Politics
The Yaounde military Tribunal has merged the case involving members of the Anglophone Civil Society Consortium and another involving 27 people arrested in Connection with the Anglophone crisis.
The issue which came up last month in court was brought by the state prosecutor who believed that the Balla and Co affair and that of the other arrested youths had similar charges and in order not to waste time repeating the same issue, it was proper to join both cases. But the defense counsel led by Barristers Eta Bisong Junior, Ben Muna and Maurice Kamto said it was irrational to do so since some of the people arrested had nothing to do with the charges levied on Balla and co.
Both parties arrived the court determined to press their various positions to the extreme and the proceedings did not disappoint. While the prosecuting bench advocated that the matter be joint, the Defence counsel mounted stiff opposition citing violations of various sections of the Criminal Procedue code. However, all attempts to convince the presiding judge, Colonel Abega Eko Eko not merge both cases fell on deaf ears, as after 15 mins of legal punches ruled that the cases be merged.
This means that when trial resumes on April 27, there will be just one case. Lawyers of the Defence counsel have described the moves as outrageous and a miscarriage of justice. Since innocent Cameroonians will suffer for what they don't know about. It should be recalled that most of these youths were arbitrarily arrested with trumped up charges of terrorism, secession, insurrection, hostility against the nation amongst others hanging on their heads.
The decision comes a day after 10 other Anglophones including two journalists were transferred to the Kondengui Central prison after 45 days at the Yaoundé judicial police. While their charges have not been made known, it likely that they could be related to those we already and so we could have at least 40 Anglophones appear in court on April 27.
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- Rita Akana
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International Legal icon, Akere T. Muna says it is time for Cameroon to honor its international commitments in the two english speaking region of the country which have been deprived of the Internet since January 17.
The Cameroon government decided suspend internet in these regions to limit images of the current anglophone movement and information about the demonstrations that has rocked these two parts of the country for several months.
The former president of the Cameroon Bar Association believes this suspension of Internet access by government constitutes a clear violation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Resolution of the Republic of Cameroon of 5 July 2012 on the promotion, protection and exercise of human rights on the Internet. ” The resolution calls on all Member States of the United Nations (UN) to” promote and facilitate access to the Internet and international cooperation with a view to the develop media, information and Communication with all other countries, ” the famous Cameroonian lawyer recalls.
Barrister Akere Muna who was recently summon by the Defence state Secretariat on issues related to the anglophone crisis, thinks that “The Internet cuts in the Northwest and Southwest regions of Cameroon is aimed to silencing a part of the Cameroonian population, which is at the risk of seriously compromising their means of subsistence “. He mentioned in particular financial losses estimated at more than one million dollars to date and the effects suffered by many entrepreneurs including “those of the” Silicon Mountain “that are our pride in the international arena.
He concludes that it is time for Cameroon to honor its international commitments by urgently restoring the Internet connections in these two regions of Cameroon.
The release of Barrister Akere Muna
“The suspension of internet access in the two Anglophone regions of Cameroon for almost 75 days constitutes a clear violation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Resolution of 5 July 2012 on the promotion, protection And the exercise of human rights on the Internet, which calls on all Member States of the United Nations (UN) to “promote and facilitate access to the Internet and cooperation In the field of media development and information and communication systems in all countries “.
By this action, the UN Human Rights Council affirmed “that the rights enjoyed by offline individuals must also be protected online, especially the right of everyone? Which is applicable above frontiers and by means of its choice, in accordance with articles 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
The main reason for the disruption of the Internet network in the North-West and South-West regions of Cameroon is to silence some of the Cameroonian population. there is the risk of seriously jeopardizing their livelihoods. and even financial losses estimated to date to more than one million dollars and the harm suffered by many entrepreneurs effects suffered by individuals including those of “Silicon Mountain” who made our country proud in the internationally scene .
It is time for our leaders to honor their international commitments, placing greater emphasis on respecting the rights of freedom of expression enjoyed by all Cameroonian citizens in all regions. The time has come to restore the Internet connection in the two Anglophone regions of Cameroon.”
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- Rita Akana
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Catholic school teachers in the Buea diocese have not received their salaries for the month of March. This follows a release by the Catholic Education Secretary, Rev. Fr. Alexander Nougi Sob wrote to its teachers, informing them that from the month of March, they will not be able to pay their salaries.
This decision comes in the wake of the 'No-School' strike orchestrated by teachers in the two Anglophone regions since Nov. 21st 2016, that has paralysed schools.
The release stated that catholic schools were running out of cash as many pupils and students had not paid or completed their school fees. Also subventions from government which is a major source of income has not come for this year. It is for this reasons that the church has announced it won't be able to pay salaries.
The decision is a huge blow to hundreds of teachers in the diocese who rely on their pay package which sometimes can't take them home.
Critics have slammed the diocese for the move arguing that the church has other sources of income to take care of its teachers. And so it's not a solid reason to deprive teachers of their salaries who are out of school in solidarity with the plight rocking the anglophone system of education.
Some the teachers have confided to Camcord that they are forced to turn to farming or business in order to make ends meet.
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- Rita Akana
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One of the leaders of the Cameroon Anglophone Civil Society Consortium (The Consortium), Dr Fontem Neba has spoken from Kondengui prison where he has been incarcerated for months.
Speaking to Le Jour newspaper, he said:
"There is so much to be said in the anglophone crisis that continues to thrive. You must know that the persistence of the crisis is linked to the bad will of the leaders. When negotiations between the Government and the English-speaking teachers' unions had resumed, the strike had taken another turn. The people followed closely all our actions; And it was no longer possible to circumvent them."
Dr Fontem Neba pointed out that during the last meeting with the ad hoc committee, the English teachers trade unions expressed the wish to have a moment of consultation. The objective of this consultation was to end the strike in the English-speaking Regions. According to him, "the members of the Government did not understand". Yet they wanted a truce to convince people.
He added, in speaking of the members of the Government, that they "wished absolutely to report to the Head of State that the strike had been lifted and we refused. That is why the state moved on to higher gear. Several terms of the report together with the members of the Government were finally withdrawn. They reported corruption in our trade and in negotiations. "
According to Dr Fontem Neba, if the government had listened to them, the crisis would not be at the current level.
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- Rita Akana
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Among the new arrivals at the detention facility are two journalists; Atia Tilarious Azohnwi, Political Desk Editor of The Sun Newspaper and Amos Fofung, Buea bureau chief of The Guardian Post Daily Newspaper who were arrested last February 9.
The journalists and eight others were whisked off from the Yaounde military tribunal at about 6:15pm. They have since their arrest been detained at headquarters of the Judicial Police at Elig-Essono.
Sources disclosed that they would be brought before a state prosecutor at the military court on Tuesday as charges against them are yet to be unveiled.
About eight Journalists are now at the Kondegui prison since the crisis rocking the two English speaking regions began.
Two Detainees ‘Go Mad’
Meanwhile before the arrival of the ten ‘new’ detainees of the Anglophone crisis at the Kondengui prison, a group of Members of Parliament of the opposition SDF paid a visit to the prison with food items and words of comfort to the detainees.
Addressing the press after Tuesday’s visit, SDF legal adviser and Vice President at the National Assembly, Hon Joseph Mbah Ndam said some of the detainees are not in good health.
“There are two who are mentally deranged. I don’t know whether it is as a result of the incarceration or the state of mind at the time they were ferried into Kondengui,” Hon Barrister Mbah Ndam said in the presence of his colleagues.
Besides the mentally deranged are two others; one that is epileptic “with wounds all over his body,” and one who has Asthma, complaining he has not been taking his drugs—cases that which the SDF MPs said they’re taking measures to provide them with medical legal assistance.
“We have a duty to organise a defence for all of them. They are political victims, victims of circumstance,” the Vice President of the National Assembly and SDF MP stated.
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- Rita Akana
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New senior divisional officer installed for Wouri, called to fight against urban disorder, insecurity and ensure the smooth functioning of the councils that fall within his jurisdiction.
The newly installed SDO for wouri, Mache Njouonwet Joseph Bertrand installed this Thursday by the governor of the littoral region Samuel Dieudonné Ivaha Diboua, has been urged by the population to to fight against urban disorder, insecurity and ensure the smooth functioning of the councils that fall within his authority.
According to the Governor for Littoral, top on the agenda for the newly installed SDO is to maintain hygiene and sanitation and wage war against clandestine health centers, criminality and corruption and nepotism.
The newly appointed SDO says “My plan is to maintain social peace and to ensure the socio-cultural and economic development of this important division”
Inhabitants say, insecurity and bad roads which have plagued the economic capital should be his priority.
“I think one of the main problems he should tackle as priority as the new SDO of Wouri is that of security” says an attendee of the installation ceremony. “Nowadays we are insecure in Douala as a whole. We have cases of frequent attacks around most neighbourhoods for example Bepanda, New Bell, Nkongo, and a host of others. Urban transportation is also a big problem here in Douala. For instance leaving from PK 11 to Bonaberi is hectic considering the traffic encountered on the way; a journey that would normally take about 25 minutes ends up consuming 2 hours. To this effect he should see to it that old roads are repaired and new roads created across the town” he adds.
The Governor says the new Senior Divisional Officer has come at the time when authorities in the Littoral region have taken the engagement to transform Douala into a modern metropolitan city.
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- Ndi Derek Giyoh
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