UN / GENOCIDE

The UN Special Advisor on the Prevention of Genocide told reporters in New York the escalation of violence in Burundi was worrisome, and warned that “everything is possible” should the country relapse into civil war. UNIFEED-UNTV

• Categories: News & Features / News Stories / Unifeed
• Video Length: 00:01:06
• Production Date: 8 December 2015
• Asset Language: English
• Personal Subject: ADAMA DIENG
• Subject Topical: GENOCIDE
• Geographic Subject: BURUNDI
• MAMS Id: 1526459
• Parent Id: 1526459
• Alternate Title: unifeed151208e

Description

STORY: UN / GENOCIDE
TRT: 01:06
SOURCE: UNIFEED-UNTV
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: 08 DECEMBER 2015, NEW YORK CITY, USA / RECENT

Shotlist

RECENT, NEW YORK CITY, NY, USA

1. Wide shot, exterior United Nations Headquarters

08 DECEMBER 2015, NEW YORK CITY, NY, USA

2. Wide shot, Adama Dieng, United Nations Special Advisor on the Prevention of Genocide, walking into press briefing room and sitting at table
3. Close up, photographer
4. Med shot, press briefing in progress
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Adama Dieng, United Nations Special Advisor on the Prevention of Genocide:
“It is time to take action, because I am extremely worried with the manipulation of ethnicity by both the government and the opposition.”
6. Med shot, reporters listening to remarks
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Adama Dieng, United Nations Special Advisor on the Prevention of Genocide:
“Bearing in mind what happened in Rwanda in 1994, we cannot simply neglect the importance of taking early action.”
8. Med shot, press briefing in progress
9. SOUNDBITE (English) Adama Dieng, United Nations Special Advisor on the Prevention of Genocide:
“I would not say that tomorrow there will be a genocide in Burundi, but there is a serious risk that if we do not stop the ongoing violence this may end with a civil war, and following such a civil war everything is possible.”
10. Zoom out, closing of press briefing

Storyline

The UN Special Advisor on the Prevention of Genocide told reporters today (08 Dec) in New York the escalation of violence in Burundi was worrisome and warned that “everything is possible” should the country relapse into a civil war.

Adama Dieng made the comments as the United Nations prepares to mark the first International Day of Commemoration and Dignity of the Victims of the Crime of Genocide and of the Prevention of this Crime, due on Wednesday (09 Dec).

“It is time to take action, because I am extremely worried with the manipulation of ethnicity by both the government and the opposition,” said Dieng, who, early in November, addressed his concerns to the Security Council.

On 15 November, the Security Council adopted a resolution calling on the government to protect human rights and to cooperate with regional African mediators to convene an inter-Burundian dialogue to find a peaceful resolution to the crisis, which erupted after President Pierre Nkurunziza decided to run for a controversial third term earlier this year.

Warning that the recent upsurge is threatening hard-won stability after decades of ethnic strife, Dieng said “bearing in mind what happened in Rwanda in 1994, we cannot simply neglect the importance of taking early action.”

When asked whether he considered the situation in Burundi as verging towards genocide, Dieng warned “I would not say that tomorrow there will be a genocide in Burundi, but there is a serious risk that if we do not stop the ongoing violence this may end with a civil war, and following such a civil war everything is possible.”

In 2006 Burundi became the first post-conflict nation, along with Sierra Leone, to be referred to the UN Peacebuilding Commission, newly created to help countries avert relapsing into bloodshed, but now that relative stability is under serious threat.