Condemning Killing of Burundi Opposition Party Leader, Secretary-General Calls on Authorities to Uphold Human Rights, Prevent Violence

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon:

The Secretary-General condemns the killing of 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.