By DOH JAMES SONKEY
The national capital was over the weekend heavily militarized to frustrate four announced protests by militants of the Cameroon Renaissance Movement to demand for the unconditional release of their leader, Prof Maurice Kamto and all militants arrested during their first protest march in Yaounde, Bafoussam and Douala.
Fortunately, no clash between security forces and militants took place because the party decided to postpone their initial planned street demonstrations to a later date. The four streets protests that were planned for last February 1 and 2, 2019 in Yaounde were prohibited by the Mfoundi Senior Divisional Officer, Jean Claude Tsila for what he described as serious threat to public order.
Last February 1, 2019, Prof Maurice Kamto and Co were slammed with eight charges including sedition, insurrection and inciting violence.
One of Kamto’s lawyers who doubles as Secretary General of the CRM party, Barrister Christopher Ndong told the press that his client did not organize any anti-regime protest out of the country as claimed by the government.
Arrested in Douala last January 28, 2019 and brought to Yaounde, Kamto and the close to 200 CRM militants if found guilty of the charges levied against them, will risk a sentence of five years to life imprisonment.
Another CRM lawyer, Sylvain Souop reassured that the morale of Prof Maurice Kamto is good and that he was interrogated last January 30, 2019 in the presence of the director general of the criminal investigation division,
The European Union, EU has joined it voice to that of other human rights organizations like Samira Daoud of Amnesty International’s West and Central Africa deputy director to demand for the immediate release of Kamto and the CRM militants.
“Instead of taking steps towards improving the country’s human rights record, we are witnessing the authorities becoming less and less tolerant of criticism. The arrest of the opposition leader and his supporters signals an escalating crackdown on opposition leaders, human rights defenders and activists in Cameroon,” concluded Samira Daoud.
“Demonstrations have taken place in recent days in several cities of Cameroon. They resulted in disproportionate use of force by security forces and multiple arrests, including leaders of the main opposition party. The solution to the major challenges facing the country can only be found through dialogue, in a calm and inclusive context, where fundamental freedoms and the rule of law are respected.”Maja Kocijancic, EU Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy said.
CRM Cancels Planned Protests
The Cameroon Renaissance Movement, (CRM) political party of professor Maurice Kamto has announced the suspension of “White Marches” planned this Saturday February 2nd and another slated for the 9 till further notice as its leaders remain in custody.
Mamadou Mota, first Vice President of the MRC issued a statement late Friday February 1st announcing the suspension of the demonstrations. Mamadou said the marches have been canceled and postponed to a later date. He said, “ the MRC however calls on its militants to remain mobilised for new instructions”.
Despite the lack of details in the suspension of the demonstrations, the youth arm of the party in a social media posting has mooted that, information at their disposal point to some regime apologist planning with some people to penetrate the demonstrations and later ban the party.
The Youth wing claim the decision is also for the good of their militants and leaders in detention. Besides militants arrested on January 26 in Yaoundé, Douala, Dschang and Bafang, there is also activist Celestin Djamen. Others include Former Biya adviser Christian Penda Ekoka, Engelbert Lebon Datchoua and Albert Dzongang.
Security forces were already on the alert to contain any such public manifestation even before the statement from the MRC first vice president.
The demonstrations of the CRM party according to its detained leader Maurice Kamto are against what it terms “No to electoral hold-up”. It is also protesting for the regime to end the armed conflict in the North West and South West Regions. The CRM is also demanding accountability in the management of funds for the abortive AFCON 2019 campaign that Cameroon failed to host.