Two days after the massacre at the Gatumba Refugee Camp in Burundi, Burundian Hutu militia leader Agathon Rwasa openly claimed responsibility on French International Radio, RIF.  Belgian lawyer Philippe Reyntjens at August, 2004 called Rwasa on the phone and asked him if he was the one responsible.  Rwasa proudly admitted, “Yes, I am responsible for killing the Banyamulenge Tutsi in the camp.”[1]

Why has this man not been brought to justice?  I ask all those who read this, and the international community as a whole, to help bring this man to justice on behalf of his innocent victims.  Agathon Rwasa is believed to live in Burundi.  The survivors of the massacre cannot find peace or security while he lives freely in the same country.  If he and the organization responsible for the massacre in 2004 are not held accountable, they will be able to commit atrocities such as this again in the future.

[1]​ http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/3564358.stm

 [1] www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/africa/2009/08/090813_burundi_prime.shtml

Burundi’s national election will occur in June, 2010.  Agatha Rwasa is a leading candidate for the national presidency.  We implore the UN and international bodies of justice to prevent Agatha Rwasa, an admitted war criminal and perpetrator of crimes against humanity, from becoming the leader of a sovereign state. In order:

 To condemn the Gatumba massacre in the strongest terms,

To hold the leadership of Palipehutu-FNL accountable for their campaign of violence against civilians in Burundi,

 To ensure that no perpetrator of a crime against humanity will be elected as a head of state, ii. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8385756.stm

We submit our petition to this body in the interest of justice for all people