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Alert

RSF representatives turned back

(RSF/IFEX) - The following is an 18 September 1999 RSF letter to Burkina
Faso Minister Djibrill Bassolé, protesting the turning back of the
organisation's representatives from the Ouagadougou airport on 17 September:


Mr Djibrill Bassolé
Minister responsible for Security
Ministry of Territorial Administration and Security
Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

Paris, 18 September 1999

Mr Minister,

Upon our arrival at the Ouagadougou airport on 17 Septembere at 4:55 p.m.,
we were detained by men in civilian clothes who claimed to be police
officers. They indicated to us that the chief of police had given the order
that we "reboard the plane". Not having received an explanation, we asked
for a written document confirming this decision, and the opportunity to
contact a diplomat in the Burkina Faso capital. After an hour, still without
an explanation, these same persons escorted us to the plane headed for
Bamako, Mali.

I wish to express my indignation concerning this poor treatment. I remind
you that during the Francophonie Summit in Moncton, on 3 September 1999, the
minister of communications of Burkina Faso, as well as Burkina Faso's
ambassador in Paris, had assured us that Reporters sans frontières was
"welcome in Burkina Faso." In addition, last July, you had expressed your
wish that we "defer the undertaking of [our] mission," before explaining
that we could visit "Burkina at a more appropriate time." Wishing to
preserve a dialogue with your country's authorities, we agreed to reschedule
our visit to this later date.

While we wished to visit Ouagadougou to ascertain progress in the
investigation into the death of Norbert Zongo, the decision to refuse us
entry into your country runs counter to a quick conclusion of this matter.
It seems more and more obvious to us that the government and the head of
state do not want light to be shed on this case. This serves to confirm the
conclusions of the independent commission of inquiry, which stated last May
that "the motive for this murder can be found in the inquiries undertaken by
the journalist, notably his recent investigation of the murder of David
Ouedraogo, the chauffeur of presidential advisor François Compaoré."

Though our representatives were unable to go to Burkina Faso, Reporters sans
frontières will do everything possible to ensure that the inquiry into the
assassination of Norbert Zongo reaches its conclusion, and that the authors
of the crime and the people behind the murder are prosecuted and sentenced.

Protesting this decision once again, Mr Minister, I remain,

Robert Ménard,
Secretary-General

Recommended Action

Similar protest letters can be sent to:

Appeals To

Mr Djibrill Bassolé
Minister responsible for Security
Ministry of Territorial Administration and Security
Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

Please copy appeals to the source if possible.