Yaounde-Cameroon: Arrested Anglophones risk being charged with 2014 anti-terrorism law

As the consortium president, Barrister Agbor Balla Felix and its Secretary General, Dr. Fontem Neba dragged forcefully to court without their defence team today January 25, 2017, fears are rife that the arrested intellects together with some detained and yet to be arrested Anglophones might be charged with the newly promulgated and highly criticized 2014 anti-terrorism law.

The law which received both national and international condemnation was described by the government as a tool to crack down on the dreaded Islamic terror group, Boko Haram. But political commentators believe in a bid to install fear and frustrated by its inability to exalt control over the North West and South West Regions, the government will charge the arrested Anglophones who have been out spoken or play figure head role in the current political stair with the law on the suppression of acts of terrorism.

The anti-terrorism law No.2014/028 of 23 December 2014 on the suppression of acts of terrorism in Cameroon states partially that “whoever, acting alone as an accomplice or accessory, commits or threatens to commit an act likely to cause death, endanger physical integrity, cause body injury or material damage, destroy natural resource, the environment or cultural heritage with intent to…intimidate the public, provoke a situation of terror…disrupt the national functioning of public services…create widespread insecurity in the country, shall be punished with a death penalty…” .

While the number of arrested Anglophone youths in prison is yet to be established, it should equally be noted that the Advocate General at the Supreme Court, Justice Ayah Paul Abine together with the initiator of the Bamenda coffin revolution which turned violent, Mancho BBC were equally arrested and are been healed in Yaounde.

It should be recalled that on January 20, 2017 after appearing before the military tribunal in Yaounde, the banned consortium president was charged with terrorism, rebellion against the state, incitement of civil unrest and breach of the constitution. As for his Secretary General, Dr. Fontem Neba, he was charged with conspiracy to terrorism, rebellion against the state, incitement of civil unrest and breach of the constitution.

From all fairness and cross examining the charges levied on them, Agbor Balla and Fontem Neba together with all arrested Anglophones might have a death penalty hanging on their necks. The law which received a lot of criticism since its promulgation had been passed only on suspected Boko Haram terrorist. If all goes as political watchdogs anticipate, the above mentioned personalities might be the first to have a feel of the dreaded law.