Politics

Five years after the UN Committee on Human rights in Geneva, Switzerland recommended that the Cameroon government among other things, pay compensation to former political prisoner Dr Ebenezer Akwanga, it has failed to respect the decision of the UN body.

The Cameroon Government, a signatory of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, violated the covenant when it arrested, tortured and imprisoned Akwanga and dozens of other English speaking activists in 1999.

According to Kevin Laue of the London based Human rights Charity Redress, and Defence Counsel for Akwanga in Geneva Cameroon has done very little, or nothing to abide by the obligations. 

"What we tried a few years ago to get things moving but there is a deadlock. We wrote directly to the government of Cameroon and the President and other state officials copying the Human Rights Committee. In order to get some kind of dialogue going, we said that we thought it was reasonable to claim 3 million US dollars (some 1.5 Billion FCFA) and that we were quite willing to discuss this further to resolve the compensation case," Laue said.

Defense lawyers for the Cameroon government have since insisted Ebenezer Akwanga, who has a warrant for his arrest back in Cameroon, returns to the country before any kind of negotiations can take place. Dr Akwanga himself is not amused by the long wait to get compensation considering that other victims who also won cases against the government at the Geneva Human Rights Committee, have since been compensated. “I never asked them to torture me. I am saying that if the state of Cameroon does not pay me now, they are going to pay tomorrow or after tomorrow so there is no way they are going to escape out of it. If the state thinks that it is good to keep torturing people and taking tax payers money to compensate them, so be it,” he stated. In October 1999, Ebenezer Akwanga and dozens of other Southern Cameroon activists were sentenced to long prison terms by the Military tribunal in Yaounde for subversion and armed insurrection, a charge they denied.

kwanga received a 20 year jail term but escaped from Kondengui prison 7 years later. He was tortured and almost lost his while in prison. Most of his prison comrades died in detention. In 2006, Akwanga was granted refugee status in the USA.

In 2008, he contacted London based human rights organisation, Redress that fights for the rights of state tortured victims. The case was taken to the UN Human Rights Committee that ruled in Akwanga's favour in 2011. In Communications no 1813/2008, the UN Committee ruled inter alia that “…the state party (Cameroon government) is under an obligation to provide the author (Ebenezer Akwanga) with an effective remedy , which should include a review of his conviction with the guarantees enshrined in the covenant, an investigation of the alleged events and prosecution of the persons responsible as well as adequate reparation, including compensation.”

Almost 20 years after he was first arrested for “state subversion”, Dr Akwanga is still suffering from the intense torture while in the hands of security officials.

His wife Agnes Akwanga confessed that he still suffers from nightmare’s, can go for long periods without sleep and is now partially sighted because of the harsh prison light he was subjected to periodically. He was half paralysed in prison and sometimes loses his balance. Redress defense Counsel Kevin Laue says some kind of compensation will gravely reduce the sense of injustice he suffers from. “ If he can get a measure of justice which is what we are seeking for him, that will help a great deal.

It always helps when torture victims get some compensation and acknowledgement from the government. If they get some accountability and some of the people who did wrong and are brought to account, all of this helps because it will make people feel they have not just been tortured and forgotten about,” he said.
 
 "Southern Cameroonians should not give up the struggle to gain their freedom and independence," Dr Akwanga insisted.
 The Cameroon Government is expected to begin the process of redress by paying Dr Akwanga some compensation as the UN Human Rights Committee recommended.

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Solomon Amabo

08.Aug.2016

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The Non Governmental Organization, More Women in Politics, has signed a partnership agreement with the Cameroon government to empower hundredths of youths and women on elections. The move according to Coordinator, women and youths who form majority of the population will play a key role in 2018 elections.

The new concept will cover 20 councils in 7 regions in Cameroon. Justine DIFFO says their capacities will be reinforce, leadership and civic education and also non violent communication. More women in Politics has been trumpeting the need for more women to be included in the political decision making process of Cameroon.

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Prince Nfor Hanson

05.Aug.2016

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The factional leader of Boko Haram, who was named by the Islamic State days ago as Nigeria’s terrorist-in-chief, Abu Musab al-Barnawi, has attacked Abubakar Shekau, the leader of Boko Haram since 2009, describing him as anti-Islam, a heartless man who is killing fellow Muslims, women and children, and living a life of opulence.

al-Barnawi released his audio tape, a day after Shekau released his, accusing al-Barnawi of being an infidel.

Shekau said in his own tape that he remained the leader of Boko Haram in Nigeria and dismissed the announcement of Barnawi by Middle East terror group, ISIS, as the new leader in Nigeria.

In his own tape, al-Barnawi said he was sending “a message across to Shekau who had released his own cassette” and threatened to “expose him”. Saharareporters obtained the tape.

Below are excerpts from Mr. al-Barnawi’s audiotape.

“[Shekau] was boasting that if we attempt to escape from his empire his men will kill us. He is a liar. I am not the only one that left, but eight of us left, all kitchen cabinet members. And right now two other top members are on the way to join us. We are all here. The issue of Islam is not personal, there is no sentiment in Islam, and that is why we are here. Nobody can dare us or stop us from it, no matter how he brags. Here we are on our own. Can’t you see how we left your empire? We left women and everything and just left with guns on our shoulders. We would have crushed anyone that stood on our way.

“We said we would not touch anyone but just go on our way to our religion. We will fight for the cause of Allah and work against personalizing Jihad and against unjustifiable killings and shedding of blood. We are out because you came out with your own cassette. We want our people to know proper Islam because Allah in the Quran forbids killings without justification. Just like Allah gave us power to kill infidels, there are those he said we shouldn’t kill without reason.

“In the Quran, Allah forbade Muslims from killing one another…and he also taught against killing in secret. If it is serious punishment, it must be public for people to know and witness it. But once you see killings in secret, there is something fishy and this is what we noticed with Shekau. What he is doing is not Islam. He said we should follow him and we agreed, but we later realized it is another thing and we said no. We have to stick to the Quran and what Allah said, not [follow] someone’s waywardness.

“We have vowed to say the truth. If we will be killed, let us be killed. If we will be eaten, let us be eaten up and if we will be roasted, let us be roasted. We will not leave our fellow brothers in the dark; this message of mine will get to Sambisa Forest. It will get into Shekau’s house. We have agents that will convey the message no matter how he dislikes it.

“Almighty Allah is against killings of Muslims. Allah is saying better heaven and earth fall than innocent soul of a Muslim, but you have Shekau who likes killing our own people. He is always boasting that he will kill, he will kill. Okay, continue to kill, you will also be killed. Who will dwell here forever? Everybody will die. You will also die some day. And there is no one that will die without reaching his day of death. You can see we are here alive, all of us here sitting. Anyone that Allah did not kill you cannot kill him. The same way, you cannot stop anyone Allah willed his death.

“That is why when someone boasts to kill a man, the man asks him, ‘Why are you in a haste?’ The man says, ‘If my time has come, you will not stop me from going.’ There are several verses that forbid killing of a fellow Muslim unjustifiably. Our vow that we will practice Islam is real. That is why we left our parents, homes, our cars and everything and came to this forest. How can we then agree to see you bringing strange ideologies?

“In one of our Shura meetings, someone asked Shekau how he felt about Muslims running away from their own land to the land of the infidels for their own safety. Shekau said [the Muslims] are also infidels and should be killed like the infidels. These people are not infidels, they are Muslims running for their lives, and he insisted that they are infidels and should be killed. Shekau is ignorant of the fact that it is forbidden for a Muslim to be killed after being chased out of Islamic Caliphate to a strange land and [when the Muslim] has not taken part in any conspiracy against Muslims. [Shekau] is ignorant and needs to be taught the rudiments of Islam. Islam is not his creation. Only Allah defines who is a Muslim and who is an infidel. Even if you travel to a foreign land, you have no jurisdiction to say who is who until you have a basis. Anywhere you go you can’t say who is who. You can’t kill and take away people’s properties.

“We fled from him with our religion for good. It is there in the books, when you are not allowed to do Islam you have the liberty to flee and follow what you know is right. Shekau, we did not touch you, don’t touch us. If you touch us we will touch you and we are many against you. We have people in your house and even your present hideout. You don’t know us enough; we are ready for anyone to kill us, even if it is infidels, for so long as we will make heaven and be before Allah. That is why we are countering the false ideology you are spreading.

“[Shekau] said he is looking for our information. We also have your information and we are close to you. What kind of thing is this? There were states we captured as part of the Islamic Caliphate and you allowed men to be looting property. We told you and you did not take action. We don’t know this brand of Jihad; you kill children, women and bomb people. We should be looking for infidels and not our own people. How can we be killing people in the mosques when there are churches, barracks? It is nonsense and Allah will ask you [about it] if you don’t repent. Another thing is, [Shekau] is interpreting verses with his own opinions and the cassettes are being spread. Stop interpreting the Quran with your own opinion. We who lived with [Shekau] knew his conduct. What is not in the Hadith, he will insist that it is there. Kai, Imam, all these interpretations are your own creation. Please go and seek education and knowledge from those that know.

“Nobody should believe him. People should seek understanding and not depend on his lies. Haba Imam, have you forgotten our past? Is this how we started? You forgot your days in our learning place with your two items of clothing, learning under the tree? And today you are arrogant and killing your own people because you have now got an empire?

“You forgot how you rushed to pass a verdict over the case of a man over sheep? And you rushed a judgment that saw the man’s hand amputated. The same thing happened in Bama. Five of us were sitting, and the issue came up of some fighters who married slaves. He quickly said they should be killed. The killings spread to eleven persons. Later on, the allegation turned out to be false. Some fighters murmured and said there would be no peace with his injustices. And all these are not part of Islam. People complained of several acts, but because [Shekau] was enjoying power he refused to take action. Who killed the Malam in Banki? Is it not you that killed him? The same thing happened to a man you brought inside and killed.

“You forgot one day I told you that your wives are not aware that their husbands are alive. You dismissed me with a wave of hand. And you said their husbands should be killed. Is it not you that killed them? Are you not the one that killed Malam Abdulmalik? He is popularly known as Baba Abdulmalik, and you killed him. And you are killing them secretly when, in Islam, there is nothing like secret killings even of an infidel. Even if it is Buhari that comes to you following an agreement, if you killed him, it is not Islam. Even if it is an infidel, if you killed him it is not Islam. If you are afraid of their treaty, tell them we are enemies, instead of drawing people close tokill them.

“Where did you see the judgment of Allah secretly done? And you said you are following Allah. Is it the Prophet that said this? This is not Islam, Shekau.

“You killed Ameer Falluja because he was close to Abdulmalik. When he entered, he never came out. The same way, you killedBagomna because he bought a house in Amchide. If someone bought a house, is that a reason to kill him? With your hand you killed him. Bagomna came on a bike, and you just killed him. When we asked you why you said since he went to war he did not return. You are a liar; you killed him on your own. Is this Islam? Are you sure it is Islam you are doing, killing war commanders, and killing clerics?

“You killed Mustapha, you killedKakaali, and you told women that they died in the war, but insiders knew that you killed them. It was Aliyu that you asked to call one of them. You remember where you used to stay in one location. On getting there one day they called the man guarding the place. When he came, you killed him. When the second [man] appeared you repeated the same. From that moment did we not start failing and losing the war? You can’t think and repent. When we fought infidels in Baga, did you remember the bravery [the men you killed] exhibited? Did you do half of their gallant fight? You are just sitting down; they will bring you cars, money, and other valuables and you still have the guts to betray them.

“The same way you killed one man on trivial grounds that he was gossiping. Yet his contribution to this cause was incredible. He was producing guns, and you just wasted him. And you wanted to kill one Aliyu and something happened. You wanted him killed, but failed and he succeeded in killing one of the two you sent to kill him. Is this Jihad? Is it not you that killed Mujaheed? Is it not you that killed Umar? Is it not you that killedAbumariam? Abumariam and Mujaheed were killed together by you. What did they do to you? Can’t people tell you the truth? That is why some of us that want to tell you the truth fled so that you don’t kill us. And now that we are away, you can’t kill us unless we kill ourselves. We believe in Allah and have our own battalions. Send your agents and see a surprise. None of them can come here; we will finish them. You also killed Abdullahi because of a dream. You keep telling people rubbish about leaders that killed their fighters. Those leaders killed in the open, but you killed secretly.

“When Malam Umar was going to honor [Shekau’s] invitation, he called me and explained that Shekau had sent for him, but he had sent words pleading for forgiveness. When he told me, I said he should believe in Allah and submit to his faith. When Umar went, [Shekau] came out and asked for a knife and a dagger. Very close to the river [Shekau] killed Umar. Is this Allah’s verdict? This is Haram for Shekau to make Muslims kill their brothers. Shekau be careful, we are not part of this; I repent and will never follow you. I will never go back. If you fear Allah, you should better repent. We have revolted against your ideology and now cling to the real ideology of Allah. We are not part of a caliphate of injustices and shedding of blood. We are not part of a religion that is not dictated by Allah. We are with our leader, [ISIS commander] Al-Baghdadi. If you say you will not follow him, we will know the truth. Anyway, you have revolted and are deceiving people. You even said it in your cassette that you were forced; that you only bear fake allegiance fearing that there would be an internal revolt against you. Shekau killed many fighters, and we have exposed a few [of his victims]. 

“Another case of Shekau’s insensitivity is abandoning fighters to hunger [as well as] women and children who go without food while he is enjoying with his own family.

“Last year, 20 children died of malnourishment. Recently, 15 babies died in one day due to starvation. I have a recorded message here, and I will play it here for all to hear.

(The audio was played and Shekau was heard saying the following: “That children are dying, let even 100, 000 die now. Nonsense, am I the one holding them? I can only do what I can. Am I here to breed babies? You came disturbing me. Who told you my duty is to look after babies? Who told you my duty is to look after fighters? If this is what you are talking about, then it is you that should look after me. Is this what Quran said? What do you mean?”).

Abu Musab al-Barnawi message continued:

“Hear him saying that it is not his duty. Let us teach you, Imam. It is your responsibility to look after fighters and ensure their welfare. Go and study the Quran. It is not me that wrote, but it is there in the Quran. Anything that was given to you, you must provide for the welfare of the fighters. Imagine him in the cassette I played saying Allah said fighters should feed him. Tell us where in the Quran Allah said we should feed you? We know it is your responsibility to feed us and give us money for chicken and all our needs. This is the truth, Imam.

“Even [when fighters] advance towards enemies, [Shekau] doesn’t make logistics available. The other time, we lost plenty of gas and fuel tofire. Before, you ruled over us, but now we are free. Another thing that made us leave you is because you don’t listen to your cabinet. If we follow Shekau, we will never make heaven. That is why we left. Stop giving opinionated fatwa.

“You don’t listen and accept our views. Even [Boko Haram founder, killed in 2009] Mohammed Yusuf, he would write his Friday preaching and table it before us for debate and scrutiny. We would collectively go through and work on it. But you refused [to do the same]. Are you more educated than Mohammed Yusuf? Is it not in my place that you were studying with your two items of clothes and under a tree in Maiduguri?

“Another thing is Shekau doesn’t make weapons available for fighters. People fighting a war are left with no weapons. We have lost many territories in our emerging Islamic caliphate to infidels because of your laxity. You are the cause.

“This was the beginning of our revolt against you. If you leave us alone, we will leave you alone. If you continue antagonizing us, we will also continue. If you repent, we will accept you and embrace you. You should repent and fear Allah. This is the open letter to you.

“In our Shura meetings, there was a complaint that jihadists’ wives were taken away while they were fighting for Allah. What did you do? You did nothing, and fighters saw how you don’t bother about their welfare. You just go home and sleep with your wives and slaves while we are suffering. We are not with you.”

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Simon Ateba

05.Aug.2016

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Boko Haram's elusive leader Abubakar Shekau said in an audio message on Thursday he is still around despite his reported ouster as head of the Nigeria-based jihadist group by the Islamic State.

"People should know we are still around. We will never cause any discord among the people, we will live by the Koran," Shekau said in a 10-minute audio message.

"This is our stand and we remain in our capacity as Jama'atu Ahlissunnah Lidda'awati Wal Jihad," he said using the Islamic name for the hardline jihadist group.

His voice was recognised by an AFP journalist familiar with previous messages he has posted on social media.

It was also confirmed as Shekau's voice by Berlin-based expert Yan St-Pierre of the Modern Security Consulting Group (Mosecon).

"The person who posted on the internet is a very reliable source," he said. 

Shekau's audio message was released in response to reports that he had been purportedly replaced by Sheikh Abu Musab al-Barnawi, a former IS spokesman.

In the latest edition of IS's online weekly magazine, Al-Naba, which was published on Tuesday, an interview with Barnawi  introduced him as Boko Haram's new leader

In March 2015, Boko Haram pledged allegiance to IS.

But Shekau dismissed Barnawi as an infidel who condoned living in an un-Islamic society without waging jihad.

The shadowy leader's absence in recent months has sparked speculation about his fate and whether or not he had been deposed as leader.

He became Boko Haram leader after Nigerian security forces killed the group's founding chief, Mohammed Yusuf, in 2009, sparking an insurgency that has left 20,000 people dead and forced 2.6-million people to flee their homes.

Boko Haram has been pegged back by an aggressive fightback from the Nigerian military since January 2014, losing territory and its capacity to mount conventional attacks.

AFP

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Rita Akana

04.Aug.2016

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Dr Samuel Fonkam, Chairperson of the Electoral Commission of Cameroon(ELECAM) said he was pleased with what he saw when visiting polling stations in Pretoria and Soweto on Wednesday.

Fonkam is visiting South Africa on a commission to commission observer mission.

“We are here to see what we can learn and to make recommendations to our colleagues,” he said.

Fonkam said he was impressed with voter turnout, the number of party agents, and the discipline and organisation.

But he noted that there were a lot of people at some polling stations. He said that at the first polling station they stopped at, there were 2,000 voters expected to make their mark, and that’s “too many people.” “In Cameroon the maximum number of people allowed to vote at one polling station is 500. That is the law,” he said. 

He pointed out that on voting day in Cameroon, there are sufficient polling stations to allow people to vote at a station that is within walking distance.

Fonkam was part of a Commonwealth observer mission to South Africa in 2009 and he said that since then the situation had improved with a lot more polling stations than before.

But he would still be recommending more polling stations to South Africa’s Independent Electoral Commission (IEC).

Fonkam said that even though its expensive, “it’s a fairer system to create more polling stations as voting goes quicker and you can get results in faster.”

eNCA

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Rita Akana

04.Aug.2016

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This is what Cameroon Tribune carries on front page in its today's August 4th, 2016 edition. Inclusing picture below.

Part of the article reads... " According to
the motion of thanks read by Martin Steve Zang Ambassa, a student of the Yaounde Higher Teachers’ Training College, the students pledged to stand by all actions initiated by President Paul Biya .... They reaffirmed their unconditional support to the Head of State, Commander in Chief of armed forces. " end of quote. 

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Solomon Amabo

04.Aug.2016

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