Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09OUAGADOUGOU1089
2009-12-02 16:28:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Ouagadougou
Cable title:
BURKINA FASO: LAWS PASSED TO DEFINE MILITARY
how-toVZCZCXRO5545 PP RUEHMA RUEHPA DE RUEHOU #1089 3361628 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 021628Z DEC 09 FM AMEMBASSY OUAGADOUGOU TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5858 INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RHMFISS/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE PRIORITY
UNCLAS OUAGADOUGOU 001089
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: MCAP PGOV PHUM PREL UV
SUBJECT: BURKINA FASO: LAWS PASSED TO DEFINE MILITARY
PROMOTION SYSTEM AND RATIFICATION OF OPTIONAL PROTOCOL TO
THE UN ANTI-TORTURE CONVENTION.
UNCLAS OUAGADOUGOU 001089
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: MCAP PGOV PHUM PREL UV
SUBJECT: BURKINA FASO: LAWS PASSED TO DEFINE MILITARY
PROMOTION SYSTEM AND RATIFICATION OF OPTIONAL PROTOCOL TO
THE UN ANTI-TORTURE CONVENTION.
1. SUMMARY: The Burkina Faso National Assembly recently
adopted two key laws aimed at furthering the
professionalization of its Armed Forces and ratifying the
Optional Protocol to UN Convention Against Torture. END
SUMMARY.
2. On November 3rd the Burkina Faso National Assembly voted
into effect two news laws. The first aimed at heightening
the professionalization of its Armed Forces by defining
advancement criteria and seeking to end favoritism, and the
second ratifying the Optional Protocol to the United Nations
Convention Against Torture.
3. President of the National Assembly Rock Kabore presided
over motion #36 that defines advancement within the Armed
Forces of Burkina Faso. The Minister delegate for
Parliamentary Relations, Mrs. Cecile Beloum, and the Minister
of Defense Mr. Yero Boly were present to explain and defend
the proposed law. According to them, the Burkina Faso Armed
Forces (Forces Armees Nationales or FAN) are growing quickly
and the promotion system needs to be redefined in order to be
as transparent as possible. Laid out in three sections, four
chapters and forty-eight articles, the law outlines proposed
additions and changes to the current promotion practice. The
law, which will not be retroactive, will, among other
measures, ensure there is more coherence and equality in the
advancement opportunities for recruits, most notably a fairer
treatment of civilian recruits possessing university degrees.
The sentiment up to now was that qualified civilian military
recruits were less recognized, and promoted less quickly than
graduates of military academies with equal or lesser degrees
and potential. Motion #36 was unanimously voted into law.
4. The second law, proposed by the Commission for Foreign
Affairs and Defense (Commission des Affaires Etrangeres et de
la Defense -- CAED),pertains to the ratification of the
Optional Protocol to the United Nations Convention Against
Torture and other Cruel, Inhumane or Degrading Treatment or
Punishment. This Convention aims to prevent the use of
torture in detention centers, and authorizes, among other
provisions, the access to those detention centers by
Committee members. The parliament noted that the UN
Convention Against Torture had the same aims and principles
as Burkina Faso's own anti-torture objectives (Note. Only
twelve other African countries have signed this Convention.
End Note.) The ratification of the Convention was approved
unanimously by the Burkinabe parliamentarians and now needs
to be officially signed into effect by President Compaore.
HANKINS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: MCAP PGOV PHUM PREL UV
SUBJECT: BURKINA FASO: LAWS PASSED TO DEFINE MILITARY
PROMOTION SYSTEM AND RATIFICATION OF OPTIONAL PROTOCOL TO
THE UN ANTI-TORTURE CONVENTION.
1. SUMMARY: The Burkina Faso National Assembly recently
adopted two key laws aimed at furthering the
professionalization of its Armed Forces and ratifying the
Optional Protocol to UN Convention Against Torture. END
SUMMARY.
2. On November 3rd the Burkina Faso National Assembly voted
into effect two news laws. The first aimed at heightening
the professionalization of its Armed Forces by defining
advancement criteria and seeking to end favoritism, and the
second ratifying the Optional Protocol to the United Nations
Convention Against Torture.
3. President of the National Assembly Rock Kabore presided
over motion #36 that defines advancement within the Armed
Forces of Burkina Faso. The Minister delegate for
Parliamentary Relations, Mrs. Cecile Beloum, and the Minister
of Defense Mr. Yero Boly were present to explain and defend
the proposed law. According to them, the Burkina Faso Armed
Forces (Forces Armees Nationales or FAN) are growing quickly
and the promotion system needs to be redefined in order to be
as transparent as possible. Laid out in three sections, four
chapters and forty-eight articles, the law outlines proposed
additions and changes to the current promotion practice. The
law, which will not be retroactive, will, among other
measures, ensure there is more coherence and equality in the
advancement opportunities for recruits, most notably a fairer
treatment of civilian recruits possessing university degrees.
The sentiment up to now was that qualified civilian military
recruits were less recognized, and promoted less quickly than
graduates of military academies with equal or lesser degrees
and potential. Motion #36 was unanimously voted into law.
4. The second law, proposed by the Commission for Foreign
Affairs and Defense (Commission des Affaires Etrangeres et de
la Defense -- CAED),pertains to the ratification of the
Optional Protocol to the United Nations Convention Against
Torture and other Cruel, Inhumane or Degrading Treatment or
Punishment. This Convention aims to prevent the use of
torture in detention centers, and authorizes, among other
provisions, the access to those detention centers by
Committee members. The parliament noted that the UN
Convention Against Torture had the same aims and principles
as Burkina Faso's own anti-torture objectives (Note. Only
twelve other African countries have signed this Convention.
End Note.) The ratification of the Convention was approved
unanimously by the Burkinabe parliamentarians and now needs
to be officially signed into effect by President Compaore.
HANKINS