Government Endorses Corruption by Arbitrarily Sentencing Anti-Corruption and Civil Society Activists in Cameroon

     Lapiro de Mbanga

CCDHR is very concerned about the continued persecution, arbitrary arrests, kangaroo trials, and imprisonment of anti-corruption activists and civil society leaders by the Government of Cameroon. Recent events in the country show that the Cameroon government is determined to crush and effectively silence democracy movements, public opinion, and exposure of its corrupt practices at all cost, including violating the country’s constitution, and utilizing the judiciary as an accomplice to its foul play against the people of Cameroon.

                                                                                                            Bernard Njonga

CCDHR recognizes that the arrest and sentencing of Bernard Njonga and Jean Georges Etele both of the Citizens' Association for the Defense of Collective Interests (ACDIC); and Pierre Roger Lambo Sandjo (popularly known as Lapiro de Mbanga) an artist and critic of the government, is part of a broader campaign by the Government of Cameroon against free speech, democracy, and public accountability. Bernard Njonga and Jean Georges Etele were tried and convicted on flawed charges of organizing an illegal protest march against corruption in the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, following the publication of a report that exposed corruption in the said Ministry. Lapiro de Mbanga on the other hand was tried and convicted on the bogus charges of inciting youths and causing destruction of property in Mbanga during the February 2008 country wide strike activities.

  Theophile Nono

Over the years, the Government of Cameroon has harassed academics, human rights advocates, civil society activists, musicians, and journalists who attempt to investigate or criticize public corruption, often persecuting them and their families, and jailing them as part of its intimidation campaign to prevent further and future investigations. Cameroon’s system of government is predicated on a network of ‘geriatric associates’ that pays allegiance to connections and loyalty at the expense of filthy practices that is leading to the economic and moral demise of the country.

Corruption has eaten so deep into the fabric of the Cameroonian society such that it dictates almost every aspect of life. Misappropriate of public funds run across all state structures and public officials, including the President and his Ministers, the leadership of the National Assembly, and Directors of public corporations. In the same light, bribery has become the order of the day and virtually directs daily activities for civil servants and law enforcement officials who continue to engage in corrupt practices with impunity. The Government’s unwillingness to truly hold corrupt officials accountable for their actions is responsible for the institutionalization of corruption as a norm in Cameroon. Today, it is extremely difficult for anyone of a morally upright character to live and effectively function in the Cameroonian society.

                                                                                                                   Joe la Conscience

CCDHR notes that Cameroon’s Anti-Corruption Commission has also fallen far short of expectation. The activities of this Commission seem to be selective in operation by targeting just scape-goats or the most unfortunate of embezzlers. With very few exceptions, many prominent ruling party and government officials who have been investigated, arrested, or placed under detention in the past have been released without prosecution, and at times even rewarded with political nominations, despite evidence of their very corrupt practices. This is due in part to the fact that the National Anti-Corruption Commission does not exist as an independent organ of state accountability, but is instead placed under the direct authority of the President of the Republic, the effect of which is a serious handicap to the ability of the Commission to independently and effectively initiate, investigate, and recommend appropriate cases for prosecution.

Therefore, the exposure of corrupt practices by anti-corruption activists and civil society leaders affords the public the much needed checks and balances that is completely lacking from government’s institutional processes and a weakened judicial system dependent on the very executive branch that breads and condones with corrupt officials. The insatiable appetites of government officials is not only a well recognized syndrome of corruption reports that consistently classifies Cameroon amongst the world’s most corrupt countries, but has also become the hallmark of successive Governments of Mr. Paul Biya, who many considers to be the corruption executor-in-chief and appeaser of such corrupt practices.

It is very disheartening that while public officials embezzle billions with impunity, there exist in the country a chronic shortage of basic public services to the people such as clean water, food, electricity, medical supplies, educational, health care, and transport infrastructures. CCDHR recognizes that Cameroonians have over-stretched their patience and goodwill and the events of February 2008 were just an early indication that the end of the road to the corrupt dictatorship in Cameroon may be around the corner. How can Cameroonians continue to be patient when in the midst of untold suffering and bare survival of the Cameroonian people, corruption is glaring and the President and his lieutenants exhibit splendor with public funds?

CCDHR is calling on the Government of Cameroon to immediately and unconditionally release Lapiro de Mbanga; dismiss the sentences of Bernard Njonga and Jean Georges Etele; and release other political prisoners languishing is cells and prisons across the country. It is unconscionable that the Cameroon Government continues to devote an excessive amount of energy into arresting and jailing fellow Cameroonians for speaking up against the suffering that public policies and actions have caused the people, rather than work to address the grievances they raise. CCDHR is also calling on President Paul Biya and the anti-corruption commission to do more to salvage what remains of our beloved Cameroon and the future of its people by cracking down hard on corrupt public officials, beginning with an in-house examination and cleaning-up within Mr. Biya's entourage.