YouSaid · the spoken record

Mbonimpa

THE RECORD WRITES THIS SPEAKER AS MBONIMPA

lines on the record: 90
first: 1987-09-24
most recent: 1991-09-24
sittings or episodes: 3
sources: un-general-debate

Every line below is reproduced as it was said and linked to the record it came from. Nothing here is summarised or generated. Directory · Search · Corrections

“"The political programme that advocated strengthening the authority of Mwarai and the chiefs unfortunately eliminated many Hutu chiefs by eliminating the small fiefdoms," From 1957-1958, when the movement for independence was gathering strength in Africa and, in particular, in Burundi, the colonial agents did an about-face and sought an alliance with the Hutu elements in order to thwart national, the nationalism of the young cadres of whom the majority were Tutsis, They financed and created many parties, based for the most part on tribal ideology, whose objective was to oppose the Uprona party, which was alone calling for immediate independence.”
1988-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 43 (1988)
“"We should not simplify judgments, speaking of the dominant Tutsis, the oppressor Tutsis and the dominated oppressed Hutus. In agricultural Burundi, which is a land-locked,, over-populated country, we saw two main groups facing each other, each made up of both Tutsis and Hutus, led by dynamic Baganwas. Further on, the author, speaking o£ the colonial administration, said·.”
1988-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 43 (1988)
“To succumb to blackmail, the blackmail of terrorists, would be to compromise for ever our search for peaceful solutions. We note that awareness of ethnic origin, which is ages old in Burundi, is not a source of conflict that our oral pre'-colonial traditions were aware of. Under the political regime before colonization, the royal families that ruled used the two main tribes, the Hutus and the Tutsis, in guiding the affairs of state. The colonial regime, in its search for greater effectiveness of the indirect administration system, chose to deepen ethnic rifts by assigning to each tribe specific hierarchical roles. The system of modernizing the political regime eliminated the Hutus from the administration of the country. Mr. Jean Paul Harroy, the former Governor-General of Rwanda-Burundi in his book "Burundi", stated·.”
1988-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 43 (1988)
“Subsequently, this antagonism increased further and periodically degenerated into bloody upheavals that were explained by international media often in a very peremptory way, thereby encouraging the demands of extremist groups and making calm dialogue almost impossible. We should point out that of all those who have spoken about these recent events In Burundi not one has condemned the actions of the rebels who have massacred innocent people. Many reports, and even certain official declarations, support the notion that these murderous rebels are seeking power·, and that. If their demands are heeded, there will be no further violence in Burundi. However justified their demands, nothing can legitimise the deaths of innocent people.”
1988-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 43 (1988)
“To deal with the Ncega and Marangars tragedy, there was a great spontaneous urge of national solidarity, which enabled the Government to provide first aid to the victims of the disaster. On behalf of the Government and people of Burundi I should like to take this opportunity to thank the friendly countries and organizations that have so generously given emergency assistance and to reiterate our request to the international community for humanitarian aid. Apart from the material losses and loss of life, the events in Ntega and Marangara have once again threatened to destroy the solid social tissue that had always characterized our society. The existence of ethnic antagonism in Burundi is a recent phenomenon. It has been caused by social and political rivalries between the Hutu and Tutsi elite who divided power after independence in 1962.”
1988-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 43 (1988)
“From the outset, the Government has pursued a policy of openness with respect to these facts. It regularly kept informed representatives of countries and international bodies residing at Bujunburaţ it invited a delegation from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), foreign diplomats and journalists to visit the troubled areas those who wanted to learn the facts in situ were authorized to do so. The Secretary-General of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) was invited to carry out a fact-finding mission in Burundi, and a World Bank mission visited the country. Similarly, the Secretary-General of the United Nations may at any time send a fact-finding mission to Burundi if he thinks it necessary.”
1988-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 43 (1988)
“I take this opportunity to deny accusations made in certain press circles concerning the role of the Burundi army and to reaffirm that as of 20 August 1988 the situation was under control in the two affected communes and peace reigned throughout the rest of Burundi. Despite the army's effectiveness in halting the killing, Burundi cannot but lament the large human and material losses. During this period 5,000 lives were lost and material damage is estimated at 320 million. Few of the wounded survived the massacre, while large numbers of people fled to Rwanda and neighbouring Burundian communes, leaving behind them poverty and desolation in a region that had once been the wealthiest and most active in the country. Those are the grim facts that have plunged Burundi into sorrow.”
1988-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 43 (1988)
“Not satisfied with their crimes in the Ntego commune, the hordes of murderers extended the horror and killing to the neighbouring commune of Marangara. There too the r Λ el a overcame the resistance organized spontaneously by the local people of all ethnic groups, and committed more of the same atrocities, destroying all human life in their path and setting fire to houses, coffee and banana plantations and forests. Given this unprecedented violence and the large loss of life, the Government was compelled to send in the army to halt the massacres and protect the people. The armed forces restored order in three days and with the greatest discipline.”
1988-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 43 (1988)
“Unfortunately, just as the Government had begun to congratulate itself on the return to normalcy, violence erupted on 14 August 1988 in the neighbouring commune of Ntega in the adjacent province of Kirundo. This time, learning from their failure due to the peasants’ refusal to believe lies, the organizers themselves took action and began the massacre. We know what happened then. Heavily drugged and armed with machetes, spears and clubs, they began a real blood-bath, killing men, women, children and old people alike. They put a radical stamp on their crimes by burning houses and crops and slaughtering livestock. Initially, the perpetrators of these horrors selectively attacked members of the Tutsi group and their property. They then executed those of their own ethnic group who refused to join in the massacre.”
1988-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 43 (1988)
“When the authorities learned of the explosive situation and of these criminal plans, they tried first to understand the reasons behind them and then to calm the population by showing clearly that there was no civil war and that the country was calm. The people quickly realized that they had been manipulated. They re-opened roads they had cut off as a preventive measure, and returned to their homes in peace. All this took place very peacefully. In its spirit of tolerance the Government did not attempt to punish the perpetrators of the disturbance. It was believed that the misfits would see reason because the twisted ideas they were spreading would be quickly discredited through dialogue and persuasion.”
1988-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 43 (1988)
“For several months the provincial authorities had noted the spread of seditious writings and cassette recordings stirring up racial hatred. These were being constantly distributed by small groups of Burundian refugees who entered the country from abroad. This subversive literature made these peaceable peasants believe in an imminent massacre, and tried to make them take pre-emptive action to forestall the imaginary enemy. It has now been established that these disturbed activists were seeking to sow confusion, evade governmental vigilance and cause a war with ethnic overtones in order to spread desolation throughout the entire country.”
1988-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 43 (1988)
“The international community heard of the grin events that shook Burundi in extremely far-fetched versions in that segment of the press that delights in the sensational; in most cases these accounts were in line with the version of the perpetrators of these crimes. I wish therefore to ahead some light on the events so members may have as dear a picture as possible and so the international community nay finally learn of the guilty d is in for nation put before it. It began in the province of Managara in Hgozi province, where the downtrodden populace rose up armed with spears and machetes to defend themselves against a non-existent enemy·, they refused to withdraw, claiming that they were in danger of being killed.”
1988-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 43 (1988)
“Javier Perez de Cuellar, the Secretary-General, for his constant, tireless efforts in the service of the international community and for the outstanding successes he has scored - to his own credit and that of our Organization - during the past year. Before stating my country's position on some of the items before this Assembly, I wish briefly to describe the situation that has prevailed in Burundi since the establishment on 3 September 1987 of our Third Republic. I should like first of all to provide some information about the painful events that have ravaged two communes in the north of Burundi and that very nearly destroyed the stability of my country's social fabric.”
1988-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 43 (1988)
“We pay tribute to the President as not only an eminent, skilful diplomat, very familiar with the many difficult concerns of the international community, but a fervent defender of solidarity and co-operation between peoples in a spirit of dignity and sovereign equality. My delegation is determined to give him every assistance so that his noble task may be successfully accomplished. We join previous speakers in expressing our deep gratitude to Mr. Peter Florin, who conducted the Assembly's varied work competently and effectively as President of the forty-second session, with a devotion that redounded to the honour of the United Nations and his country, the German Democratic Republic. We also pay tribute to Mr.”
1988-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 43 (1988)
“In addressing this international gathering, I hove the honour to convey to the Assembly a message of fraternity and best wishes for every success from Major Pierre Buyoya, Chairman of the Military Committee for National Redemption and President of the Republic of Burundi, on the occasion of this forty-third session. I am also pleased to express on behalf of my Government warn and heartfelt congratulations to Nr. Dante Caputo, foreign Minister of Argentina, and the other officers of the Assembly on their election to guide our work and the unanimous expression of confidence it represents.”
1988-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 43 (1988)
“We cherish the hope that this move to reduce and eliminate the instruments of death will continue and be extended to all categories of weapons. In this connection, my country welcomes the convening here of the first International Conference on the Relationship Between Trade and Development which highlighted the close interrelationship of disarmament and development. We express the hope that the Final Document adopted by the Conference, which is a first step in the right direction, will generate positive effects, so that the world can move towards total and complete disarmament and devote more attention to development, justice, peace and international security.”
1987-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 42 (1987)
“While we welcomed this communication of historic significance, my delegation would have been even more delighted if we could have been assured that this agreement would enable us to tackle the economic and financial problems facing the world. The resources made available in this way should be directed towards the sectors of economic and social development to enable us, particularly the least developed countries, to catch up in this area. Those who are well versed in disarmament matters tell us that the arms that are to be eliminated relate primarily to Europe. They apparently account for 20 per cent of global military expenditure and so far have never been used. The destruction that has occurred to date has resulted from the use of conventional weapons, which account for the remaining 80 per cent of global expenditure.”
1987-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 42 (1987)
“An equitable solution can be found only in the context of global negotiations on the implementation of decisions on the international economic order. When the President of the United States of America, Mr. Ronald Reagan, addressed the Assembly on 21 September, he confirmed that the United states of America and the Soviet Union had, four days earlier, agreed to conclude an agreement before the end of the year on the elimination of medium- and short-range missiles. This was confirmed by the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Soviet Union, Mr. Eduard Shevardnadze, when he spoke on 23 September in the Assembly.”
1987-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 42 (1987)
“The analyses that led to these alarmist conclusions are based on the deterioration of the economies of those States. But this deterioration is not necessarily to be attributed to the leaders of, or the policies followed by, the States whose disappearance is being predicted. In fact, the prices of the commodities and services that these countries provide by producing, exporting and selling their commodities and agricultural goods are set in bureaucratic offices that are unaware of the concerns of those States. A reorganization of all aspects of the international market is the only way to correct the economic disparities in the world today. The debt problem of many of our countries is simply a logical result of the policy of price fixing and the fluctuations in the abilities of our countries to pay.”
1987-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 42 (1987)
“According to figures published in the Final Document of the International Conference on the Relationship between Disarmament and Development, which took place only recently in New York - from 24 August to 11 September - it is estimated that in the developing countries about 1 billion people live below the poverty line, 780 million suffer from malnutrition, 850 million are illiterate, 1.5 billion have no access to medical care, 1,5 billion are unemployed, and 1 billion do not have adequate housing. Those statistics speak for themselves and, alas, the projections for the future are not encouraging. On the contrary, it is forecast that most of our countries are simply not economically viable. That is a euphemism for saying that these States should simply disappear. Without a doubt, those are matters of concern.”
1987-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 42 (1987)
“Although my statement has dealt primarily with political issues, it is my delegation's view that they are far from being the only, or indeed the most important, hindrances to international peace and security. Indeed, in Burundi we believe that the survival of our planet Earth depends also on solutions being found to such thorny problems as poverty, hunger, overpopulation, the worsening economies in the majority of our States, over-armament, indebtedness and so on.”
1987-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 42 (1987)
“Turning to the situation in Latin America, my country supports the diplomatic efforts of the Contadora Group and the Support Group to find a peaceful, mutually acceptable solution to the crisis in Central America. That is why we welcomed the signing, on 7 August 1987, of the Guatemala agreement between the five countries of Central America, which are resolved to create a better future for the Central American region. We call upon all those who have interests in that part of the world to make a positive contribution to ensuring the success of the implementation of the treaty signed in Guatemala City, so that peace and stability can be restored to that region.”
1987-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 42 (1987)
“The same approach is valid for the situation in Kampuchea, in the South-East Asian region. The Kampuchean people can achieve national reconciliation, and the eight-point proposal submitted by the Coalition Government can serve as a basis for a peaceful settlement of the conflict. Also in the Par East region, my country is concerned at the unjust fate imposed on the Korean people by the division of their territory into two parts. North and South, and by the presence of foreign troops. It is our view that without outside interference the two parties can achieve peaceful reunification. In that spirit, we welcome the contacts that have occurred between North and South and we trust that they will be continued and even extended to all levels, in order to achieve the full and peaceful reunification of the Korean nation.”
1987-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 42 (1987)
“The conflict between Iran and Iraq may, if we are not careful, provide additional proof of the impotence of this Organization, and particularly of the ineffectiveness of decisions taken by its principal organ, the Security Council. If resolution 598 (1987) , adopted unanimously by the Security Council in July last, suffers the same fate as its resolution 435 (1978) , which established the plan for Namibia's independence, it will be difficult to restore our Organization's credibility. We call on those who have special responsibilities for the maintenance of international peace and security to pay heed. As for the situation in Afghanistan, my delegation believes that the sons and daughters of that country, if left to themselves, without any pressure from foreign forces, can find a solution that is in their own interests.”
1987-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 42 (1987)
“We for our part would advocate that the Palestinians' right to a homeland be recognized and that the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) , the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people, should participate on a footing of equality with the representatives of other States in the region in the search for a lasting solution to the Middle East problem. That region, of strategic importance to the entire world, is, alas, despite the tireless efforts made by many statesmen - most recently by the Secretary-General, Mr, Javier Perez de Cuellar - still the scene of one of the most devastating and deadly wars of our age.”
1987-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 42 (1987)
“Burundi hopes that a peaceful solution to this problem will be found through negotiations within the context of the Ad Hoc Committee of the OAU, or else through arbitration by the International Court of Justice at The Hague. In the Middle East, where the problems are as old as this Organization, the situation is far from being a pretty one. When the Israelis deny a homeland to the Palestinians, when the Palestinians swear to destroy the Jewish State, when the friends of both do not urge them to practise moderation and to seek viable political compromises, when Lebanon remains occupied and divided, we have to realize that the chasm is indeed wide and that peace is hardly imminent.”
1987-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 42 (1987)
“That is a situation which, to say the least, is paradoxical, and legal niceties have not been able to give the advantage to one side or the other on this question, which is a question of puce decolonization. We urge the parties directly involved in the situation to demonstrate great political flexibility and by carrying out the referendum advocated in resolutions of the OAU and the United Nations. As for the conflict between Chad and Libya, we call on these two brother countries, these two neighbours, to demonstrate African wisdom by avoiding a situation that would once again paralyse the pan-African organization, which has not yet recovered from the Western Sahara conflict.”
1987-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 42 (1987)
“Not only must we condemn the Pretoria regime for its underhanded actions against the front-line States; we are also duty bound to call for compensation for the losses incurred and to demand that adequate measures be taken to prevent any further acts of destruction. In the northern part of the African continent there is a situation which/ despite the efforts made by the Organization of African Unity (OAU) and the United Nations, has not yet been satisfactorily resolved. Members will have guessed that I have in mind the case of the Sahraoui Arab Democratic Republic. A number of States represented here have recognized it, while others consider that its territory should be an integral part of another State, itself a Member of the Organization.”
1987-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 42 (1987)
“The apartheid regime of Pretoria, which is the very negation of the universally recognized principle of the equality of all human beings, has no right to rule, and it must disappear· That is why my delegation supports and encourages the nationalist movement, the African National Congress (ANC), in the struggle against the inhuman racist apartheid regime and calls for the unconditional release of the nationalist leader Nelson Mandela and his comrades· The acts of aggression and destabilization constantly carried out by the racist Pretoria regime against neighbouring independent States - Angola, Mozambique, Zambia and Zimbabwe in particular - call for total condemnation by our Organization.”
1987-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 42 (1987)
“Faced with this situation, the delegation of Burundi believes the international community must mobilize to take up the challenge and give the South West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO), the sole, authentic representative of the Namibian people, all the assistance it needs in its day-to-day struggle against the South African occupier. The actions that must be taken urgently include the imposition of comprehensive mandatory sanctions under Chapter VII of the Charter, because South Africa's illegal presence is a permanent threat to the neighbouring countries in the region and to international peace and security. As for South Africa itself, this Organization has on many occasions condemned and criticized the system of Government that the authorities of that country have imposed by force on their citizens.”
1987-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 42 (1987)
“Despite resolution 2145 (XXI) of 27 October 1966, ending South Africa's Mandate; despite the advisory opinion given by the International Court of Justice on 21 June 1971, declaring that South Africa had an obligation to withdraw its administration from Namibia and end its occupation; despite Security Council resolution 435 (1978), setting forth the plan for Namibia's independence; despite innumerable resolutions, conferences and seminars - the international community still finds itself powerless in the face of South Africa's continuing refusal to withdraw from Namibia, where it continues to plunder and exploit the wealth of the Namibians on the land and underground.”
1987-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 42 (1987)
“After all, we are not fat from the theatre of those deadly operations, and their impact is felt on our economy in one way or another. Therefore, we are interested in a solution to the region's problems being found as soon as possible. We regard the tragic and anachronistic situation of the Namibian people as a thorn in the flesh of the people of Africa, an insult to the United Nations Council for Namibia, a challenge to the Security Council and a cause of shame to the United Nations. What has not been done, or attempted, in order to drive South Africa out of Namibia? And what has been the result?”
1987-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 42 (1987)
“In my delegation's view, one of the challenges facing the United Nations, to whose solution it must give priority if it wishes to retain its credibility, is that of southern Africa, where a Territory for which our Organization has direct responsibility is illegally occupied; where independent countries Members of out Organization are constantly being attacked, without being given any breathing space; where armed bands are supplied and financed at great cost to destroy the infrastructure and sow death and devastation among the peoples; and where an inhuman regime denies millions of men and women the right to participate in running their country. In addition to our duty of solidarity to the front-line countries, Burundi has genuine reasons for being interested in what happens in that region.”
1987-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 42 (1987)
“Burundi's position will also be based on those well-known objective criteria with regard to disarmament, the relationship between disarmament and development, the economic and debt crisis, political problems such as the illegal occupation of Namibia, apartheid in South Africa, the situation in Central America, the wars in Asia and the tragic problem of the division of the Korean people.”
1987-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 42 (1987)
“The resolve of our political will, with respect for our commitments to neighbouring countries and other countries of the subregion, is the basis of ail our hopes for a future improvement in our relations. Burundi's presence at and participation in deliberations within United Nations bodies will be assured ..." Burundi's position on the major international problems of the day, and more specifically on the items now before the Assembly, is based on our analysis of them in keeping with the principles of our foreign policy: good-neighbourliness, non-interference in the internal affairs of other States, positive non-alignment, international co-operation and solidarity and support for genuine national liberation movements.”
1987-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 42 (1987)
“President Buyoya reaffirmed that the new regime would guarantee fundamental rights and freedoms and the safety of foreigners living in our country, so that our country might regain the characteristics for which it was noted: a welcoming and hospitable land where it is a joy to live. That is why I would highlight, among the measures already taken to recover our national health, the release of all political prisoners, amnesty for some prisoners under common law, the opening of churches that had been closed and resumption of the right to worship. The President also declared; "Burundi will continue to work with other African countries within the Organization of African Unity to find solutions to the serious political and economic problems that face our continent.”
1987-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 42 (1987)
“National unity, built up so patiently and re-established with such difficulty, was threatened. Finally, the worsening of relations with neighbouring countries and other friendly nations naturally had an impact on co-operation. It was for all those reasons - and many others that it would take me too long to set out here - that President Buyoya, with the support of other dynamic forces in the nation, took over the country's leadership without bloodshed, in an atmosphere of calm and dignity characteristic of the people of Burundi. In his speech on his programme made on 3 October this year.”
1987-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 42 (1987)
“I shall also venture to explain briefly the reasons that led the armed forces of Burundi, supported by patriotic forces, to take up the difficult but noble and inspiring task of guiding our country's destiny. The regime that was overthrown on 3 September 1987 had been guilty of many violations of our citizens' rights and fundamental freedoms, flouting the cardinal principles enshrined in and guaranteed by our laws and the Constitution, Thus, freedom of expression and thought were no longer tolerated, and this had led to the arbitrary and prolonged detention of innocent persons. Similarly, a watch was being kept on freedom of religion and worship. As a result, disputes between the State and the Catholic Church emerged - sterile wrangling designed only to cover up the mistakes being made in overall policy.”
1987-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 42 (1987)
“We join other delegations in extending our sincere thanks to your predecessor Mr, Humayun Rasheed Choudhury, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh, for the work he accomplished during his term of office. We pay a tribute also to Mr. Javier Perez de Cuellar, our Organization's Secretary-General, for his untiring and increasing work in the service of the international community. Before stating my country's views on some of the items on our agenda, I should like to extend to the Assembly the greetings and best wishes for the success of our work of the President of the Military Committee for National Safety and President of the Republic of Burundi, Major Pierre Buyoya.”
1987-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 42 (1987)
“Mr. President, your election to guide the work of this session honours you and gives us cause for rejoicing for, given your qualities as an experienced diplomat and your great experience of the United Nations system, we know that you will lead us to our objective. Moreover, coming from the German Democratic Republic, a country with < rich history, and belonging as you do to a rather special generation, you have a special sensitivity that will enable you to help us in finding the compromises necessary to resolve the many problems that confront us. My delegation, which is particularly pleased at your election, will give you and the other officers of this Assembly all possible assistance.”
1987-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 42 (1987)