New book tells the harrowing story of the Titanic Express massacre

"incredibly moving" - Ziauddin Sardar, Independent

On December 28th 2000, Charlotte Wilson, a 27-year-old VSO worker, was killed when her bus, the inauspiciously named Titanic Express, was ambushed in war-torn Burundi. The attackers were members of the Hutu-extremist FNL, a faction linked to those responsible for the Rwandan genocide. Twenty others died with Charlotte, including her Burundian fiance. One of the few survivors was given a chilling message for the Burundian government: "We're going to kill them all and there's nothing you can do".

In "Titanic Express", Charlotte's brother Richard charts his painful struggle to unravel what happened that day, and to understand the complex and brutal history that lay behind it.

Cutting through the obfuscations of the authorities, he uncovers a story of violence, fanaticism and neglect that exposes the self-interest and double standards at the heart of our supposed commitment to human rights and the fight against terror. As the facts begin to emerge, the family's deep personal grief is compounded by the realisation that this murder is just one among thousands, in a war fuelled as much by western cynicism and African greed as by ethnic divisions.

"Titanic Express" is a political detective story, a memoir of grief and a moving portrait of an extraordinary woman who died at the very moment she had found fulfilment. In gripping detail it shows the human reality of lives torn apart by the machinations of war and diplomatic expediency, where competing versions of the truth can be as deadly as bullets and machetes.

See also:

The Sunday Times - 'An unforgotten death in Africa'

The Daily Telegraph - 'Why is my sister's killer feted at peace talks?'

Burundi, human rights, Current Affairs, Politics, Africa

"Despite what the U.N. says, 2006 is a year of despair for us because they have not brought the killers to justice."

From Reuters

BUJUMBURA, June 19 ( Reuters) - Refugees in Burundi called on Monday for the killers of 160 people at a camp there two years ago to face justice.

United Nations investigators had incriminated Burundi's last remaining Hutu rebels, the Forces for National Liberation (FNL), in the Aug. 2004 attack, when victims were hacked, burned and bludgeoned to death at a desolate U.N. transit camp.

The refugees -- Banyamulenge Tutsis -- had fled to Burundi to escape warfare in neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo.

On Sunday, the FNL and Burundi's government agreed to stop fighting and sign a comprehensive ceasefire in two weeks.

A day before the U.N.'s World Refugee Day, survivors of the Gatumba massacre said they seen no prosecutions or arrests.

"We are here now for over two years after fleeing war in Democratic Republic of Congo," said David Munyamahoro, a leader of the ethnic Banyamulenge refugees in Burundi.

"Two months after our arrival our people were massacred. Up to now nothing has been done to find who was responsible."

After the attack, Burundi's government said it had proof a coalition of FNL rebels, Congolese Mai Mai fighters and Rwandan Hutu militiamen were responsible.

"There are people who have claimed the massacre, but they are not worried, no inquiry has been carried out," Munyamahoro said. "Despite what the U.N. says, 2006 is a year of despair for us because they have not brought the killers to justice."

At least 300,000 people were killed in the tiny central African country's civil war, which began in 1993.


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Burundi, human rights, Current Affairs, Politics, Africa

Turning justice on its head: Journalists are jailed while war criminals are rewarded with cabinet posts and immunity from prosecution.

As the FNL steps up its killings of civilians in an apparent bid to strengthen its bargaining position at the "peace talks" in Tanzania, the Burundian government has jailed yet another of its critics on spurious grounds. Outspoken Agence Burundaise de Presse journalist Aloys Kabura was arrested earlier this week and charged with "rebellion" after criticising the government over the detention and beating of a number of his fellow journalists, and running an exposé over alleged police complicity in cross-border smuggling.

Click here to support the call for a war crimes trial for Aloys Nzabampema and independent investigation into the UN Burundi corruption scandal
click here to email UN Burundi spokesman Penangnini Toure and ask him about the progress of the corruption investigation allegedly under way

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Burundi, human rights, Current Affairs, Politics, Africa

Burundi government offers to share power with Gatumba killers as FNL shells civilian districts of Bujumbura

From the BBC

Burundi's army says the last active rebel group has fired mortar bombs into the capital as peace talks that began on Monday continue in Tanzania.

The army said at least one civilian had been wounded in the attack on Bujumbura that happened late on Tuesday night.

From Somali Net

Meanwhile, Burundi’s Interior and Public Security Minister Evariste Ndayishimiye said he hoped the talks would find a way of incorporating the FNL into Burundi's leadership.

"We have a formula of integration. Now we have come here to talk about how to bring ... FNL to the Burundi leadership," Ndayishimiye said.


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Burundi, human rights, Current Affairs, Politics, Africa

Anti-genocide campaigner reportedly released

Following intense pressure from human rights organisations both inside Burundi and internationally, the anti-genocide campaigner Ponpon Mudugu has been released from custody, his family has reported. Mudugu was arrested with his wife Aline Ngendankazi and another campaigner, Thacien Sibomana on 21 May after holding a commemoration event for the victims of genocide in Burundi. The Burundian government alleged that their activities had been a threat to "state security". Aline Ngendankazi was later released, and Ponpon Mudugu has now joined her. The fate of Thacien Sibomana is still unclear.

Burundi, human rights, Current Affairs, Politics, Africa