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Burkina Faso

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From the Communiqué

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BURKINA FASO: SIGN PETITION FOR ASSASSINATED JOURNALIST NORBERT ZONGO

Ten years ago on 13 December 1998, Norbert Zongo, a journalist from Burkina Faso, was assassinated.

NORBERT ZONGO HONOURED AT FREE EXPRESSION FESTIVAL

A procession to the tomb of assassinated editor Norbert Zongo wrapped up the second International Festival of Freedom of Expression (Festival international de la liberté d'expression et de la presse, FILEP) in Ouagadougou, the capital city of Burkina Faso.

TAKE ACTION! BURKINA FASO: JOURNALIST'S KILLER STILL AT LARGE

2 October 2006

35 AFRICAN PAPERS JOIN FIRST PRESS & DEMOCRACY ACTION

In the first campaign of the Press and Democracy network, thirty-five African newspapers are appealing for an end to impunity in the murder of Burkinabe journalist Norbert Zongo, according to Reporters sans frontières (RSF). Press and Democracy, Africa's first electronic network for the defence of press freedom, includes newspapers and organisations from nineteen francophone African countries. Its initial campaign involves the simultaneous publication of a full-page insert about the trial of Zongo's assassins. Participating newspapers include "Le Jour" in Côte d'Ivoire, "Les Echos du Jour" in Benin, "Le Pays" in Burkina Faso, "Le Messager" in Cameroon, "L'Observateur" in Mali, "Alternative" in Niger, "Le Populaire" in Senegal, "La Référence Plus" in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and "Crocodile" in Togo. The insert was also published in the 25-26 February issue of the French daily "Le Monde". The Press and Democracy network was launched with support from RSF and the Francophonie's Intergovernmental Agency.

JOURNALIST'S MURDERERS UNPUNISHED, RSF BARRED FROM COUNTRY

Two years after the murder of journalist Norbert Zongo in Burkina Faso, Reporters Sans Frontières (RSF) has denounced the fact that the culprits remain unpunished. Although an independent commission of inquiry in May 1999 identified six suspects and implicated the President?s brother, no one has been charged, according to RSF.

IMPUNITY CONTINUES IN ZONGO CASE

The Burkina Faso government's failure to fully investigate the death of journalist Norbert Zongo is indicative that "the government is not yet determined to shed full light on this case," says a recent Reporters sans frontières (RSF) report. The report, entitled "What's happening with the inquiry into Norbert Zongo's Death?", was issued on 13 December, marking the first anniversary of the death of Zongo. It examines the government's response to the official independent committee of inquiry into the journalist's death. The former editor of "L'Indépendant" and a human rights worker, Zongo was killed with three others on 13 December 1998. Zongo was a long-time critic of the impunity with which the government of Burkina Faso operated and was one of the founding members of the Mouvement Burkinabé des droits de l'homme et des peuples (Burkinabé Movement for Human and Peoples' Rights, MBDHP).