UN Says They Do Not Know The Where About Of Cameroon's Biya Amidst Other Questions

Inner City Press: I've been wanting to ask you about Cameroon. In fact, I've asked you some stuff in writing, but I want to ask you now in person. Since your last statement… I mean, there… there… I've asked you how many people the UN thinks have been killed in Cameroon, because Amnesty International said 17 some days ago. People in the country are saying it's well over 100 now, their bodies being discovered. So, I just… one, I wanted to know, what is the role of the UN there in getting to the bottom of that? How does it square with this… people there are saying the idea that calling for dialogue with a President who seems to still be in Geneva when people are still actively being killed is a strange message from the UN. So I wanted to know… and where is Mr. [Francois Lounceny] Fall? You said he'd be going this week. It's now Thursday. Where is he?

Spokesman: He will travel as soon as it is appropriate and as soon as travel can be arranged. There is a need, as in any situation, for a need for dialogue. I have no specific information where the President of Cameroon may be, but there are… there is a need for dialogue between the authorities and between the leaders of the Anglophone community. I think the Secretary-General is extremely concerned about the increased tensions we've seen in the northwest and the southwest parts of the country. He's been clear in condemning the violence that we've seen. And we are… as we've said in the past, we're ready to support any efforts by the parties for constructive engagement. I don't have… We don't… we're not in a position to, as far as I know, right now from here, to estimate the number of casualties. We've seen the press reports, which are, as we've said, very worrying, but I have no… we have no… I… at least I have no independent information from here.

Inner City Press: There are not only reports but proof that both the internet and social networks have been cut off again, which was a bit issue earlier this year. And I didn't see that in any UN statement. And also, often it's… sometimes human rights issues are not raised from here, but they're raised by the High Commissioner. I haven't seen any statement by him. So, people are saying they've seen him comment, for example, once there were, you know, mean tweets against CICIG [International Commission against Impunity in Guatemala] and he commented on that. I'm not asking you to respond to him, but is this idea of this kind of division of labour, has something been dropped here? because it's a… 100 people killed and the internet… young people are having their feet shot by soldiers so they can't protest… [cross talk]

Spokesman: "As I said, we've seen the press reports, which are extremely alarming. The… for the High Commissioner, I think he may have spoken out, but I think, again, that's a question you need to ask… to address to his office. There is a basic need to keep the internet flowing anywhere. Access to information is critical for everyone, and that… I think it's important that people have access to the internet."

I, like any other SouthernCameroonian, must congratulate and send a special message to Matthew Lee, the founder and Executive Director of Inner City Press for his endless efforts to safe the oppress. He keeps asking questions to and holding UN to task, almost on a daily basis, for our case.

Bassona Nkeng

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