§ Mr. BercowTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many people have been prosecuted for breaches of human rights in Burundi since January 1994. [148117]
§ Hilary BennAs a result of political instability, widespread insecurity and fighting between rebel groups and the Government of Burundi army since 1993,there has been internal displacement of over 281,000 people with over 800,000 refugees living in neighbouring countries, mainly in Tanzania. The majority of the remaining population in the country continued to be victims of human rights violations caused by the rebels or undisciplined regular soldiers. Torture, cruelty and inhuman degradation and punishment were everyday burdens for the ordinary citizen who could not get effective recourse because of a poor justice system. About 8,300 Burundians are in prison but only 44 per cent. have been sentenced.
It remains difficult to get a clear distinction between ordinary crimes and violations of human rights. We assume that most prisoners' offences fall into the category of human rights violations.
515 prisoners are on death row because of different atrocities e.g. murder, assassination, homicide, cannibalism, attempt to destabilise national security etc.Six people (including a headmaster) were executed in July 1997 for their direct involvement in crimes on ethnic grounds.About 700 people were sentenced to life imprisonment.There are currently about 400 soldiers accused of violating fundamental rights.Two civil servants (members of the judicial police) were prosecuted for violating human rights.