For the first time after the suspension of his organization, the President of PARCEM, a local NGO involved in changing people’s mindset, has spoken to the media. He does not understand this sudden and extreme measure. For him, PARCEM’s analytical work based on unquestionable facts was rather more useful to the authorities.
How did all this happen?
Did you have a warning, or you just saw the measure falling?
Not really. I didn’t get any pressure or intimidation from anybody. Rather, PARCEM was even regularly invited to the activities organized by the government. No authority of the Ministry of the Interior has ever warned or blamed me. Instead,the Ministry of the Interior approved on March 19 that what we were doing and our regulations were in compliance with the new law. Between March 19 and June 3, I don’t see anything that has changed to justify this measure.
But at one point, PARCEM was suspended. Wasn’t the authorization to resume your activities subject to “conditions”? Wouldn’t you have crossed the “red line?”
Which conditions? I do not know any! The suspension you’re talking about was related to the court file for the 2015 events. PARCEM was acquitted by the office of the Director of public prosecutions at the conclusion of its investigations and it was limited there.
We resumed our normal activities. God is my witness. No authority gave me conditions under which I should work. At the time, as the file was in the hands of the Attorney General, the Ministry of the Interior was kept apart.
What explains the sudden wrath of the authorities against PARCEM ?
I don’t really know … But according to some personalities contacted, PARCEM makes regular analyzes based on unquestionable facts and this disturbs authorities, because some feel particularly targeted. Others do not want to feel responsible or accountable for what is being done. Yet, we believe that it is the truth that will save us.
It also seems that the fact that PARCEM continues to benefit from support from donors who have suspended their aid to the government does not go down well with the latter. What do you think about that?
I heard of that, but frankly speaking, these are rumors and it does not make sense at all. There cannot be a competition between the finance for the government and that for a civil society organization. Each one receives what is in relation to their missions which are usually known. For those who know well the financing mechanisms of the civil society, this idea is wrong. PARCEM funding can never be in competition with that of the government.
Let’s talk about your “mission”. PARCEM aims in particular at awakening people’s awareness”. On what basis do you believe it would be necessary in Burundi ?
The Burundian society in general is blind to the real problems that must be addressed to move forward. We have a political class that wants to reign without actually governing a country that is faced with multiple challenges.
And we have the population that sometimes ignores its rights. This situation allows manipulation, people’s exploitation, creation of alibis , loopholes and scapegoats . Briefly speaking, it’s the policy of burying one’s head in the sand.
You say, PARCEM is “Speech and Actions”. You speak, it’s true. But what about the actions of your organization?
We have a lot of young people and citizens that we train, supervise and support in several communes of the country. The proof is that the Ministry of the Interior had started a great job of identifying organizations working and present on the ground in the provinces. 14 provinces were concerned by the work. We were one of the few organizations appreciated by the technical services of the Interior Ministry for proving concrete actions in all these provinces. The department of local NGOs in the Ministry of the Interior is the witness .
You have been working for more than ten years. Are your reports being used or exploited by the authorities ?
On several occasions, parliamentarians’ commissions have solicited our contributions for analysis. There are ministries with which we were going to realize technical partnerships for collaboration on concrete cases. In several = retreats organized by the government, PARCEM has always been present.
In general, think tanks, in addition to visible activities, lobby parliamentarians to influence the voting of laws. Have you tried this strategy or you just limit your actions to statements?
Everyone knows how PARCEM contributed to the review process of the legal framework for the fight against corruption although this process is not finished yet, the review of the law on access to information to enhance transparency in the administration, the law on Cooperatives and many others. We were present on the ground.
The Ministry of the Interior accuses you of tarnishing “the image of the country”. If ever this suspension is lifted, would you change your way of working to be on good terms with the authorities?
I was completely surprised. PARCEM guideline has not changed since its creation. We have just completed 10 years of existence. This is the first time such an accusation is made against us. The problem is that these accusations are not supported by a concrete example of a message or a written or verbal statement. In addition, no authority has lodged a complaint against PARCEM for being besmirched by its statements. At present, I do not understand the content of the suspension message.
Are you optimistic about the future of the Burundian civil society?
Whether we like it or not, the place of the civil society in the nation’s life cannot be ignored. The civil society is the pillar of accountability of leaders, respect for human rights, dynamism and self-promotion of citizens in many aspects. The problem is that some authorities do not understand the mission of the civil society.
And, personally, how do you live this situation ?
I remain optimistic. I believe that all this is for short…
Translated into English by Pierre Emmanuel Ngendakumana
IWACU Open Data
