17 December 1999

Alert

Campaigners against impunity face jail sentences


Incident details

Norbert Zongo

human rights worker(s)


**Updates IFEX alerts of 7 and 1 December, 9 July, 7 May and 18 January 1999, 22, 16 and 15 December 1998**

(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) - The following is a 16 December 1999 ARTICLE 19 press release:

BURKINA FASO: Human rights defenders face gross injustice

Seven human rights defenders face up to five years in prison in Burkina Faso after being charged with undermining army morale in connection with a Declaration published at the end of November.


The Declaration called for government forces to respect the human rights of those continuing the widespread campaign against impunity, particularly during a commemorative march planned for 13 December.

The march, of 50,000 people, held on 13 December to protest the murder of renowned journalist and campaigner against impunity Norbert Zongo and three others, went off peacefully. There is national outrage at the government's failure to bring to justice those responsible for the deaths, who were alleged by an independent commission of inquiry to include government security officials.

Andrew Puddephatt, Executive Director of ARTICLE 19 says:

"This is a blatant travesty of justice. Norbert Zongo's killers continue to walk free apparently with the government's blessing. Yet those who demand justice and an end to impunity are brought before the courts. This looks like a cover-up."

Five of the seven facing charges are members of the Collective of grassroots democratic organisations and opposition parties, a leading civil society organisation. The others are journalists who published the Declaration. The trial is set for 27 December 1999. A team of top defence lawyers from the region, headed by a Malian lawyer, is working together to defend the rights of these human rights activists.

Andrew Puddephatt added:

"The Burkinabé government should get its priorities right. It should drop these charges immediately and stop targeting key members of civil society who have done nothing more than exercise their fundamental right to freedom of expression. And it must break the cycle of impunity, not least by bringing Zongo's killers to justice."




Source:

ARTICLE 19
Free Word Centre
60 Farringdon Road
London
EC1R 3GA
United Kingdom
info (@) article19.org
Phone: +44 20 7324 2517
Fax: +44 20 7490 0566
 

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More on this case

Call to combat impunity on 12th anniversary of journalist's murder 15 December 2010 Police summon heads of Collective against Impunity two days after march on 10th anniversary of journalist's murder 16 December 2008 Protesters rename Ouagadougou avenue after slain journalist on 10th anniversary of murder 16 December 2008 Killers of journalist Norbert Zongo still not brought to justice nine years after his death 7 December 2007 President's brother launches libel lawsuit against bi-monthly after being implicated in Zongo murder 8 January 2007 Prosecutor refuses to reopen Zongo murder investigation 25 October 2006 RSF presents new evidence in Zongo murder case 20 October 2006 Appeal court upholds judge's decision to drop all charges in Zongo case 18 August 2006 Outrageous denial of justice in the 1998 murder of journalist Norbert Zongo 21 July 2006 Six years after journalist Norbert Zongo's murder, investigation remains stalled and impunity prevails 13 December 2004 Devastating new testimony against Presidential Guard in Norbert Zongo murder case 15 December 2003 Four years of impunity for the killers of journalist Norbert Zongo 13 December 2002 Three years of impunity for journalist Norbert Zongo's killers; RSF holds the authorities responsible for the fate of Marcel Kafando, the only person jailed in connection with the case 12 December 2001 President Blaise Compaoré's visit to France: RSF activists beaten up in front of Socialist Party headquarters; fourteen members of the organisation arrested 16 October 2001 French courts refuse to hear complaint against Burkina Faso president 12 October 2001 RSF files complaint against Blaise Compaoré with French authorities 11 October 2001 IFJ protests journalists' imprisonment 1 May 2001 Special briefing on Zongo affair on CPJ website 5 April 2001 CPJ demands full investigation into editor's murder 30 March 2001 Thirty-five African newspapers affiliated with the "Press and Democracy" network appeal for an end to impunity in Burkina Faso 9 March 2001 Police occupy and close Norbert Zongo National Press Centre 19 December 2000 Demonstration in memory of journalist Norbert Zongo banned 18 December 2000 Two years after the murder of Norbert Zongo, those responsible are still free and RSF is barred from Burkina Faso 7 December 2000 RSF condemns total immunity enjoyed by head of state and his brother 22 August 2000 Norbert Zongo case: continuation of the inquiry 7 December 1999 International Human Rights Day 1999: challenging impunity 1 December 1999 RSF representatives turned back 22 September 1999 Government official rejects RSF mission on journalist's death 9 July 1999 Report on death of journalist Norbert Zongo submitted by Independent Commission of Inquiry 7 May 1999 Violence escalates in the wake of journalist Zongo's death 18 January 1999 WAN calls for investigation into journalist's death 22 December 1998 WAJA suspects foul play in death of journalist Zongo, calls for enquiry 16 December 1998 IFJ protests killing of journalist Zongo 16 December 1998 Journalist found dead 15 December 1998

Burkina Faso

Radio host suspended for attending opposition meeting 2 June 2011 Mob prevents state TV journalists from covering labour meeting 25 March 2011 Angry university students attack state TV crew 23 March 2011 Call to combat impunity on 12th anniversary of journalist's murder 15 December 2010 See all alerts: Burkina Faso


 
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