UNHCR: Gatumba survivors refuse to move 

The massacre victims had already fled violence in DR Congo Congolese. Tutsi survivors of a massacre in Burundi last month are unwilling to be relocated away from the Democratic Republic of Congo's border.

The United Nations is trying to move the refugees deeper into Burundi for  their own safety.

Just one family was prepared to move to Mwaro province from the camp at Gatumba, where more than 150 Congolese were killed in the August attack.

The availability of schools for their children is one of their concerns. The school term begins in DR Congo next Monday, and refugees are keen their children should attend.

In hospital

According to the UNHCR, which is organising the transfer, other refugees say they were worried about moving because some of their relatives are still in hospital.

Others want to be able to return to DR Congo as soon as the situation improves.

On Monday a Congolese official visited the Gatumba camp and assured the refugees that they would be safe to go home.

The camp in Mwaro province is 50km from the capital Bujumbura, in the centre of Burundi, and is able to accommodate at least 6,000 refugees. Another camp will be opened in Rutana province near the border with Tanzania.

In the aftermath of the massacre, the Burundi government took the  decision to the close the three camps along the border, where some 20,000 Congolese had sought refuge from fighting in DR Congo in June.
 

Our investigation reports from the Catholic University of Bukavu confirm that a number of students known to be of Burundian origin have received invitations to appear before the military investigation team, set up to in the aftermath of the Gatumba Massacre and the threat by the Burundian army to attack the DR Congo. Reliable sources of information have confirmed to us that all means, including torture, are being used to extract as much information from all Burundian arrested on Congolese soil. It is also confirmed that many students and non students of Burundian origin have gone in hiding since the beginning of this investigation. Amongst others individuals which have gone missing are   Jean Claude MWEBEMBEZI, Damacene HATEGEKIMANA, Gregoire NIYOKINDI, Jean Baptiste Aganze et Audace NAHIMANA.

Similar reports from the Burundian capital Bujumbura confirm that individuals of Congolese origin are also harassed by the police, security services and similar services. Congolese civilians are all considered as suspects and in intelligence with those who carried the Gatumba massacre. A number of  Congolese have been briefly detained by the Burundian police and released then after. These are Yves Kibati, et Louis Nendjo. 
 

The National Liberation Forces (FNL), a Burundian Hutu rebel movement, claimed responsibility for the killings in Gatumba camp.

Heritiers de la Justice call upon the governments of DR Congo, Rwanda and Burundi to deal with  the current events in respect of international standards protecting refugees, foreigners and civilians. 

Heritiers de la Justice calls upon the office of Congolese military prosecutor to respect fundamental human rights of all Burundians citizens living in Congo, 

Heritiers de la Justice calls upon all local, national and international human rights organisations to call upon the three governments for the respect of foreigner civilians living in these countries