Brutal crackdown on protesters in Cameroon

February 23 was another bad day for human rights and the rule of law in Cameroon, as riot police brutally cracked down on peaceful protesters calling for human rights and an end to a 28-year-old regime. Inspired by calls for change in Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, Yemen - you name it - Cameroonians took the streets in the economic capital - Douala - to demand change. The protesters met with a brutal crackdown typical of Cameroon's security forces.

Below is a video footage of the February 23 brutal crackdown on protesters, including a 2011 Presidential candidate, in Cameroon:



It's shocking to think of the fact that the woman yanked by security forces toward the end of the video is - Kah Walla - a Presidential Candidate for the upcoming 2011 presidential election.

Brutal crackdown on peaceful protesters is totally unacceptable and should be unequivocally condemned. It's torture and amounts to a violation of the right to free speech, expression and assembly.

Brutalisation of civilians by state agents also goes a long way to show what a regime is made of.

According to Amnesty International, about 100 civilians were killed in February 2008 by security forces in Cameroon during a demonstration against high cost of living.

It is worth noting that over the years atrocities committed by Cameroon's security forces have been well-documented and victims are uncountable, but perpetrators who should have their day in court walk free in plain sight. This puts the state of human rights and the rule of law in the west-central African country into question.

Share

Tweet