Arbitrary Arrest, Detention, and Torture of Southern Cameroons Officials Unacceptable

CCDHR is demanding the immediate release of 24 officials of the Southern Cameroons National Council (SCNC) arrested on October 6, 2008 in Mutegene in the outskirts of the city of Tiko, South West Province of the Republic of Cameroon. These officials include Ayamba Ette Otun, James Sabum, Mathias Arrey, Emmanuel Fongoh, Laurence Nwellem, Sylvester Taku, Mary Bati, Aluis Ngoe, Lucas Ngoye, Linus Ndikum, John Babila, Joseph Ndifor, Wilson Fokum, Fothung Agbor, Jacob Sama, Freeboy Acho, Stephen Mbah, George Tambo, Moses Tindati, Andrew Fokum, Bless Tamfu, Christian Nji, Jaspa Ofon, Peter Yume, and Samuel Mukete. These officials were arrested when a mixed regiment of armed forces swooped on them when Chief Ayamba, SCNC Chairman, who recently returned from a long tour of Europe, was holding a meeting with his fellow comrades about his trip abroad.

The arrest of these individuals is arbitrary, their detention illegal, and the torture being subjected to is a gross violation of their human rights. Their brutalization during the arrest process was a violation of international human rights conventions ratified by Cameroon and Section 30(4) of the Cameroon Criminal Procedure Code which states that “No bodily or psychological harm shall be caused to the person arrested”. CCDHR is very concerned at the physical and mental status of these detained SCNC officials because of the government’s track record of subjecting political enemies and critics to various forms of physical and psychological torments in an effort to break their will or secretly and slowly kill them.

CCDHR is requesting the Government of Cameroon to unconditionally free these SCNC officials without delay. The continued harassment, intimidation, arrest, and torture of Cameroonians, including the recently arrested SCNC officials is further evidence of the democratic and human rights deficiencies of the Cameroonian society and the dictatorial tendencies of the Government of Cameroon under the leadership of Paul Biya. The expression of political will in Cameroon remains stifled and circumvented by a corrupt, dictatorial government that restricts freedoms of speech, assembly, and the press through a consistently violent security apparatus and hazardous penitentiary system.

The SCNC is a pressure movement fighting against the marginalization of the Anglophones in Cameroon with the goal of achieving self-determination and independence for the former British Southern Cameroons. The recent arrest of SCNC officials is merely part of a broader intimidation and repression campaign by the Cameroon authorities against officials, members, supporters, and sympathizers of the SCNC. The Government of Cameroon should accord all the arrested individuals their basic rights as detainees provided for under Section 37 of the Cameroon Criminal Procedure Code which states that "Any person arrested shall be given reasonable facilities in particular to be in contact with his family, obtain legal advice, make arrangements for his defence, consult a doctor and receive medical treatment and take necessary steps to obtain his release on bail". The arrested SCNC officials are being held against their will for political reasons only. CCDHR is calling on their immediate and unconditional release because they are prisoners of conscience, not criminals.

CCDHR is also requisitioning the international community, the civil society, and other stakeholders to condemn such actions and pressure the Cameroon Government into releasing these detainees, whose main crime seems to be the mere fact that they are Southern Cameroonians. Their arrest and current detention is illegal because they clearly did not commit any offence punishable by the laws of the country. The continuous persecution of Southern Cameroons activists by the government of Paul Biya has made live unbearable to most Southern Cameroonians. The current situation is untenable and actions must be initiated to bring about an acceptable resolution.

CCDHR supports peaceful co-existence and a spirit of brotherhood in Cameroon. For purposes of nation building, consolidating national unity and solidarity, the Cameroon Government must give ample recognition to the Anglophone problem, which is real. It should enter into dialogue with Southern Cameroons activists and other Anglophone elites in an effort to find a lasting solution to the Southern Cameroons problem. Threats, intimidations, and arrests should not be used as an alternative to a concerted effort to finding a real solution arrived at through dialogue and negotiation. The issues here involve the right to expression, the right to form and maintain independent opinion, and the right to political participation. The recent arrest of SCNC officials clearly violates the above rights guaranteed under the constitution and other duly ratified conventions and they should be released without delay.