By Doh James Sonkey in Yaounde
Human Rights Civil society groups have decried the series of threats reported by the publisher of a book that exposes some strange revelations of the history of Cameroon in line with the current crisis rocking the English speaking regions of Cameroon.
The 46 Page book titled THE BEACON OF HOPE, (THE UNRAVELLED VERACITY) is the handy work of ERIC KANJI FRU Esq, an advocate undergoing pupilage.
According to the young writer, Southern Cameroons Independence was unorthodox.
“The process leading to the reunification of the two Cameroons is the bone of contention of what is now known as the Anglophone problem. The Francophone territory gained independence on 1 January 1960, becoming the Republic of Cameroon. The British territories of Southern Cameroon and Northern Cameroon were to gain a conditional independence either by joining Nigeria or The Republic of Cameroon. From 13 December 1946 the British Southern Cameroons enjoyed its new international legal status through numerous UNGA Resolutions.” He narrates in his book.
The young lawyer went further to narrate extensively what happened at the Foumban Conference as well as the amendments proposed by Anglophone leaders for new constitution such as limiting the presidential term to two, a federal assembly, double nationality and the cancellation of the word “Indivisible” from the constitution.
The book further criticizes the regime of being dictatorial, corrupt, and lawless, quoting prominent Anglophone lawyers and those on self-exile such as BarristerEyambe E. Ebai “The Rule of Law and Constitutional Amendment in Cameroon”
The later chapters of his book narrated the gross violations of Human Rights since the beginning of the crisis.
The protests in Bamenda, Limbe and Buea where he participated was far brutal. About a thousand or more armed police and army officers were deployed on the ground to crackdown on the demonstrating lawyers. “These forces brutalized and maimed us as we were exercising our fundamental human rights of peaceful assembly and freedom of speech” he recounts. Lawyers were hunted like fugitives from hotels and cars, intimidated, beaten, some law offices were violated in the search of occupants and lawyer’s wigs, gowns and mobile phones were seized by the brutal forces. Dozens of lawyers were arrested and detained without any charge.
He also narrated otherincidents that took place between January and February 2017 in Bamenda and other towns such as Ndop where at least three were shot dead by the repressive forces. According to his revelations, from October 2016 to February 2017, at least nine people were killed and more sustained gunshot wounds. “150 persons were arrested, including journalists and lawyers. They appeared before a military court under the terrorism law. The security forces also arrested and intimidated prominent Anglophones. For example, Paul Abine Ayah, a judge at the Supreme Court, was arrested without a warrant in March on charges of funding the Anglophone campaign. He has since remained behind bars.” He writes.
The young lawyer seemed to have added more salt to an existing wound in the concluding chapter of his book.
“Southern Cameroonians are a people who have proven to be resilient for 55 years under discrimination, marginalization, gross human rights violations, assimilation and all forms of injustices which were the results of a badly and fraudulently conducted unification. The right to self-determination as enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations and International Covenants of Human Rights state that “All people have the right self-determination” and that by virtue of that right they are free to determine their political status to pursue their economic, social and cultural development” He says.
He further said the African Commission on Human and Peoples Right erred in the second arm in its ruling to hold that there was no proof of gross human right violation and deprivation from taking part in the administration which are the grounds for secession.
“The U.N should therefore treat the Anglophone crisis with urgency and mediate to put an end to the vicious union between the people of Southern Cameroon and La Republique du Cameroun which is a ticking time bomb.” He ended his narratives.
As the book found its way to the pressand was reviewed, the writer began receiving threats from unknown persons.Plans to launch the book have been postponed for fear of the unknown and the whereabouts of the young layer is currently not known. Copies of the book have been seized by the administrative authorities.
Human Rights Civil Society Organizations in the Country say it is an abuse to freedom of expression as enshrined in the universal declaration of Human Rights.