Commission wants political killings punished

Burkina Faso's National Reconciliation Commission (NRC) has asked the government to arrange special trials of people implicated in economic crimes in the country and punishment for those guilty of political killings, PANA reported. In a report released in the capital Ougadougou on Wednesday the NRC made several recommendations including the setting up of a special department in each district court to examine cases of embezzlement of public funds, punishment for those found guilty of committing some 60 cases of political killings, and compensation for the widows and orphans of victims. It made special recommendations for the acceleration of investigations into the death of David Oudraogo, journalist Norbert Zongo and his companions, and the adoption of strict laws to punish torturers. The NRC was set up by President Blaise Campaore in November to try to resolve the political crisis which arose after the killing of Zongo in December 1998. At the time of his death Zongo was investigating the murder of David Ouedraogo, driver of President Compaore's younger brother, Francois.