By Doh Bertrand Nua
International human rights organization, Human Rights Watch (HRW) has in a recent report urged the African and Regional bodies alongside international partners to publicly denounce the crackdown on militants and officials of the Cameroon Renaissance Movement (CRM) party by government forces.
The statement published by Ilaria Allegrozzi, Senior Africa Researcher at Human Rights Watch from Nairobi, urges the international bodies including the African Union (AU), the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR), the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) and Cameroon’s other regional and international partners to pressure government to account for violations of the rights to assembly, liberty and to freedom from inhuman and degrading treatment meted on peaceful protesters.
“African and regional bodies should call out Cameroon’s government for its repression and rampant abuses,” said Allegrozzi, adding that “as the end of the AU’s 2020 theme, ‘Silencing the gun,’ approaches, it’s crucial for these institutions to send strong messages to President Paul Biya’s administration that flagrant violations of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and other human rights treaties are unacceptable.”
While quoting sources from the CRM party, the right group revealed that over 500 people were arrested on September 22, only 155 of whom have been released. “Lawyers for the party say that 21 were taken before a civilian court on various charges, including rebellion and participating in an illegal demonstration; 107 have been taken before a military court on various charges including terrorism and insurrection; 63 others continue to be held without charge, while the situation of others still in custody is unclear,” read the report.
The right group further urged the AU and the ECCAS to press President Biya to end the wave of repression and promote respect for human rights as further opposition-led demonstrations are expected across Cameroon in the coming months.
“African and regional bodies should not remain silent in the face of escalating repression and should rally support from within their institutions to hold Cameroonian authorities to their human rights obligations, including by calling for the immediate charge or release of all arrested demonstrators and political opponents,” said Allegrozzi.
Government is however adamant to international pressure calling for the release of CRM militants and officials. Communication Minister in an outing 14 October reiterated that government will spare no effort in bringing violators of state institutions to book.
He clarified that a total of 294 CRM supporters were arrested with 176 already released and not the over 500 as alleged by the party.
He however said, legal proceedings that were immediately initiated made it possible to establish the responsibilities of each party.
“Their files have been forwarded to the Government Commissioner at the Yaounde Military Court. The same is true of CRM supporters under legal proceedings in the Littoral and West Regions, a total of: - 109 persons referred to the Public Government Commissioner’s Office at the Military Courts of Douala and Bafoussam,” Sadi said.
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