Protect The Banyamulenge - Immediate Action Required

Violence perpetrated against the Banyamulenge minority Tutsis in the Great Lakes Region of Africa has been a humanitarian disaster for decades and, in recent years, this targeted genocide has escalated to become one of the great tragedies in modern Africa. In August 2004, 166 innocent children, women and men almost every one a Tutsi Banyamulenge were ruthlessly slaughtered by extremists in the UN-run Gatumba refugee camp in Burundi. It appears, to the horror of survivors across the world, that this is about to be repeated.

In the past two weeks, the Burundian government and the United Nations have been attempting to relocate some 2,300 South Kivu Banyamulenge from the Mwaro refugee camp (Central Burundi) to a new camp in Bwagirza (northeastern Burundi). These refugees, fearing for their lives in the face of credible and specific reports that they will face vicious attacks in the new camp, refused to relocate to that place to be slaughtered. They chose instead to face perhaps equal threats in their homeland, and are attempting to return to South Kivu. Surprisingly, even this attempt to return home has been thwarted by their own government, which has, shockingly blocked their progress at the border!

On behalf of the Banyamulenge Tutsi people, we demand action from the international community:

1. Immediate protection of the Banyamulenge Tutsi minority from the Mwaro camp, and provision of food, shelter, safety and medical treatment.

2. A commitment to concrete, long-term efforts to protect the Banyamulenge .

3. Processing of refugee status requests from Banyamulenge Tutsi as high priority.

4. A full investigation of the Gatumba genocide under international law, and prosecution of those involved.

Time is running out the genocidal efforts to wipe out the Banyamulenge Tutsis continue unabated, and the blood of the innocents will be on everyones hands if it is not stopped.