Brussels, April 6th 2011
On April 9th 2009, Ernest Manirumva, number two at OLUCOME, Burundi’s main association in the fight against corruption, was stabbed to death at his home.
Two years later, Burundian civil society laments that the justice system still struggles to shed light on the assassination, and “there are still gaps in the investigation”. {{1}}
[[1]] Declaration of the Civil Society organizations, 22 months after the assassination of Ernest Manirumva. [[1]]
The need for additional investigations and the reopening of the trial are the core demands raised by civil society, which was deeply shocked by Ernest Manirumva’s assassination. The international community, for its part, feared that the crime would be the first of a long list of acts of violence, making it practically impossible for Burundian defenders to pursue their activities.
“The assassination was clearly organised”, said Jozef Smets, the Belgian Ambassador in Bujumbura, who has been following the legal twists and turns of the Manirumva case for two years.
Read more: English, French and Dutch versions.
To support the demand for justice for Ernest Manirumva and for protection for Burundian human rights defenders, Protection International launches a 26 minute documentary.