LETTER FROM MEMBERS OF CONGRESS TO PRESIDENT BUYOYA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP11M01338R000400210008-9
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 27, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 1, 2013
• Sequence Number: 8
• Publication Date: November 18, 1988
• Content Type: CABLE

Declassified in Part- Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/08/01 : CIA-RDP11M01338R000400210008-9
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FM-AMEMBASSY BUJUMBURA
TO SECSTATE WASHOC PRIORITY 1754
BT
UNCLAS BUJUMBURA 04849
FOR AF/C AND H.
E.O. 12356: N/A
TAGS: ?PDC, PREL, BY, US
SUBJECT: LETTER FROM MEMBERS OF CONGRESS TO PRESIDENT BUYOYA
REF: (A) EMBASSY-AF/C TELCONS: (B)1BUJUMBURA 4771
1. THE EMBASSY RECEIVED -A LETTER'THROUGH?,THE.,,MAILS0ATED:____
.00TOBER 5, 1988,_FOR-PRESIDENT BUYOYA FROWTWENTYSIX:MEMBERS'r1
MkTME:ALS: CONGRESS:- (SEE PARA. 4 BELOW FOR THE TEXT AND
SIGNATURES.) IT WAS SENT TO THE EMBASSY'S LOCAL ADDRESS AND
AND NOT CONTAIN-ANY COVERING LETTER REOLJESTING'US. TO DELIVER
IT TO PRESIDENT BUYOYA. IN THE ABSENCE OF INSTRUCTIONS FROM
THE DEPARTMENT ABOUT THE LETTER,. I GAVE IT TO MINISTER OF -
EXTERNAL AFFAIRS CYPRIEN MBONIMPA ON NOVEMBER 18 ( WE RECEIVED
THE LETTER THE PREVIOUS WEEK). WITH THE -REQUEST THAT HE PASS
ITON TO PRESIDENT BUYOYA.
2. I ALSO GAVE MBONIMPA A COPY OF THE LETTER. WHICH. HE READ
IN MY PRESENCE. HE PROMISED TO GIVE IT TO PRESIDENT BUYOYA
IMMEDIATELY. HE SAID THE PRESIDENT WOULD DECIDE HOW TO
RESPOND TO THE LETTER, BUT, THAT HIS ADVICE. WOULD. BE-TO REGARD
IT AS OVERTAKEN BY EVENTS. MBONIMPA SAID THAT, SPEAKING
PERSONALLY, HE UNDERSTANDS THE -CONCERNS UNDERLYING THE LETTER,
BUT THAT THE SIGNATORIES APPEAR TO HAVE BEEN INFLUENCED BY
EXAGGERATED MEDIA REPORTS ABOUT EVENTS IN BURUNDI. FOR EXAMPLE.
THERE WAS NO "TORTURE OR ILL TREATMENT OF PRISONERS." MBONIMPA
ADDED THAT THE RECORD IS NOW BEING SET STRAIGHT BY REPORTS SUCH
AS THE ONE PREPARED BY THE UN AGENCIES HERE (REF B). MOREOVER,
HE ADDED, THE MEASURES RECOMMENDED IN THE CONGRESSIONAL LETTER
ALREADY HAVE BEEN OR ARE BEING CARRIED OUT BY THE GRB.
3. MBONIMPA CONCLUDED BY SAYING THAT THE GRB RESPECTS AND
UNDERSTANDS THE CONCERNS OF THE MEMBERS OF CONGRESS. AND HE
ASKED ME TO CONVEY TO THE SIGNATORIES OF THE LETTER THE MESSAGE
THAT THE GRB WILL TAKE THEIR VIEWS INTO ACCOUNT AS IT IMPLEMENTS
ITS POLICIES OF NATIONAL RECONCILIATION AND UNITY.
4. THE DEPARTMENT MAY WISH TO PASS ON_THE ABOVE SENTIMENTS TO
THE MEMBERS-OF CONGRESS CONCERNED.
5. BEGIN TEXT OF LETTER.
"YOUR EXCELLENCY:
AS MEMBERS OF THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS, WE ARE WRITING TO
EXPRESS OUR CONCERN ABOUT REPORTS THAT SEVERAL THOUSAND UNARMED
CIVILIANS WERE KILLED BY GOVERNMENT FORCES IN DISTURBANCES
BEGINNING ON AUGUST 14, 1988 IN THE NORTHERN PROVINCES OF NGOZI
UNCLASSIFIED
OCA
INCOMING
Declassified in Part- Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/08/01 : CIA-RDP11M01338R000400210008-9
Declassified in Part- Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/08/01 : CIA-RDP11M01338R000400210008-9
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AND KIRUNDO. WHILE THE OFFICIAL FIGURES RELEASED IN BUJUMBURA
PUT THE DEATH TOLL AT 5,000, OTHER SOURCES ESTIMATE THE FIGURE
TO BE MUCH HIGHER. WE ARE ALSO CONCERNED-THAT MANY CIVILIANS
ARRESTED OR EXTRAJUDICIALLY EXECUTED MAY HAVE BEEN VICTIMS BECAUSE
OF THEIR ETHNIC ORIGIN AS HUTUS.
WE RESPECTFULLY URGE YOU TO ENSURE THAT ANY FURTHER ACTIONS BY
GOVERNMENT FORCES BE CONSISTENT WITH INTERNATIONALLY-ACCEPTED
STANDARDS OF HUMAN RIGHTS. WE STRONGLY RECOMMEND THAT YOU:
-- IMMEDIATELY ISSUE CLEAR INSTRUCTIONS TO ALL SECURITY
PERSONNEL THAT THE USE OF LETHAL FORCE AGAINST CIVILIANS OR
OTHERS IS UNJUSTIFIED EXCEPT IN THE MOST EXTREME LIFE-THREATENING
SITUATIONS AND THAT THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR SUCH KILLINGS WILL BE
PROSECUTED;
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-- INSTRUCT SECURITY PERSONNEL THAT TORTURE AND ILL-TREATMENT
OF PRISONERS WILL NOT BE PERMITTED AND THAT PERSONNEL RESPONSIBLE
FOR SUCH KILLINGS WILL BE PROSECUTED;
-- ESTABLISH AN IMPARTIAL COMMISSION OF INQUIRY INTO REPORTS
OF TORTURE AND-KILLINGS OF CIVILIANS BY GOVERNMENT FORCES TO
RECOMMEND ACTIONS-TO BE TAKEN AGAINST SECURITY PERSONNEL INVOLVED,
IN HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS AND ACTIONS TO PREVENT FURTHER ABUSES;
-- MAKE PUBLIC THE NAMES AND PLACES OF DETENTION OF THOSE
TAKEN INTO CUSTODY IN CONNECTION WITH THE DISTURBANCES; AND
-- RELEASE 'WITHOUT DELAY ALL PRISONERS HELD SOLELY ON
ACCOUNT OF THEIR ETHNIC ORIGIN OR POLITICAL BELIEFS AND CHARGE
AND BR/NG TO TRIAL ALL OTHERS IN ACCORDANCE WITH INTERNATIONAL
STANDARDS.
WE URGE YOU TO UNDERTAKE THE ABOVE ACTIONS AND THEREBY DEMONSTRATE
YOUR GOVERNMENT'S ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF INTERNATIONALLY ACCEPTED
HUMAN RIGHTS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR PROMPT ATTENTION TO OUR RECOMMENDATIONS.
SINCERELY. ENO TEXT.
(SIGNED BY:)'
UNCLAS SECTION 02 OF 02 BUJUMBURA 04849
BILL GREEN LES AUCOIN
HERBERT BATEMAN PATRICIA SCHROEDER
MIKE-LOWRY---7 WILLIAM GRAY
COHN JIM SAXTON
GEORGE-BROWN ROBERT MRAZER
MORRIS UDALL. RICHARD DURBIN
RON WYDEN CHET ATKINS
HARRIS FAWELL FRANK WOLF
MARCY KAPTUR CLAUDE PEPPER
STENY HOYER BYRON DORGAN
BARBARA BOXER LARRY SMITH
JOHN PORTER JOE KENNEDY
BEN BLAZ JIM SCHEUER
PHILLIPS
END OF MESSAGE UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED
Declassified in Part- Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/08/01 : CIA-RDP11M01338R000400210008-9