WUNRN
|
Francine Nijimbere at the association for the protection
of women's rights, ADDF |
BUJUMBURA, 25 February 2008 (IRIN) - Francine
Nijimbere relies entirely on her mother for basic things like bathing and
eating. Her husband cut off her arms up to the elbows in 2004, for failing to
give birth to a boy. She was pregnant at the time and lost the baby due to her
injuries, which included cuts on her stomach. The man - a soldier - was
arrested and later sentenced to life in prison but was recently released
following a presidential pardon.
After her arms were cut off, Nijimbere left for
Burundi's southern province of Makamba with her daughter, now four, where she
lived with her mother. She is now living in fear following her husband's
release and has sought refuge with ADDF, an association based in Bujumbura,
dealing with the protection of women's rights. She spoke to IRIN on 22
February:
"In December [2007], the president announced a
pardon for all inmates suffering from incurable diseases. I hear my husband was
released on a false name; how can a criminal like him be pardoned? The head of
state pardoned inmates suffering from incurable diseases but my husband was not
ill.
"I was married to his elder brother, who was a
soldier. He died in 2000 five months after our wedding. However, I remained in
the house as I waited for the end of the mourning period in order to return to
my parents' home. My mother-in-law insisted I should not go to my parents since
dowry had been paid. She convinced my parents that I should marry her other
son; I was reluctant but my parents and in-laws reached an agreement.
"Right from the start, I never accepted him. One
night, he forced the door to my house and raped me. I remained there; where was
I supposed to turn?
"During our life together, he was just there; he
never helped me, he did not buy me any clothes, nothing. Sometimes, I spent the
nights out in the cold, other times he was good enough to let me in. When he
realised I was not getting pregnant soon enough, he threatened to marry another
wife and even built a house for her. He did not bring her home because I got
pregnant then.
"When I delivered, he simply inquired about the sex
of the baby. When he heard I had given birth to a girl, he did not even bother
to visit me at the hospital, and he did not pay the bill when I was discharged.
After three months, he came home from work and asked me: 'Do you consider
yourself a mother after giving birth to girls?' He repeatedly told me I was
worthless.
“I become pregnant again, four months later. This time
he told me that if I gave birth to another girl, I would have to find somewhere
to take her. Later when he came home on leave, he was all sweet, telling me he
was sorry if he had wronged me and that from then on things would be different,
that he was a new man. And I believed him. I actually hoped he would change.
"Then one evening, I saw him sharpening a machete.
I did not know he was preparing to kill me. After the evening meal, I went to
sleep, leaving him with his mother and sister. I was awakened by the machete
blow on my arm.
"I cried and cried, I begged for pardon but he cut
my second arm. Nobody came to my rescue. Neighbours were afraid of him because
he was armed. With cuts everywhere, I had a miscarriage. My husband left me
there bleeding, and fled. He was later caught and imprisoned. I was taken to
hospital out of pity, no one expected me to survive.
"I stayed in a coma for six days in hospital. When
I was well enough, I went to live with my old mother. These days I depend on
her for everything. If she is ill, I cannot get anybody to feed me. I cannot
wash, I cannot clothe myself.
"If neighbours take pity on me, they come and
assist me. I am more helpless than a newborn baby.
"Two weeks ago, my sister-in-law came to inform me
that he has been released from prison. I know it meant death for me, so I fled
to Bujumbura. I heard that while in prison, he had vowed he would 'finish the
work' if he ever came out. I hear he said cutting my arms was not what he
wanted in the first place.
"The only thing I want now is justice and
assistance."
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