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BURUNDI
CASE N° BDI/01 - S. MFAYOKURERA
CASE N° BDI/05 - I. NDIKUMANA
CASE N° BDI/06 - G. GAHUNGU
CASE N° BDI/07 - L. NTAMUTUMBA
CASE N° BDI/29 - P. SIRAHENDA
CASE N° BDI/35 - G. GISABWAMANA

Resolution adopted unanimously by the IPU Governing Council at its 181st session
(Geneva, 10 October 2007)

The Governing Council of the Inter-Parliamentary Union,

Referring to the case of above-mentioned Burundian parliamentarians, as outlined in the report of the Committee on the Human Rights of Parliamentarians (CL/181/11(a)-R.1), and to the resolution adopted at its 180th session (May 2007),

Taking into account the communication from the President of the National Assembly of Burundi dated 4 October 2007 and the information provided by the Vice-President of the National Assembly at the meeting held with the Committee during the 117th Assembly,

Recalling that the parliamentary working group set up by the National Assembly to continue the work of its predecessor set up in 2003 with a view to examining, together with the competent authorities, cases of human rights violations of members of the Parliament of Burundi, including how best to reactivate the investigation into the murder of the parliamentarians concerned, first met on 26 October 2006 and proposed a series of strategies, but that institutional changes and hurdles have prevented the group from making progress,

Considering that, on 4 October 2007, the President of the National Assembly signed an ad hoc Internal Instruction in which he designated new members of the working group except for its Secretary, who remained in his post, with a view to giving it fresh impetus and that he assured in his aforesaid communication that "we will give it all the support it needs to fulfil its mission",

Considering also that, according to the President of the National Assembly, the case of the murdered parliamentarians will also be addressed by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, the creation of which has moved a step closer with the appointment by the President of the Republic of a team in charge of conducting grassroots consultations in preparation for the Commission's work, which the National Assembly will follow closely,

Considering furthermore the work of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, under its technical cooperation programme, assisting the Parliament of Burundi in playing its role as an important facilitator of reconciliation in the country,

  1. Thanks the President and the Vice-President of the National Assembly for their cooperation and the information provided;

  2. Reaffirms that parliament and its members have an essential role in promoting debate and creating unity around a common vision for reconciliation which is firmly grounded in the principles of truth and justice; is therefore pleased at the initiatives taken to this end by the Parliament of Burundi with the assistance of the IPU, and trusts that they will continue to bear fruit; and would appreciate being kept informed in this regard;

  3. Is pleased that the members of the parliamentary working group are now in place and that the parliamentary authorities are committed to ensuring its effectiveness; trusts that the multiple strategies it outlined more than a year ago will be promptly implemented with the assistance of the competent authorities; would greatly appreciate being kept informed in this regard;

  4. Trusts that negotiations on the establishment of the National Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the Special Criminal Chamber will soon be successfully completed so that these bodies can be set up and start their work; would appreciate being kept informed of developments in this regard; remains convinced that the parliamentary working group can be of great assistance in paving the way for the work of these institutions in the cases in question;

  5. Requests the Secretary General to seek the requested information from the parliamentary authorities;

  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 118th Assembly of the IPU (Cape Town, April 2008).
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