Human rights experts strongly condemn massacre in Burundi

18 August 2004



The Special Rapporteur on racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, Doudou Diène, the Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in Burundi, Akich Okola, the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of opinion and expression, Ambeyi Ligabo, the Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences, Yakin Ertürk and the Special Advisor of the Secretary-General on Genocide, Juan Méndez, strongly condemn the massacre which took place during the night of 13 August in Gatumba refugee camp in Burundi close to the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

The Experts express their grave concern regarding the magnitude of the massacre and its ethnic dimension. According to recent reports more than 160 civilians, the majority of whom were women and children, were killed. They were mostly Congolese from the Tutsi ethnic group and reports suggest that the acts were committed by rebel groups from DRC and Burundi.

The Experts urge all parties to respect and protect civilian populations in accordance with international humanitarian and human rights law. They call the attention of the authorities to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights which states that “no one shall be deprived of his life” and to article 5 of the Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination which calls on States to undertake to prohibit racial discrimination in all its forms and to guarantee the right of everyone, without distinction as to race, colour, or national or ethnic origin notably in the enjoyment of the right to security of person and protection by the State against violence or bodily harm.

The Experts affirm the absolute necessity of investigating the massacre, identifying the perpetrators and ensuring that they are held accountable in conformity with international standards. They urge the Governments of the DRC and Burundi to take all necessary measures in this regard without delay. Furthermore, they stress that the current interethnic relations in DRC and the entire region must be addressed with the utmost urgency.