Carina Tertsakian, researcher at the Initiative for Human Rights in Burundi (IDHB), believes that ” the government continues to use justice as a tool of repression against civil society in this country, despite the declarations of its president, Évariste Ndayishimiye. An exit which follows the indictment and then the imprisonment of 24 members of an association for the fight against HIV-AIDS.
In Burundi, the Initiative for Human Rights (IDHB), does not hide its concern about ” stepping of the crackdown on civil society and independent media.
This release follows the indictment and then the imprisonment of 24 members of an association fighting against HIV-AIDS arrested in Gitega a little over two weeks ago.
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Long before that, a month ago, five civil society activists were arrested and a journalist was sentenced to 10 years in prison.
“The reality is in direct contradiction to the words of the President”
The IDHB believes that these cases are a reminder that nothing has changed in this area despite the promises of the Burundian president. Evariste Ndayishimiye.
” The latest cases are of particular concern as they affect a larger number of peoplesays Carina Tertsakian, researcher at the IDHB, joined by Esdras Ndikumana. The president, since he came to power, has repeatedly said that there is freedom of expression in Burundi. He promised to restore the independence of the judiciary, but the reality is in direct contradiction to this statement, and the cases we have just mentioned illustrate this, illustrate the way in which the government continues to use justice as a tool of repression against civil society “.
She concludes: And it is this trend, this continuity, which has been there for years, which is particularly worrying, and which shows that, despite the president’s more open facade, in reality the government’s attitude towards independent civil society has not absolutely not changed. »