Off the wire
• UN leader urges compassion to fight "global" migration problem  • Germany should send clearer signals in refugee crisis: Austrian chancellor  • Organic farming grows in Latvia in 2015: association  • Benin constitutional court validates Talon election, calls for swearing-in  • South Africa issues warning after lion escapes from park  • Chicago wheat, corn, soybeans retreat on profit-taking  • Council of Europe adopts internet governance strategy  • Rwanda prepares for 22nd genocide anniversary  • News Analysis: Hillary Clinton's high negatives underscore angry Democratic electorate  • Urgent: U.S. stocks extend gains after Fed Chair Yellen's dovish speech  
You are here: 　 Home

Burundi's human rights commission releases 1,058 inmates in 2015: report

Xinhua, March 31, 2016 Adjust font size:

The Burundian National Independent Human Rights Commission (CNIDH) contributed to the release of 1,058 inmates illegally detained in the east African country's prisons in 2015, the Commission's chairman Jean Baptiste Baribonekeza told the National Assembly on Wednesday.

Baribonekeza was presenting the 2015 annual activity report to the country's National Assembly (Burundi's parliament lower chamber) in accordance with Article 35 of the law regulating the CNIDH.

"We realized that they were overcrowded and many inmates are held in violations of the laws. We were able to contribute to the release of 1,058 inmates including 84 women and 78 children,"Baribonekeza told MPs.

According to him, the CNIDH began its activities in 2015 with a "hard work" due to protests against the third term bid of Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza that broke out in April when Nkurunziza announced he would be running the presidential election.

According to him, the CNIDH has documented 381 people killed from the beginning of protests in April to December while 19 others were victims of abduction or disappearance and acknowledged that 27 persons accused of participating in the protests were tortured by security agents.

"333 out of 439 inmates accused of participating in the protests against President Nkurunziza's third term were released, that is, 70 percent of the total number of detainees held in the context of those protests," said Baribonekeza.

He added that inmates still detained in the context of protests are accused of big offences.

Baribonekeza said, "The CNIDH documented 37 cases of sexual and gender-based violence including 24 cases committed on young girls."

He added, "Contrary to reports of several rape cases linked with political motivations reported by some organizations, the CNIDH only documented one rape case against an alleged Imbonerakure girl raped by unknown people."

CNIDH recommended the Burundian government to closely follow up youths so that they avoid joining rebel groups, to reopen private radio stations that were destroyed on May 14 following the failed coup plot against President Nkurunziza and his government.

The CNIDH also urged the Burundian government to allow civil society organizations that were suspended over their alleged role in the protests to resume their activities.

"We also recommend civil society organizations to avoid political activities and incendiary statements," said Baribonekeza.

Burundi is facing a political turmoil that broke out since April 2015 following the announcement by Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza that he would be seeking a third term.

His candidature, which was opposed by the opposition and civil society groups, resulted into a wave of protests, violence and even a failed coup on May 13, 2015.

Over 400 persons are reported to have been killed since then while some 240,000 citizens sought exile in neighboring countries. Endit