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Release of "political prisoners" discouraged

    NAIROBI

    The Burundi government has urged Arusha peace talks facilitator Nelson Mandela not to be "deceived" by the propaganda of genocide suspects posing as political prisoners. A statement sent to IRIN from the Burundi embassy in South Africa said that Mandela, in calling last month on the government to release political prisoners "without specifying the nature of their
    charges, has placed himself, no doubt unconsciously, on the side of those who want impunity from crimes." The statement said the country's estimated 9,000 prisoners included people responsible for acts of genocide, massacres and pogroms. It said emphasis should be placed on accelerating the judicial process for the prisoners rather than on demanding their unconditional release, which could create a "vengeance reflex" among
    victims.

    This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions

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