Bernard Ndayisenga, an MP elected from the political coalition of the opposition Amizero y’Abarundi, was beaten up in the morning of 13 April in Kanyosha neighborhood, in south of the capital Bujumbura.
Amizero y’Abarundi MP beaten in Kanyosha
Kanyosha residents blame members of the youth wing of the ruling CNDD-FDD.
Pierre Célestin Ndikumana, the chairman of the opposition coalition Amizero y’Abarundi says Honorable Bernard Ndayisenga had gone to Kanyosha very early in the morning to rescue supporters of Amizero y’Abarundi who were beaten by the ‘Imbonerakure’-members of the youth wing of the ruling CNDD-FDD.
“When he arrived in Kanyosha, MP Ndayisenga was also beaten by the same group of Imbonerakure,” Ndikumana says.
He also says three of Amizero y’Abarundi supporters were seriously wounded. “They are hospitalized in the medical charity “Médecins Sans Frontières” in Kigobe,” he says adding that the same Imbonerakure also carried out an attack on the home of one of the victims.
Ndikumana worries that opposition members will not be allowed to freely participate in the campaign for the upcoming constitutional referendum. “What is happening is inconceivable. Our members are being abused and intimidated. Unfortunately criminals are not punished,” says Ndikumana. He mentions that it is the third time that MP Bernard Ndayisenga is beaten by members of the ruling party, adding that two other members of the same coalition suffered the same fate. Iwacu contacted authorities of Muha Commune to react on that issue but they refused.
At the National Assembly, a session to analyze a bill on press in Burundi was scheduled but did not take place because of the absence of the MPs of the Amizero y’Abarundi coalition who went to assist their supporters abused.
“The session that was scheduled for today is postponed,” said Pascal Nyabenda, the speaker of Burundi National Assembly. He told MPs who were present that they would not have the quorum to adopt the bill following the absence of Amizero y’Abarund MPs.
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