Major Pierre Buyoya
President de la Republique
Presidence de la Republique
(Fax: 011 257 22 74 90)
(Telegram: President, Bujumbura, Burundi)
Monsieur le President:
On July 7 through 9, members of the Burundi military from Rushubi reportedly entered the Karunga district of Isale commune in Bujumbura Rural Province and shot or bayoneted to death the following 21 people, all civilians and 10 of them children:
| Helene Ndabirorere (female), age 70 | Rose Bucumi (female), age 15 |
| Nkiobanynka (female), age 65 | Ciza (male), age 12 |
| Gabriel Gahungu (male), age 60 | Innocent Havyarimana (male), age 6 |
| Germaine Ntamirukiro (female), age 42 | Butoyi (male), age 4 |
| Germaine Sinigirira (female), age 34 | Jeanette (female), age 4 |
| Serge Ntibazahoruri (male), age 30 | Elise Kwizera (female), age 3 |
| Marceline Manirampa (female), age 30 | Emeliene Havyarimana (female), age 3 |
| Venerande Zigirabarya (female), age 28 | Izidoni Ntakhomvkiyi (male), age 2 |
| Constance (female), age 25 | Jean-Marie Habonimana (female), age 1 |
| Seraphine Nyandwi (female), age 23 | Ancilla (female), age 1 month |
| Gloria Niyonzima (female), age 20 |
In addition to the killings, many homes were burned, hundreds of people displaced and many seriously wounded.
I understand that these attacks on the people of the Karunga district of Isale commune were likely made in retaliation against the civilian population after two soldiers were injured on 6 July when a mine explosion hit a military truck.
I am very concerned about the apparent extrajudicial execution of the individuals named above. I strongly urge your government to investigate these killings fully and ensure that anyone found responsible for killing innocent civilians be brought to justice in accordance with international standards of fairness. I also urge your government to take immediate practical steps to prevent further human rights violations by members of the armed forces, including those routinely carried out during counter-insurgency operations, and ensure that any officials found responsible for carrying out or condoning human rights violations be held accountable for their actions in accordance with international standards.
Human rights violations should never be tolerated or sanctioned by any government.
Respectfully yours,
Lieutenant-Col. Firmin Sinzoyiheba
Ministre de la Defense Nationale
Ministere de la Defense Nationale
(Fax: 011 257 22 56 86)
Monsieur le Ministre:
On July 7 through 9, members of the Burundi military from Rushubi reportedly entered the Karunga district of Isale commune in Bujumbura Rural Province and shot or bayoneted to death the following 21 people, all civilians and 10 of them children:
| Helene Ndabirorere (female), age 70 | Rose Bucumi (female), age 15 |
| Nkiobanynka (female), age 65 | Ciza (male), age 12 |
| Gabriel Gahungu (male), age 60 | Innocent Havyarimana (male), age 6 |
| Germaine Ntamirukiro (female), age 42 | Butoyi (male), age 4 |
| Germaine Sinigirira (female), age 34 | Jeanette (female), age 4 |
| Serge Ntibazahoruri (male), age 30 | Elise Kwizera (female), age 3 |
| Marceline Manirampa (female), age 30 | Emeliene Havyarimana (female), age 3 |
| Venerande Zigirabarya (female), age 28 | Izidoni Ntakhomvkiyi (male), age 2 |
| Constance (female), age 25 | Jean-Marie Habonimana (female), age 1 |
| Seraphine Nyandwi (female), age 23 | Ancilla (female), age 1 month |
| Gloria Niyonzima (female), age 20 |
In addition to the killings, many homes were burned, hundreds of people displaced and many seriously wounded.
I understand that these attacks on the people of the Karunga district of Isale commune were likely made in retaliation against the civilian population after two soldiers were injured on 6 July when a mine explosion hit a military truck.
I am very concerned about the apparent extrajudicial execution of the individuals named above. I strongly urge your government to investigate these killings fully and ensure that anyone found responsible for killing innocent civilians be brought to justice in accordance with international standards of fairness. I also urge your government to take immediate practical steps to prevent further human rights violations by members of the armed forces, including those routinely carried out during counter-insurgency operations, and ensure that any officials found responsible for carrying out or condoning human rights violations be held accountable for their actions in accordance with international standards.
Human rights violations should never be tolerated or sanctioned by any government.
Respectfully yours,
Ambassador Severin Ntahomvukiye
Embassy of the Republic of Burundi
2233 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Suite 212
Washington, DC 20007
Dear Ambassador:
On July 7 through 9, members of the Burundi military from Rushubi reportedly entered the Karunga district of Isale commune in Bujumbura Rural Province and shot or bayoneted to death the following 21 people, all civilians and 10 of them children:
| Helene Ndabirorere (female), age 70 | Rose Bucumi (female), age 15 |
| Nkiobanynka (female), age 65 | Ciza (male), age 12 |
| Gabriel Gahungu (male), age 60 | Innocent Havyarimana (male), age 6 |
| Germaine Ntamirukiro (female), age 42 | Butoyi (male), age 4 |
| Germaine Sinigirira (female), age 34 | Jeanette (female), age 4 |
| Serge Ntibazahoruri (male), age 30 | Elise Kwizera (female), age 3 |
| Marceline Manirampa (female), age 30 | Emeliene Havyarimana (female), age 3 |
| Venerande Zigirabarya (female), age 28 | Izidoni Ntakhomvkiyi (male), age 2 |
| Constance (female), age 25 | Jean-Marie Habonimana (female), age 1 |
| Seraphine Nyandwi (female), age 23 | Ancilla (female), age 1 month |
| Gloria Niyonzima (female), age 20 |
In addition to the killings, many homes were burned, hundreds of people displaced and many seriously wounded.
I understand that these attacks on the people of the Karunga district of Isale commune were likely made in retaliation against the civilian population after two soldiers were injured on 6 July when a mine explosion hit a military truck.
I am very concerned about the apparent extrajudicial execution of the individuals named above. I strongly urge your government to investigate these killings fully and ensure that anyone found responsible for killing innocent civilians be brought to justice in accordance with international standards of fairness. I also urge your government to take immediate practical steps to prevent further human rights violations by members of the armed forces, including those routinely carried out during counter-insurgency operations, and ensure that any officials found responsible for carrying out or condoning human rights violations be held accountable for their actions in accordance with international standards.
I trust you will convey my concerns to your government immediately. Thank you.
Respectfully yours,