Burundi arrests opposition official

  1. Posted on Thursday 7 October 2010 - 10:40
    Muhyadin
    Muhyadin Ahmed Roble, AfricaNews reporter in Nairobi, Kenya Photo: Sarah Harting
    Burundian security forces have arrested an opposition official and his wife, his party said. Deo Nshimirimana, a former lawmaker and a Union for Peace and Development (UPD) party official was detained alongside his wife and a businessman.
    Sarah Harting: Burundi
    They were visiting the south of the capital Bujumbura. The UPD condemned the arrest.

    A security official who asked not to be named said the UPD official and even the party are linked to a terrorist group bent on destabilising Burundi, according to AFP.

    But Chauvineau Mugwengezo UPD spokesman refuted the allegations and urged the security forces to bring proof to support their accusations.

    "We strongly condemn these arrests which are a clear sign of intolerance by President Pierre Nkurunziza's government and we demand the release of all members in prison," Mugwengezo said. He added that the government arrested more than 70 UPD members in the last two months.

    Last week, government had jailed the spokesman of another opposition party for charges of defamation filed by the head of the country's intelligence service.

    Meanwhile, the bodies of two people who had been detained at the weekend were found in a river north of the country.

    The association for protection of Human Rights and Rights of Detainees said on Wednesday a third person who was also arrested at the same time was still missing.

    Burundi has recently been challenged by a series of killings which government referred to two opposition groups whose leaders have gone into hiding of being behind the attacks.

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