The 184th LI Executive Committee:
Regret the atmosphere of intimidation which marked the municipal elections in Burundi on Monday 24 May;
Recall the allegations of electoral fraud against the Burundian Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI: Commission Électorale Nationale Indépendente);
Reiterate the importance of independent democratic institutions and political and civil rights, cornerstones of a liberal democratic society;
Support the calls from thirteen opposition parties for the municipal elections to be held afresh,
Deplore the decision of the Burundian Minister for the Interior to ban opposition parties from organising meetings during the Presidential election campaign;
Alarmed by the arrest of Mme Alice Nzomukunda, President of the Alliance Démocratique pour le Renouveau-Urunani Rw’Imvugakuri (ADR); former Vice-President of the Republic of Burundi and Vice-President of its National Assembly;
Resolved that Liberal International:
Condemns the interference of the Burundian Government in the election campaign;
Calls for the Minister for the Interior to repeal the prohibition on opposition campaigning;
Expresses solidarity with the detained political prisoners in Burundi;
Calls for the immediate release of all opposition leaders;
Requests that the United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, urgently address this issue with the Burundian Government;
Resolves all member parties and organisations to make representations to the Burundian Government in support of free and fair elections ahead of upcoming polls
