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Burundi: Recent Documents
Date Distributed (ymd): 960705
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Note: Correction to previous posting
Africa: Rural Credit in Benin (960703)
The line with the URL for World Bank Findings mentioned in the posting was incomplete. It should have read:
http://www.worldbank.org/aftdr/findings/english/findtoc.htm
Our apologies for the error.
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PRESS COMMUNIQUE OF THE ARUSHA REGIONAL SUMMIT ON BURUNDI
June 26, 1996
1. At the invitation of President Benjamin Mkapa of the United Republic of Tanzania, Presidents Daniel arap Moi of Kenya, Yoweri Museveni of Uganda, Pasteur Bizimungu of Rwanda, and Sylvestre Ntibantunganya of Burundi and the host, met in Arusha, Tanzania, on Tuesday the 25th June, 1996 to review the political and security situation in Burundi in particular, and in the Great Lakes Region in general. President Mobutu Sese Seko of Zaire was represented by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for External Relations, Hon. J.M. Kititwa Tumansi.
2. Also participating in the Regional Summit were the Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Meles Zenawi, in his capacity as the current Chairman of the Organization of African Unity (OAU), the Prime Minister of Burundi, Antoine Nduwayo, and the OAU Secretary General, Dr. Salim Ahmed Salim.
3. The Heads of State and Government profoundly regretted that notwithstanding efforts made at regional, continental and international levels, the situation in Burundi has continued to deteriorate.
4. The Heads of State and Government expressed their deep concern on the deteriorating situation in Burundi which continues to be characterized by violence and killings causing increasing numbers of internally displaced persons and fleeing refugees into neighbouring countries.
5. The Summit reiterated the responsibility of the leadership in Burundi to restore peace and harmony to the Burundi people and urged the leadership in Burundi to play that role.
6. Heads of State and Government in response to this request by the Government of Burundi has agreed to set up a Technical Committee to look into the modalities of extending such assistance.
7. Heads of State and Government reaffirmed their commitment to a negotiated peace resolution in Burundi. In this context the Heads of State and Government affirmed that negotiations should involve all parties and groups.
8. The Summit stressed that a durable settlement must be based on democracy and security for all.
9. In order to move forward the process of negotiations there must be security in the country. In this regard the Summit urged all sides in the conflict to end the violence immediately.
10. With view to promoting security the Government of Burundi has requested the countries of the region to provide security assistance. This security assistance is aimed inter alia to guarantee security for all the people of Burundi.
11. Heads of State and Government in response to this request by the Government of Burundi has agreed to set up a Technical Committee to be headed by Tanzania to look into the modalities of extending such assistance.
12. The Summit expressed its profound appreciation to Mwalimu Nyerere for his efforts and urged to continue with those efforts which enjoy universal support in the interest of lasting peace and stability.
Transcribed by UN DHA IRIN, Nairobi. This document is distributed via the UN Department of Humanitarian Affairs Integrated Regional Information Network. Tel: +254 2 444338; e-mail: irin@dha.unon.org. The material contained in this communication may not be taken to reflect the views of the United Nations or its agencies.
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U N I T E D N A T I O N S
Department of Humanitarian Affairs
Integrated Regional Information Network
Tel: +254 2 441125; Fax: +254 2 448816;
e-mail: irin@dha.unon.org
This is number 15 in a series of weekly reports from IRIN on general developments in the Great Lakes region. Sources for the information below include UN, NGO, other international organizations and media reports. IRIN issues these reports for the benefit of the humanitarian community, but accepts no responsibility as to the accuracy of the original sources.
Weekly Roundup of Main Events in the Great Lakes region 23 - 30 June 1996
(Excerpted)
# A technical committee headed by Tanzania and comprising foreign ministers from the sub-region will meet in Arusha on Monday 1 July to consider how best they can meet the Burundi Government's request for regional security assistance to help end escalating violence in the country. The request, which has been angrily rejected by both Burundi's UPRONA party and PARENA (the Party for National Recovery), was made at a summit on Burundi held in Arusha on Tuesday. The technical committee has been charged with reporting back to regional leaders prior to the OAU summit in Cameroon from 8-10 July. An international diplomatic source told reporters on Friday that "security assistance" would probably entail protection of politicians, civil servants and key installations, including schools, universities, health facilities and telecommunications. Other likely assistance would be the training of police and paramilitary gendarmerie. The same diplomatic source said the current thinking was that the Tanzanian and Ugandan armies would provide the bulk of the security force, while Kenya might contribute police. Western countries would be expected to foot the bill. ...
Tuesday's summit was attended by the presidents of Burundi, Tanzania, Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda, the former Tanzanian president Julius Nyerere, OAU secretary-general, Salim Ahmed Salim and the OAU chairman, Prime Minister Meles Zenawi of Ethiopia. Zaire's place was filled by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Kititwa Tumansi. Opening the summit, host President, Benjamin Mkapa warned about the "almost frantic" amassing of weapons of all kinds by each group in Burundi and said that if violence continued the wider international community might feel obliged to intervene. The UN Security Council had ordered consultations for a military backed intervention in Burundi, but no western government had offered to take the lead in such an operation. The OAU said recently that it would support military intervention in Burundi if the situation worsens and the mission had clear objectives and UN backing.
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TEXT: WOLPE NAMED SPECIAL ENVOY TO BURUNDI PEACE TALKS
June 17, 1996
WASHINGTON -- President Clinton has appointed former Michigan Congressman Howard Wolpe to serve as special envoy of the president and secretary of state for Burundi peace negotiations.
Former Tanzanian president Julius Nyerere is now mediating talks between Burundi faction leaders in Mwanza, Tanzania.
As special envoy, Wolpe will work with Richard Bogosian, special coordinator for Rwanda/Burundi. The White House said Bogosian will continue "working from Washington to coordinate implementation of overall policy toward these two countries."
A member of the House of Representatives from 1979 to 1992, Wolpe served 10 years as chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee's Subcommittee on Africa.
Following is the text of the White House announcement:
(BEGIN TEXT)
I am pleased to announce the appointment of former U.S. Representative Dr. Howard Wolpe as Special Envoy of the President and Secretary of State for Burundi Peace Negotiations. He will work closely with Ambassador Richard Bogosian, who continues to serve as the Rwanda/Burundi Special Coordinator working from Washington to coordinate implementation of overall policy toward these two countries.
Dr. Wolpe will lend U.S. influence and support to efforts aimed at bringing an end to the crisis in Burundi, which has claimed more than 100,000 lives in the last two and a half years. Dr. Wolpe brings to this mission a wealth of experience gained during 14 years as a member of Congress from Michigan, including 10 years as Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa, and recently as a Visiting Fellow at the Brookings Institution. Dr. Wolpe received his Ph.D. from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Political Science focusing on Africa.
(END TEXT)
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TEXT: MCCURRY STATEMENT ON ARUSHA SUMMIT
June 28, 1996
LYON, France -- White House Press Secretary Mike McCurry
on June 28 welcomed the results of the recent Arusha
summit talks between leaders from Burundi, Ethiopia,
Rwanda, Tanzania, Kenya, and Uganda.
Following is the text of McCurry's statement, released at the G-7 talks in Lyon, France:
(BEGIN TEXT)
The United States welcomes the results of the recent Arusha Summit meeting at which the heads of state of Burundi, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda, along with representatives from Zaire and the OAU, agreed to prepare a joint security assistance plan to help the Burundian authorities bring peace and stability to that troubled country. The U.S. hopes this initiative can play an important role in halting the ongoing violence in Burundi.
The cooperation exhibited by the Burundi President, Prime Minister, Defense Minister and National Security Council in crafting this initiative and recommending its adoption to participate at the Arusha Summit is a laudable breakthrough and demonstrates the continued utility of responsible authorities joining together to end the violence. This same spirit of cooperation and mutual support will be essential to bring reconciliation to Burundi. We salute the efforts of those leaders involved and call on the people of Burundi to seize this opportunity to find a path toward lasting peace.
The United States will continue to play an active role in support of regional and international efforts to forge an enduring settlement to the conflict in Burundi. The Special Envoy of the President and Secretary of State for Burundi Peace Negotiations Howard Wolpe and Rwanda/Burundi Special Coordinator Richard Bogosian are en route to the region to discuss ongoing peace efforts and implications of the recommendations of the Arusha Summit.
(END TEXT)
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Amnesty International News Service 122/96
AI INDEX: IOR 63/04/96 -- 4 JULY 1996
OAU SUMMIT: THE WORST IS STILL TO COME IN BURUNDI IF HUMAN RIGHTS ARE IGNORED
Yaounde -- Amnesty International representatives attending the 64th Council of Ministers Meeting of the Organization of African Unity (OAU), being held in Yaounde, Cameroon from 1-5 July 1996, are urging African States to take concrete measures to stop the massive human rights violations occurring in Burundi.
"Hundreds of civilians, both Tutsi and Hutu, are being killed each week in Burundi by the military and armed groups," Amnesty International said. "Unless the OAU provides bold leadership to the international community, the situation will continue to deteriorate rapidly. The worst could still come."
The worldwide human rights organization is pleased that Burundi is receiving priority attention at this meeting. In his report to the session, the Secretary-General of the OAU, Dr Salim A. Salim, underscored that the present situation in Burundi is very alarming. At the same time a meeting of concerned states in the Great Lakes region is considering Burundi's request for security and humanitarian assistance.
"The Council of Ministers should note that all past peace initiatives have failed because they did not address human rights issues," Amnesty International said. "It is essential that violations of human rights which are guaranteed in the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights are addressed for any conciliation efforts to succeed."
"There can be no permanent solution to the conflict unless effective steps are taken to end human rights violations, investigate past violations and bring those responsible to justice."
It is the failure to address these issues in the Great Lakes region, and also in other African countries, that has resulted in the increasing figure of nine million refugees and internally displaced people in the African continent. The lack of serious guarantees against extrajudicial executions, torture, "disappearances" and unfair trials has prevented the millions who have fled from returning to their homes.
The urgency of the situation in Burundi requires this meeting of the OAU to provide clear guidance to the international community by recommending concrete measures which may be taken by the United Nations and its member states to put an end to the massacres. These recommendations should include:
* Measures to guarantee the impartiality of the security forces and the judiciary, and to enable the judiciary to institute impartial investigations into human rights violations;
* The monitoring of military security and police transfers to armed groups and government forces, to ensure that they do not contribute to further human rights abuses, and to use their influence to stop supplies or transfers which may be used to commit human rights violations;
* A guarantee that everyone has equal access to the law and accused persons receive prompt and fair trials;
* A guarantee that all allegations of collusion between government forces and armed groups to commit human rights violations are rigorously investigated and that irregular paramilitary forces are disbanded;
* The public release of the report of the UN Commission of Inquiry into the assassination in October 1993 of former President Melchior Ndadaye and the massacres which followed;
* Any political settlement should be based on human rights protection, including a commitment to institutional reform aimed at creating a solid human rights framework; and
* The European Union should urgently provide the funding it has promised to enable the number of UN human rights monitors to be increased from the current five.
Amnesty International exhorts member states of the OAU to prove their commitment to find lasting solutions to the Burundi crisis by actively participating in and providing personnel and other resources for any human rights initiatives undertaken by the UN.
"The situation in Burundi is a challenge to the credibility and effectiveness of the OAU and the United Nations," the organization said.
This News Service is posted by the International Secretariat of Amnesty International, 1 Easton Street, London WC1X 8DJ (Tel +44-71-413-5500, Fax +44-71-956-1157, E-mail: ains@gn.apc.org). Please notify ains if this message is reposted. For more information on Amnesty International send a message to amnesty-info@igc.apc.org, an automatic reply service.
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Message-Id: <199607051721.KAA03080@igc3.igc.apc.org> From: apic@igc.apc.org Date: Fri, 5 Jul 1996 13:18:45 -0500 Subject: Burundi: Recent Documents
Editor: Ali B. Ali-Dinar
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