Politics
Yesterday March 23 2017, the SDF chairman Ni John Fru Ndi arrived the Yaounde Military court from Bamenda for the hearing on the case of the consortium members and 25 other persons arrested and detained over the Anglophone crisis.
Ni john Fru Ndi describes the reasons for his presence as one that come to consolidate his take and integrity on the teachers/lawyers strike that started some 4 months ago.
The SDF chairman says “I have come to see the detainees; I have come to see those that were arrested; I have come to confirm that we are together because I gave my backing to the teachers and the lawyers”.
Many like Fru Ndi express the same opinions. “We are here to see what will happen to our consortium members and other detainees” says an activist of the struggle. “We want to see them released because they have not committed the crimes put against them” he adds.
Some Anglophone family members of detainees present at the military court say they cannot abandon their brothers.
“My brother was arrest in Bamenda and brought down here. That is why we are here again today. When you touch one of us; then you have touched all of us. We all stand as one big family in this to see to it he is released alongside other freedom fighters.” says an angry family member.
The multi-million dollar question remains: what awaits the detainees? Some say, what has a beginning must have an end and no matter the end result, one thing is sure; Better days are ahead.
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The Cameroon Democratic Union CDU party of Adamou Ndam Njoya would like the State of Cameroon to raise the Noun division in the West region to a Region.
This Regional chauvinism is contained in a memorandum by Members of paliament of the CDU, presented at a press conference held at the Hotel des Députes in Yaounde. The party which enjoys overwhelming support from the Noun division states clearly that it is unjust for the division not to be a Region, since it is made up of three quarters of the entire population of the Western Region.
Tomaino Hermine Ndam Njoya, the spokesperson for the MPs, stated that "from the outset there were two Regions in the West: the Bamileke Region, whose chief town was Dschang and the Bamoun Region, whose Noun was Foumban. Today we find ourselves with a Region of eight divisions: the former Bamileke Region displays seven divisions and the former Bamoun Region just one ".
Hermine Ndam Njoya also noted that the Noun is even larger than the seven divisions of the Bamileke Region.
The Mp who is the wife of the party chairman and Mayor of Foumban, Adamou Ndam Njoya pointed out that the situation has a negative impact on the youths and the populations of the Noun who feel marginalized.
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The High Court in Mfoundi, Yaoundé has rejected the demand by Lawyers of the imprisoned Advocate General at the Supreme Court, Justice Ayah Paul Abine, for his unconditional liberation.
The Lawyers applied using the Habeas Corpus because according to them Ayah Paul was illegally arrested on January 21,2017 at his residence.
One of the Defense Counsel Barrister Ndong Christopher says by arresting him on Saturday which was a weekend they were doing so in contradiction of the Criminal Procedure Code which forbids arrest of someone on Public Holidays or weekends unless that person is caught red-handed committing a crime.
The lawyers of Ayah Paul have hinted they could apply against the rejection.
This development according to pundits means Ayah Paul may likely be referred to the military tribunal.
The Mfoundi High Court during a closed door court session last week in an informal way charged Ayah Paul Abine with terrorism, secession, propagation of false information and rebellion.
The President of the People Action Party, PAP, has now spent two months in custody at the Defense State Secretariat. His family has recently written to the State demanding his release due to poor health but the request has fallen into answering machine.
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The government of Cameroon has come up with a list of witnesses to testify against Consortium leaders and other detained Anglophone activists. Receipt of the list was acknowledged by Barrister Evans Muna of the Muna & Muna Law Firm; leading defence counsel of the detained Anglophone Consortium leaders as reported by senior journalist,
Human rights lawyer Barrister Felix Agbor Balla, university lecturer Dr Fontem Neba and Mancho Bibixy will appear at the Yaounde military tribunal today to answer severe charges of terrorism and secession amongst others.
The activists jailed for organizing stay at home protests known as "ghost towns" against oppression and maginalisation of Anglophones were arrested on January 20, 2017 after the Anglophone Civil Society Consortium was outlawed by the government. Their trial which began last month was delayed without an official explanation. Though state prosecutors said they didn't have their complete list of witnesses.
The Goverment bench has now come up with a list of witnesses who will testify against the jailed leaders. The list we are told was handed to the defense counsel led by Barrister Ben Muna paving the way for fireworks at the tribunal today.
Receipt of the list was acknowledged by Barrister Evans Muna of the Muna & Muna Law Firm; leading defence counsel of the detained Anglophone Consortium leaders.
The witnesses, amongst them, Dr. kinge Njie, Fung John Ngum, Mr. Tala Michael Ndikum; are to testify against Barrister Balla and the other activists at the military junta in Yaounde today.
A college of more than 150 lawyers defending Balla and co have a tough mission of debunking the claims of the witnesses who are alleged to have been coerced by the government just to punish the Outlawed consortium leaders.
Amnesty International is leading mammoth calls for the detained activist to be set free unconditionally. Balla and co could face a death penalty if found guilty.
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The International Bar Association's Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI) repeats its call to the Government of the Republic of Cameroon to conduct the trial of Barrister Nkongho Felix Agbor-Balla in a civilian court, without interference, and in adherence with international norms of legal and transparent due process. The trial, postponed on 1 February 2017 and again on 13 February 2017, is presently scheduled to be held before a military tribunal on 23 March 2017.
IBAHRI Co-Chair Ambassador (ret.) Hans Corell stated: 'The IBAHRI implores the Government of the Republic of Cameroon to observe the recommendations found in the Principles and Guidelines on the Right to a Fair Trial and Legal Assistance in Africa, adopted by the African Commission on Human and People's Rights in 2003, to which Cameroon is a signatory. Decisively, Principle L provides that "Military Courts should not in any circumstances whatsoever have jurisdiction over civilians." Attempts to conflate Barrister Agbor-Balla's actions with those of a terrorist in order to justify the use of such military tribunals are disingenuous, shocking and wrong, and pose a clear threat to the independence of the judiciary.'
Barrister Agbor-Balla was arrested on 17 January 2017 and held incommunicado as a result of his involvement in protests and strikes by anglophone lawyers and teachers in West Cameroon against what they perceive as the marginalisation of the anglophone minority. The barrister was charged with a number of offences, including incitement to secession, civil war and revolution, and 'Hostilities against the Fatherland' - some of which carry the death penalty on conviction. On the same day, the Cameroon Anglophone Civil Society Consortium over which Barrister Agbor-Balla presided was outlawed.
IBAHRI Co-Chair Baroness Helena Kennedy QC reiterated: 'The arrest of Barrister Agbor-Balla by military authorities that now intend to prosecute, judge and sentence him is deeply troubling to the IBAHRI and the international community. That the military tribunal may be held in closed session is further cause for alarm. It is for these reasons that the IBAHRI is again compelled to intercede on Barrister Agbor-Balla's behalf, respectfully asking the Government of the Republic of Cameroon to abide by the United Nations Basic Principles on the Independence of the Judiciary and ensure that judicial proceedings are conducted fairly.'
She added: 'We also draw the government's attention to the rights enshrined in the African Charter on Human and People's Rights, as well as the UN's Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers, that have so far been denied to Barrister Agbor-Balla. These include his rights as an individual and a professional to personal liberty, free expression, association, protection from arbitrary arrest and the right to a fair trial.'
The reasons given by the military prosecutors for postponing the trial of Barrister Agbor-Balla are: a coinciding funeral for senior Cameroonian military officials (1 February 2017), and to allow prosecutors to produce an updated list of witnesses (13 February 2017). The trial is now scheduled for today, 23 March 2017.
The IBAHRI has previously called for due process in the trial of Nkongho Felix Agbor-Balla. To read the previous statement, visit: tinyurl.com/hfp6hdq
The International Bar Association (IBA), established in 1947, is the world's leading organisation of international legal practitioners, bar associations and law societies. Through its global membership of individual lawyers, law firms, bar associations and law societies it influences the development of international law reform and shapes the future of the legal profession throughout the world.
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Hon CAVAYE Yegue Djibril will now celebrate his silver jubilee as Speaker of the National Assembly. Twenty five times he has been elected to lead the lower house of Parliament.
The MP from Mayo Sava division in the Far north region remains the oldest member of Parliament, spending 47 years, the age of former Ivorian Prime minister and now House speaker Guillaume Soro.
What is even more intriguing is why he has always won the election as House speaker with no rival either from the CPDM or opposition parties. When Cameroon concord put this observation to Hon Cyprain Awudu Mbaya he explains that it is a waste of time for the SDF to chose a candidate to challenge the long serving House speaker.
"How do u expect us to contest the House speaker when the ruling CPDM has a sweeping majority in the house? They have always put in mechanisms to block us from exercising our rights" he lamented.
Hon CAVAYE Yegue Djibril is a die hard member of the ruling CPDM party and enjoys so much support from over 145 MPs of the CPDM coloration. Besides prior to the election of bureau members, MPs of the party always meets with their hierarchy where strict instructions are given on who will stand . Thus dismissing any possibility of a rivalry within the governing party.
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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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