Cibitoke: two Imbonerakure accused of theft beaten up in Rugombo
Two Imbonerakure (members of the CNDD-FDD party youth league) were caught stealing. Exasperated, residents rushed on them and seriously beat them up. Field owners demand that these thieves be punished according to the law. The two members of the ruling party’s youth league were caught in mango fields. The local leader of the Imbonerakure promises to put order in his ranks. INFO SOS Médias Burundi
The incident occurred in the afternoon of this Sunday in the village of Kagazi, in the district of Rugombo in the province of Cibitoke (northwest Burundi). Guardians of the mango fields alerted to the theft that was being perpetrated.
A source on site indicates that very angry residents of this locality seriously beat up these two members of the CNDD-FDD party youth league.
“If it hadn’t been for the intervention of local authorities and the police, these two young people would have died”, specifies a witness to the scene.
Seriously injured, they were rescued in particular by their comrades. They took them to a health facility in the provincial town.
“They are currently in intensive care”, say sources familiar with the matter.
A resident met on the spot speaks of the impunity enjoyed by the Imbonerakure.
“No police prosecution, even less legal, has been initiated against these two Imbonerakure who were caught red-handed in the crime”, he laments.
“Often and even caught red-handed, the Imbonerakure are not worried”, angrily criticizes an octogenarian with a mango field.
The latter gives the example of another case that took place last week. Imbonerakure killed their comrade after a quarrel over the sharing of stolen belongings in the town of the district of Rugombo.
“They’re taking it easy for now”, he says.
The head of the CNDD-FDD youth league at the provincial level confirms that these two young people belong to his league but refuses any globalization.
Liethman Mugirire demands a thorough investigation to establish responsibilities.
“Criminal responsibility is individual”, he insisted.
This person in charge of the youth of the ruling party in this province specifies that “an organ of regulation and discipline will be put in place without delay to sanction the recalcitrant”.
“The culprits may be expelled from the league”, he informs.
The province of Cibitoke is one of the provinces of Burundi where several abuses attributed to members of the CNDD-FDD youth league have been reported.
Some of them have been tried in cases of usurpation of power, obstruction of the national economy and murders in the past two years by the provincial court.
