UN expert urges Cameroon to restore internet services cut off in rights violation
GENEVA (10 February 2017) – A United Nations expert has called on the Government of Cameroon to restore internet services to predominantly English-speaking parts of the country which have been cut off in “an appalling violation of their right to freedom of expression.”
“I am particularly concerned at the tightening of the space for free speech at a time where its promotion and protection should be of the utmost importance,” said the Special Rapporteur on freedom of expression, David Kaye.
His call follows reports that Cameroonians in the northwest and southwest regions, which are predominantly English speaking, have been unable to connect to the internet since 17 January. It also comes against a background of widespread protests against government policies which have reportedly marginalized the country’s English-speaking population.
Cameroon has two official languages: French and English. But English speakers have long reported that they face discrimination and marginalization, and are excluded from top civil service positions and public services. They also complain their access to justice is limited because the majority of legislation and judicial proceedings are in French.
“A network shutdown of this scale violates international law – it not only suppresses public debate, but also deprives Cameroonians of access to essential services and basic resources,” said Mr. Kaye, urging the government to restore internet facilities immediately.
In 2016, the Human Rights Council passed a resolution which unequivocally condemned measures to intentionally prevent or disrupt access to or dissemination of information online in violation of international human rights law, and called on all States to refrain from and cease such measures.
This followed the 2015 Joint Declaration of UN and regional experts in the field of freedom of expression, which stated that network shutdowns or internet ‘kill switches’ are measures which can ‘never be justified under human rights law’.
The UN Special Rapporteur will continue to monitor developments in Cameroon closely, and is at the disposal of the authorities to provide assistance or advice as required.
ENDS
Mr. David Kaye (USA) was appointed as Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression in August 2014 by the United Nations Human Rights Council. As Special Rapporteur, Mr. Kaye is part of what is known as the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council. Special Procedures, the largest body of independent experts in the UN Human Rights system, is the general name of the Council’s independent fact-finding and monitoring mechanisms that address either specific country situations or thematic issues in all parts of the world. Special Procedures’ experts work on a voluntary basis; they are not UN staff and do not receive a salary for their work. They are independent from any government or organization and serve in their individual capacity.
UN Human Rights, country page: Cameroon
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Xabier Celaya, OHCHR Media Unit (+ 41 22 917 9383 / xcelaya@ohchr.org)
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3 comments
My wish and desire is that the UN should come in at this point in time to rescue the situation so it should not degenerate before the UN comes in.
I guess France will block every initiative of the UN. At least the gov and France will do the delay tactic. Therefore the people and the inernational community have to increase the pressure on Biya. FREE ALL ARRESTED!
My plea to Mark Bara and Tapang Ivo,
In your capacity as the current interim leaders of the consortium, I understand you are working with people on the ground in Cameroon. want to thank you both for the great leadership you have displayed since you accepted to take the roles. I believe it is time to organize a task force to ensure that even a small minority of West Cameroonians do not send their children back to school as the government wants. They have to lead the people in sabotaging every effort the government is making to restart schools without compromising anything in return. That is the new strategy: SABOTAGE.
The trial of the 3 leaders was again ajourned to March 23. My suspicion is that Biya’s government is waiting and hoping for schools to resume and the whole struggle collapses. I believe the sentences for Barister Agbor Balla and the others have already been decided. The government has already broken many laws, so passing sentences without any evidence is not difficult for them. They won’t care how many lawyers go to represent our arrested compatriots.
I have been asking myself “what does the Biya government fear the most at this moment?”. what is giving them sleepless nights? The answer I discovered is:
THEY FEAR THAT THIS SCHOOL YEAR WILL BE DECLARED BLANK.
If that happens then they too will suffer because even their children in the francophone section will not get certificates. I believe that is what is giving them sleepless nights.
That is the only reason why they keep postponing the cases.
Our greatest trump card at this moment is the power to make this school year go blank. We are already winning in this domain and if we let this win slip through our hands, then we will live to regret it all our lives.
I know you have been preaching nonviolence and I believe it is the right thing to do. However, I believe we have to use whatever means necessary, even intimidation of traitors among us to prevent schools from resuming. We cannot let the death of innocent ones and those arrested to go in vain just because we want nonviolence.
The government has already violated many human rights laws and still continues to do so. That means the playing field is no longer level. Tougher times call for tougher measures.
Biya doesn’t care about the common law lawyers and that his why the minister of justice hasn’t called for any negotiations with the lawyers. He knows that if schools resume then he will handle the lawyers ruthlessly until they submit or go on exile.
Even if our courts are closed they won’t be affected, but if our schools remain closed they will be badly affected. THAT IS THEIR GREATEST NIGHTMARE.
Thanks.