On
Burundi, ICP
Asks UN About
MSD's
Nimpagaritse,
What Are MENUB
& Bathily
Doing?
By
Matthew
Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS, June
16 -- With UN
Deputy
Secretary
General Jan
Eliasson at
the African
Union summit
in
Johannesburg
where Burundi
is being
discussed,
Burundian
independent
media have
written to
Secretary
General Ban
Ki-moon about
the crackdown
against them,
sending to a
copy to Inner
City Press and
the Free
UN Coalition
for Access,
which is now online
here.
On
June 16, after
first
declining to
confirm
receipt, the
UN said the
letter was
received or
"logged in."
But what will
be done? Inner
City Press
asked about
reports of the
arrest and
even torture
of MSD leader
Leonidas
Nimpagaritse.
UN Deputy
spokesperson
Farhan Haq
said "we'll
check;" Inner
City Press
asked what the
UN's electoral
mission is
doing and it
remains
UNclear.
As lead
spokesman Stephane
Dujarric
answered Inner
City Press on
June 15, Haq
said that
UNOCA chief
Bathily is in
a sense
replacing Said
Djinnit for
the UN on
Burundi, to
coordinate
with the
African Union.
Transcript:
Inner
City Press:
I wanted to
ask you two
things on
Burundi.
One is you had
said that the
DSG and Mr.
[Said] Djinnit
would be in
the [AU]
summit.
Do you have…
what was the
term, what, if
any, progress
was made
particularly
on UN
involvement in
either
replacing Mr.
Djinnit or
trying to
address the
ongoing
disquiet
there?
And also there
was a letter
of five or
more Burundi
media that was
directed to
the
Secretary-General
on June
11th. I
saw a copy was
sent to Ms.
[Susanna]
Malcorra
basically
asking for the
UN to get
involved
because they
had to flee
the country
because their
stations had
been burned
and closed and
they have been
threatened
with violence
by the
Government.
What is the
response of
the UN system?
Spokesman:
I will take a
look to see if
we received
that
letter.
On Burundi,
the
Secretary-General
requested his
special
representative
and Head of UN
Mission in
Central
Africa,
Abdoulaye
Bathily, to
carry out
consultations
to ensure the
effective
participation
of the UN in
the
international
facilitation
called for by
the African
Union Peace
and Security
Council to
quote “to
create
conditions
conducive to
the holding of
free,
transparent
and credible
elections in
Burundi, as
well as on the
matters on
which the
parties
disagree” —
which is what
the African
Union Peace
and Security
Committee
issued.
But when Inner
City Press
asked Haq for
the UN's view
of the AU
sending
(military?)
observers to
Burundi, Haq
did not
comment. So
what of
Nimpagaritse?
Ban's UN has
said little
amid the
closing down
of independent
media in
Burundi, other
than
generalities
when FUNCA and
Inner City
Press have
asked about
it. Now what
will they do?
The
letter is from
Bob Rugurika
of Radio
Publique
Africaine,
Patrick
Nduwimana of
Radio Bonesha
FM, Anne
Niyuhire of
Radio
Isanganiro,
Innocent
Muhozi of
Radi-Tele
Renaissance,
Alexandre
Niyungeko of
UBJ and the
Association
Burundaise de
radiodiffuseires,
here.
On
June 12 Inner
City Press
asked Ban's
spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric:
Inner
City Press: In
Burundi,
documents
emerged, a
ruling, legal
opinion by the
ministers of
justice of the
East African
Community
states, and
they read very
closely the
constitution
and the Arusha
declaration
and they say
that a third
term would be
illegal, that
he’s not
eligible, that
it's clear the
first term was
under the
Constitution.
I'm wondering,
one, is there
any response
by the
Secretariat,
that it's been
sort of not
addressing
this
question?
And was Mr.
Djinnit aware
of this ruling
during the
time of this
facilitation?
And if so, why
didn't it
speak more
clearly on the
subject?
Spokesman
Dujarric:
I think that
Mr. Djinnit is
one of our
more
experienced
diplomats,
experienced
negotiator,
mediator.
I'm sure he
was aware of
everything he
needed to be
aware
of. I
don't have a
response to
that....
Inner
City
Press:
Is the DSG
[Deputy
Secretary-General]
aware of this
document as he
goes to the
African Union
Summit…?
Spokesman:
I think the
DSG is fully
aware of the
situation in
Burundi and
would be
looking
forward to his
discussion
with Mr.
Djinnit.
We'll see.
Two
days after
civil society
groups in
Burundi wrote
to UN
Secretary
General Ban
Ki-moon
how his envoy
Said Djinnit
should be
removed from
the role,
here, on June
10 Djinnit
issued a press
statement
"taking note"
of this
position - and
stepping down
or back.
On June 11
Inner City
Press asked UN
spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric whose
decision the
resignation
was --
Djinnit's, he
said -- and if
the UN is
going to try
to replace him
as
facilitator.
Dujarric said
that UN Deputy
Secretary
General Jan
Eliasson is
headed to the
African Union
meeting in
South Africa
on June 14,
along with
Djinnit, and
will be
holding
discussion
including on
Burundi there.
Dujarric
mentioned it
is a question
of which
organization a
facilitator
should
represented.
Inner City
Press has
received a
copy of the
same civil
society
groups' which
requested that
Djinnit step
down new
letter to the
East African
Community for
an emergency
summit.
Inner City
Press for the
Free UN
Coalition for
Access asked
Dujarric about
the spokesman
for the police
and security
ministry
blaming
ongoing
demonstrations
on
journalists,
at least 50 of
whom have
already fled
the country.
Back on June
10, Inner City
Press and the
Free
UN Coalition
for Access
had asked
Ban's
spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric about
the Nkurunziza
government's
order banning
entry into the
studios of
five radio and
TV stations. Video here. Djinnit's statement
claims there
was consensus
on May 28 on
re-opening
these:
"commended
the Burundian
parties, in
particular,
for the set of
recommendations
adopted by
consensus at
the May 28
dialogue
session, on
the right to
information
and the
reopening of
private radio
and television
stations
damaged during
the May 13-14
events."
The
Special Envoy
of the
Secretary
General for
the Great
Lakes Region,
Said Djinnit,
and members of
the
facilitation
team that
joined and
supported the
dialogue
between the
Burundian
parties, met
today in
Bujumbura with
members of the
diplomatic
corps. During
this meeting,
the Special
Envoy briefed
the
participants
on the
dialogue who
[sic] he
facilitated
starting from
5 May 2015, at
the request of
the Burundian
parties who
had agreed, by
themselves, on
the agenda as
well as the
list of
participants.
The
Special Envoy
recalled that
during the
dialogue, the
parties
maintained
diverging
views on the
candidature of
President
Nkurunziza for
a third term.
He highlighted
the progress
made on the
four agenda
items, namely:
the
appeasement
measures and
mutual
commitments;
the management
of the
electoral
calendar;
guarantees for
the holding of
free,
transparent,
inclusive and
peaceful
elections; and
protection of
Constitutional
rights and
freedoms. The
conclusions of
the dialogue
are reflected
in the
attached May
29 press
communique.
The
Special Envoy
commended the
Burundian
parties, in
particular,
for the set of
recommendations
adopted by
consensus at
the May 28
dialogue
session, on
the right to
information
and the
reopening of
private radio
and television
stations
damaged during
the May 13-14
events. He
encourages the
parties to
implement
these
recommendations
without delay.
The
Special Envoy
takes this
opportunity to
thanks all the
Burundian
parties for
their
cooperation
during the
dialogue that
he facilitated
with
impartiality
and, on which
he reported
faithfully to
the Emergency
Summit of the
East African
Community
which took
place in
Dar-es-Salaam
on May 31, and
the relevant
UN organs. The
Special Envoy
expresses his
deep gratitude
for the
support
extended to
him in his
role as
facilitator by
the East
African
Community, the
International
Conference for
the Great
Lakes region,
the African
Union and the
UN including
the Secretary
General, the
Security
Council and
the Peace
Building
Commission. He
also thanks
the external
partners of
Burundi
including the
European
Union, the
United States,
France,
Belgium and
many others
who came forth
to help during
the dialogue
process.
Mr.
Said Djinnit
thanks all the
Burundian
parties for
the
facilitation
role they
entrusted to
him on May 5.
He duly takes
note of the
position
expressed a
few days ago,
on his role as
facilitator by
some Burundian
parties.
In his
capacity as
the UN
Secretary
General's
Special Envoy
for the Great
Lakes Region,
Mr. Djinnit
remains
committed, in
collaboration
with relevant
regional
organizations,
to continue to
work toward
preserving and
consolidating
peace,
democracy and
stability in
Burundi in
accordance
with the
objectives of
the Peace,
Security and
Cooperation
Framework for
the Democratic
Republic of
the Congo and
the region,
signed in
Addis Ababa on
February 24,
2013.
The
Special Envoy
encourages the
Burundian
parties to
continue their
dialogue with
a view to
create
conditions
conducive to
holding free,
fair,
inclusive and
peaceful
elections. He
stresses the
importance of
preserving the
legacy of teh
Arusha Peace
and
Reconciliation
Agreement as
enshrined in
the
Constitution.
He reiterates
his appeal to
all parties to
exercise
restraint and
to refrain
from any acts
likely to
increase
tension and
violence.
After the UN
Security
Council, the United States
and the UN
Peacebuilding
Configuration
on Burundi on
May 15 issued
statements
urging calm in
the country
given the
return of
Pierre
Nkurunziza to
presumably run
for a third
term, on May
29 Inner City
Press asked UN
spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric about
UN
Peacekeeping
under Herve
Ladsous
accepting an
allegedly
abusive
Burundian
police officer
Godefroid
Bizmama into
his MINUSMA
mission in
Mali. Video
here, and
embedded
below.
On June 9,
Inner City
Press asked
Dujarric about
civil society
opposition to
the electoral
commission
proposing
presidential
polls for July
15, including
it seems for a
possible third
term. What
does UN envoy
Said Djinnit
think of a
third term? Video here.
Dujarric again
refused to
answer
directly,
while calling
on Burundians
to follow
Djinnit.
Follow him
where?
Inner City
Press asked
about Italy
suspending
inclusion of
Burundian
forces in its
training
program, see
below: Inner
City Press has
learned that
Jérôme
NTIBIBOGORA
was rejected
by vetting
even in 2014.
Dujarric
replied that
this is up to
the Italian
government.
But what is
the UN doing,
including with
respect to
1000 Burundian
police slated
to begin
"peacekeeping"
in Somalia on
June 11? We'll
see.
Amid calls to
replace UN
enovy Said
Djinnit as
"pro-Nkurunziza,"
which Inner
City Press has
asked the UN
about, on June
8 another
letter went
in, signed by
Vital
Nshimirimana.
Inner City
Press is
putting it online
here (it
is in French,
and translated
by the Free UN
Coalition for
Access here);
it explains
the demand
that Djinnit
be replaced.
Some note that
Ban Ki-moon,
now on travel
in Central
Asia but still
quiet on human
rights there
too, gave in
to requests to
replace his
Yemen mediator
Jamal Benomar
and ask, why
not here? But
those requests
were from
Saudi Arabia.
Watch this
site.
On June 8,
Inner City
Press asked
Maman S.
Sidikou,
Special
Representative
of the
Chairperson of
the AU
Commission for
Somalia, about
Burundian
forces serving
in AMISOM.
Sidikou
replied that
their "morale"
remains high,
and that one
thousand are
coming into
Somalia from
June 11 to 18.
So is there no
human rights
due diligence
for this?
The UN claims
due diligence
but gives no
details at
all. On June 8
Inner City
Press asked UN
Spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric:
Inner
City Press: On
Burundi, I
asked you
before about
Godefroid
Bizimana.
Now I'm going
to ask about
Jérôme
Ntibibogora,
who is a
Burundian
police officer
who, civil
society there,
say was
involved in an
attack against
a hospital and
firing at
protesters.
He's set for
deployment in
the Central
African
Republic after
being trained
by an Italian
centre known
as CoESPU, a
Centre of
Excellence for
Stability
Police Units.
Spokesman
Dujarric:
As much as I
have
everybody's
files and
names under my
fingertips, I
will check…
Inner City
Press: I've
actually heard
from the
Italian
mission that
they've put
some of their
training on
hold, but
likewise has
the UN put
anything on
hold of
deployment of
police
officers from
Burundi?
Spokesman:
I think we'll…
you know,
there is a
Human Rights
Due Diligence
Policy and
people are
being
screened.
Inner City
Press:
But, Godefroid
seems to…
Spokesman:
Has he been
appointed?
Inner City
Press: That's
why I'm asking
[about Jérôme]..
Early on June
8, based on
more
information
from Inner
City Press'
sources in
Burundi, Inner
City Press
asked Italy's
Mission to the
UN:
"In
covering the
crisis in
Burundi,
multiple
sources there
have informed
Inner City
Press that a
Burundian
police officer
named Jérôme
NTIBIBOGORA,
implicated in
the crackdown
in Bujumbura,
is now set to
be deployed to
the UN
Peacekeeping
mission in the
Central
African
Republic,
MINUSCA -- but
only after he
is “trained”
by / in Italy.
"This a Press
request for
your Mission
to confirm or
deny that
Jérôme
NTIBIBOGORA /
NTIBIBOGORA
Jérôme or any
other
Burundian
police or
military
personnel
involved in
putting down
protests to
Pierre
Nkurunziza's
attempted
third term is
scheduled or
considered for
training or
any
preparatory
work in Italy
prior to a
deployment
with UN
Peacekeeping.
"For your
information in
responding on
deadline to
this, Inner
City Press'
sources in
Burundi said
that Jérôme
NTIBIBOGORA /
NTIBIBOGORA
Jérôme has so
far been
involved in at
least two
recent
troubling
incidents:
killings at
the hospital
of BUMEREC (in
Bujumbura) on
May 14, 2015
and firing
live
ammunition at
unarmed
protesters on
June 5, 2015,
resulting in
the death of a
protester
named Theogène
who was a
student at
University of
Burundi.
Overall, what
due diligence
does Italy do
in its work
with UN
Peacekeeping?"
The UN Mission
of Italy,
running for a
seat on the UN
Security
Council
against Sweden
and the
Netherlands,
answered also
on the morning
of June 8:
"Dear
Mr. Lee, while
at this stage
I do not have
any
information on
specific
officers from
Burundi, I can
nevertheless
confirm that
any training
activity by
the COESPU
(Center of
Excellence for
Stability
Police Units)
in Vicenza,
Italy, with
officers from
that country,
is currently
on hold, due
to the ongoing
situation in
Burundi.
Giovanni
Davoli,
Spokesperson,
Italian
Mission to the
UN"
It's
appreciated.
But are there
Burundian
officers "in
the
pipeline"?
Inner City
Press asked:
"Does “on
hold” mean
there are no
Burundian
personnel in
the pipeline
of your
training
program, to be
deployed to
peacekeeping
missions? And,
once you check
in across the
Atlantic, can
the state the
status of any
of the
individual
named, and
describe
Italy's due
diligence
policy more
generally?"
Italian
Mission
spokesperson
Davoli
replied:
"Dear
Matthew, in
general,
single
participants,
before being
accepted into
the courses,
are screened
trough the
resources
available to
us and to our
partners in
COESPU, to
make sure they
are compatible
with the
values of the
Center.
On
this
particular
individual, we
are checking
with Italy if
we have any
record, which
means we won’t
get any more
details before
tomorrow. In
any instances,
the
participation
of officers
from this
particular
country is on
hold,
therefore
there is no
Burundian in
the pipeline,
until further
notice.
Giovanni
Davoli,
Spokesperson,
Italian
Mission to the
UN"
Inner City
Press renewed
its questions
on June 9, and
got this
reply:
"Dear
Matthew, I can
confirm that
Jérôme
NTIBIBOGORA
has never
attended nor
is expected to
attend courses
at CoESPU. His
candidature
was submitted
twice and
rejected twice
by COESPU.
On the first
occasion, in
2014, this
officer did
not pass the
vetting in
place for
these courses
(as per mail
yesterday); on
the second
occasion,
already in
2015, all
Burundi
candidatures
were already
on freeze.
Giovanni
Davoli,
Spokesperson,
Italian
Mission to the
UN"
, 
