Civil society marks anniversary of Journalist's murder

Burkina Faso, Dec. 18, GNA - Protestors in Burkina Fasso on December 13, 2006 marked the eighth anniversary of the murder of Norbert Zongo, publisher and editor of 93L'Ind=E9pendant=94 newspaper with a call on the country's judiciary to reopen the case of the slain journalist. A statement signed by Professor Kwame Karikari, Executive Director of Media Foundation of West Africa (MFWA), said the protestors mainly, journalists, members of opposition political parties, students and civil society groups marched through the principal streets of Ouagadougou and laid wreaths on his grave and then went to the Court, where they made the demand.

It said at a rally to climax the march, the protesters announced their intention to put more pressure on the authorities, by organizing a series of planned demonstrations in January 2007 to press home their demand.

Zongo was murdered on December 13, 1998 after the =93L'Ind=E9pendant=94 began investigating the murder of a driver, who had worked for the brother of President Blaise Compaor=E9.

His burned body was found along with bodies of his brother Ernest Zongo; chauffeur Ablasse Nikiema, and Blaise Ilboudo, in a vehicle near Sapouy, about 100 kilometres south of the capital city of Ouagadougou. Independent Commission of Inquiry later concluded that Norbert Zongo was killed for purely political reasons because of his investigative work into the death of the driver, David Ouedraogo.

In January 1999, Francois Compaor=E9, President Compaor=E9's brother, was charged with murder and harbouring the body of the victim in connection with the death of David Ouedraogo, his chauffeur, who had died as a result of torture in January 1998. The charges were later dropped by a military tribunal after Francois Compaor=E9 appealed against them.

After five years, on July 21, the case was dismissed.