Society

The Bamenda Ecclesiastical Province has announced the creation of a fund to support those affected by the violence during demonstrations in the Anglophone regions of the country.
The announcement was made by the Auxiliary Archbishop of the Bamenda Ecclesiastical Province, Michael Miabesue Bibi on Saturday October 14, 2017 during a mass to pray for those who have lost their lives during the Anglophone crisis.
The Auxiliary Bishop asked Christians to pray for all those who shot others to death and those who ordered for their shooting. Without stating clearly the angle of this prayer request, the prelate emphasized that, “Only God gives life and only God should take lives”.

The church which is the moral pillar in every society has continually played her role since the start of the Anglophone crisis as a mediator and the broker of peace for all, by looking at the evolution of Cameroon history objectively and making pertinent suggestions to government on the way forward.
It is based on this fall out that the Archbishop of the Bamenda Ecclesiastical Province, His Grace Cornelius Fontem Eshua chose Saturday October 14, 2017 for all churches under his command to pray for the repose of scores of people who lost their lives during recent demonstrations in the NW and SW regions and to pray for the country as a whole.
In a solemn homily at the Bamenda Metropolitan Cathedral where hundreds of Christians answered present, officiated by the Auxiliary Archbishop, Michael Miabesue Bibi, the church unanimously prayed for the peaceful repose of the lives of those who died since October 2016 in connection with the Anglophone crisis. Prayed as well for those who have been arrested and tortured, both known and unknown and for the families of all those affected.
During his homily, the Auxiliary Archbishop called on Christians to pray for this nation like never before at a time when uncertainty is the next certainty in the Northwest and Southwest regions.
He cautioned all, Christians like non-Christians to keep away from trouble, calling on them not to provoke the military or give room for the military to provoke them while warning that “life is sacred”.
The man of God did not fail to re-echo the stance of the church with regards to the Anglophone crisis. He condemned strongly the abduction of Anglophones to unknown destinations and called on government to put an immediate stop to the arrests.
He equally urged government to push fast for a genuine and inclusive dialogue so as to find lasting solutions to issues affecting national peace.
Finally, the prelate appealed with the population to continue offering masses to pray for the lives of those who were killed during the Anglophone crisis.

thesuncameroon

Details

Rita Akana

17.Oct.2017

Hits: 1682

Write comment (0 Comments)

The Southern Cameroons Governing Council officially informs the ICC on genocide actions committed in Southern Cameroons by La Republique forces and its sponsors



Southern Cameroons,Ambazonia

THE GOVERNING COUNCIL

International Criminal Court
The Hague, the Netherlands
You r Lordship

SUBJECT: Application for Investigation against Identified Government officials of La
République Du Cameroun Genocide and Crimes against Humanity
committed on the people of Southern Cameroons (Ambazonia)


This Application is made in accordance With Article 158(1) of the Rome Statute of the
International Criminal Court. which mandates the Prosecutor to initiate investigations priori motu on the basis of information on crimes within the jurisdiction of the Court

The undersigned. whose address appears above, have the honour to request you to undertake any appropriate method of investigation in connection with the ongoing genocide and crimes against humanity committed on the people of Southern Cameroons/Ambatonia (North West and South West Regions of Cameroon as people are made to belief in violation of Articles 6 and 7 of the Rome Statute, consequent upon Government's intransigence in carrying out such investigation as requested by the UN Secretary General following the killings and atrocities of
the first of October 2017.

The following personalities/government officials are in their individual capacities. directly
responsible for the killings, torture and maiming, rape, abduction and forcible transfer of
abductees and disappearances Since October 2016:

1) Mr Paul President of La République du
2) Mr Rene Sadi, M of Territorial Administration and
3) ESSO, Minister of Justice
4) Mr Jacques Fame Ndongo. Minister of Higher Education
5) Mr Issa Tchiroma Bakary. Minister of Information and Government Spokesman
6) Mr Joseph Beti Minister Delegate at the presidency in charge of Defence
7) Mr Martin Belinga Eboutou, Director of Civil Cabinet at the presidency
8) Mr Rene Claude Meka. Head of the Army
9) Mr Jean Baptist Bokam, Head of National Gendarmerie
10) Mr Adophe l' Afrique, Governor of the North West province
11) Bernard Okalia Bilal. Governor of the South West province

The background to the current crisis that has met with excessive armed repression. which ii
and urgent Motion is not taken may escalate the on-going Crimes against humanity. stems deprivation of the right to Which has led to the Violation of a range of Other universally recognised human rights, particularly the right to life and security of the human person. The facts are brief.

Following legitimate anti government protests and Civil disobedience initiated by common law lawyers and teachers' trade unions Since October 2016, the government's excessively lethal response has left hundreds of the people of Southern Cameroons/Ambazonia dead. and others wounded while the entire Southern Cameroons/Ambazonian population remains
subjected to repression with recorded instances of cruel and inhumane treatment, rape.
abductions, extra-judicial killings and disappearances.

In the last couple of weeks since the 22" of September 2017, demonstrations culminating in the commemoration of the Southern Cameroons/Ambazonia independence on the 1st October 2017, the above named persons orchestrated the Shooting
of civilian (With peace plants in their hands) in the Streets of major Cities
and towns Within the Southern Cameroons/Ambazonia (Or legitimately asserting the right to self-determination, to exist as a separate state. Over 5O people. including children are
confirmed dead while Some are hospitalised for Sustaining gun Shots and hundred Others
remain missing.

May We be permitted to draw the attention to the fallowing provisions of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal that have been Continuously and systematically violated in the
Course of the 56 years Since 1961 which has in precipitating the present
revolt by the people of Southern Cameroons/Ambazonia.
Article 6: Genocide
a) Killing members of the people of Southern Cameroons/Ambazonia
b) Causing serious body or mental harm (torture, maiming aand incarceration in lifeless
bunkers) to the people of the Southern Cameroons/Ambazonia:
c) Deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its
physical in whole or in (cultural genocide perpetrated through the
imposition of the French language in schools and courts);
d) Imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group(vaccination of school
in the 1990s);
Article 7:; Crimes against Humanity

a) Murder (on-going killings since December 2016 when 8 young protesters were shot to
on the streets of Bamenda to the recent killings on 1st of October 2017);
b) Extermination (the government's policy of assimilation into the dominant francophone
system is intended to exterminate the minority Southern Cameroons/Ambazonia population).
C) Enslavement (56 of treatment as second class citizens with an extensive record of
discriminatory practices against the people of Southern Cameroons/Ambazonia);

d) Deportation or forcible transfer of population (abductions and arbitrary transfer of the
abductees to prisons detention facilities in Yaoundé and Cities in La
République du Cameroun):

e) Imprisonment or Other severe deprivation of physical liberty in Violation of
fundamental rules of international law (many of the Southern Cameroons/Ambazonian
leaders and activists are Still currently detained arbitrarily in bunkers and
concentration camps in Yaoundé);

f) Torture (many recorded instances of torture and degrading treatment, including
against women and Children of Southern Cameroons/Ambazonian decent):
g) Rape (rape of Students of the University of Buea among Other instances are on
record):
h) persecution (hate speech propagated with impunity by people of La Republic du
On public media and arbitrary arrest and detention of people of the
Cameroons/Ambazonia with no apparent offence except the fact that they
are from that part of the country;
i) Enforced disappearance of persons (many families have since 2016 reported
the disappearance of their family members whose whereabouts remain unknown to this
date);

j) The crime of apartheid (apartheid style discriminatory treatment perpetrated by the
government against the people of the Southern Camecoons Ambazonia. For example,
internet access was shutdown in the whole of the Southern Cameroons/Ambazonia
territory for 93 days 17 January to 20 April 2017 While the rest of the Freach speaking part of the country enjoyed unperturbed access to internet. Currently also,
internet is suspended in the whole of the Southern Cameroons/Ambatonia since 1st
of October 2017 While the rest of the country remains connected to internet);

k) Other inhumane acts of a similar character intentionally causing great suffering or
serious injury to body or to the mental or physical health.
Attached to this application are Video footages, newspaper photos, audio recordings
and press statements issued by human rights relating to atrocities committed on
the people of the Southern Cameroons/Ambazonia.

Applicants:
Prof Anyangwe
Julius AyukTabe
Wilfred Tassang
Milan Atam
Carol Chi Ngang

Details

Rita Akana

15.Oct.2017

Hits: 3960

Write comment (0 Comments)

The UN Human Rights Committee, which monitors implementation by States of one of the main international human rights treaties, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), is meeting in Geneva from 16 October to 10 November 2017.

The Committee will review these countries on the following dates: (18-19 October) Australia, (24-25 October) Cameroon, (16-17 October) Democratic Republic of the Congo, (17-18 October) Dominican Republic, (19-20) Jordan, (23-24 October) Mauritius and (25-26 October) Romania.

Details

Rita Akana

13.Oct.2017

Hits: 1862

Write comment (0 Comments)

Cameroon’s frontline opposition political party, the Social Democratic Front, SDF, has castigated the Biya regime for the mass slaying of unarmed civilians in the Northwest and Southwest Regions during the September 22 and October 1 peaceful demonstrations.

The party vented out her frustration in a recent press release signed by the National Chairman of the party, Ni John Fru Ndi.

In the communiqué, the SDF writes: “the killings, the maiming, the destruction of public and private property, the mass arrests and abductions at the instigation of the Biya junta have been unprecedented in the history of our nation. This is evident of a weak and a dying regime at the verge of collapse that has resolved to annihilate the lives of the citizens.”

According to the SDF, the Biya Government ordered its armed military to shoot and kill armless protesters carrying peace plants, including children below the ages of 10.

“The SDF has come to realise that the Biya regime promoted and facilitated hate speech, the build-up of false allegations of terrorism and planned provocations which induced its army to kill at random and hundreds of lives are reported lost. This carefully crafted genocide must be stopped,” partly read the release.

To the SDF, the looting, breaking into homes, destroying of property, raping of women and minors that ensued are veritable testaments to the fact that the troops we acting on the high instruction of the CPDM Government.

The party however made this clarion call: “we call on all victims and all Cameroonians of good will to assist us in the collection of this   material evidence that constitute flagrant and unprecedented human rights violations against the Biya regime and its Government.”

The SDF urged its members and sympathizers to constitute a solidarity fund in a bid to assist the September 22 and October 1 victims.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Communication and Government Spokesperson, Issa Tchiroma Bakary, has repeatedly refuted all allegations of mass killing, looting and raping.

According to him, even if the military killed, they did so in self defence. He promised hell to all demonstrators, who are trying to destabilise the country. Such ‘terrorists’, he said will be dealt with according to the law.

 

 

    

 

Details

Rita Akana

13.Oct.2017

Hits: 1904

Write comment (0 Comments)

Common Law Lawyers in Meme Division, Southwest Region under the umbrella of the outlawed Meme Lawyers Association, MELA, have suspended their one year strike action.

The Lawyers also issued a six months’ ultimatum for Government to initiate an inclusive dialogue forum to look into the grievances of the Anglophone polity.

The decision marked the high point of a call-over court session at the Meme High Court on Wednesday, October 11.

It marked exactly one year since the Common Law Advocates downed their robes.

Speaking at the court session, the President of the Meme High Court, Justice Paul Ngute, said the Lawyers took the decision in the interest of humanity.

"Today marks the beginning of a new dawn in the courts, for many things have happened in the past one year. Our colleagues of the private bar have once more decided to be part of the judicial process. People have suffered; there are so many inmates who could be innocent. I know it is not an easy decision. It takes courage to be humble. This would help people who have issues to be handled by the courts," Justice Ngute said.

Shortly after the comments, Ngute gave room for the Vice President of the Meme Lawyers Association, MELA, Barrister Jacob Mpako Njume. 

In his submission, Barrister Mpako gave reasons why the lawyers were resuming work.

Inferring from the deliberation of a September 25 conclave, Barister Mpako read out the resolutions of the advocates in Meme Division. He said, they agreed to ”suspend their decision of 11/10/16 to down their robes and resume court appearances for a period of six months to allow Government sufficient time to completely redress the grievances expounded in the declaration of May 9, 2015, in Bamenda".

Shortly after the pronouncements, the State Prosecutor, Justice Emmanuel Afah Annah, said it was time to give peace a chance.

Afah inferred from Mpako's speech that Government has gone the extra mile in handling the crisis and so it was time for things to return to normal for the interest of humanity and justice in Cameroon.

Mpako Faces the Press

 Responding to questions from journalists, MELA Vice President made the following declarations.

'' the rationale behind the decision is first of all on humanitarian reasons...you have many people who are in prison awaiting trial and they need to be defended........ even if committees are formed  they would not be as effective as if all lawyers are back and go to work and they can go to different towns and defend people differently’’.

On the absence of most lawyers, Mpako said “You see many of them are complaining that they didn't know that officially this was how the ceremony was going to take place but they are all aware of this date that we are starting today because this date was discussed in two different meetings and voted for”.

On why the appellation MELA and his position as Vice President was still being mentioned in open court whereas Government had banned the association, Mpako retorted: “I am not the person who called  ...you can ask the person who called ....well that's is what I am saying that I am not the person who called that Vice President of MELA or so and if you want to know whether the decision has been revoked or not, you meet the person who made the statement’’.

 Quizzed if the Meme lawyers were acting solo, Mpako said some zealots have hijacked the movement. “no..no..let me tell you, some zealots ....let me put it that way have hijacked this movement and think that their opinion must prevail over any other person. The constituent assemblies have made every effort to meet as a body and move ahead but threats will not permit them. So behind the door scenes, the constituent assemblies decided that let’s take respective actions and as we are sitting here, FAKLA is sitting. In some other places, some lawyers are already going to work. In Bamenda there are two camps those who are going to court and those who are not going to court. So why is it only Meme?”

Commenting on rumours of bribes to call off the strike, Mpako said he was ready for proofs. “I think that is not a new phenomenon.

According to some people when you don’t reason with them you have collected money. Must you collect money before you do something...I never collected money from anybody and anybody who knows that I was given money... anybody who knows that I have collected money please I am ready for interrogations at anytime. I work with my conscience and not because of pressure or name tag,” Mpako told The Post

Bar Council Representative

Barrister Divine Mboke, Southwest representative of the Bar Council President, said the occasion was very solemn given that it marked one year since the lawyers strike began.

“There is no situation that will last for eternity and at this point in time the wisdom of the Meme Lawyers prevailed and we decided that we paused a bit , come back to the courts, assist the litigants you know and that the machinery should flow the way it is supposed to.”

On the evident absence of the younger advocates, Mboke said “we will not drag them all or forcefully bring them to court, but we hope that in the days ahead, they will follow. Let us not make any mistake, this struggle concerns all of us and I will tell you it is our lives. We are resuming for six months, to give the Government time to fine-tune what they have started and if after six months it is not satisfactory, we will resume the strike".

Mboke also had a different answer on the issue of the ban on the constituent association of Common Law Lawyers in the Northwest and Southwest.

“Those issues are in process and they are in progress and we hope that in the days ahead all of that will be taken care of. In fact, I am sure the Vice President spoke to you about a memo we have drafted to the President of the Republic and all of that is in that Memo,” Barrister Mboke disclosed.

Court Atmosphere

Business rumbled off at 11:11 am when a college of six Judges made their entry into the courtroom. Some seven senior advocates in Meme were present.

Six full professional outfit and one in assorted dresses. With brief submissions from all judiciary angles, the President of the Meme High Court closed the session at 11:28 am.

Scores of advocates mostly of a younger generation were spotted at different positions within and without the court premises.

While some looked indifferent to the recent developments, a host of others maintained a suspicious silence. A meeting of members of now-outlawed Fako Lawyers Association, FAKLA, has resolved to suspend Common Lawyers’ strike that has been running for one year (since October 11, 2016).

The decision was arrived at after the lawyers met at the Southwest Court of Appeal in Buea, to deliberate and settle on a consensual way forward.

The Fako lawyers’ decision will take effect as from Monday, October 16, when members of FAKLA will officially return to the courts.

At press time, the lawyers were yet to issue their official communiqué with details of their resolutions.

 

Details

Abeh Valery

12.Oct.2017

Hits: 1972

Write comment (0 Comments)

Cameroon's prestigious National School of Magistracy ENAM has announced the hiring of professors to teach specialized courses for exclusively anglophone students.

In view of the impending launching of the Common Law division in the country's magistracy, lecturers recruited will be expected to teach Civil Court Practice, Law of Evidence, Probate Proceedings and professional ethics.
Applications must reach ENAM latest November 10 2017.

Details

Rita Akana

12.Oct.2017

Hits: 1650

Write comment (0 Comments)