Linda Aitken’s tribute to African leader accused of murder, rape and torture

A Federal Liberal candidate in a crucial seat paid tribute to an African political leader whose government was accused by the International Criminal Court of murdering, raping and torturing his opponents.

A Federal Liberal candidate in a crucial seat paid tribute to an African political leader whose government was accused by the International Criminal Court of murdering, raping and torturing his opponents.

Linda Aitken, the candidate replacing former attorney-general Christian Porter in the must-win Western Australian seat of Pearce, took to Facebook to mourn the passing of Burundi president Pierre Nkurunziza after his death in 2020.

“At the memorial Service for His Excellency Pierre Nkurunzia (sic) the Immediate past President of Burundi. A life well lived but too short,’’ she wrote on June 28, after a service held in WA.

A military officer holds a portrait of late Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza during his funeral in Gitega, Burundi, June 26, 2020. (Photo by Evrard Ngendakumana/Xinhua via Getty)

Ms Aitken, a clinical nurse specialist, also visited Burundi in 2019 and posted pictures to Facebook of her meetings with officials, including Burundian ministers, and sitting on a crocodile.

In July 2019 Linda Aitken went to Burundi, posting pictures of herself sitting on a crocodile. Photo: Facebook.

“I was part of a medical mercy mission to help with healthcare in Burundi. As a clinical nurse I strongly believe in being actively involved in providing humanitarian assistance to countries in need,’’ she said in a statement on Wednesday.

“I was not aware of any of the claims made against Pierre Nkurunziza until after his death.’’

Liberal candidate Linda Aitken, a clinical nurse, is contesting the must-win seat vacated by Christian Porter. Photo: Facebook

Her connection to Mr Nkurunziza is through the Pentecostal church established by former tennis great Margaret Court, the Victory Life Centre, of which she is a member.

The Facebook post.

The church raised eyebrows when it established a consulate for Burundi in 2019 with Mrs Court’s husband Barry Court named honorary Australian consul. The consulate is inside the Victory Life Centre in Perth.

Burundi's President Pierre Nkurunziza is seen during a meeting with former President of Tanzania, Benjamin William Mkapa, in Bujumbara, Burundi on December 09, 2016. (Photo by Renovat Ndabashinze/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)

A devout Pentecostal preacher and former Hutu rebel leader, Mr Nkurunziza became president of Burundi in 2005 in a peace deal brokered to end the years-long civil war, and in the early years of his rule, established schools and improved infrastructure in the impoverished country.

Elite military units keep guard as President Pierre Nkurunziza kicks off his official campaign for the presidency at a rally on June 25, 2015 in Busoni, Burundi. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

While he was initially praised as a peacemaker, his efforts to secure a third term, and amend the constitution allowing him to hold power for longer, saw the country descend into violence and an attempted coup.

Linda Aitken meeting officials in Burundi. She held meetings with Burundi Ministers to discuss potential opportunities to benefit Burundi and her people.

In 2016, the International Criminal Court in The Hague authorised an investigation into Mr Nkurunziza’s government, alleging “crimes against

humanity’’ were committed between 2015 and 2017 by “State agents and groups implementing State policies’’.

“The attack targeted those who opposed or were perceived to oppose the ruling party after the announcement in April 2015 that President Pierre Nkurunziza was going to run for a third term in office,’’ the ICC stated.

Liberal candidate Linda Aitken, a clinical nurse, is contesting the seat vacated by Christian Porter. Photo: Facebook

It alleged the crimes against humanity included: “murder and attempted murder, imprisonment or severe deprivation of liberty, torture, rape, enforced disappearance, persecution.’’

“The preliminary examination of the situation in Burundi was announced on 25 April 2016. At the time more than 430 persons had reportedly been killed, at least 3400 people arrested and over 230,000 Burundians forced to seek refuge in neighbouring countries.

Liberal candidate Linda Aitken. Photo: Facebook

“The preliminary examination focuses on acts of killing, imprisonment, torture, rape and other forms of sexual violence, as well as cases of enforced disappearance that have allegedly been committed since April 2015 in Burundi,’’ the court stated.

Linda holds the tail of a crocodile.

Mr Nkurunziza reacted by pulling Burundi out of the ICC’s jurisdiction in 2017, the first country in the world to do so.

In 2018 the United Nations said crimes against humanity were still being committed there.

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