Tactics and tools for the protection
of Human Rights Defenders

Gabriel Rufyiri is president of the Observatory for the Fight against Corruption and Economic Embezzlement (OLUCOME) in Burundi. Since 2002, the OLUCOME works on extremely sensitive cases, involving the highest authorities of the State. Because of their activities, OLUCOME members are often threatened, intimitaded or imprisoned.

In April 2009, Ernest Manirumwa, Vice President of the Observatory, was murdered at his home in Bujumbura. His murderers have not been identified yet. Since then, threats against Gabriel Rufyiri and another human rights defender, Pierre Claver Mbonimpa, president of the APRODH (Association for the Protection of Human Rights and Detained Persons) increased significantly. It’s been a year that both of them are fighting in order not to leave Ernest Manirumwa’s assassination unpunished.

In March and April 2010, individuals have been surprised lurking about near Gabriel Rufyiri’s house or trying to break into it. According to the Observatory, M. Rufyiri has also been informed (by a reliable source) that his assassination’s already planned.

The Observatory fimrly condemns these intimidation attempts, which only aims at « stopping the fight of the OLUCOME and APRODH against corruption and human rights violations in Burundi ».