Burkina Faso: investigation into massive extrajudicial executions needed
The Government of Burkina Faso should immediately investigate allegations made by the Burkinabe Human and Peoples' Rights Movement(MBDHP) that 106 extra judicial executions have taken place over the past three months, Amnesty International said after raising its concerns to the government.
* News Release Issued by the International Secretariat of Amnesty
International *
6 February 2002
AFR 60/001/2002
24/02
The Government of Burkina Faso should immediately investigate
allegations made by the Burkinabe Human and Peoples' Rights
Movement (MBDHP) that 106 extra-judicial executions have taken
place over the past three months, Amnesty International said
today after raising its concerns to the government.
According to MBDHP, the unburied dead bodies were found
handcuffed, bullet-ridden and "thrown to the dogs and vultures".
Reports say the bodies were found throughout the country, in
areas such as Bobo-Dioulasso, Kaya, Ougadougou and surroundings,
Boulsa and Ouahigouya.
The Minister of Security, Djibrill Yipéné Bassolet
acknowledged on monday the involvement of the police in the
killings, but added that: "There has never been any
extra-judicial killing. What may have happened is that in the
face of the menace that bandits constitute, security forces were
compelled to use rigorous methods to overpower armed gangs".
"The Minister's statement is regrettable as it
constitutes a prejudgment and hints that no investigation will be
set up," Amnesty International said.
The organization urges the Government of Burkina Faso to
reconsider its position and carry out an exhaustive, impartial
and independent investigation to find those responsible for the
killings and determine whether the police exerted an excessive
force against the presumed criminals. All those suspected of
being responsible for the killings must be brought to justice
according to international standards of fair trial.
It is extremely grave that the alleged extrajudicial
executions might have been carried out in a premeditated way as
part of an anti-banditry campaign launched by the National Police
in 2001 to curb crime throughout the country.
"Extra-judicial killings constitute a serious breach of
international law to which Burkina Faso is a party. The
government should immediately ensure that no such executions
take place in the future," Amnesty International said.
Background
The government of Burkina Faso has frequently reacted adversely
to public demands for an end to impunity in Burkina Faso.
On 13 December 1998 the badly burned bodies of Norbert
Zongo, an independent journalist, and his three companions,
Ernest Zongo, Ablassé Nikiéma, and Blaise Ilboudo were found in
and around a vehicle about 100 kilometres from Ouagadougou. The
Independent Commission of Inquiry set up to investigate the
deaths concluded that Norbert Zongo had been killed for purely
political reasons and named five suspects.
Members of a coalition formed to press for those
responsible for the killings to be brought to justice and for an
end to impunity, were arrested and detained. Demonstrations
against impunity were prevented or dispersed by the security
forces. Only one of the five suspects named by the Commission has
so far been indicted.
****************************************************************
You may repost this message onto other sources provided the main
text is not altered in any way and both the header crediting
Amnesty International and this footer remain intact. Only the
list subscription message may be removed.
****************************************************************
To subscribe to amnesty-L, send a message to
with "subscribe amnesty-L" in the message body. To unsubscribe,
send a message to
in the message body. If you have problem signing off, contact
only messages concerning list administration. Past and current Amnesty
news services can be found at
Visit
and for other AI publications. Contact [email protected] if you
need to get in touch with the International Secretariat of Amnesty
International.