Information reaching BaretaNews says that the Anglophone Civil Society Consortium is to file a complaint against the perpetrators of violence and inhuman brutality in the North West and South West Regions of Cameroon. The Anglophone Crisis which broke out in November 2016 reveals traces of genocide on Southern Cameroonians. According to Barrister Bernard A. Muna, lead counsel to the Consortium leaders in detention, these are crimes against humanity.
Speaking at a press conference on March 1st, 2017 he disclosed that proceedings are being made to file a complaint at the International Criminal Court for incidents of genocide in Southern Cameroon. It should be reiterated that crimes against humanity involve any act or actions committed deliberately as a widespread attack against an identifiable population which includes dehumanisation, murder, torture, abduction, kidnap, imprisonment, rape among others. The Anglophone crisis which has been ongoing for almost five months has recorded these aforementioned acts of genocide directly or indirectly.
In view of these, Barrister Muna stated: “According to the Geneva Convention of 1949, we speak of genocide when you want to change the way of life of a people with a culture of their own. Anglophones are a national group, wanting to enjoy their justice system as Francophones also enjoy their judicial system. In trying to force these people to adopt a culture that is not their own, it is genocide. When you break the doors of students in the university residential area, you roll them in mud, it is also genocide. When you shut down the internet, this is an element of genocide”.
Filing a complaint at the International Criminal Court will provide an opportunity for in-depth investigations in the ongoing Anglophone crisis. At the moment of writing, Southern Cameroonians are intensifying efforts in strengthening the struggle. High-profile social media activist Mark Bareta recently called on the people to boycott 8th March International Women’s Day.
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