Bujumbura : the “abusive” detention of journalist Kenny Claude Nduwimana risks tarnishing the country’s image according to the CNIDH

Bujumbura : the “abusive” detention of journalist Kenny Claude Nduwimana risks tarnishing the country’s image according to the CNIDH

The chairperson of the National Independent Human Rights Commission, CNIDH, deplores the situation of abusively keeping detainees in prisons while they have already served their sentence. Sixte Vigny Nimuraba said this on Wednesday at the National Assembly during the presentation of the annual report on the achievements of his commission. The name of journalist Kenny Claude Nduwimana was mentioned.

INFO SOS Médias Burundi

There are people who remain in prison despite having been acquitted by the courts, announced Sixte Vigny Nimuraba.

“I give you an example of journalist Kenny Claude. He remains in Mpimba while he should be free. Do you think that this will not have consequences for the country? We have to see,” said the chairperson of the CNIDH. Mpimba is the central prison located in the commercial city of Bujumbura.

He insisted on this case by pointing out that the person in question can appeal to the Constitutional Court, if he can demonstrate that he was really unjustly detained. “He will be entitled to compensation.” Sixte Vigny Nimuraba recalled that the Constitutional Court can read the law to “prevent the detainee from appealing to international bodies and that this will have repercussions on certain institutions or individuals.”

Request by Ndabirabe

The speaker of the National Assembly Daniel Gélase Ndabirabe recommends that the CNIDH consider that the special rapporteur on Burundi is undesirable.

“We must forget him because the country does not want him. Moreover, we are ahead in terms of human rights compared to other countries and even those of the European Union. Let them keep it to themselves,” Daniel Gélase Ndabirabe openly announced. He also wonders why it is Burundi “that is always called upon to respect these rights compared to other countries of the EAC (East African Community)”.

“As elected representatives of the people, we should rather plead for there to be respect for human rights in the true sense of the term. Those who do not do so could take us as an example. Mr. Speaker of the National Assembly, you are not unaware that your party, the CNDD-FDD, advocates democracy which, indeed, calls for respect for these rights”, ironically pointed out MP Pamphile Malayika, from the opposition party, CNL.

Térence Manirambona, another CNL MP wants to know if the CNIDH hopes to regain its A status. Sixte Vigny Nimuraba retorts, “I come back to what I often say, you, as MPs, what status would you give us? Let’s not look for the answer elsewhere. Do all MPs consider our work in the same way as that of a truly independent commission that deserves A status? The main thing for us is to satisfy the population and all of you who have mandated us, the rest will come”.

During this presentation session of the activity report for the year 2024 by the Burundian Commission in charge of human rights, the speaker of the National Assembly recommended that the CNIDH ensure that it does not exceed the limits.

“Don’t get too involved, this is a wink I’m giving you. With these demands, you risk putting yourself in the shoes of these white people who do not respect human rights,” Daniel Gélase Ndabirabe, known for his inflammatory statements, got angry.

——-

Sixte Vigny Nimuraba, chairperson of the CNIDH who declared that the imprisonment of journalist Keny Claude Nduwimana risks tarnishing the image of Burundi (SOS Médias Burundi)

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