Burundi: When the European Union wants to resume cooperation with a State in the process of finalizing the on-going genocide.
We read that freedom, democracy, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, the rule of law, are the four founding principles of the European Union contained in the Amsterdam Treaty of 1997; but the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights adopted in 2000 adds to these principles human dignity, equality and solidarity.
Cooperation between the EU and the 79 countries of Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific is governed by the Cotonou Agreement, signed in 2000. This agreement governs political, trade and development cooperation relations between the two blocks, whose relationship began in 1975 with the Lomé agreements. One of the cornerstones of political cooperation between the two blocs is based on human rights, democratic principles and the rule of law, which both parties undertake to respect. Article 96 of the agreement allows for the suspension of aid in the event of repeated human rights violations. It has been used in cases of human rights violations, in Fiji (2000 and 2007), Zimbabwe (2002), Central African Republic (2003), Guinea-Bissau (2004 and 2011), Togo (2004), Madagascar (2010) and Burundi (2015).
We recall all these principles and this agreement to analyse together with gentlemen and ladies of the European Union in general and the representative of this institution in Burundi in particular whether the resumption of cooperation with Burundi comes at the right time or if it is not premature. We cannot at any time believe that it is through ignorance of the situation that prevails in Burundi; nor do we believe that these countries are blinded by the good speeches of Evariste Ndayishimiye; nor do we think of the influence of France, which has already violated the agreement by forging bilateral relations (military cooperation) with our country; far from us yet to imagine for a single moment that all respected and respectable leaders of the EU can support the greatest crime of mankind, genocide.
The genocide is underway in Burundi. We will never stop repeating it; it is now in its final stages. We have had the opportunity to show its warning signs.
People are asking a lot of questions about the motives that would have led the EU to think about resuming cooperation with Burundi: What has changed since you imposed sanctions to suspend aid in Burundi ? Could you tell the Burundians and the international community that there are no more human rights violations in Burundi? Or do you think they’ve faded? The new tactic of raping girls and women, killing them and then beheading them; or kill men to behead them afterwards, had you ever seen it under the reign of Pierre Nkurunziza? This is an unfortunate innovation of Evariste Ndayishimiye. And these despicable acts are the work of the imbonerakure who attended the FDRL Interahamwe school who still move like fish in water in our country. Are these FDRL members and these imbonerakure of the cnddfdd in Burundi to ensure respect for human rights in your opinion? The representative of the EU in Burundi who met this September 10, 2020 Allain Guillaume Bunyoni, Prime Minister of the government of Evariste Ndayishimiye to announce the project to resume cooperation, has he already transmitted a report to the EU to say that the imbonerakure militia has been disarmed and dismantled? That the FDRL Interahamwe members who are in Burundi were arrested, disarmed and handed over to the Rwandan government? The Burundian Prime Minister whom the EU representative met is under sanctions, he is however the head of government of Gitega, a government appointed by a president who carried out an electoral coup in May 2020. And it is not the EU that does not know. Between a military coup d’état and an electoral coup d’état, what is less evil? Is this the kind of democracy, of freedom that you advocate?
Today, a so-called rebellion has been circulating all over the country since August 23, 2020, the government has been silent on the radio, the security forces are chasing their passage without being able to kill or apprehend even a single fighter. However, thousands of people, Tutsis and members of the CNL party are apprehended every day by the thousands; they are tortured and then illegally imprisoned for those lucky enough to survive. The population lives in total fear; the imbonerakure designate who should be arrested, who should be killed in gross violation of the law. Is this the principle of respect for human rights that you preach, gentlemen of the EU?
URN HITAMWONEZA once again recalls that the genocide of Tutsis and political opponents is being finalized in Burundi. There remains a trigger for the cnddfdd killing machine already installed across the country (the armed imbonerakure and fdrl; exclusively cnddfdd administrators, and a military government whose leaders are recognized genocidaires) to pass to the final phase of the genocide in progress. By resuming cooperation with Burundi, the EU accepts its responsibility in supporting this latest phase of the genocide in Burundi. Forewarned is forearmed. WhatsApp contact: +31685638237 Email: [email protected] Twitter: URN HITAMWONEZA
