Burundi: Massacre at Gatumba Refugee Camp

The United States condemns in the strongest possible terms the attack that took place on Gatumba refugee camp in Burundi on August 13, 2004.  Armed elements, including the  National Liberation Front of the Party for the Liberation of the Hutu People, participated in this vicious attack on an already vulnerable population of refugees, many of them women and children.  We extend our condolences to the families of the victims and to the Congolese government and people.
 
The United States strongly supports the initiative of the UN Security Council to quickly investigate the massacre.  We call on the authorities of Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo to cooperate in identifying the perpetrators and in bringing them to justice.
 
We also call upon all countries in the region to respect the peace accords and to cooperate fully to oppose advocates of violence who carried out this attack, in order to ensure conditions of peace and security for all. 

2004/907