Civil society activists close to former president Paul-Henri Damiba have been arrested since last week by the transitional authorities, raising concerns among the public.
Earlier Friday, civil society leader Marcel Tankoano, President of M21 (March 21 Movement) was arrested by the national police, APA learns from corroborating sources. He was cross-examined by the Criminal Investigation Division and placed in custody.
It is not known at the moment what he is accused of, but this judicial police department “deals with cases of blood and economic crime, and even so-called sensitive cases that affect the state as a whole,” a
police source explained.
Then Abdoul Karim Baguian, known as Lota, was arrested on Sunday evening. His office was searched and his computers seized. Also taken into custody, Lota is mainly accused, according to his lawyer Paul Kere, of inciting the ransacking of the residence of the Mogho Naaba, the emperor of the Mossi, according to the private radio station Radio Omega.
Finally, Desire Guinko, spokesman for the Alliance of Patriotic Forces (AFP) was arrested by DIC police officers on Monday morning, his lawyer, Christophe Birba, confirmed to APA.
A “muzzling” strategy
According to him, after his interrogation, the police searched his home and office. Mr. Guinko is accused of several acts, his counsel said. “Incitement to gatherings, acts of corruption, criminal association, acts of vandalism,” said Mr. Birba.
These three civil society leaders are close to former president Paul-Henri Damiba. After his fall, they created the “United Front for Faso,” a coalition of some 15 CSOs. In a statement, this movement said that seven months after Captain Ibrahim Traore came to power, the security situation had worsened.
The Collective of Journalists, Activists and Opinion Leaders who are Victims of Threats in Burkina said it was “very concerned” about the recent arrests.
For the Collective, these arrests are part of a strategy of “silencing that is inherent in any dictatorial regime” and “are aimed, in every respect, at masking the lack of convincing results” in terms of reclaiming the national territory.
The arrests of those whom the Collective has described as “discordant voices” have increased in recent weeks.
Last Thursday, April 27, the whistleblower Wendpouire Charles Sawadogo was arrested, accused of “intelligence with foreigners” to “destabilize” them, taken into custody and then released 96 hours later.
DS/ac/fss/abj/APA