Burkina Faso: IFJ condemns arrest of demonstration leaders

December 15, 2008

IFJ Condemns Arrest of the Leaders of the Demonstration Marking 10 Years Since Norbert Zongo’s Murder

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has condemned the arrest by the security forces in Burkina Faso of four organisers of a big demonstration marking the 10th anniversary of the assassination of investigative journalist, Norbert Zongo, in Burkina Faso.

The four are leading members of the Coalition Against Impunity which organised the demonstration in the capital, Ouagadougou, last Saturday, in support of the call for a fast-track inquest into Zongo’s murder. The demonstrators renamed Nation Avenue, one of the main thoroughfares of Ouagadougou, Norbert Zongo Avenue. This morning (15th December) the four – Chrysogone Zougmoré, President of the Coalition, Tolé Sagnon, Vice-President, Bénéwendé Sankara and Jean Claude Meda – were arrested and questioned by the gendarmerie about the demonstration and as to why they have renamed Nation Avenue, Norbert Zongo Avenue.

“We consider these arrests by the Burkina authorities as an act of intimidation aimed at preventing the inquest from shedding light on the assassination of Norbert Zongo” said Gabriel Baglo, Director of the IFJ Africa office. “President Blaise Compaoré must show his commitment to bring the killers of Norbert Zongo to justice and to put an end to impunity in Burkina Faso”.

Zongo, an investigative journalist and editor of the weekly L’Indépendant, was found dead on December 13th, 1998. His charred body, and that of three friends, was discovered in his car at Sapouy, a town 100 km south of the capital. Zongo was at the time investigating the death of David Ouédraogo, driver of the brother of the President of the Republic Blaise Compaoré. David died after being allegedly manhandled by the presidential guards following his arrest on charges of stealing money from his employer, François Compaoré.

Jean Claude Meda, one of the leaders of the coalition and president of the Burkina Faso Journalists Association, AJB, said “The demonstration brought thousands of citizens into the streets calling for an end to impunity in Burkina Faso. This is perhaps why we were released so promptly after the arrest. We must however be alert as we don’t know what Colonel Martin Zambo Zongo, who conducted our interrogation, may recommend to his superiors. ”

The IFJ is urging the government of Burkina Faso to stop all harassment against the protesters, to guarantee an impartial judicial process on the killing of Norbert Zongo and to put an end to impunity in Burkina Faso.

For more information contact the IFJ at +32 2 235 2207