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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.

Furthermore, two RSF representatives have been refused visas to attend a press freedom festival in Ouagadougou. RSF was outraged at this refusal and told 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".

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.

RSF is marking the anniversary of his death with a press campaign showing a birthday cake with two candles, with the caption: "Norbert Zongo's murderers are celebrating their second year of impunity". [Updates
IFEX "Communique" #8-49]