Ouagadougou Radio Burkina in French 1900 GMT 26 Aug 02
Burkina Faso: Commission formed to tackle proliferation of small arms
Text of report by Radio Burkina on 26 August
In an effort to end the anarchy in the proliferation of small arms in
Burkina Faso, the government has decided to face the problem head-on
with the establishment of a national commission on the fight against
small arms. Members of the commission were sworn-in this morning in
Ouagadougou with the delicate task of controlling the circulation of
small arms in Burkina Faso. Correspondent Boris Yameogo [phonetic] has
the details. [Correspondent] The commission has the mission of
identifying strategies to fight against the proliferation, circulation
and the illicit trade in small arms. It must also put in place measures
to coordinate and assist all the state structures involved in this
fight, and sensitize the public on the dangers of the proliferation of
small arms. According to the chairman of the commission, Burkina Faso
has a valuable asset for its development, being a country which share
borders with other countries, and with whom it has economic, social and
cultural exchanges. The fight, therefore, against insecurity created by
the proliferation, circulation and the illicit trade of small arms in
this context calls for a huge amount of human and technological means
to be able to control the country's borders. Coupled with this handicap
is the lack of awareness among the population of the dangers of the
proliferation of small arms in the country. Meanwhile, recent
statistics are alarming and of great concern. The chairman of the
commission is Lt-Colonel Paul Benjamin Yameogo [phonetic]. [Chairman]
In 1999, there were 98 armed attacks, which led to two deaths and three
injuries among 87 victims. Weapons used ranged from imported ones to
locally-made weapons, including rifles. In 2000, there were 217 cases,
an increase of about 40 per cent [as heard], which led to 20 deaths and
21 injuries, 10 to 14 times more [as heard] than the rate of 1999. In
2001, through the intervention of the police, there was a decrease in
cases [word indistinct] with five deaths and one injury. The statistics
of the first few months of 2002 show an increase in armed attacks.
These took place in large towns, villages and highways, and affect all
sectors of society. [Presenter] The task of the commission will be very
difficult in view of the increase in banditry. What are the chances of
success of this commission? Let's listen to the minister of Defence,
Koame Lougue. [Lougue] Success depends on the choice of the people
involved, and I think we have made a good choice by appointing the
chairman of the commission and other members from civil society and
other organizations. Concerning logistics, we have the good will of the
people, and government on its part will ensure that the commission is
given the means. I wish to stress that in the military, when we talk of
means we are referring to organizational capacities. The commission
should therefore organize itself and then make proposals to the office
of the prime minister, and it will be based on the proposals that a
firm decision on logistics will be taken.
[Description of Source: Ouagadougou Radio
Burkina in French -- state-owned, government-controlled radio]