7 December 2007

Alert

Killers of journalist Norbert Zongo still not brought to justice nine years after his death


Incident details

Norbert Zongo

journalist(s)

killed
(WAN/IFEX) - The following is a WAN letter to President Blaise Compaore:

His Excellency Blaise Compaore
President of Burkina Faso
Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

7 December 2007

Your Excellency,

On the ninth anniversary of the murder of journalist Norbert Zongo, we are writing on behalf of the World Association of Newspapers and the World Editors Forum, which represent 18,000 publications in 102 countries, to express our serious concern at the continued failure of the police and courts to bring his killers to justice.

Mr Zongo was an investigative journalist and editor of the weekly L'Indépendant. His charred body was found in his car on 13 December 1998.

At the time of his death he had been investigating the circumstances in which David Ouédraogo, the chauffeur of your brother François, died at the hands of members of the Presidential Security Regiment after being arrested on suspicion of stealing from his employer.

We are seriously concerned that, after nine years, the failure to bring Mr Zongo's murderers to justice only increases the appearance of political influence in the judicial process and adds to suspicions that the killers have, in effect, been granted impunity.

We respectfully call on you to ensure that the political protection apparently being afforded to Mr Zongo's murderers is removed and that a thorough and impartial investigation is carried out. We urge you to take all necessary steps to ensure that the killers and all those who have protected them are swiftly brought to justice.

We look forward to hearing from you at your earliest convenience.

Yours sincerely,

Gavin O'Reilly
President
World Association of Newspapers

George Brock
President
World Editors Forum

Cc: Ms Benita Ferrero-Waldner
External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy Commissioner of the EU
Brussels, Belgium

WAN is the global organization for the newspaper industry, with formal representative status at the United Nations, UNESCO and the Council of Europe. The organization groups 18,000 newspapers in 102 countries, 11 news agencies and nine regional and world-wide press groups. WAN is non-governmental and non-profit.

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His Excellency Blaise Compaore
President of Burkina Faso
Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

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Source

World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers
7 Rue Geoffroy St. Hilaire
75005 Paris
France
virginie.jouan (@) wan-ifra.org
Phone: +33 14 742 8500
Fax: +33 14 742 4948
 

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 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 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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