NGO slams poor human rights record during past six months

The latest report of the Burundian human rights group, Iteka, says that despite the signing of a ceasefire agreement between the government and the Conseil National pour la Defense de la Democratie/Forces pour la defense de la democratie (CNDD-FDD) faction of Jean Pierre Nkurunziza, the situation of human rights in the country has not improved. Rather, murder, torture, sexual assault and other forms of human rights violations continued during the period covered by the report, January to May 2003. The report blamed the various rebel movements and the state security forces for the killings, with rebel movements held responsible for 247 murders, and the national army for 117. Iteka said it also deplored the unpaid exploitation of civilians by belligerents, including the transport of ammunition and looted goods, or for use in domestic chores. It said the work exposed civilians to risk of injury and death, as they were often caught between warring parties. Instances of torture, as well, have continued: some 30 such cases were recorded during the reporting period, with government agents, the national army, rebels and private individuals all held responsible. However, Iteka said it believed the actual number of cases to be higher, as observers did not have access to many places where torture took place, such as in illegal detention centres of state intelligence services, military positions or rebel hideouts. Rights of protection for vulnerable people have not been respected, either: Iteka found that an estimated 57,000 people were repatriated during the reporting period, but 46 percent of them have no houses, 22 percent have no land, 15 percent of children do not attend schools and 34 percent have no access to medical care. Children and women have been subjected to sexual abuse and other forms of inhuman treatment. Although 36 cases of sexual assault were reported to Iteka, the rights groups said that Ruyigi Hospital alone had recorded 58 such cases. The victims included children of less than five years of age. Access to health care was also deplorable, Iteka said. With the privatisation of hospitals, the cost of medical care had increased to such a degree as to compel patients to resort to unqualified traditional healers, while some areas had no medical infrastructures or equipment at all. It cited the situation of Nyanza-Lac commune in the southern province of Makamba, where expectant mothers had to travel 40 km to reach the nearest maternity ward. Iteka also said the peace process had not achieved expected results, and it called on all belligerents to respect the right to life of civilians. [For the complete report, available only in French, go to http://www.ligue-iteka.bi/radhsem03.htm]