Dominicans call for international help in Burundi

Piece below is from the international Dominican website. Edited version. It is a statement from Dominicans for Justice and Peace to a special session of the Human Rights Commission in Geneva.

Mr President,

Dominicans for Justice and Peace congratulates you for calling this Special Session of the Human Rights Council as we are extremely concerned about the rapidly deteriorating situation of human rights in Burundi.Since the theft of arms from various military camps on 11 December, 2015, the pursuit of the alleged thieves has been carried out in a way that has gone far beyond any international norms for dealing with armed robbers.

Several witnesses have reported the kidnapping of young people from their homes by military and police in uniforms and their summary execution by being shot in the head or the heart.The violence is also showing an alarming tendency towards ethnic targetting.

Families are being prevented from burying their children by being denied access to their bodies, the whereabouts of which are unknown.

In short, a total disregard for human life is evident, the rule of law has disappeared, and people are living in terror with a total absence of security. In this situation, the priority is not to impose sanctions which will likely largely primarily punish the poorest people.

The urgent priority is to provide immediate protection and security to the people of Burundi.Since this cannot be provided internally at the moment, it is the responsibility and duty of the international community through the UN or the African Union urgently to step in.

A failure to do so will result in further massacres and a new genocide.Once security is provided, inclusive negotiations between all the stakeholders in the country needs to be embarked on as soon as possible, as only a just political solution can end all the violence.

There is great appreciation in Burundi for the calling of this extraordinary session of the Human Rights Council to address the current crisis in the country.

However, there is also a cynicism that it will only result in another commission of enquiry while everyone already knows what is happening and while people are dying.

Mr President, Please do not let the people of Burundi down. Please take immediate action to provide them with protection and security.