Brussels,
BELGIUM
The European parliament
has passed a resolution condemning Burundi for restricting freedom of
expression and violating human rights ahead of elections due in May this year.
Burundi's President Pierre Nkurunziza arrives for the celebrations to mark Burundi's 55th anniversary of the independence at the Prince Louis Rwagasore stadium in Bujumbura, Burundi July 1, 2017. |
The
resolution passed on Thursday states that EU lawmakers are concerned about the
government’s “intimidation, harassment, and arbitrary arrest of journalists,
human rights activists and members of the opposition”.
It
says the media in the country work in a “climate of fear”, creating conditions
that are not conducive for credible elections
Burundi
government officials were not immediately reachable for comment on the
resolution.
The
government has previously consistently denied violating human rights or
restricting freedom of expression.
President
Pierre Nkurunziza, who won a referendum last year that could allow him to stay
in power until 2034, has said repeatedly that he will not seek a fourth term in
office, but his ruling party has not named a candidate for the vote.
Hundreds
of Burundians have been killed in clashes with security forces since 2015, when
Nkurunziza won his third term in office.
The
opposition said his candidacy violated the terms of a peace deal that ended the
nation’s civil war - but Nkurunziza disputed this.
The
EU parliamentary resolution is non-binding, but it adds to a steady stream of
international criticism.
UN
investigators warned in a September report that Burundi was at risk of a new
wave of atrocities as the election neared and that there was a climate of
intimidation against anyone who did not show support for the ruling party.
Burundi’s
Human Rights Minister Martin Nivyabandi told Reuters at the time that the
government denied the allegations.
“The
content of the report doesn’t match the reality known within the country,” he
said.
The
EU resolution condemned the government’s decision to charge four Burundian
journalists with undermining state security after their arrest in October while
covering clashes between rebels and government forces in the north-west of the
country.
In
December, the public prosecutor asked for a 15-year sentence for the journalists.
“The
journalists’ detention and trial comes amidst a suffocating atmosphere for
Burundian journalists,” said Lewis Mudge, Central Africa director at Human
Rights Watch. “These are not conditions for free and fair elections.” - Africa
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