Despite progress much remains to be done to bring peace to Burundi - UN

Despite recent steady progress in the peace process, major political and social tensions remain in Burundi as it tries to emerge from a decade of civil war, human rights violations are a cause of great concern and a strong international donor response is vital, according to a new United Nations report released today.

In it, Secretary-General Kofi Annan urges the Security Council to renew for another six months, until 31 May 2005, the UN Operation in Burundi (ONUB) set up in May to help cement a multi-party, power-sharing government and pave the way to peace in the small Central African nation torn asunder by ethnic conflicts between Hutus and Tutsis.

He cites a litany of alleged human rights abuses by all parties including "extrajudicial execution and disappearance, excessive use of force, sexual violence, torture and ill-treatment of detainees, arbitrary and illegal arrest, extortion, intimidation and looting of property."

"I remain very concerned about the extent of human rights violations," he adds. "The culture of impunity, which has contributed to the nature of the conflict in the country, must be addressed decisively."

But he also notes the "breakthrough decision" by the majority of parties in the country of some 6 million people to extend the transitional period to allow for further preparations for delayed elections, averting a constitutional crisis.

"However, much more remains to be done by the Burundian stakeholders to advance the major objectives of the transition," he cautions, calling for speedy disarmament and demobilization of armed groups, a process that has yet to begin owing to "a lack of agreement on several outstanding issues."

For example, the Government's Burundian Armed Forces (FAB) continue to resist confinement to barracks as required by the Arusha accords of 2000, citing the continuing threat posed by the Front National de Libération (FNL), which did not sign the pact.

Mr. Annan notes that frequent clashes continue between FAB and rebel group signatories on the one hand and the FNL on the other in the three northwestern provinces of Bujumbura Rural, Citiboke and Bubanza, although the military situation remains stable elsewhere.

He adds that although there is still no clear evidence who organized the August massacre of 152 Congolese Tutsi refugees in Gatumba near the border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), UN investigators believe the FNL, which claimed responsibility, did indeed participate in the attack.

Mr. Annan also cites a continuing rise in crime characterized by indiscriminate and opportunistic incidents as well as by reports of sexual and gender-based violence, including rape of minors.

"A strong donor response to humanitarian and other pressing appeals would help stabilize communities and the country as a whole at a time of increased returns of refugees and internally displaced persons, the beginning of the disarmament and integration of the armed forces leading to the elections," he adds.

"So far, the disbursement of pledged support has been slow in Burundi, and I strongly call on all donors to act decisively."

As of 5 November, ONUB's military strength stood at 5,526 of the overall authorized strength of 5,650.