Politics
Barrister Felix Nkongho Agbor Balla, Fontem Neba, Mancho Bibixy and 26 other Anglophones have regained their respective detention centres in Yaounde after the Military Tribunal rubbished an appeal for release of the leaders of the disbanded Anglophone Civil Society Consortium by Judicial Supervision.
Colonel Abega Eko Eko Mbazoa who is the presiding judge read the ruling as crowds thronged the court to savor what is now an elusive freedom for the Anglophone leaders.
Today's hearing lasted less than 20 minutes and the matter was adjourned to the 29 of June 2017. The Defense Counsel that was planning to launch a new appeal for the provisional release of the 26 others previously refused bail and sympathizers of the detainees have expressed shock at the Judge's ruling.
The high point of today's court drama was Mancho Bibixy who arrived at the Military Tribunal, handcuffed and under heavy armed guard. He looked shaby, barefooted and pale. He stormed the court room on his buttocks as he had joint other Anglophones in the indefinite hunger strike. But, he remained defiant saying even death can't stop his enthusiasm for the Southern Cameroon Course.
We are yet to get the main reason behind the judge's refusal .But legal experts were clear that it was not proper proposing judicial supervision to only two out of 29 detainees held under similar charges. Even if that were to happen, the leaders had insisted on an unconditional release of all those arrested in connection with the socio - political upheavals in the Anglophone regions. It is also alleged in some quarters that the Prosecuting counsel had filed a motion behind closed doors telling the Judge not to consent to the demands for judicial supervision under the pretext that it was difficult to guarantee a hitch free clause for judicial supervision.
Attempts by Cameroon Concord to reach some lawyers of the Defense counsel on the way forward proved futile.
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Disturbing developments from the Kondengui Central Prison indicates that 71 Anglophones arrested during the upheavals in the North West and South West regions and detained in the penitentiary facility have unanimously begun an indefinite hunger strike. We learnt that the detainees have neither tasted food nor water for the past 48 hours.
The hunger strike we are told is provoked by the fact that since their arbitrary arrest, they are yet to be charged to court and their charges revealed. They have been in prison for over six months now under precarious conditions characterized by improper medical care, poor feeding and clothing. They said they would rather starve to death than remain in prison indefinitely without any cause. Most of the detainees lament that they are constantly harassed by their francophone inmates with the complicity of prison officials.
Attempts by prison administrators to make them retract their decision has proved futile. As the detainees have insisted their core demands for trial must be met or they would rather die seeking freedom.
The drastic move comes at a crucial phase in the trial of Barrister Felix Nkongho Agbor Balla, Dr Fontem Neba, Mancho Bibixy and 26 other Southern Cameroonians who are presently at the Yaounde Military Tribunal. We learnt they too have joint their comrades in arms.
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Reports reaching Cameroon Concord say at least two persons have died and two others have sustained injuries in a suicide attack in the Far North. The dead were the two attackers.
The tragedy occurred this Wednesday morning.
The attackers included a woman and a little girl of about eight who wore suicide belts.
Today's attack occurred in a locality called Galbi.
More details are yet to drop in.
Last week, another attack claimed 11 lives, including the two bombers, and left dozens more injured, still in the Far North.
Boko Haram, A vicious terrorist group operating in that part of the nation, is usually blamed for such attacks.
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- Tasha Seidou
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All eyes will be on the Presiding Judge at the Yaounde Military Tribunal today as 28 Anglophone detainees head for the docks again. Colonel Abega Eko Eko Mbazoa is expected to pronounce a ruling on whether Barrister Felix Nkongho Agbor Balla and Dr Fontem Neba will be granted bail under judicial supervision as proposed by the prosecuting bench. During the last hearing the judge subscribed to a possible freedom for the leaders of the disbanded Consortium leaders provided conditions for the judicial supervision are met. But the application for bail of the other detainees was refused on grounds that their case was not convincing.
According to section 246 of the criminal procedure code, Balla and Fontem could be requested to fulfill some financial and surety requirements before they are released.
But the granting of judicial supervision to only two of the 28 detainees has been described by the Defense bench as miscarriage of justice since the Balla-Fontem-Mancho case was joint to that of the 26 others. But a Douala based Senior lawyer, Barrister Fru John SOH told Cameroon Concord that it will be impossible for the judge to rule on the matter based on the proposal of the Prosecuting bench. "I don't see a judge granting judicial supervision in the present context, Unless he or she doesn't know the law. It's either the judge grants bail to everybody or refuses bail to everybody." Barrister Fru says
Even more controversial is whether Barrister Agbor Balla and Dr Fontem Neba will accept the ruling based on the present statusquo. The leader of the outlawed Consortium is quoted as insisting on unconditional release for all comrades.
As the case resumes today, we learnt the Defense counsel is poised to make a fresh appeal for bail for the 26 others being tried jointly with the Anglophone leaders.
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“Abardem or any other Anglophone leader is very dangerous and if released, they can stir public disorder.”
These were the words of the Prosecuting Counsel in the on-going trial of Barrister Walters Abardem, one of the Anglophone lawyers languishing behind bars at the Kondengui prison.
The Prosecuting Counsel was arguing against the motion of bail tabled by the defence counsels for his clients, when the case recently came up at the Yaounde Military Tribunal.
According to the Defence Counsel, the health of his client is deteriorating after police brutality on him that has resulted in his hospitalisation at the Yaounde hospital for a back problem.
It is based on his ill health that the Defence Counsel led by the President of the Cameroon Bar Association, Barrister Jackson Ngnie Kamga, pleaded with the court to grant bail to Abardem.
But the Prosecuting Counsel argued that Abardem was undergoing treatment and that it was more convenient for him to be in custody while the State takes care of his treatment.
Barrister Kamga and the other Anglophone lawyers are said to have further argued that Abardem was arrested alongside one Ngeka Aaron, a resident of Mutengene, and were both charged to court together.
The defence argued that the same court released Ngeka, but is refusing to do same for Barrister Abardem.
The case was adjourned to June 19 where Magistrate Abega of the Yaounde Military Tribunal would rule on the plea for bail.
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- Rita Akana
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The popular Cameroonian barrister revealed in an exclusive interview he granted to the Guardian Post Newspaper that, the only thing Southern Cameroons can achieve so far is ferderalism.
He said, for the Ambazonians to obtain independence, they need to wage a war against La Republique, which is impossible.
The reason he said so is because, they don't possess amunition that measures up to that of La Republique. Biya does not even want to hear about independence so, war remains the only impossible option according to Ben Muna.
Federalism as the barrister outlined, is the only option where a possibility lingers, even though it will take 100 bulldozers to shake Mr Paul Biya's opposing stand on the issue.
In the interview, the Southern Cameroon elite, made mention of the court hearing that is scheduled for the 7 June 2017. 28 detained Southern Cameroonians including Consortium leaders; Barrister Agbor Balla and Dr Fontem are due to appear in court this coming Wednesday.
Ben Muna in this case, shuns the motive which is aimed at granting bail only to the two consortium leaders, Agbor Balla and Fontem. He says its not right to treat the other detainees differently but rather they should be accorded even treatment.
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- Rita Akana
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# Paul Biya and his regime
Explore the political landscape of Cameroon under the rule of Paul Biya, the longest-serving president in Africa who has been in power since 1982. Our Paul Biya and his regime section examines the policies, actions, and controversies of his government, as well as the opposition movements, civil society groups, and international actors that challenge or support his leadership. You'll also find profiles, interviews, and opinions on the key figures and events that shape the political dynamics of Cameroon.
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.# Southern Cameroons, Ambazonia
Learn more about the history, culture, and politics of Ambazonia, the Anglophone regions of Cameroon that have been seeking self-determination and independence from the Francophone-dominated central government. Our Southern Cameroons section covers the ongoing conflict, the humanitarian crisis, the human rights violations, and the peace efforts in the region. You'll also find stories that highlight the rich and diverse heritage, traditions, and aspirations of the Southern Cameroonian people.
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