Burundi: Commission must investigate conduct of security forces

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL PUBLIC STATEMENT 10 May 2011 AI Index: AFR 16/004/2011 Burundi: Commission must investigate conduct of security forces The commission of inquiry set up to investigate crimes and killings which took place around the 2010 elections, as announced on 1 May by President Nkurunziza, must also investigate the conduct of Burundi’s security forces, Amnesty International said today. [...] The commission of inquiry should urgently redress the Burundian government’s failure to fulfil past promises to investigate allegations of torture and other ill-treatment by Burundi’s intelligence service in late June and early July 2010 and prosecute those responsible. [...] The Burundian government did not act on its commitment made in August 2010 to investigate these cases and sanction those responsible in accordance with the law. [...] The announced commission of inquiry gives the Burundian government another opportunity to uphold the law by investigating and prosecuting these human rights violations and to ensure there is no impunity for these crimes. [...] The Burundian government should: Appoint members of the commission of inquiry based on their recognized impartiality, competence and integrity.