Women worried over CVR inability to fully protect witnesses

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission-CVR has held a two-day meeting from August 29 for women affiliated to the National Women’s Forum.

Pierre Claver Ndayicariye, Chairman of CVR “Burundians need to know the truth about the painful past that Burundi experienced during various crises,”

Speakers expressed their concerns over the protection of witnesses who recounted what happened or showed the commission mass graves in which are buried victims of crimes committed in Burundi from 1885 to 2008.

They wonder how the commission will protect these witnesses whereas it has no police. “Some witnesses and victims of conflicts will be afraid to report what they saw or experienced to protect their family,” said one of the speakers in the meeting.

Pierre Claver Ndayicariye, Chairman of CVR said the commission shared the same concerns. “Testimonies form the backbone of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. We will do our best to protect our sources of information,” said Ndayicariye.

The members of the Women’s Forum proposed to the commission to rewrite Burundi history. The commission’s chairman endorsed the suggestion adding that the history of Burundi that is taught in schools is not reliable as evidence, arguing that those who wrote it could ignore some information and events for several reasons.
“Burundians need to know the truth about the painful past that Burundi experienced during various crises,” he said.