16 December 2008

Alert

Police summon heads of Collective against Impunity two days after march on 10th anniversary of journalist's murder


Incident details

Norbert Zongo

journalist(s)

killed

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(RSF/IFEX) - On 15 December 2008, Reporters Without Borders voiced its surprise after police in the capital Ouagadougou summoned the leaders of the Collective against Impunity in Burkina Faso, two days after it organised a march to mark the 10th anniversary of the murder of the editor of the "L'Indépendant".

On the sidelines of the protest, the worldwide press freedom organisation symbolically renamed the Avenue de la Nation, "Avenue Norbert Zongo" and handed out stickers to demonstrators.

"We hail the success of the march on 13 December and we take full responsibility for the operation in Ouagadougou", the organisation said. "We deplore the fact that the arrest of leaders of the Collective took place just hours after the departure of the Reporters Without Borders' delegation."

"If the authorities wanted to ask for an explanation from us they could have done it directly," said Jean-François Julliard, Secretary-General of the organisation.

The president of the Collective, Chrysogone Zougmoré, vice-president Tolé Sagnon, spokesman Jean-Claude Meda, and another spokesman, the lawyer Bénéwendé Sankara, were summoned to the headquarters of the national gendarmerie in Ouagadougou to be questioned by the chief of staff, Colonel Martin Zongo, and two other officers.

Chrysogone Zougmoré told Reporters Without Borders by telephone afterwards that police had accused the members of the Collective of taking part in the 13 December operation to rename the Avenue de la Nation by putting up stickers reading "Avenue Norbert Zongo".

No charges were brought against the four leaders and they were all released one and a half hours later. Police told them that a report was being prepared on the case.


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 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 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

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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