By Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED NATIONS, May 23 -- Nine days after the UN Security Council, the United States and the UN Peacebuilding Configuration on Burundi on May 15 issued statements urging calm in the country given the return of Pierre Nkurunziza to presumably run for a third term, on May 23 UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon issued a statement on the killing of an opposition political figure and his guard (he did not mention the journalists who was with them who was gravely injured, Jean Baptiste Bireha of Bonesha FM ). Here's the UN's full text:
"The Secretary-General condemns the killing of Mr. Zedi Feruzi, leader of the opposition Union pour la paix et le développement (UPD) Zigamibanga party in Burundi, and his bodyguard today in Bujumbura.
This crime, as well as the despicable grenade attack in Bujumbura’s central market on 22 May that left two dead and many others injured, threaten to entrench mistrust and trigger further violence. The Secretary-General urges the Burundian authorities to swiftly bring the perpetrators of these crimes to justice. He extends his deepest sympathies to the families of those killed and wishes a quick recovery to the injured.
These acts of violence constitute a stark reminder of the need for all Burundian political leaders to address the current political crisis with the highest sense of responsibility and to place peace and national reconciliation above partisan interests.
The Secretary-General reiterates his calls for calm and restraint. He calls on the Burundian authorities to uphold the human rights of all Burundians, including the freedoms of assembly, association and expression, and to take concrete steps to prevent political killings and violence.
The Secretary-General encourages Burundian stakeholders to pursue the consultative political dialogue facilitated by his Special Envoy Said Djinnit and representatives of the African Union, the East African Community, the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa and the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region. He calls on the parties to the consultative political dialogue not to be deterred by those who, through violence, seek to prevent the creation of an environment conducive to peaceful, credible and inclusive elections in Burundi."
This crime, as well as the despicable grenade attack in Bujumbura’s central market on 22 May that left two dead and many others injured, threaten to entrench mistrust and trigger further violence. The Secretary-General urges the Burundian authorities to swiftly bring the perpetrators of these crimes to justice. He extends his deepest sympathies to the families of those killed and wishes a quick recovery to the injured.
These acts of violence constitute a stark reminder of the need for all Burundian political leaders to address the current political crisis with the highest sense of responsibility and to place peace and national reconciliation above partisan interests.
The Secretary-General reiterates his calls for calm and restraint. He calls on the Burundian authorities to uphold the human rights of all Burundians, including the freedoms of assembly, association and expression, and to take concrete steps to prevent political killings and violence.
The Secretary-General encourages Burundian stakeholders to pursue the consultative political dialogue facilitated by his Special Envoy Said Djinnit and representatives of the African Union, the East African Community, the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa and the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region. He calls on the parties to the consultative political dialogue not to be deterred by those who, through violence, seek to prevent the creation of an environment conducive to peaceful, credible and inclusive elections in Burundi."
On May 22 Ban said he was encouraged by the dialogue since and concerned about refugees.
Ban said nothing about demonstrators shot, or the crack down on media.
Here is the full text:
"The Secretary-General is encouraged by the ongoing political dialogue in Bujumbura. This involves representatives of civil society, political parties, religious organizations and the Government with the facilitation of Special Envoy Said Djinnit and representatives of the African Union, the East African Community, the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa and the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region.
"The Secretary-General applauds the participants for the progress achieved so far in the discussions, especially on measures to reduce tensions and create propitious conditions for free, fair, inclusive and peaceful elections. He is concerned, however, about the ongoing humanitarian crisis involving refugees. He expresses appreciation to the neighbouring countries for their hospitality to the refugees and urges the Government of Burundi to create conditions for their return.
"The Secretary-General encourages the stakeholders to pursue the ongoing dialogue with a view to reaching a comprehensive agreement on all the issues they have identified. He reiterates the availability of the United Nations to accompany the people of Burundi and the region during this process."
"The Secretary-General applauds the participants for the progress achieved so far in the discussions, especially on measures to reduce tensions and create propitious conditions for free, fair, inclusive and peaceful elections. He is concerned, however, about the ongoing humanitarian crisis involving refugees. He expresses appreciation to the neighbouring countries for their hospitality to the refugees and urges the Government of Burundi to create conditions for their return.
"The Secretary-General encourages the stakeholders to pursue the ongoing dialogue with a view to reaching a comprehensive agreement on all the issues they have identified. He reiterates the availability of the United Nations to accompany the people of Burundi and the region during this process."
What about the demonstrators shot? Ban's silence on the crackdown on media is a pattern, as Inner City Press and the Free UN Coalition for Access reported yesterday, here.
On May 19 the International Committee of the Red Crossissued a carefully worded press release that did not directly say people were dragged out of hospitals:
"The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is extremely concerned about the tense pre-election atmosphere in Burundi and its humanitarian impact on the people of that country. The organization is appealing for calm among all parties involved and asks that health-care staff be allowed to do their work safely and that medical facilities not be interfered with.
"We are very troubled by the repercussions of the violence that has taken place in Burundi," said Georgios Georgantas, head of the ICRC delegation in the country. "People must remember that human life and dignity have to be respected at all times, and that health-care staff and medical centres must be spared from, and protected against, acts of violence and vandalism," said Mr Georgantas. The ICRC is also requesting that the orders issued to police comply with prevailing standards and regulations so that the use of force will be kept to an absolute minimum.
"The crisis has given rise to humanitarian needs in the capital Bujumbura and in neighbouring countries, forcing the ICRC to step up its efforts. In Burundi, ICRC delegates visit those who have been arrested to ensure their living conditions and the treatment they are receiving are in line with international standards. The organization also provides medicines and medical equipment to the prison authorities as needed."
"We are very troubled by the repercussions of the violence that has taken place in Burundi," said Georgios Georgantas, head of the ICRC delegation in the country. "People must remember that human life and dignity have to be respected at all times, and that health-care staff and medical centres must be spared from, and protected against, acts of violence and vandalism," said Mr Georgantas. The ICRC is also requesting that the orders issued to police comply with prevailing standards and regulations so that the use of force will be kept to an absolute minimum.
"The crisis has given rise to humanitarian needs in the capital Bujumbura and in neighbouring countries, forcing the ICRC to step up its efforts. In Burundi, ICRC delegates visit those who have been arrested to ensure their living conditions and the treatment they are receiving are in line with international standards. The organization also provides medicines and medical equipment to the prison authorities as needed."
What of people dragged out of hospitals? Now there's medical equipment to jails.
On May 19 the UN spokesperson Farhan Haq said UN envoy Said Djinnit would briefing the Security Council and, he hoped, the media on May 20. But it did not happened; the Council's penholder, when asked, did not say when it might happen.
Meanwhile Inner City Press was multiply informed of an offer that had been made to Nkurunziza, to ween him from the third term dream: a high but honorary post in FIFA, the football federation, as a sort of goodwill ambassador.
Nkurunziza turned it down, Inner City Press is informed by Permanent Representatives at the UN and other diplomatic sources. Now he has sacked ministers and said it is him or Al Shabaab. What could have been, FIFA. (Inner City Press also asked on May 18 about Qatar detaining a BBC journalist while he reported on the situation of migrant workers preparing there for the FIFA World Cup.)
On Burundi, from the UN's May 18 noon briefing transcript 