{Burundi’s parliament on Monday elected the eleven members of a Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), but the opposition refused to take part in the vote. The TRC is to cast light on ethnic massacres that have scarred the country ever since independence.}
“We boycotted the vote to protest against the creation of a TRC based only on what the ruling CNDD-FDD party wants,” said parliamentary opposition leader Charles Nditije in an interview with AFP.
The CND-FDD of President Pierre Nkurunziza is mainly Hutu. “Normally, it takes two to reconcile,” added Nditije, saying that truth and reconciliation cannot take place without justice.
The Burundian opposition and civil society criticize the TRC law for omitting the judicial element and stressing forgiveness, or for having included political personalities.
Parliamentary speaker Pie Ntavyohanyuma nevertheless hailed the “historic” vote, according to AFP.
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