THE Eastern African sub-regional Support Initiative for the
Advancement of Women (EASSI) has called on East African head of States currently
sitting in Dar es Salaam to discuss the on-going political crisis of
neighbouring Burundi to ensure peace is attained. In their statement they
issued yesterday in Dar es Salaam, said that the group members have asked head
of states to consider rights of unprivileged groups such as women, children and
older people who have been subjected miserably. They have however condemned the
continued acts of violence and the deteriorating Human Rights Situation in
Burundi occasioned by the contested electoral process in which the incumbent president,
His Excellency Pierre Nkurunziza is seeking a third Term against Constitutional
and democratic principles. The statement further says that, women group members
are particularly concerned with the on-going situation in the once ravaged war
torn country whose situation has occasioned disruption of normal life of the
good people in terms of peace. The women group are also concerned with the
denial of the denial of the right to access of information and the freedom of
peaceful assembly and deaths of innocent women, men and children.
Burundian President His Excellency Pierre Nkurunziza
Other
situation that irks women are the resultant stream of refugees flowing into the
neighboring countries of Tanzania, Rwanda, DRC and Uganda albeit under
difficult circumstances due to the denial of the right to movement out of the
country for those seeking refugee status. The statement further says that
the women group are extremely concerned about the indiscriminate use of small
arms and light weapons including grenades on unarmed civilians including women
and children. The statement is further quoted as saying that there is the
current state of unrest and insecurity in Burundi which has huge potential to
push the citizens into extreme poverty, desolation and misery. In view of this the women group has therefore
demanded that EAC Heads of State should ensure that, the Burundian President respect
the Arusha Accord and the Constitution of Burundi that recognize the two term
mandate of the heads of state. Other
demands are associated with the restoration of peace, security, and order in
Bujumbura prevails in the region. Other demands are to adhere to the
fundamental rights and freedoms of the people of Burundi as enshrined in the
constitution of Burundi, regional and international legal instruments. The
nation should also accord special protection to the vulnerable groups including
women, children, persons with disabilities and the elderly that are affected by
the unrest in line with International standards. Finally, in recognition of the
inalienable right to be heard and the right to due process, that all the people
arrested and detained as a result of the ongoing unrest in Burundi should be
released and their safety guaranteed.
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