Africa, BREAKING NEWS
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FREEDOM House, an international human rights organisation based in the United States, is very angry with Burundi government. Reaction to the suspension of 10 local human rights organisations on November 23, by the Burundian government, the Freedom House in a statement said: “It is ludicrous that the government of Burundi would suspend many of the last remaining entities, including APRODH, working to promote peace and protect the fundamental rights of its citizens.”
Vukasin Petrovic, director of Africa programmes of the organisation, who issued the statement, noted that Burundi was now at a severe disadvantage without because of lack of active civil society, while the government continued with oppressive tactics. “The government of Burundi should immediately reverse these illegal suspensions and participate in, not just commit to, peace negotiations, which have the great potential to prevent a broader widespread conflict and reverse the country’s downward trajectory,” Petrovic said.
Last week, the government of Burundi froze the bank accounts of some of the most prominent local human rights organisations, including FORSC, FOCODE and APRODH. Since April 2015 – when President Pierre Nkurunziza decided to pursue a third mandate violating the Arusha Accords – most civil society leaders have been forced into exile and all local independent radio stations have been shut down.
— Nov 24, 2015 @ 17:00 GMT
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