Society

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, has learned with great concern of the forced return by Nigeria of 47 Cameroonians, who were handed over to the Cameroonian authorities on 26 January 2018.
Most of the individuals in question had submitted asylum claims. Their forcible return is in violation of the principle of non-refoulement, which constitutes the cornerstone of international refugee law.
The returns were carried out despite UNHCR’s efforts and engagement with the authorities.
UNHCR reminds Nigeria of its obligations under international and Nigerian law, and urges the Nigerian Government to refrain from forcible returns of Cameroonian asylum-seekers back to their country of origin.
We also urge the Government of Cameroon to ensure that the group is treated in accordance with human rights law and standards.

For more information on this topic, please contact:

• In Geneva, Aikaterini Kitidi, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., +41 79 580 8334
• In Geneva, Babar Baloch, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., +41 79 513 9549
• In Dakar, Romain Desclous, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., +221 786 396 385

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Rita Akana

01.Feb.2018

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Cameroon's State media (CRTV)has just read a release from government stating that the leader of "Ambazonia" Sisiku Ayuktabe and 46 others are doing well in Yaounde dismissing rumors that they were dead or being maltreated.  
This disclaimer comes few hours after Chris Anu, Communication Secretary of "Ambazonia" in an audio message which circulated on social media gave till Monday February 5 for the government to show proofs that the leaders are still alive.

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Rita Akana

01.Feb.2018

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After arrest of Ambazonia Leaders, US Congress passes House Res 718 condemning the Biya regime for gross human rights violations. The Resolution that was introduced today, Tuesday Jan 30, 2018, by Lee M. Zeldin; a Republican Congressman from New York (pictured) passed overwhelmingly and was referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, to recommend sanctions and then notify the State Department. If the Biya regime thought arresting Ambazonia leaders will kill the Anglophone struggle, they were obviously mistaken because Cameroon is now on the international spotlight and the struggle just began....

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
115th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. RES. 718
January 29, 2018

Mr. Zeldin submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs
________________________________________________ 

RESOLUTION
Condemning the actions taken by the Government of the Republic of Cameroon against Patrice Nganang and others, and for other purposes.

Whereas, on January 17, 2017, the Government of the Republic of Cameroon shut down mobile internet access to English-speaking regions of Cameroon after clashes involving separatists;
Whereas, on October 1, 2017, the Department of State expressed serious concern over the Government of Cameroon's use of force to restrict free expression and violence against protestors in the country's English-speaking regions;
Whereas the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) publicly urged the Government of Cameroon to halt violence after 17 people had reportedly been killed and dozens wounded and arrested in demonstrations in the country's English-speaking regions since October 1, 2017;
Whereas the Government of Cameroon has retained control of electronic media by refusing to grant licenses to private radio and television stations and has intensified political attacks against the independent press;
Whereas commenting unfavorably on political or human rights issues frequently results in official repercussions for writers and journalists in Cameroon;
Whereas publishing material critical of the Government of Cameroon on political or human rights issues frequently results in official repercussions for writers and journalists;
Whereas Patrice Nganang criticized the Government of Cameroon for its marginalization of English-speaking persons and publicly criticized President Biya on online media outlets;
Whereas Patrice Nganang is highly educated, with a Ph.D. in comparative literature and is currently a professor of cultural studies and comparative literature at the State University of New York at Stony Brook;
Whereas, on December 6, 2017, Patrice Nganang was arrested at Douala International Airport and charged with violating the antiterror law for insulting President Biya;
Whereas Patrice Nganang was taken into custody and detained in the Kondengui Central Prison in Yaounde, Cameroon, for approximately 20 days;
Whereas the Government of Cameroon delayed a public hearing for Patrice Nganang and neglected to issue a warrant of criminal charges;
Whereas hundreds of English-speaking detainees have been beaten or mistreated in custody;
Whereas these actions of the Government of Cameroon constitute gross and reprehensible violations of international law and basic human rights;
Whereas the police, gendarmerie, and Government authorities reportedly continued to arrest and detain persons arbitrarily, often holding them for prolonged periods without charge or trial and at times incommunicado; and
Whereas there are numerous documented accounts of citizens of Cameroon being imprisoned and beaten for publicly reporting on unrest in Cameroon's English-speaking regions or criticizing President Biya:
Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) strongly condemns the actions taken by the Government of the Republic of Cameroon against Patrice Nganang and the English-speaking minority of Cameroon;
(2) affirms that the United States continues to hold the
Government of Cameroon responsible for upholding all the rights of its citizens, regardless of political views or beliefs; and (3) urges the Government of Cameroon to extend to all of Cameroon's citizens, including political dissidents, the rights guaranteed by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of the United Nations and other international covenants on human rights, including the freedoms of expression with equal protection under law.

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Ekinneh Agbaw-Ebai

01.Feb.2018

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Yesterday the 31 st of January the police and the Bikers had a stand off around the bridge linking Maroua and Garoua. The Senior Divisional officer for Diamare , taken by overwhelming surprise got stock in his office. The Bikers erupted into an uncontrollable mob when Bikers took to the streets complaining about the harsh and sickening sociopolitical climate that is characterizing the nation.  

The Bikers went on rampage because of the high handy nature of the Police whom they accuse of extortion and corruption. Their two colleagues had been detained and their bikes placed under custody. In order to calm down the nerves as well as suppress the adrenaline from over flowing, the Senior Divisional officer for Diamare asked the embittered bikers to explain their grievances and justifications.

The bikers had burnt tyres on the streets and it worsened the anger of the Senior Divisional officer as well security operatives. The rising tension however died down at the end of the day but the ring leader of the revindication remained in custody. However the Maroua demonstration, demonstrates the biased and apartheid kind of action on similar situations in the Anglophone regions.

The regime can't continue to pretend that Cameroon is one and indivisible. This glaring proof of tolerance and lack of brutality by the Police as well as their excessive use of violence through the rampant usage of grenades or tear gas wasn't witnessed. Princes shouldn't be humiliated and disgraced. 

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Rita Akana

01.Feb.2018

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Most Francophones like Eric Dikoume are so blown out with this false mind set of Francophones being superior to the Anglophones. If this lopsided analysis fails to draw aspiration and inspiration from the realities of history that there isn't any nation like LA Republique Du Cameroun that is an embodiment of both the Former French speaking Cameroun and remnants of British Cameroon's, forever called Southern Cameroon's.

If there has been some very bitter agitations from the people of Southern Cameroon's, the most accurate justification has been the excesses of the Francophones who openly refer to the people of Southern Cameroon's as Biafrans, Cockroaches, gnats and dogs. How can such irreconcilable people pretend that they can even organize elections in 2018 and continue patching that mismatched patch? Stating that an Anglophone can't be President of LA Republique Du Cameroun only helps to transmit deep hatred for the people of Southern Cameroon's. Attempting to reinvent the rotatory pattern of having Presidential candidates either from the North or from the South.

This pattern of crap wasn't arranged or prearranged With the people of Southern Cameroon's in the fray. Francophones must come to terms with this shouting reality that Southern Cameroon's isn't and can't be an integral part of French administered LA Republique Du Cameroun. The Country's complexity and variations haven't been respected by the Francophones who are frightened to their core that if a Southern Cameroonian becomes President, the purported Franco-Camerounese vicious pacts would be abrogated and cancelled.

France knows and understands these dynamics and get frightened to its bones. This is the reason why the purported candidature isn't important to a majority of Southern Cameroonians who no longer want to be in this fulcrum of viciousness and deceit.

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Rita Akana

01.Feb.2018

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The appeal letter from Kondengui Prison, Yaoundé is signed by the triumvirate: Mancho Bibixy, Penn Terrence Muluh and ESO Wskemba. The ever increasing number of detainees is so troublesome to these people who understand how harsh and crude the feeding conditions are in Yaoundé and especially for the Anglophone detainees.

The Anglophone detainees are deliberately starved, tortured and traumatized so that they can gradually suffer from mental degradation and then die. Francophones are too crude and viciously wicked and this has been exhibited during this crisis. How can these two separate entities that have nothing in common continue to pretend that they can live together and under the same roof as well as taking the same instructions? This missive was drafted on the 20th of January 2018 by Anglophone illegally detained persons to people of good will. In their appeal letter disclosed by their Advocate, Barrister Agbor Balla on social media, these illegally detained people have categorically denounced and rubbished the living conditions of prisons across Cameroon.

These illegally detained people as well called for inclusive dialogue aimed at putting an end to this prolong crisis. There are illegally detained persons who were kidnapped since 2016 and have never been sentenced,while others had been conditionally been released though never convicted of any crime.  

The remaining 105 are possibly going to be sentenced if inclusive dialogue aimed at breaking the deadlock isn't attained. They are likely to be sentenced by the kangaroo courts, not because they are guilty but because the French Military Magistrates are tale guided,aimed at humiliating the Anglophones.

They assume that this is aimed at teaching the Anglophones a bitter lesson that they won't forget so soon or in a hurry. Unfortunately this isn't helping matters at all as the situation keeps escalating on a daily basis. Coming to terms with the realities of a very devastating prison condition, the government through the Minister of Justice and keeper of the seals, Laurent Esso solicited and obtained from the National Assembly an increase of four billion francs on the initial budget previewed for the the social welfare of the Penitentiary services across the country. This increase merely and barely witnessed the daily food ration rise from 290 FRS to 408 FRS.

On the other hand their medical coverage merely and barely witnessed an increase from 5172 FRS in 2016 to 35.000 frs in 2018. While waiting for the actualization of the reforms,the illegally detained Anglophones in Kondengui are openly expressing their disappointments and disillusionment with the manner at which their cases are handled, suffering from constant hiccupping or adjournments. They now really on the support of people of good will.

Barrister Agbor Balla equally has launched an appeal for food and medication to be generously contributed for these illegally detained Anglophones.  

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Rita Akana

28.Jan.2018

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