The Ntabariza SPF
organization that fights for the rights of Burundian prisoners and their
families is rescuing some of the prisoners that President Evariste Ndayishimiye
recently pardoned.
President
Ndayishimiye pardoned 5442 prisoners convicted of minor crimes, when he
discussed those imprisoned in Muramvya prison on November 14, 2024, and ordered
that they all be released within two weeks.
The Head of State
explained that he took this decision in order to reduce the overcrowding of
prisoners in various prisons in the country, and to ease the burden of money
that the Government of Burundi will pay.
He said, "I
know that these are the only ones who have been released, the money is paid, no
one has been arrested and they will no longer say 'Students have lost their
seats' or 'they have lost their books'. Hear how poor we are.”
Jean Marie
Nshimirimana, leader of the Ntabariza SPF organization, on November 26, told
Iwacu newspaper that while there are two days left for the deadline given by
President Ndayishimiye, the process of releasing these prisoners is still slow.
He said, “If the
President of the Republic pardons a prisoner, the decision must be respected.
We are saying this because we have seen compliance with this decision to
release these people pardoned by the Head of the Nation is going slowly.
Nshimirimana gave
the example of prisons where many prisoners have been pardoned, saying, “For
example, out of 400 who should be released in Ngozi prison, only 287 have been
released. In Muyinga prison, out of 340 people who are subject to this
decision, only 123 have been released, while the deadline is two days
away."
He pointed out
that in the list of 5442 prisoners pardoned by President Ndayishimiye, there is
a question that they will be opened before he grants amnesty on November 14.
