Committee for the Abolition of Illegitimate Debt

Today, October 15, marks the 25^th anniversary of the assassination of Thomas Sankara, who was president of Burkina Faso between 1983 and 1987. Sankara, a soldier, arrived to power through a coup, but unlike other presidents who came to power by the same means, he always prioritised the welfare of the people of Burkina Faso. He nationalized land and distributed it among the peasants, nationalized minerans, launched immunization and literacy campaigns, banned ablation and defended by all means equal rights for women ... and confronted the dictatorship of debt.

In July 1987, he made a speech to other African leaders in the framework of the African Union Conference in which he called for repudiation of debt, he called for the right to say NO to imposed, unjust and illegitimate debts. A few months later he was assassinated.

Today, 25 years later, his speech is still valid, more than ever, not only for the people of Africa, but also in Europe, Asia or Latin America.

Today we are launching a campaign on Twitter and other social networks to reclaim the figure of Thomas Sankara and the right of peoples to say NO to debt. Here are a few links to spread today, beginning at 11 am, on social networks. On Twitter you can follow the campaign with the hashtag #TThomasSankara

VIDEOS:

• Debt discourse at the African Union http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DfzoToJEnu8 (PART 1 ENGL SUBT) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9VZEkURD9oI (PART 2 ENGL SUBT)

• Documentary - Sankara, the upright man http://youtu.be/HvBC7tmgFFM (in English)

ARTICLES:

• Thomas Sankara, an African leader with a message for Europe http://www.redpepper.org.uk/thomas-sankara-an-african-leader-with-a-message-for-europe/

• 25 years ago, someone named Sankara http://blogs.elpais.com/africa-no-es-un-pais/2012/10/hace-25-a%C3%B1os-un-tal-thomas-sankara.html (in spanish)

• Calling an international mobilization against government debt Government debt The total outstanding debt of the State, local authorities, publicly owned companies and organs of social security. to pay tribute to Thomas Sankara http://cadtm.org/Llamada-a-una-movilizacion (s) http://cadtm.org/Appel-a-une-mobilisation (fr ) http://cadtm.org/Call-for-an-international (eng)

• On the figure of Sankara and http://thomassankara.net/

Today, more than ever, we are all Thomas Sankara!

Citizen Debt Audit
Platform / Plataforma Auditoria Ciudadana de la Deuda ¡No Debemos! ¡No Pagamos!

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