7 December 2000

Alert

Two years after the murder of Norbert Zongo, those responsible are still free and RSF is barred from Burkina Faso


Incident details

Norbert Zongo

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(RSF/IFEX) - The following is an RSF press release:

Paris, 7 December 2000

MURDER OF NORBERT ZONGO: TWO YEARS AFTER THE MURDER OF NORBERT ZONGO, THOSE RESPONSIBLE ARE STILL FREE AND RSF IS NOT ALLOWED TO GO TO BURKINA-FASO

On the occasion of the second anniversary of the murder of journalist Norbert Zongo, on 13 December 1998, Reporters Sans Frontières (RSF) once again denounces the fact that the culprits have not been punished. After two years, none of the six suspects identified by an independent commission of inquiry in May 1999 have been charged, and François Compaoré, the president's brother, implicated in the affair, has not even been heard by the judge responsible for investigating the case.




On 27 November 2000, the Burkina Faso embassy in Paris refused to grant visas to two RSF representatives who wished to attend the press freedom festival in Ouagadougou. The organisation is outraged at this refusal and pointed out to the Burkina Faso ambassador that "this decision shows, once again, that the Burkina Faso authorities do not wish to get to the bottom of this affair. It is unacceptable that a non-governmental human rights organisation may not freely visit your country".

RSF is taking advantage of this commemorative day to run a press campaign in seven Burkina Faso newspapers and two pan-African weeklies. The organisation also wanted to buy space to put up 4x3 m posters in the streets of Ouagadougou, but the municipality refused "due to the specific nature of the posters". The picture used in this campaign is of a birthday cake with two candles, with the caption: "Norbert Zongo's murderers are celebrating their second year of impunity".

Norbert Zongo was director of the weekly L'Indépendant. His charred body was found with those of three companions in his car on 13 December 1998 - the date of the beginning of a wave of protest throughout the country. Scores of demonstrations were held in 1999 in Ouagadougou and the country's main towns. On 7 May 1999, after hearing over two hundred people, an independent commission of inquiry responsible for "determining the causes of the death" of journalist Norbert Zongo, concluded that "the motives for this quadruple murder lie in the investigations carried out by this journalist for years, and especially his recent inquiry into the death of David Ouedraogo, the driver of François Compaoré, a presidential adviser" who also happens to be the president's brother. The report also names six "serious suspects" in this affair. All are members of the special presidential guard (RSP).

In May 1999, Robert Ménard, RSF general secretary, was expelled from the country by order of the deputy minister for security, Djibril Bassolé. Two representatives of the organisation were prohibited from entering the country on their arrival at Ouagadougou airport in September of the same year. In both cases, the members of RSF had valid visas granted by the Burkina Faso embassy in France.





Source:

Reporters Without Borders
47, rue Vivienne
75002 Paris
France
rsf (@) rsf.org
Phone: +33 1 44 83 84 84
Fax: +33 1 45 23 11 51
 

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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 RSF condemns total immunity enjoyed by head of state and his brother 22 August 2000 Campaigners against impunity face jail sentences 17 December 1999 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

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