
revelation
about former
Presidnet of
the General
Assembly John
Ashe among
others)? Inner
City Press
asked this
question (video
here) as
well as
following up
on
this, from
October 13:
Inner City
Press: the
Burundi
question is
one that maybe
you can check
with DPKO
[Department of
Peacekeeping
Operations].
Burundian
human rights
activists say
that an
officer,
Jerome
Ntibogora,
N-t-i-b-o-g-o-r-a,
who was
accused of
being involved
in killing
people in a…
in a hospital
after they
fled from the
Government,
has now been
deployed to
MINUSMA
[United
Nations
Multidimensional
Integrated
Stabilization
Mission] in
Mali. So
I wanted to…
Spokesman
Dujarric:
Let's see what
we can find
out.
Dujarric did
not come back
with an
answer, by
this deputy
when Inner
City Pres
asked again on
October 16
said he,
Ntibogora is
not being
deployed.
We'll see -
watch this
site.
Amid
crackdowns in
Burundi by
security
forces, and
allegations of
sexual abuse
by Burundian
peacekeepers
serving under
the UN flag,
UN
Peacekeeping
chief Herve
Ladsous on
October 1 held
a meeting with
Burundian Vice
President
Joseph Butore.
Inner
City Press has
already tweeted
a photograph
of the
meeting, but
has now
received the
complete UN
read-out,
which raises
more questions
about Ladsous.
On the
crackdown,
Ladsous
assured Butore
that he has a
“pragmatic
approach” and
is of no mind
to question
what happens
in any
country, does
not involve
himself in
"domestic
affairs."
On the sexual
abuse
allegations,
Ladsous spoke
only in
platitudes,
without
requiring or
even inquiring
into any
actions taken
by the
Burundians on
the alleged
abuse.
Even though
Burundi was
already given
a “grace
period” to
bring
appropriate
equipment into
the Central
African
Republic for
the MINUSCA
mission, they
have not done
so. In the
meeting,
according to
the read-out,
Butore
"acknowledged"
the
substandard
equipment.
Butore
requested, and
Ladsous for
now granted,
yet another
extension to
bring the
requirement
equipment --
until March
2016 for light
equipment, and
to June 2016
for heavy
equipment.
, 
