The Governing Council of the Inter-Parliamentary Union,

Referring to the case of the above-mentioned Burundian parliamentarians, as outlined in the report of the Committee on the Human Rights of Parliamentarians (CL/179/11(a)-R.1), and to the resolution adopted at its 178th session (May 2006),

Taking account of the letters dated 7 and 26 September 2006 from the President of the National Assembly and of the hearing the Committee on the Human Rights of Parliamentarians held with her and other members of the delegation of Burundi to the 115th IPU Assembly (October 2006),

Recalling the following:

• The parliamentarians concerned, elected on a FRODEBU (Front for Democracy in Burundi) ticket in the 1993 elections were killed in the years 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997 and 1999; only in the case of Mr. Gisabwamana was the perpetrator - a military officer - identified and brought to justice; although, according to the information provided in 2001 by the then Minister for Human Rights, the law prescribed reparation for victims of human rights violations perpetrated by State agents, Mr. Gisabwamana's family has received no such compensation;

• In 2003, the then Transitional National Assembly set up a parliamentary working group to look into the cases of the parliamentarians concerned and into ways and means of reactivating the investigation into their cases; according to its report, one suspect in the murder of Mr. Mfayokurera was apprehended, albeit in connection with another crime, arrest warrants were issued for two people suspected of the murder of Mr. Ndikumana and, in the case of Mr. Sirahenda, witnesses exist of his abduction in a jeep from Makamba military camp and of his killing,

• According to the President of the National Assembly, the new National Assembly has appointed a committee to examine the cases of all members of parliament assassinated since 1993 in addition to other cases of alleged human rights violations of former and incumbent members of the parliament of Burundi, to contact the families of the victims with a view to obtaining information and to report to the Bureau of the National Assembly; the Bureau will then take appropriate action, such as assisting the families of the victims, requesting the reopening of investigations or contacting the competent authorities; the committee has already started its work but still lacks the necessary financial and other means to start visiting the families of victims; the President stated that the committee's reports would be conveyed to the IPU;

• According to the President, preparations for setting up the National Truth and Reconciliation Commission provided for in the Arusha Peace Agreement are under way but its establishment depends not only on the national authorities but also on the United Nations; it is, however, the Government's wish to establish it as soon as possible; nevertheless, testimony has already started to come to light and even been broadcast,

1. Thanks the President of the National Assembly for her cooperation and the information provided;

2. Is gratified that a committee has been set up to look inter alia into the cases concerned; trusts that it will receive all the necessary assistance and support from the authorities to carry out its mandate effectively;

3. Is convinced that, provided it is given the means, the committee will be able to make a crucial contribution to shedding light on these murders and to bringing the perpetrators to trial; is confident that the committee will also take up the question of reparation for Mr. Gisabwamana's family; notes with appreciation that the IPU will be kept informed of its work;

4. Reaffirms that the National Truth and Reconciliation Commission can play an important role in the pursuit of truth and justice in these cases; sincerely hopes that the authorities will make every effort to establish it as early as possible; and would appreciate being kept informed in this regard;

5. Requests the Secretary General to convey this resolution to the parliamentary authorities and the sources and also to raise the issue of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission with the competent United Nations bodies;

6. Requests the Committee to continue examining this case and report to it at its next session, to be held on the occasion of the 116th Assembly (April-May 2007).

Note: you can download a complete electronic version of the brochure "Results of the 115th IPU Assembly and related meetings in PDF format (file size 493K approximately ). This version requires Adobe Acrobat Reader, which you can download free of charge.

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