Address Anglophones Grievances Which Date Back Decades Now - United Nations Human Rights High Commis
- Linda EYONG Suzy
- Oct 6, 2017
- 3 min read
In a press briefing, coming in after the statement of the African Union, the United Nations Human Rights Commission, through her Spokesperson (H.E Rupert Colville) issued a statement on the crises that is rocking Southern Cameroons.
UNHRC reiterates that from the figures given by the government, at least 10 people were killed on Sunday October 1, 2017, and that credible sources confirmed that some of the death resulted from excessive use of force by the security forces. In line with the UNSG, the UNHRC is more precise, urging the government to establish prompt, effective, impartial and independent investigation to enure accountability.
They further called on the government to exercise restrain and allow people to exercise right to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression, including through having uninterrupted access to the internet.
In conclusion, they urge the government to address the root cause of the anglophones grievances which date back decades now.
Read the full text of the statement below;
Press briefing notes on Cameroon
Spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights: Rupert Colville Location: Geneva Date: 6 October 2017
(1) Cameroon
We would like to reiterate the concern voiced by UN Secretary-General António Guterres about the violence in South-West and North-West Cameroon on 1 October, amid demonstrations by people from the country’s Anglophone community.
According to government figures, at least 10 people were killed on Sunday and credible sources indicated that some of these deaths resulted from excessive use of force by the security forces. We call on the Government of Cameroon to establish prompt, effective, impartial and independent investigations to ensure accountability.
Cameroon’s Anglophone regions have seen multiple strikes and demonstrations over the past year as resentment and tensions have built at what English-speakers see as discrimination against them in favour of the majority French-speaking population. In response, the Government deployed additional security and defence forces.
We urge the authorities to ensure that the security forces exercise restraint and take measures to prevent the use of force when policing demonstrations. People should be allowed to exercise their right to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression, including through having uninterrupted access to the internet.
We call on all people to pursue peaceful means to make themselves heard. Over the past few months, public and private property has been damaged, and at least two homemade bombs are reported to have been planted in public places. There have also been arson attacks on a number of schools.
We urge the Government and Anglophone groups to engage in a meaningful political dialogue so that the grievances of the Anglophone population, which date back decades, can be fully addressed.
In that respect, we welcome the comments by President Paul Biya on Sunday in which he condemned all forms of violence, irrespective of the perpetrators, and called for dialogue as the only way to find a durable solution.
ENDS
For more information and media requests, please contact Rupert Colville (+41 22 917 9767 / rcolville@ohchr.org) or Liz Throssell ( +41 22 917 9466 / ethrossell@ohchr.org).
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The Southern Cameroon Resistance must say hear that, it has not been long the UNHRC issued a statement on twitter, condemning the Spanish police for injuring hundreds of protesters in Catalona. In response to this, and considering that in Southern Cameroons we are talking of over a hundred deads and the UNHRC prefers to make a statement on injured people, we got on twitter presenting facts to them and condemning their biase and racism. Just 24 hours later they have reacted.
On this note, we are saying there is power on twitter. If this fight has gone to this height, it is because of the social media, and we encourage us all to get involved.
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Bassona Nkeng
Lebialem County
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