BURKINA FASO: POLICE CADET RIOTERS RECEIVE

UNCLAS OUAGADOUGOU 000862 C O R R E C T E D C O P Y (GARBLED TEXT) SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM UV SUBJECT: BURKINA FASO: POLICE CADET RIOTERS RECEIVE SANCTIONS. REF: OUAGADOUGOU 813 1.( U) SUMMARY: The Burkinabe Minister of Security has already taken concrete action to punish the police cadets involved in the September 21st riots in Ouagadougou. Students have been dismissed from the police academy and the payment of salaries and scholarships has been suspended while an investigation proceeds. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (U) On September 21st several hundred police cadets, intent on avenging a skirmish between fellow classmates and local youths, took to the streets of Ouagadougou and ransacked bars and businesses and beat-up on bystanders for two hours before being corralled back to their barracks by police and gendarmes (Reftel.) Minister of Security Emile Ouedraogo immediately issued a stern condemnation of the cadets, actions, promised a thorough investigation, and said all those involved would be punished both by the school,s internal code of conduct, but also to the fullest extent of the law. ¶3. (U) In a public communique dated September 25th, the Minister of Security announced the first series of punitive measures taken against the police school cadets. They include: - Exclusion, until further notice, of the entire 950 person police cadet class of 2008-2010. - Creation of an investigative commission to determine who did what, and how much damage was inflicted. - Suspension of all salaries for the 2008-2010 cadets, in order to use that money for repair costs and compensation of victims. - Judicial pursuit of those the investigative commission finds guilty of violence and destruction of property. ¶4. (SBU) COMMENT: The Burkinabe appear to be surprised and relieved at the swiftness of the Minister of Security,s response to the riots. Editorials in the Burkinabe newspapers have even applauded the "difficult and courageous" decision offering that this will help restore the population,s faith in state institutions and in the police. Some journalists have mused that perhaps this is a testament to a new era, one in which impunity for the police and military no longer exists. While it is doubtful that these events have ushered in a completely new era of accountability, it is evident that the GOBF made a clear effort to communicate effectively with the population, articulate its concerns and promise redress. In addition, the Ministry of Security moved quickly to address the rioters behavior and begin investigative proceedings immediately, giving at least an appearance of equity before the law. END COMMENT. LAEUCHLI