Monday, April 11, 2011

Rioting/Demonstrating/Manifestations

Gosh, things were hot in Yako again this morning. As we were preparing to leave town this morning the first thing that we encountered was that the two gas stations in town were closed. Okay. We didn't have enough gas in either of the vehicles to make it all the way to Ouaga. But Ema, who was driving the truck led us to a very small station by the bus station and for just the cost of a coke, the young man there agreed to sell us some gas.

When we tried to leave town, we found that students had formed a human chain and would not let vehicles pass in either direction. Ema came to our rescue again in leading us off-road, way around the students, where we eventually met up with the paved road again and continued on to Ouaga.

Throughout the day, we kept hearing reports from Yako and they were not good. The students continued to march down the road arriving at the party headquarters of the senator of our region. They burned down this government building and then proceeded to the private home of the senator and burned her house down.

The basis of the discontent is that in response to the last burning. . . . the burning of the police station. . . . the senator blacklisted the students responsible for the damage . . . . meaning that these students will not be allowed to take the final exams at the end of this school year. So, students decided to take justice into their own hands and have caused more damage and more loss of precious time in class.

All of the schools in Yako were closed today and will be closed again tomorrow.
Please pray for peace in Burkina.

1 comment:

Aaron said...

Praying for you today. I know it's silly, but I always get Kaya and Yako mixed up (all the y's and k's). Anyway, I heard there was military activity in Kaya today. Praying that you stay safe. I thank God for your work.