the Military’s continued disruption of the freedom and happiness of the
people of Burkina Faso. The Military seized power on Wednesday after
taking prisoner the President, his Prime Minister and two cabinet members.
This happened as over a hundred journalists [including the WAJA
President], academics, human rights defenders and other professionals
assembled in Ouagadougou this week for the annual International Festival
of Freedom of Expression and Press, which ended prematurely.
Participants from around the continent and other parts of the world had
been discussing the contribution of the media in the changing political
atmosphere in Africa when they were slapped with yet another violent
change.
Following a popular uprising that ousted former president Blaise Compoare
a year ago, transitional authorities in the country were preparing to
administer general elections on October 11, 2015, which now unlikely.
A joint statement signed by the Association of Journalists of Burkina Faso
and other media groups in the country indicates that journalists and media
outlets have already been attacked and forced to shut down in the
aftermath of the coup.
WAJA joins its affiliate in denouncing the coup and the attending violence
against the media and calls for the restoration of civil order.
“It appears that these people know the importance of media that’s why they
could run to the national broadcaster to announce the coup, but at the
same time they launch an attack on other radio stations and brutalized
journalists. This is simply unintelligent,” WAJA President Peter Quaqua
lamented.
While calling for the release of the Transitional President Michel Kafando
and others, WAJA also insists on the immediate release of all foreign
journalists and other nationals being held hostage in Burkina Faso on
account of closure of the borders including the airport.
WAJA will hold the coup leader personally responsible for any damages
caused any of its members in the wake this disruption.
WAJA represents the fifteen journalist associations/unions in West Africa.