Amnesty condemns "illegal execution" of army officer

The human rights watchdog Amnesty International has expressed its shock and concern at reports of the execution in Mabanda military camp, southern Burundi, of Corporal Bonaventure Ndikumana. Amnesty said it was concerned that the execution (the first known official execution in the country since July 1997), for the alleged murder of a military officer on 21 July, took place outside the due process of Burundi law and international standards. It claimed said Ndikumana was denied his due rights of appeal and expressed concern "about unfair trials by military courts in Burundi" because procedures were often flawed and judges subject to the orders of military superiors. "Unless the government of Burundi publicly and strongly condemns the incident and those responsible are held accountable, further illegal executions may occur", an Amnesty press release stated.