Government Brutality and Killing of University Students Must Not Go Unpunished

CCDHR strongly decries the killing of at least two University of Buea students and the wounding of others during demonstrations by students against alleged corrupt educational practices by the Minister of Higher Education in connivance with the University of Buea authorities. The demonstrations followed impropriety in the selection process into the School of Medicine at the University of Buea. 

The protest was sparked by the imposition of a list (new list) of 153 candidates selected for interview, as part of the admission process into the School of Medicine. This new list, which was signed by the Minister of Higher Education was inconsistent with the list of 127 successful certified examinees previously signed and published by the Vice Chancellor of the University of Buea. An interview session scheduled for the 127 successful certified examinees had been aborted on the Minister's order so as to finalize the corruption machinery. The new list signed by the Minister was inflated with 26 new names most of whom had not even sat for the entrance exam into the School of Medicine at the University of Buea. It is believed that these ghost candidates are well connected to the Minister, his boss, colleagues, and friends. Under pressure from their bosses in Yaounde, the University authorities had endorsed the tainted list of candidates imposed by the Minister.

The demonstrations by University of Buea students have in the most part been peaceful, although admittedly, there has been some property damage and burning of public property by students. CCDHR condemns the use of excessive force by security officers in bringing the protest under control. Indiscriminate torture, arrest and detention, and the brutal killings of at least two students is indicative of the brutality, barbarism, and excesses of the Cameroon security forces, and a defining element of the structure and mission of these forces.

People have the right to expression and peaceful demonstrations which is guaranteed under various international convention ratified by Cameroon. It is unacceptable that the government continues to crush student protests or any other peaceful demonstrations with such barbarism. It is uncanny that students protesting on the basis of upholding the very high moral ground of a University will meet such faith.

CCDHR is calling on the Cameroon government to open an investigation into the practices of security forces during the university protest and those responsible for these murders should be brought to justice. CCDHR is also calling on the government to include, update, or emphasis on “Crisis Training” in the training curriculum for security forces. The recent event is just one of many incidents in the country where peaceful demonstrators have met the wrath of the Cameroon security forces. It is doubtful how these same security forces are so skillful in extorting bribes, but are so ignorant on how to control or deal with peaceful demonstrations.

CCDHR is mindful of the fact that countless investigations by the Cameroon authorities into police brutality and other forms of social ills orchestrated by government agencies have often been unfairly carried out, and in most cases, the public is never informed of the outcome of such investigations. CCDHR is therefore calling on the government to make sure that the investigation into the university protest is carried out as independently as possible, and that the findings are made public.