Cameroon: Human rights workshop shut down

It is no secret that Cameroon does not have a good human rights record. Fundamental freedoms, including press freedom, freedom from arbitrary arrest, torture, cruel or inhuman treatment or punishment, freedom of assembly and expression, are more often than not stifled by a 28-year-old regime. We have seen journalists arrested and imprisoned in relation to their work, we have seen musicians, such as Lapiro de Mbanga, arrested arbitrarily and imprisoned. There are reports of human rights activists threatened, harassed or arrested for doing their work. Rights to free assembly and expression are routinely curtailed by security forces who commonly use lethal force, arrests and intimidation against civilians or brutally crackdown on demonstrators and individuals who peacefully assemble for a cause or express dissenting views. Impunity is endemic, hence many perpetrators of human rights violations walk free. A recent shut down of a human rights workshop in Yaounde sheds new light on limitations on rights and freedoms in Cameroon.

According to Human Rights Watch, the authorities in Cameroon illegally shut down a  human rights workshop on 27 March 2012 in Yaounde, the nation's capital. [Source]. The human rights workshop was scheduled for three days and was to include a discussion of the rights of lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and transgender (LGBT) individuals. As if shutting down the workshop was not enough, the authorities arrested one of the organizers - all in violation of the rights to free assembly and expression laid down in international human rights standards and recognized in the Constitution of Cameroon.

The human rights workshop had reportedly been authorized, but was shut down by police, gendarmes and civilians authorities after they realized that discussions will include LGBT rights.

The shut down means that Cameroonian authorities do not recognize LGBT rights as human rights, and think that the rights of sexual minorities should not be discussed in human rights workshops. This is a misguided and wrong understanding of human rights.

This goes to show that the authorities in Cameroon have a twisted understanding of the concept of human rights. The police, gendarmes and administrative officials who authorize human rights workshops and other public gatherings are clearly in need of human rights education. They should have benefited from the workshop rather than shut it down. LGBT rights are human rights.

The Preamble of the Constitution of Cameroon states that "we the people of Cameroon... affirm our attachment to the fundamental freedoms enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights... and all duly ratified international conventions..." Article 45 of the Constitution states that "duly approved or ratified treaties and international agreements shall, following their publication, override national laws..."

Cameroon is party to numerous treaties and international agreements that obligate the state to respect and protect LGBT rights as well as rights to free assembly and expression. Shutting down a human rights workshop because the agenda included LGBT rights violated the Constitution of the Republic and rights to freedom of assembly and expression of the workshop organizers, participants and all stakeholders.

It is worth mentioning that Amnesty International - Finnish Section - organized a discussion on 1 February 2012 about the human rights situation in Cameroon and the systematic discrimination against LGBT people in the west central African country. I opened the discussion with a presentation of a general overview of the human rights situation in Cameroon. If it was organized in Cameroon, perhaps the event would have been shut down by the authorities. Amnesty International is currently campaigning for the release of Jean-Claude Mbede, a Cameroonian sentenced to 3 years in prison for his alleged sexual orientation. Sign a petition by Amnesty International calling for his release.

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UN Working Group urges Cameroon to compensate imprisoned musician

I received a press release from Free Muse, an organization that advocates freedom of expression for musicians and composers worldwide, on 16 February 2012. The news release was about the legal opinion of the UN working Group on Arbitrary Detention in the case of Pierre Roger Lambo Sandjo, commonly known as Lapiro de Mbanga - a Cameroonian musician who was arrested, tried and imprisoned for 3 years in 2008.

Lapiro de Mbanga was arrested on 9 April 2008 following a mass demonstration in Cameroon. According to Free Muse, he was arrested for singing a song that criticized a controversial Constitutional amendment that eliminated presidential term limits and granted the Head of State immunity for crimes committed in office.

According to information communicated to the UN Working group, Lapiro was arrested on accusations of mass looting, destruction of public property, obstruction of public way, attack on public property and participating in illegal meetings. On 24 September 2008, he was condemned - after what was widely seen as a "political trial" - to 3 years in prison for participating in illegal meetings, obstruction of public way and mass looting. [Source].

Despite condemnation by rights groups and campaigns to secure his release, the artist served 3 years in the   infamous New Bell Prison in Douala. The prison, according to Amnesty International, has an official capacity of 700 but held 2,453 inmates in August 2011. [Source].

Lapiro was released on 8 April 2011.

The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, whose mandate includes investigating cases of deprivation of  liberty imposed arbitrarily or otherwise in violation of relevant international human rights standards, concluded that the arrest of Lapiro de Mbanga and ensuing deprivation of liberty was arbitrary and resulted in the violation of rights laid down in the following articles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR):

• article 3 - right to liberty and security of person,
• article 5 - freedom from torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment
• article 7 - right to protection of the law without discrimination
• article 8 - right to effective remedy
• article 9 - freedom from arbitrary arrest and detention
• article 10 - right to fair trial
• article 11 - right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty
• article 18 - freedom of thought conscience and religion
• article 19 - freedom of opinion and expression
• article 20 - freedom of peaceful assembly and association
• article 21 

The Working Group also concluded that the arbitrary arrest  resulted in the violation of following articles of the the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) - to which Cameroon became party in June 1984:

• articles 2(3) 
• article 9
• article 10
• article 14

This is a very long list of violations suffered by one man in the hands of his government.

The UN Working Group urged the government of Cameroon to compensate Lapiro for damages suffered as a result of his arbitrary arrest and detention, grant him amnesty or pardon and take measures to guarantee his right to security of person.

The opinion and recommendations (in French) of the UN Working Group is dated 1 September 2011.

The government of Cameroon must respect its obligations under international law and fulfill the demands of the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention. The authorities are obliged to ensure that people, including musicians, journalists, peaceful protesters or ordinary citizens, are not arbitrarily arrested or subjected to torture, cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.

ASIDE: FreeMuse interviewed Lapiro de Mbanga on 8 May 2011 - one month after his release from New Bell Prison. Watch the video interview.



It is worth mentioning that Lapiro is French-speaking.

Photo source: IFEX.

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Vanessa Tchatchou: Illegally separated from baby in Cameroon

As Cameroonian youths celebrate Youth Day on 11 February 2012, it is of utmost importance to highlight that one of their own, Vanessa Tchatchou - a teen mom whose baby was reportedly stolen after birth in a hospital in the nation's capital - is yet to know the whereabouts of her baby and continues to struggle for justice. The authorities must fully investigate the disappearance and bring anyone responsible to book.

According to news reports, 17-year-old Vanessa Tchatchou successfully gave birth to a baby girl on 20 August 2011 at the Gynaeco-Obsteric and Paediatric Hospital in Ngoussou, Yaounde. The baby disappeared from an incubator in the hospital after birth and her whereabouts remain unknown almost 6 months after she disappeared. [Source].

Vanessa Tchatchou launched a sit-in in the hospital since the disappearance and is demanding answers.

"L'affaire Vanessa" - as the case is widely referred to in Cameroonian circles - has grabbed headlines in Cameroon and sparked public outrage and protests in the nation's capital - with many people calling for an investigation into the matter and the return of the baby.

Political opposition leaders have condemned the "indifference" of the authorities to the plight of the teen mom.

From a human rights standard point, "l'affaire Vanessa" is covered by the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) to which Cameroon is a party. The rights of both victims in the case - Vanessa and her missing baby - are laid down in the convention.

Article 9 of the CRC, for instance, requires States Parties to ensure that a child shall not be separated from his or her parents against their will.

Article 16(1 ) states that no child shall be subjected to unlawful interference with her family.

Article 16(2) stipulates the child's right to protection of law against such interference.

Although there is no evidence to suggest that the state is directly responsible for the disappearance of the newborn, the state has a legal obligation to protect the victims and uphold their rights.

Any action taken by the state in this case should be in the "best interest" of Vanessa and the missing baby. It is absolutely in the best interest of the missing child to be reunited with her mother.

The authorities must undertake a full and impartial investigation into the disappearance and bring those responsible to justice. The state must ensure that Vanessa has full access to judicial, health and social welfare services during this trying period.

The right to free expression and association of protesters standing in solidarity with Vanessa Tchatchou must also be guaranteed. It is worth mentioning that a number of supporters were reportedly arrested on 9 February 2012. [Source].

In his message to the youths on 11 February 2009, President Paul Biya of Cameroon said that 11 February "has been chosen by government for reflection and sustained efforts to nurture responsibly, and meet the needs of the country's youths." [Source]. Cameroonian youths need justice and protection of the law.

*Photo: Yahoo Groups.

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Petition for release of Jean-Claude Mbede imprisoned in Cameroon

It is no secret that homosexuality is outlawed in Cameroon and sanctioned under Article 347 bis of the Cameroon Penal Code with imprisonment from 6 months to 5 years and a fine of from 20,000 francs CFA to 200,000 francs CFA. Homosexuals and persons perceived to be homosexuals are routinely arrested, tried and imprisoned in Cameroon, [Source: Amnesty Annual Reports] despite the country's commitment under international law to respect human rights standards. Jean-Claude Mbede is one of the many people arrested under Article 347 bis. Amnesty International in Finland launched a campaign for his release on 1 February 2012.

Jean-Claude Mbede, 31 years old,  is a Cameroonian who was arrested in march 2011 and sentenced in April 2011 to 3 years in prison for homosexuality. He is currently locked up in Kondengui Central Prison in Yaounde, Cameroon's capital city,[Source] which has a capacity of 700 inmates but held 3,852 inmates in August 2011.[Source] It is worth highlighting at this point that as many as five prisoners die each year due to lack of medical attention and poor hygiene in Cameroon's prisons. [Source]

Amnesty International considers Jean-Claude Mbede to be a prisoner of conscience and is calling for his release.

Sign a petition by Amnesty International urging for the immediate and unconditional release of Jean-Claude Mbede, amongst other things.

The petition form is in Finnish. Note the following:

• Etunimi = First name
• Sukunimi = Surname
• Paikkakunta = Region
• Sähköposti = Email
• Puhelinnumero = Phone number
• Allekirjoita vetoomus = Sign petition.

Check the boxes on the petition form if you would like your name to be displayed on the front page of the petition and if you would like Amnesty Finland to send you information about petitions, campaigns and other activities.

More information (in Finnish), including a short video with English subtitles, about Jean-Claude Mbede: Amnesty.fi.

*Photo: Martincwiner.com.

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Discussion about human rights situation in Cameroon

Amnesty International - Finnish Section - is organizing a discussion about the human rights situation in Cameroon, especially the systematic discrimination against lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and trans-gender people, on 1 February 2012 in Helsinki, Finland. I will be participating in the discussion.

I will open the discussion with a PowerPoint presentation - a general overview of the human rights situation in Cameroon.

Venue: Amnesty office, Ruoholahdenkatu 24, Helsinki (there will be direction signs from the street to the E-door)
Date: 1 February 2012
Time: 18:00 .

During the evening, Amnesty International's expert on gender and sexuality-based discrimination, Pia Oksanen, will present the organization's campaign to free Jean-Claude Roger Mbede, a Cameroonian sentenced to 3 years imprisonment for homosexuality in Cameroon in April 2011.

My presentation will be in English and the discussion will be in Finnish. Amnesty's activists and people interested in the work of the organization are warmly welcomed to join the discussion.

For more information about the state of human rights in Cameroon, read Amnesty International's Annual Report 2011 about Cameroon.

Follow me on Twitter.

*Photo of protest sign at Cameroon embassy in Washington DC: Pan-African Visions.

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Cameroon: Government failing Barri school children

The government of Cameroon has a legal obligation to ensure that children within its borders have quality education. Despite this obligation, the government is failing children in Government School Barri.

Government School Barri is a primary school located in North West Cameroon, precisely in Menchum valley, Menchum Division.

The poor quality education received by children in Government School Barri is better explained in pictures obtained thanks to Civitas.

It is worthy to note that Government School Barri is not the only government-run school in Cameroon that is in desperate need of a makeover. 

Government School Kitiwum, for example, is also a case in point.

Hats off to struggling parents and teachers, many of whom live far below the poverty line, who have stepped up to the plate to better conditions for children in Government schools.

Civitas is working in Cameroon to ensure that all person enjoy all rights laid down in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), including the right to quality education. 

Join Civitas on Facebook and Twitter and help make respect for basic rights a reality in Cameroon.

"It is in your hands to make of our world a better one for all."

- Nelson Mandela.

Photos: Civitas.

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Cameroon: Child labour video series

Child labour is a key concept in international law but unfortunately, it has no clear definition. UNICEF defines it as work that exceeds "a minimum number of hours, depending on the age of a child and on the type of work" [Source]. The International Labour Organization (ILO), on its part, defines child labour as "work that deprives children of their childhood, their potential and their dignity, and that is harmful to physical and mental development." [Source]. The organization states that work that does not affect children's health, personal development or interfere with their schooling should not be eliminated. This includes helping parents at home, assisting in the family business or working to earn pocket money.

Lack of clarity in the definition of child labour has given perpetrators of child labour and child exploitation freedom to interpret the concept to their advantage. Abusive parents and guardians argue that working long hours (under pressure and abusive conditions) in the family business is necessary for the child's personal development and helps the child to better appreciate what it means to be hardworking.

Some advocates for child labour have invoked poverty and economic hardship as justification of child labour - arguing that children must work hard in order to support struggling parents in developing countries.

Even more bizarrely, some have argued that "child labour" is a western concept that is not applicable in developing countries.

This mentality, together with the ambiguous definition of "child labour" explains why thousands of children suffer in developing countries. Many perpetrators of child labour and economic exploitation of society's most vulnerable mistakenly think that a viable economy could be built on the backs of children.

On 19 August 2011, I shared an article on Facebook condemning the economic exploitation of children in Bamenda, north west region of Cameroon. The article, which raises genuine concerns about the plight of children as young as 6 years old, was dismissed as "absurd" - an indication that even some educated Cameroonians of the "Facebook generation" still think that there is no problem when parents send out 6-year-olds to the streets to sell groundnut, sweets and biscuits - in the name of supporting the family business.

The following video series explains why child labour in Cameroon should be discouraged in its early stages before victims graduate into more severe and hazardous forms of child labour. It is the story of Etienne Babila, a child labourer rescued by the ILO from a cocoa farm in Cameroon.



PART II:



PART III:



Cameroon is party to the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Article 32 of the convention state that: "States Parties recognize the right of the child to be protected from economic exploitation and from performing any work that is likely to be hazardous or to interfere with the child's education, or to be harmful to the child's health or physical, mental, spiritual, moral or social development."

The state has a duty to protect its children.

Photo: Civitas.

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Cameroon: The right to quality education denied?

The right to education is a basic right enshrined in key human rights instruments duly ratified by the Republic of Cameroon, but for many young people, mostly in remote areas in the central African country, the right to quality education is a myth.

A video posted on YouTube shines the spotlight on a broken educational system in Cameroon and puts into question the government's commitment to equip young Cameroonians with the tools needed to compete in a global world.



The sorry-state of the Government High School in the above video is shocking and the determination of the teachers and parents to provide better conditions for students in the school is commendable.

Education is a vehicle out of poverty. It is impossible to see how a country would develop and lift its people out of poverty without investing in quality education for children, both boys and girls.

The government of Cameroon has made commendable strides to promote education. There are many relatively good public schools in the country and outstanding private schools that provide top-notch education for young Cameroonians. Like a good number of Cameroonians, I was lucky to attend one of the best and well-equipped schools in Cameroon.

However, children in "forgotten" parts of Cameroon like Kitiwum seeking quality education are equally Cameroonians. Their right to quality education should be equally guaranteed without discrimination.

In January 2011, Cameroon ratified the African Youth Charter. Article 13(1) of the Charter clearly states that:

"Every young person shall have the right to education of good quality." 

The right to education is also expressly stated in Article 13 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) TO WHICH Cameroon is a party.

The state should fulfill its obligation under international law by providing quality education for all young people.

It is worthy to note that about 69 million school-aged children are not in school and 31 million of them are in sub-saharan Africa. [Source: UN Fact Sheet].

Photo of school bell. Source: CATTU.

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Civitas: Working for human rights in Cameroon

The Republic of Cameroon is a country with no shortage of human rights violations and limitations on fundamental freedoms. A lot has been written about the central African country where human rights remain illusive. Many would agree that there is need for more organizations to step up to the plate and help promote respect for human rights in the country. There are many organizations doing a good job on the ground, but there is still room for more groups to join the noble cause. A new organization called Civitas has joined the ranks of independent nonprofit and nongovernmental organizations  working for human rights in Cameroon.

Civitas is duly registered and legally recognized in Cameroon. The rights group is based in Bamenda, with its main office in GRA Up-Station and international bureaus in the United States and Finland.

The main objective of Civitas is to ensure that all individuals "enjoy all rights laid down in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights."

The organization also promotes environmental protection initiatives.

With violations in Cameroon like breast ironing, endemic police brutality, as well as torture and imprisonment of journalists, Civitas clearly has a lot of work to do.

Visit the official website of Civitas - www.cvtas.org - and show support for the challenging work of the organization. You are also encouraged to join Civitas on Facebook and Twitter. More importantly, sign up for the organization's newsletter and receive updates about projects, campaigns, calls for action and news releases.

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Prospective protesters arrested in Cameroon

Freedom of expression and peaceful assembly remain illusive in Cameroon, central Africa, as security forces continue to enforce limitations on fundamental freedoms "enshrined in Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Charter of the United Nations, and The African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights...". It is not uncommon for authorities to ban peaceful assemblies and order the arrest and detention of demonstrators - in violation of the right to peaceful assembly and expression. This afternoon, I was once again disturbed by news of the arrest of prospective peaceful protesters in Yaounde, capital of Cameroon.

According to a local news outlet, The Post, security forces raided the office of Association Citoyenne de Défense des Intérêts Collectifs (Citizen's Association for the Defense of Collective Interests) - ACDIC - in Yaounde and arrested 39 activists. The activists were arrested while preparing for a peaceful protest against the government's agricultural policies. The protesters, mostly farmers, were demanding good farm-to-market roads and more support for agriculture. [Source: Reuters].

The demonstration planned for 31 May 2011 was reportedly banned by the Senior Divisional Officer (SDO) for Mfoundi. It is worth recalling that the same authority barred an opposition party from participating in National Day celebrations in the nation's capital.

It is common knowledge that the right to free expression and peaceful assembly are fundamental rights which must be guaranteed in a free and democratic society. The Constitution of the Republic of Cameroon provides for these freedoms.

The Constitution clearly states in the Preamble that "... freedom of communication, of expression, of the press, of assembly, of association and of trade unionism, as well as the right to strike shall be guaranteed...". It also states that "the state shall guarantee all citizens of either sex the rights and freedoms set forth in the Preamble of the Constitution."

Although the arrested members of ACDIC have reportedly been released, such a violation of rights must be condemned. Arresting activists planning a peaceful protest to express their grievances is purely unconstitutional and contravenes the rule of law.

The state should uphold all principles laid down in the Constitution and respect its human rights obligations under international law.

Since pro-democracy demonstrations erupted in North Africa and the Middle East, the 28-year-old government of Cameroon has been on alert and has heavy-handedly dealt with prospects of an uprising. On 23 February 2011, riot police brutally cracked down on peaceful demonstrators in the country's economic capital. The government ordered the suspension of Twitter mobile in March.

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Belgium: Cameroon embassy and right to access information

The right to access information is a basic right enshrined in key international human rights instruments such as in Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), and Article 9 of the African Charter on Human and People's Rights (ACHPR). It's incumbent on states to ensure that this right is respected by state representatives and employees in public offices. An aborted phone call to the embassy of Cameroon in Brussels, Belgium this afternoon put into question the commitment of the embassy staff to uphold the right to access information.

At about 4PM (GMT+2), a call was made to the embassy of Cameroon to get information about the requirements for applying for a new passport and opening hours.

The call was answered by a gentleman who spoke only French due to inability or unwillingness to speak English. He routed the call to an angry lady who struggled to speak English. Instead of providing the needed information, she hastily referred the caller to the embassy's website. Speaking English seemed to be a burden for her and rendered her audibly nervous and unwilling to help. Then the unexpected happened - she hung up the phone.

Undeterred and shocked by the unwelcoming reaction of someone representing his country abroad, the caller called back. This time, the same gentleman who routed the first call reluctantly provided the requested information in French - ignoring the possibility that the English-speaking caller does not understand French.

I visited the referred website and noted that most pages on the English section of the site are "...still under construction... soon available."

According to the website, the embassy opens from Monday to Friday from 09h30 to 16h00. This conflicts with information provided by the staff today: passport applicants must be at the embassy before midday and are not welcomed on Fridays.

The embassy's website, as of the time of writing, was last updated more than 2 years ago on 29 April 2009 and looks inactive, hence the caller had reason to believe that perhaps something has changed after all these years. The French section of the site was last updated on 25 July 2009.

Cameroon is a bilingual country and all its citizens have the right to access information in the language they fully understand. The Constitution of the Republic provides that all official communications or documents be made available in both French and English, but Cameroon's embassy in Belgium, like many other state offices, is yet to make information on its website available in both languages.

There's a need to educate individuals who represent Cameroon in embassies abroad and to ensure that persons working in public offices understand that their job is to serve the people and should not interfere with the people's right to access information. Embassy staff should be polite and be able to communicate in both official languages of the country they represent so that a group of nationals is not alienated.

More importantly, the website of the Cameroon embassy in Belgium is in desperate need of a make-over. The authorities should take advantage of the advent of new technologies and make information available online.

An unprofessional embassy staff and a website - www.cameroon.be - whose English section is perpetually under construction damages the reputation of Cameroon abroad and sends a wrong message to millions of English-speaking Cameroonians.

On a side note: Finland is a small country in Northern Europe which has two official languages - Finnish (Suomi) and Swedish (Svenska). The websites of Finland's embassies in Washington and Abuja for instance, carry both official languages and I bet embassy staff would aptly and happily communicate in both languages. This is a good example for bilingual countries to emulate.

UPDATE, 21.11.2011: The website of the embassy has been updated, predominantly with news about the 2011 presidential election. The site still lacks useful information such as passport application fees, visa fees and application forms.

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Cameroon: Opposition party barred from 2011 National Day celebration

May 20 is officially the National Day of the Republic of Cameroon, central Africa. This day is usually marked by nation wide celebrations, including march-pasts by members of the armed forces, civil society, political parties, students and other authorized groups. In the nation's capital, Yaounde, the march-past is usually chaired by the Head of State. This year, an opposition party was barred by the authorities from participating in the National Day march-past in Yaounde.

The Cameroon People's Party (CPP) was barred by the Senior Divisional Officer for Mfoundi Division from participating in yesterday's march-past in the May 20 boulevard in Yaounde. [Source]. According to the chairperson of the National Council of the CPP, the party, as required by law, deposited a written declaration to participate in the march-past with the authorities well ahead of time, but when party supporters show up for the march-past rehearsal on 18 May - two days before the ceremony - they were told they are not authorized to participate in the march-past.

The CPP was reportedly barred from the 39th National Day celebration because the a party declared its intention to participate after the 29 April 2011 deadline. The Chairperson of the CPP refutes this assertion - saying the  declaration was deposited before the deadline. [Source: In French].

The CPP marched in other parts of Cameroon, including Buea and Kumba in the South West region.

However, barring a political party from participating in National Day celebrations in the nation's capital goes contrary to basic principles of democracy and "multipartism." Such a decision by the Senior Divisional Officer of Mfoundi is unnecessary in a democratic society and infringes the right to free assembly and expression - the bedrock of free and democratic states.

Like members of all political parties in Cameroon, militants of the CPP reserve the right to participate in National Day celebrations all over the country without restriction. This right should not be arbitrarily denied.

Cameroon's presidential election is slated later this year in October. The barring of an opposition party from participating in the National Day celebration sends a wrong message and coincides with a recent call for free and fair election in Cameroon from the U.S. Secretary State, Hillary Clinton.

It's worth recalling that the Chairperson of the CPP was a victim of the February brutal crackdown on peaceful protesters in Cameroon's second city.

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Committee to Protect Journalists urges Cameroon to carry out reform

One year after the death of Germain Ngota Ngota (fondly known as Bibi Ngota), a Cameroonian journalist who died in prison in Yaounde, Cameroon's capital city, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has urged the 28-year old government of Cameroon to carry out reforms so that no other journalist would be imprisoned for doing his/her job.

In an open letter to Paul Biya, President of Republic of Cameroon, CPJ recalled the death of Germain Ngota Ngota one year ago in the notorious Kondengui prison and blamed the regime for the death of the journalist. CPJ urged the government to carry out reforms and ensure that press offenses such as defamation and libel are tried in civil, not criminal courts. The organization also took state officials and security agents to task for arbitrarily arresting journalists who criticize them.

CPJ reminded the Head of State that Cameroon is party to the International Convention Against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment and that the state has failed to respect its obligations under the covenant.

Germain Ngota Ngota, now the face of press censorship in Cameroon, was arrested in February 2010 while investigating allegations of corruption and died in prison on 22 April 2010 while awaiting trial. Ngota suffered from high blood pressure and the authorities reportedly failed to provide him with adequate medical attention.

The plight of journalists in Cameroon and the dwindling right to free expression is there for everyone to see. There is an urgent need for reform so that journalists and those who speak out against corruption and other social ills are not arrested and imprisoned.

Earlier this month, a journalist was arrested in the north of Cameroon after questioning the authorities.

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Cameroonian nominated for 2011 Award for Human Rights Defenders at Risk

Every year, Front Line, an organization that protects human rights defenders around the world, grants an award to one human rights defender who fights for human rights - usually at great personal risk in his/her country. This year, a Cameroonian has been nominated for the award, alongside five other human rights defenders from other countries with poor human rights records. The nomination of Jean Marc Bikoko, a Cameroonian trade unionist and human rights activist, for the 2011 Front Line Award for Human Rights Defenders at Risk once again shines the spotlight on Cameroon's human rights record and speaks volumes about the dangers faced by human rights defenders in the central African country.

According to Front Line, Jean Marc Bikoko, President of Centrale Syndicale du Secteur Public (CSP), works to safeguard the rights of employees in the public sector in Cameroon. He was arrested in November 2010 together with 6 other trade unionists for participating a peaceful sit-in in front of the Prime Minister's office in Yaounde, Cameroon's main city. The peaceful demonstration was organized by CSP and the organization sought authorization to peacefully assemble and express their grievances, but authorization was denied.

On the day of the sit-in, the trade unionists were rounded up by security forces, interrogated and prosecuted on charges of participating in a banned peaceful demonstration.

The right to peaceful assembly and free expression is enshrined in key human rights instruments that have been duly ratified by the government of Cameroon, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), The African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights (ACHPR), the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).

Cameroon's membership to the International Labour Organization (ILO) is even more relevant in this case since it concerns the rights of trade unionists and workers.

Cameroon is party to the ILO's Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organize Convention (ratified on 7 June 1960), the Workers' Representatives Convention (ratified on 5 April 1976) and other significant international labour standards that promote the rights of workers and trade union members.

Article 1 of the Workers' Representatives Convention states that "workers' representatives shall enjoy effective protection against any acts prejudicial to them..."

Mindful of the government's legal obligation under international law - it goes without saying that the arrest of Jean Marc Bikoko, a workers' representative as defined by Article 3 of the 1971 Workers' Representatives Convention, for organizing and participating in a peaceful demonstration to demand the rights of public sector employees contravenes international human rights and international labour rights standards.

More so, the banning of a peaceful sit-in by the authorities amounts to an interference to restrict the right to peaceful assembly and expression.

It has been said that Cameroon has an "unenviable" human rights record, hence the nomination of a Cameroonian for the 2011 Award for Human Rights Defenders at Risk adds weight to the assertion and goes to show the dangers faced by human rights defenders and those who dare to speak out against basic rights violations in the African country.

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Cameroon: Lapiro de Mbanga released

This evening, I received a heartwarming email from Freemuse titled, "Singer Lapiro de Mbanga released from prison." Pierre Roger Lambo Sandjo, commonly known as Lapiro de Mbanga, is a popular Cameroonian musician who was arrested and imprisoned in 2008.

According to Freemuse, an international organization (based in Denmark) that promotes freedom of expression for musicians and composers, Lapiro was released at 2pm CEST (1pm in Douala) from the infamous New Bell Prison in the economic capital of Cameroon.

The singer was arrested in April 2008 on accusations of "complicity" in widespread demonstrations against high cost of living and a controversial constitutional amendment that eliminated presidential term limits in Cameroon. He was sentenced to 3 years behind bars and slapped with a fine of 280 million CFA francs.

It is widely believed that the artist, a longtime critic of the Cameroon government and "voice for the voiceless", was arrested and imprisoned for condemning the controversial 2008 constitutional amendment in his song - "Constitution Constipe" (Constipated Constitution).

The release of Lapiro de Mbanga after 3 years in jail is welcomed, but there are still widespread concerns about his safety and security of person. He's an outspoken critic of a 28-year old regime that is poised to run for re-election later this year.

It is worth mentioning that there was a media blackout in Cameroon as to the exact time and date of Lapiro's release. Many supporters and human rights activists had limited information and were expecting the singer's release on 9 April 2011. Today on Facebook, someone stated: "As I write, tension is mounting in Douala as the population has been mobilising for the past 2 weeks to give Lapiro a hero's welcome tomorrow..."

Give it up for Freemuse and its collaborators for standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Lapiro de Mbanga all through the difficult 3 years in jail and for aggressively campaigning for his release.

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Cameroon: Journalist arrested after questioning authorities

Since pro-democracy demonstrations erupted in North Africa and the Middle East earlier this year, the authorities of a 28-year old regime in Cameroon have been on alert and ready to stifle any Egypt-style uprising. On 23 February, government forces ruthlessly clamped down on a small group of peaceful protesters in Cameroon's economic capital. This brutal crackdown was closely followed by the suspension of twitter-mobile - an instrumental tool in the fight for democracy and human rights around the world. More recently, state agents reportedly arrested two employees of Pamol Plantations Plc, a palm oil producing company, as the employees transported 150 youths from the North region to work in palm tree plantations in the southwest region of Cameroon (perhaps the authorities thought the youths were being transported to "Tahrir" square to demand the removal to the regime). The [arbitrary] arrest of two employees of Pamol led to the arrest of a local journalist - after questioning the authorities about arrests.

According to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), Lamissia Adolarc, a Cameroonian journalist based in Ngaoundere, capital of the Adamawa region of Cameroon, was arrested on 30 March 2011 on the orders of the governor of Adamawa - Enow Abraham Egbe. Adolarc was arrested for inquiring about the arrest of two Pamol employees accused of "fomenting a rebellion against the government."

It is no secret that events in the Arab world and North Africa have put longstanding repressive regimes on edge. But rather than arrest unsuspecting citizens in a bid to silence dissenters and stifle possible calls for democracy and respect for human rights, regimes with poor human rights records should implement reforms and respect the fundamental freedoms of all citizens.

The arrest of a journalist for doing his job is unnecessary and has no place in a free society.

CPJ has called for the immediate release of detained Lamissia Adolarc.

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Cameroon: Author imprisoned for insulting first lady in a book

Two significant human rights instruments, namely the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and the African Charter on Human and People's Rights (ACHPR) are enshrined in the Constitution of the Republic of Cameroon. In the preamble, which according to Article 65 is part and parcel of the Constitution, the state recognizes and affirms "...the fundamental freedoms enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Charter of the United Nations and The African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights, and all duly ratified international conventions...". Mindful of the aforementioned, the imprisonment of an author for "insulting" the first lady of the republic, Chantal Biya (see photo), in a book is therefore unconstitutional and a violation of "duly ratified" international human rights conventions.

International Freedom of Expression Exchange (IFEX), a network of organizations that promote and protect the right to free expression, issued an alert on 29 March 2011 condemning the imprisonment of Bertrand Teyou, a Cameroonian author, for "insulting" the First Lady of Cameroon in a book that was published last year.

According to IFEX, in 2010, Bertand Teyou published a book titled "La belle de la république bananière: Chantal Biya, de la rue au palais" (meaning: the beautiful of the banana republic: Chantal Biya, from the streets to the palace).

The author was arrested in November 2010 and slapped with a fine or 2 years in prison.

Freedom to hold and express opinions without state interference is a fundamental right and the foundation of a free and democratic society. This right is laid down in all significant human rights instruments, including the UDHR (Article 19), the ACHPR (Article 9[2] ), the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (Article 19), just to name a few.

The arrest and imprisonment of an author as a result of his publication is outrageous and contravenes every international human rights standard.

Bertrand Teyou is presently serving 2 years in prison due to his inability to pay the high fine of 2 million CFA francs plus other costs levied on him for writing a book about a public figure. Note that Bertrand is not the first Cameroonian imprisoned - in violation of free expression. Many have been imprisoned before him, including a prominent musician, popularly known as Lapiro de Mbanga  - who is presently imprisoned after composing a song against the recent controversial constitutional amendment that eliminated presidential term limits in Cameroon.

A declaration of the Committee for the Liberation of Bertrand Teyou reveals that First Lady Chantal Biya never lodged a complaint against Bertrand Teyou. Regional authorities in the economic capital - Douala - took upon themselves to arrest, prosecute and sentence the author before a planned celebration marking the publication of his book.

PEN International, an organization that promotes literature, encourages supporters to TAKE ACTION to secure the immediate and unconditional release of Bertrand Teyou. 
*Photo: First Lady Chantal Biya.

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Twitter mobile restored in Cameroon

Last week, in a move that echoed social media censorship in Cameroon, the government ordered MTN - a major mobile phone operator in Cameroon - to suspend Twitter mobile - locally known as Twitter SMS. The suspension of Twitter mobile was widely criticized by Twitter users at home and abroad. One week after the suspension, Twitter mobile has been restored in the sub-Saharan country.

The restoration of the service in Cameroon was announced on 18 March 2011 on Twitter, when the official Twitter page of Twitter Mobile was updated with the following tweet:

"Twitter SMS service on MTN Cameroon is live once again! New users should send START to 8711 to sign up."

In closed totalitarian and highly censored societies, Twitter is instrumental in sending out information. In Egypt for example, during the recent pro-democracy demonstrations, twitter was widely used by protesters to organize and share information and pictures with the rest of the world.

In countries where press censorship is the order of the day, Twitter is a cherished service which gives oppressed people a unique opportunity to freely express themselves and share uncensored information with the rest of the world.

Over the years, the 28-year-old regime of Cameroon has been widely criticized for press censorship and imprisonment of journalists, hence the suspension of twitter mobile was perceived by many as another attempt by the regime to stifle free expression and any possible attempt by the growing number of anti-government activists to organize online.

It is worth mentioning that Twitter SMS was suspended two weeks after government forces brutally quashed peaceful anti-governmnent demonstrations in Cameroon's economic capital. A Cameroonian blogger described the suspension as a government bid to "insulate itself against digital activists."

The restoration of Twitter mobile in Cameroon is welcomed. People have the right to freely express themselves or peacefully organize through any available means - without government interference.

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Cameroon ratifies African Youth Charter

The government of Cameroon ratified the African Youth Charter on 11 January 2011 when the country's Head of State for 28 years (see photo) signed Degree No. 2011/002 in the nation's capital, Yaounde. This is a commendable move in the right direction - which goes to show that the 28-year-old regime acknowledges the need to promote and respect human rights and basic freedoms.

But given the present sorry-state of human rights in the west-central African country, the ratification of the African Youth Charter appears to be cosmetic.

The African Youth Charter is a human rights instrument designed to protect the rights of youths in the continent. It lays down the rights, freedoms and duties of youths, as well as States Parties' obligations. The Charter was adopted in Gambia in July 2006 by the African Union and it is open to ratification by member states of the Union.

A good number of Cameroonian youths are unaware of the existence of this Charter - despite the fact that Article 27 obligates States Parties to popularize the Charter - and many do not enjoy the basic rights and freedoms laid down in the Charter. For instance, the right to freedom of expression and association as laid down in Article 4 and 5 respectively are not guaranteed in Cameroon.

Only 12 days after the Head of State signed the Degree that ratified the African Youth Charter, security forces brutally cracked down on  youths peacefully calling for democracy and human rights in Cameroon.

Many Cameroonian youths are yet to enjoy other rights laid down in the Charter, including, but not limited to the following:

• Right to adequate standard of living
• Right to be free from hunger
• Right to be protected from economic exploitation
• Right to enjoy the "best attainable" state of health
• Right to be treated with humanity
• Freedom of expression
• Freedom of association

Ratification of the African Youth Charter by the government of Cameroon is good news for youths and rights advocates, but the government should do more than ratify international human rights standards. Implementation is much more important.

The state should respect its obligations under international law and restore basic rights for youths.

African youths are encouraged to promote and demand the rights and freedoms laid down in the African Youth Charter.

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Cameroon government suspends Twitter mobile

In November 2010, social networking giant - Twitter - partnered with MTN, a major mobile phone operator in Cameroon, in an effort to make Twitter more accessible to people living in Cameroon - many of whom have limited access to internet. Sadly, this effort to give people in Cameroon a voice online through Twitter mobile (Twitter SMS) has been thwarted by the government which has reportedly ordered the suspension of service.

Twitter SMS, as the service was locally called, allowed users to send and receive Twitter updates via SMS, as explained in the video below:



It is unclear why the service was suspended, but earlier today, a source posted on Twitter that it's "Pour des raisons de sécurité" (for security reasons).

The government's decision to suspend Twitter comes two weeks after Cameroonians - inspired by calls for democracy and human rights in the Middle East and North Africa - mobilized online and took to the streets of Cameroon's economic capital to demand an end to a 28-year-old iron-fisted regime. Needless to say - the peaceful protesters were brutally suppressed by security forces.

Mindful of the role of Twitter and other social networking sites in the recent pro-democracy uprisings around the world, its easy to see the suspension of Twitter mobile in Cameroon as an attempt to stifle the free flow of information and co-ordinated calls for democracy and respect for human rights through social media.

The Committee to Protect Journalists recently took the government of Cameroon to task for "obstructing" free reporting on issues of public interest. The suspension of Twitter SMS adds weight to this assertion and highlights state-sponsored limitations on basic freedoms in Cameroon.

Following this suspension, people living in Cameroon can only tweet from internet cafés. This greatly limits the free flow of information - especially if for some reason, users are unable to go to internet cafés.

It remains to be seen whether Twitter (and other social networking sites) will be banned altogether in Cameroon.

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