Sankara trial: the civil parties disappointed with the requisitions of the military prosecutor's office
Audio 01:17
A lawyer arrives for the trial of the assassination of Thomas Sankara, in Ouagadougou, on February 3, 2022 AFP - GUY PETERSON
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2 mins
The trial of the alleged assassins of Thomas Sankara was suspended on Tuesday February 8 until March 1 in Burkina Faso to give the defense time to prepare.
The prosecution notably requested 30 years in prison for former President Blaise Compaoré and Hyacinthe Kafando.
For the same charges, he was required 20 years in prison for General Gilbert Diendéré, the former chief of staff of Blaise Compaoré, and 11 years suspended for Jean-Pierre Palm, former commander of the gendarmerie national.
Requisitions that disappointed the civil parties.
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With our special correspondent in Ouagadougou,
Gaëlle Laleix
At the end of the hearing the faces are closed.
For the civil parties,
the military prosecutor's office was very lenient
, especially for some defendants.
Maryam Sankara, wife of Thomas Sankara: “
Jean-Pierre Palm, there are many elements that show his guilt, then Tibo Ouédrago who was acquitted… We have been waiting for the final verdict for years.
»
With regard to Jean-Pierre Palm, the prosecution recognizes his role in the plot against Thomas Sankara, but still grants him a reprieve.
Maître Anta Guissé, lawyer for the civil parties, does not understand: “
The defendant Tondé, who is a poor driver under the thumb of
Diendéré
, has three years in prison for bribery of witnesses.
And 11 years for Jean-Pierre Palm?
Who has this huge responsibility for what happened to this country?
It's incomprehensible.
»
Yet
the military prosecutor's office
has detailed the crucial role played by Jean Pierre Palm in the plot against Thomas Sankara.
His meeting with Blaise Compaoré the day before the attack, his responsibility in the destruction of recordings of the intelligence services of the gendarmerie, the people imprisoned by his orders or his rapid promotion as commander of the national gendarmerie... So much evidence for the prosecution.
“
Subjective political reasons
”
“
We say to ourselves that this leniency must be linked to subjective political reasons
”, analyzes Luc Damiba, secretary general of the Thomas Sankara Memorial Committee.
But on the defense side, the discourse is quite different.
Master Mamadou Coulibaly: “
There were gray areas that arose, and these gray areas made us believe that the prosecution had a heavy hand in its requisitions.
Especially the accused Tondé.
As for Colonel-Major
Jean-Pierre Palm
, he was given an 11-year suspended sentence.
Well, these are only requisitions, they are in their roles as prosecutors.
»
Defense lawyers asked for a month to prepare.
"
Faced with the seriousness of the penalties requested, we will have to take out heavy weapons
", explains Master Kopio Moumouni, who warns: "
if we lock ourselves into an agenda, we risk distorting the game.
"
The court gave defense lawyers three weeks to prepare.
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Burkina Faso
Thomas Sankara
Justice