Minister’s Ban on Students, Illegal and Unacceptable
Jacques Fame Ndongo (Minister of Higher Education)
CCDHR is alarmed at the Ministerial decisions banning Jean Bernard T. Patipe and Cletus Tse Tabang from attending all state universities in Cameroon. Patipe and Tabang are President and Vice President, respectively of the National Front for the Liberation of Students' Consciences (FRONALICE), a students’ union at the University of Douala.

This decision followed the call by FRONALICE for university students across the country to demonstrate in protest of the killing of University of Buea students during the November protest that was sparked by the fraudulent admissions scheme into the University of Buea school of medicines, by the Minister of Higher education, Jacques Fame Ndongo. These decisions accuse Patipe and Tabang of organizing illegal demonstration, perturbing studies, causing disorder, etc, on university campus.

Although sent to the university on December 5, 2006, it seems Patipe and Tabang had been secretly banned from all state universities since January 11, 2006. In other words, this ban had nothing to do with their call for demonstration against the killing of university students in Buea or any actions related thereto. It is embarrassing therefore to realize that the Minister’s decisions banning these students from all state universities were signed eleven months in advanced of the state-of-affairs for which the students are supposed to have been banned.

CCDHR considers the Minister’s decisions an illegal move to suppress freedom of expression, freedom of association, the right to form and hold opinion, and the right to carry out peaceful demonstration, all of which are guaranteed in the constitution and other international conventions duly signed and ratified by Cameroon. It is an illicit act of government’s autocracy when secrete decrees are signed charging citizens of the country in anticipation of such circumstances happening. This shameful action by the Minister of Higher Education is at the extremity of dictatorship.

The singling out of student leaders to exemplify government’s tyranny is a dangerous precedent for the country. CCDHR is cognizant of the fact that the Minister’s action is consistent with government’s entrenched policy to stifle all efforts at democratization. Such an action carries serious repercussions on future actions of student unions, associations, and other organizations whose members and leaders remain under the radar of government and risk being victims of government’s repression.

CCDHR is calling on the Minister to revoke this dubious decision because the actions of FRONALICE were consistent with applicable laws. As indicated above, the rights to demonstration and expression are guaranteed under Cameroon laws and applicable international laws. This Ministerial decision is tantamount to convicting people in advance of the commission of a crime. It is illegal and should be revoked immediately.