Burkina Faso: Cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment/Prisoners of conscience
In a continuing pattern of harassment and intimidation, six members of a coaltion of political parties, human rights organizations, trade unions, journalists' and students' organizations - campaigning to end impunity for human rights violations in Burkina Faso - have been arrested since 10 April 2000. The names of those arrested are: Halidou Ouédraogo, Tolé Sagnon, Norbert Tiendrébéogo, Me Bénéwendé Sankara, Dr Pierre Bidima, Etienne Traoré. All have been subjected to cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment by having their heads shaved in police detention. They are held by the Direction de la compagnie d'intervention rapide (DCIR), the police rapid deployment force and have been denied visits.
PUBLIC AI Index: AFR 60/01/00
UA 86/00 Cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment/Prisoners
of conscience 14 April 2000
BURKINA FASO Halidou Ouédraogo, President, Mouvement burkinabè des
droits de l’homme et des peuples
Tolé Sagnon, trade unionist,
Norbert Tiendrébéogo, leader of opposition political party
Me Bénéwendé Sankara, lawyer
Dr Pierre Bidima
Etienne Traoré, university teacher
In a continuing pattern of harassment and intimidation, six members of a coaltion
of political parties, human rights organizations, trade unions, journalists’
and students’ organizations - campaigning to end impunity for human rights
violations in Burkina Faso - have been arrested since 10 April 2000.
All have been subjected to cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment by having
their heads shaved in police detention. They are held by the Direction de la
compagnie d’intervention rapide (DCIR), the police rapid deployment force and
have been denied visits.
They appear to have been detained solely because of their legitimate activities
to end impunity for human rights violations.
All are prominent members of the Collectif d’organisations démocratiques de
masse et de partis politiques, formed to call for those responsible for the
murder of prominent journalist Norbert Zongo and three others in December 1998
to be brought to justice.
Halidou Ouédraogo, Tolé Sagnon and Norbert Tiendrébéogo were arrested at their
homes in the early hours of 13 April. Halidou Ouédraogo is the president of
the Collectif as well as a non-governmental human rights organization, Mouvement
burkinabè des droits de l’homme et des peuples (MBDHP), the Burkinabè Movement
for Human and Peoples’ Rights. Tolé Sagnon, vice-president of the Collectif,
is Secretary General of the Confédération générale des travailleurs du Burkina
(CGT-B), General Confederation of Burkinabè Workers. Norbert Tiendrébeogo is
president of an opposition political party, the Front des forces sociales (FFS),
Social Forces Front.
Bénéwendé Sankara, a lawyer who heads the Union des jeunes avocats du Burkina
(UJAB), Union of Young Burkinabè lawyers, was arrested on the afternoon of
13 April.
Dr Pierre Bidima and Etienne Traoré were among 33 people arrested on 10 April
during a meeting at the MBDHP offices. All were released except for Dr Pierre
Bidima. Etienne Traoré was re-arrested on 14 April. Police reportedly said
that “molotov cocktails” explosives were found in Dr Bidima’s car.
These arrests followed a call by the Collectif for a three-day general strike
after police used force to break up a demonstration on 8 April in the capital,
Ouagadougou, in protest at delays in bringing those responsible for the death
of Norbert Zongo and his companions to justice. Thirty demonstrators were
wounded by the security forces, seven seriously. On 10 April, the first day
of the strike, there were further violent confrontations between students and
school pupils and the security forces. Universities and schools have since
been closed by the authorities.
On 13 April the government denounced the Collectif for persistently violating
the law and endangering public order. No charges have, however, yet been brought
against any of those detained. Under Burkinabè law, anyone arrested should
be brought before a judicial authority within 72 hours to be either charged
or released.
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BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Public outrage generated by the death of Norbert Zongo and three others in
December 1998 has resulted in widespread social unrest and calls for an end
to impunity for human rights violations. Demonstrations have led to arrests
and ill-treatment by the security forces.
At the time of his death, Norbert Zongo had been investigating the death of
David Ouédraogo, chauffeur of François Compaoré, President Blaise Compaoré’s
brother. David Ouédraogo had been arrested in December 1997 and died the
following month after being tortured by the presidential security force
(Régiment de la sécurité présidentielle). Although an Independent Commission
of Inquiry in May 1999 named six members of the presidential security force
as serious suspects in the murder of Norbert Zongo, no one has been prosecuted.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send telegrams/faxes/express/airmail letters in
French or your own language:
- expressing concern about the arrest and detention of Halidou Ouédraogo, Tolé
Sagnon, Norbert Tiendrébéogo, Bénéwendé Sankara, Dr Pierre Bidima and Etienne
Traoré and requesting clarification of the reasons and legal basis for their
arrest;
- urging that they be immediately and unconditionally released, if, as it
appears, they have been arrested solely because of their legitimate activities
in calling for an end to impunity for human rights violations;
- expressing serious concern that all six men have been subjected to cruel,
inhuman and degrading treatment by having their heads shaved in police
detention, and urging that Burkina Faso comply with its obligations under the
UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment
or Punishment which it ratified in January 1999;
- urging that those detained be immediately allowed visits from lawyers, doctors
and their families.
APPEALS TO:
Son Excellence
Monsieur Blaise Compaoré
Président, La Présidence
01 BP 24, Ouagadougou 01
Burkina Faso
Telegrams: President Blaise Compaoré, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
Faxes: + 226 31 49 26
Salutation: Monsieur le Président / Dear President Compaoré
Son Excellence
Monsieur Paul Tiemdé
Ministre de Justice et Garde des Sceaux
Ministère de la Justice, 01 BP 526
Ouagadougou 01, Burkina Faso
Telegrams: Ministre Justice, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
Faxes: + 226 31 71 37
Salutation: Monsieur le Ministre / Dear Mr Tiemdé
COPIES TO:
L'Observateur Paalga: 01 BP 584, Ouagadougou 01, Burkina Faso. Faxes: + 226
31 45 79
L'Indépendant: 01 BP 4829,Ouagadougou 01, Burkina Faso
Le Pays: 01 BP 4577, Ouagadougou 01, Burkina Faso. Faxes: + 226 31 45 50
Le Journal du Jeudi: 01 BP 3654, Ouagadougou 01, Burkina Faso. Faxes: + 226
31 17 12
Centre national de presse Norbert Zongo, 04 BP 8524, Ouagadougou 04, Burkina
Faso. Faxes: + 226 34 37 45
and to diplomatic representatives of Burkina Faso accredited to your country.
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PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY. Check with the International Secretariat,
or your section office, if sending appeals after 26 May 2000.