UN mission in Burundi observes first anniversary of massacre

The United Nations Operation in Burundi (ONUB) today observed the first anniversary of a massacre of more than 150 people from eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) at the Gatumba refugee transit centre in Burundi and repeated its call to the Government of Burundi to complete the initial investigation.

"One year ago, on August 13, 2004, a refugee transit centre in Gatumba, Burundi, was brutally attacked by a large group of armed individuals. During the attack 152 Banyamulenge refugees from the Tutsi communities of South Kivu in the Democratic Republic of Congo were killed and another 106 people, including Burundian returnees, were wounded," ONUB said in a statement.

ONUB was set up in May 2004 to help cement a multi-party, power-sharing government and pave the way to peace in the small nation after years of civil strife.

At the request of the Security Council, ONUB and the UN Organization Mission in the DRC (MONUC) conducted a joint investigation into the incident and found that Burundi's National Forces for Liberation (FNL), which is the only rebel group to reject a place in the power-sharing government and which claimed responsibility, could not have been solely responsible.

"The search for those responsible for the massacres continues," ONUB said.

Although the Security Council urged the Government of Burundi to carry out a full investigation, with international assistance, if need be, "unfortunately, no investigation report has been issued by the government to date and the authors of the attack remain free," the mission said.

ONUB added: "In the name of the victims and as part of the effort to end impunity for the killings and massacres that have plagued this region for too many years, we urge the Government of Burundi to complete its investigation, issue the report of its findings and bring those responsible to justice."