8 January 2007

Alert

President's brother launches libel lawsuit against bi-monthly after being implicated in Zongo murder


Incident details

Norbert Zongo

newspaper(s)

legal action

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(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has voiced its support for the Ouagadougou-based bi-monthly "L'Evénement", which is accused of libelling the president's brother, François Compaoré, by linking him to the 1998 murder of journalist Norbert Zongo. The trial is due to start on 8 January 2007 in Ouagadougou.

"After last year's outrageous decision to dismiss all charges and close the Zongo case, this year begins with a high-profile libel suit against a newspaper," the press freedom organisation said. "Referring too specifically to François Compaoré's role in the Zongo murder has clearly become a taboo under President Blaise Compaoré."

Reporters Without Borders added: "In effect, 'L'Evénement' is under attack simply for reporting the local news, covering Reporters Without Borders' role in the investigation, and challenging the prevailing culture of impunity."

The lawsuit stems from several articles in the 25 October 2006 issue of the paper concerning a news conference on the Zongo case which Reporters Without Borders secretary-general Robert Ménard had given in Ouagadougou five days earlier. The president's brother in particular felt he had been libelled by a front-page headline accompanying his photo which read: "So it's him, François Compaoré. Until now we had not been able to say his name. Reporters Without Borders has finally done so."

At the news conference five days earlier, Reporters Without Borders had called on the Burkina Faso state prosecutor to reopen the Zongo murder case on the grounds of new evidence produced by Ménard linking François Compaoré and businessman Oumarou Kanazoé to the case.

The inside pages of "L'Evénement" contained three reports, an editorial and a press release about the case. The first report, headlined, "The lies of witnesses François Compaoré and Oumarou Kanazoé", was about the documents which Reporters Without Borders had handed over to the state prosecutor.

The second report, headlined, "No one more blind that the one who refuses to see", criticised the refusal of the judicial authorities to reopen the case, despite the new evidence produced by Reporters Without Borders. The third one, headlined, "So it's him, François Compaoré?", was about the murkier aspects of his role in the case. The editorial criticised the failure of the attorney general and state prosecutor to do their job. The press release was the one issued by Reporters Without Borders condemning the judicial authorities' refusal to reopen the case on the grounds of the new evidence.

On 19 July 2006, investigating judge Wenceslas Ilboudo dismissed all charges against the leading suspect, former presidential guard chief Marcel Kafando. According to Article 189 of the code of criminal procedure, the case could thereafter only be reopened if there were "new accusations" liable to "strengthen the accusations that have already proved too weak" or to "contribute new developments useful in establishing the truth."

Zongo was an investigative journalist and editor-in-chief of the weekly "L'Indépendant". His charred body and those of three companions were found on 13 December 1998.



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
 

More on this case

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 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 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

Media regulatory body suspends television station 10 November 2009 Journalists from magazine "Reporter" and newspaper "l'Événement" receive anonymous death threats for criticising government officials 17 February 2009 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


 
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