Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Bujumbura (Agenzia Fides) - Tension remains high in Bujumbura, capital of Burundi, where protests continue against the decision of President Pierre Nkurunziza to stand for election for a third term. The President announced that the legislative and local elections on May 26 have been postponed to June 5, and June 26 has been confirmed for the presidential elections.
Even the local Bishops have asked to postpone the vote through a message that is dated May 12 and only now was sent to Agenzia Fides. "In the current state of things, if this situation continues, the elections that we expect to be carried out in a peaceful manner quiet, in transparency, without intimidation, will not be possible", the Bishops said. "Safety is not guaranteed and there are no radios that can relaunch the ideas and programs of all. Some members of the international community have frozen aid destined to the elections. Do you think these elections are fair and apply to everyone and that the results are credible and acceptable for all?".
The Pastors of the Catholic Church ask the authorities to restore security and freedom of press for all, in particular by allowing the reopening of radios (see Fides 16/05/2015) not aligned with the government; finally they ask demonstrators to avoid violence.
If these conditions are not met the Bishops "openly declare that our Church will not be able to accompany the electoral process by sending election observers, or by sending priests in different local organs of the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI)".
"The Church cannot support or accompany an electoral process which, obviously, is not consensual and whose results are likely to divide citizens rather than reconcile them" the Bishops conclude. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 21/05/2015)
