In
this short but bold message to mark 27 years since the assassination of
revolutionary President Thomas Sankara on October 15, his widow outlines some
of the challenges facing Burkinabes under the failed Compaore regime and urges
continued resistance.
Ladies
and gentlemen, dear comrades,
We are gathered here
once more for the 27th anniversary of the assassination of President Thomas
Sankara and those who fell with him on that 15th day of October 1987. This
odious action was followed by other ignominious crimes that touched many minds
both inside the country and outside our shores.
Twenty-seven years after the
assassination of President Thomas Sankara, the fundamental liberties of the
Burkinabés are scoffed at. The majority of the population is unemployed. Their
essential needs are not taken care of: food, water, electricity, shelter,
education, clothing and health.
The people are no longer under any
illusion concerning the policies that jeopardise the development and reputation
of Burkina Faso.
Moreover, the ethical values, the
foundation of the 4th of August 1983 revolution are no longer of topical
interest to the rulers. In contrast to the period of the revolution, the extant
regime no longer plays any significant role in the understanding of the real
issues of national and African integration; more generally, of the globalisation
of the world economy.
These issues are shaped at different
levels such as sustainable development (environmental degradation and depleting
resources), development research, training, promotion of culture, women
emancipation, the struggle against inequalities, the promotion of partnership
and solidarity at national, continental and international levels.
Despite the disastrous situation that
the Burkinabé people endure, the Blaise Campaoré regime wants to hang on to
power at all costs by modifying article 37 of the Constitution.
Faced with this new challenge, the
Burkinabé people have decided, in their overwhelming majority, to resist by
marches which are the expression of the rejection of the policy put in place,
disapproval of both the installing of a Senate and the modification of article
37 of the Constitution.
These unprecedented marches demonstrate
the weariness of the people in relation to the politics of the CDP whose
failure needs no demonstration.
In fact, this regime has created in
Burkina a situation where a minority is getting richer while the majority
languishes in misery. The growing anger of the people of Burkina is largely
justified. Instead of responding to the request of the people, the regime seems
to opt for political impasse, knowing full well that such an option could be
such as to provoke a conflagration that could have nasty consequences for the
country and a sub region that is already plunged into interminable conflicts.
The people must remain vigilant even as
they prepare for change. Our priority today is peace, real democracy and
development for a prosperous Burkina. For our country the main issue is
organizing free and transparent elections with parties that propose real
alternatives for our people.
An alternative based on ethical values and the
reconciliation of the sons and daughters of Burkina.
To conclude, I call for a gathering of
Sankarists and of all progressive forces that aspire to change for the
well-being of all Burkinabés.
The fatherland or
death, we will win!
Madame Mariam SANKARA
Montpellier, 14
October 2014
* Translated from French for Pambazuka News by Uchenna Osigwe.
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