Human rights abuses hit Burundi

2005-10-19 22:48

Bujumbura - Renewed incidents of gross human rights violations have hit the tiny central African state of Burundi less than two months after the installation of a new government hope to restore order after 12 years of civil war, said a local group on Wednesday.

Iteka, Burundi's human rights watchdog, blamed the violations on the country's last active Hutu rebel group - the National Liberation Forces (FNL) - who had stepped up attacks across the country in recent weeks.

In a statement released here, the group said about 20 civilians had been killed by the rebels either by live ammunition or crude weapons since early September, while 11 others had been killed by Burundi's military.

Gross violations of human rights

The group said all the killings happened in the FNL stronghold, outside the capital in western Bujumbura rural province, adding that the statistics only account for those killed in combat.

It said: "Two months after the election of a new regime, Iteka is concerned by gross violations of human rights", referring to the installation of a new power-sharing government in August after a series of elections.

The watchdog also expressed concern about arbitrary arrests carried out by the presidential police as well as reports of torture by authorities, noting that about 50 youths suspected of collaborating with the rebels had been arrested.

Adolphe Manirakiza of the army denied the Iteka report as unfounded allegations.

- AFP