Bunyoni case : the “dehumanization” of the current Prime Minister brought itself in the Bunyoni trial

The trial involving the former prime minister resumed on Tuesday.
The public prosecutor came back to the accusation of contempt of the head of state. He spoke of communications between General Alain Guillaume Bunyoni and the head of the African Public Radio (RPA), Bob Rugurika, nicknaming the president “Vuvuzela”. He rejected these allegations saying that it was Rugurika who baptized Évariste Ndayishimiye and that criminal responsibility is individual. The prosecution also accused Bunyoni of having described Gervais Ndirakobuca, his successor as “impene” (“goat” in English). According to the prosecution, this is “a way of dehumanizing him”. But the defendant explained that it is a nickname that dates back to the times of the rebellion. INFO SOS Médias Burundi

For the day of Tuesday, two witnesses requested by the former prime minister were heard concerning the accusation of illegal possession of weapons.

They include police brigadier Wilson Niyongabo and Adalbert Nkunzimana, both security chiefs who took turns at the former prime minister’s home.

Brigadier Wilson Niyongabo announced that he had handed over all the crews to Adalbert Nkunzimana.

As for the latter, he clearly indicated that during the delivery and collection there was a box whose contents he was unaware of and which had not been recorded.

General Bunyoni deplored the fact that other weapons were added to the seizure report.

“I don’t understand why the public prosecutor did not mention the number of each weapon”, he regretted.

This Tuesday, Bunyoni defended himself on only one crime : insulting the head of state to which was added the dehumanization of his successor, Gervais Ndirakobuca. According to the public prosecutor, in communications between the former prime minister and the boss of RPA, Bob Rugurika, the head of state was named “Vuvuzela” (an allusion to the South African musical instrument which had a international fame during the 2010 FIFA World Cup).

General Bunyoni rejected this allegation saying it was a term Bob Rugurika used, not him.

“Criminal responsibility is individual”, he justified, calling on the Court to ask the author of this naming himself to explain it.

But the prosecution considered that Bunyoni knew well what it was about.

Reading a telephone message, he said that the concerned person responded in these terms : “Very well, I will do everything”.

Still on the matter of contempt, the public prosecutor mentioned the communications between General Bunyoni and his wife. Current Prime Minister Gervais Ndirakobuca had a nickname: “Impene” (goat in English, which the prosecution described as “dehumanization”.

General Bunyoni justified himself by indicating that Mr. Ndirakobuca was nicknamed like that during the rebellion on the battlefield and that other former comrades in arms within the former Hutu rebellion, the CNDD-FDD which became the ruling party in 2005 thanks to the 2000 Arusha peace agreement know it.

Fetishes

The public prosecutor then charged General Bunyoni with using fetishes in order to take the life of President Évariste Ndayishimiye. This item was discussed in camera.

The hearing will continue this Wednesday at the central prison of Gitega (political capital) where Alain Guillaume Bunyoni has been detained since last July.