The Centre for Human Rights and Democracy in Africa (CHRDA) and the Human Rights Implementation Centre (HRIC) have petitioned the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights (African Commission) over gross human right violation of Ambazonians detained in maximum security prisons in La Republique du Cameroun (LRC).

In a strongly worded letter signed, Thursday July 5 2018, by the head of the two rights groups, Barrister Felix Agbor-Balla for CHRDA, and Professor Rachel Murray for HRIC, they call on the African commission to intervene urgently in respect of 18 Ambazonians who have arbitrarily arrested and detained in LRC in the recent crackdown on Ambazonians.

According to the letter, the rights groups said these Ambazonians have undergone all sorts of torturing and humiliation, in the hand of the terrorist LRC military. They added that they are concerned about their safety and well-being and that their treatment whilst is in violation of Article 5 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights, as well as other international instruments prohibiting torture and other ill-treatment.

“We understand that 15 of these individuals were arrested between December 2017 and June 2018 during the government’s recent brutal crackdown in Ambazonia including the deployment of the military in the Anglophone regions and the disproportionate use of force in relation to protests against the marginalisation of Ambazonianz. Since their arrest, they have been held in detention without charge. In relation to three of the individuals namely: Ordema Francis, Agbor Taku Joseph, and Kum Nestor, they were already serving sentences for reasons unconnected with the ‘Anglophone crisis’ but are alleged to have been communicating with groups connected with that protest,” the letter read in part.

Quoting various international conventions and ratifications on human rights violation, the rights groups called on the African Commission to open investigation so that the victims can be vindicated.

“We have also received reports that the individuals have been kept in tight chains and have been subjected to torture by prison guards. Consequently, we are concerned that the arrest, detention and transfer of these individuals is arbitrary and violates a range of human rights including in particular the rights to liberty and security of the person, freedom from discrimination, freedom of association, freedom to hold opinions without interference, freedom to peaceful assembly, and freedom of expression as set out under Article 2, 6, 9, 10 and II of the African Charter, Articles 3, 19, 20 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights; and Articles 9, 18, 19, 21, and 22 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Therefore, we would respectfully request you to call on LRC to ensure that Ordema Francis, Agbor Taku Joseph, and Kum Nestor, are treated strictly in accordance with their rights under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and Cameroun’s obligations under international human rights law, and in relation to the other fifteen individuals, to immediately and unconditionally release these individuals and seek immediate assurances from the Camerounese authorities that they too will be treated strictly in accordance with the African Charter and international law,” the letter read.

Here is the names of the 18 individuals concerned:

1. Tati Eric Ngu
2. Harris Boseme
3. Robert Nkwetato
4. Ikoe Clinton
5. Acha Ivo Aben
6. John Marinus Ndenge
7. Oben Frankline Tabo
8. Eyond Charles
9. Effia Gideon
10. Ordema Francis
11. Agbor Taku Joseph Here’s the full Petition: Apeal for Arbitrary arrest of Anglophones
12. Awu Gregory Ashu
13. Tanyi Robert Tatw
14. Jong Orlandus
15. Njeya Jukius Bawe
16. Nestor Kum
17. Ayukem Franklin
18. Fonjong Armstrong

By Lucas Muma,

Managing Editor – BaretaNews