BUJUMBURA, Feb. 5 (Xinhua) -- Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza on Monday called for more cohesion amongst Burundians to boost their well-being at the celebrations of the 27th anniversary of adoption of the Unity Charter.
Nkurunziza made the call in Gitega Town, Gitega Province, central Burundi. The celebrations started with the laying of flowers on the unity memorial erected in the town. They were also marked by cultural dances with the accompaniment of traditional songs and beaten drums.
Burundian citizens adopted the Unity Charter with 89 percent in a referendum on Feb. 5, 1991, when the three ethnic groups -- Hutu, Tutsi and Twa -- accepted to live in harmony.
Despite the adoption of the unity charter, one of the biggest crises broke out in 1993 with the assassination of the first democratically elected Hutu President Melchior Ndadaye, which sparked deadly violence between Hutu and Tutsi groups and a massive forced exile.
"Unity is a permanent shield to protect Burundi. We should all meditate and leave this place after understanding that unity is a shield against discrimination," said Nkurunziza when addressing a crowd of people in central Burundi.
"Love, solidarity development, joy and peace are gains from unity," said Nkurunziza. He advised citizens to teach unity to their children.
According to him, the Burundian government has set up institutions whose main goal is to consolidate unity, including the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, the National Commission on Lands and other Belongings, the National Council for National Unity and Reconciliation, the Ombudsman's institution and so on.
