Credit: Wikipedia Commons/  Flag of the Republic of Cameroon

By Gary Raynaldo  /  DIPLOMATIC TIMES

UNITED NATIONS  –  NEW  YORK  –   The United Nations Secretary-General  António Guterres has  “taken note” of a military court’s action  in the Republic of Cameroon this week sentencing Anglophone separatist leader Julius Sisiku Ayuk Tabe and 9 of his followers to life in jail.  They  were convicted of charges including “terrorism and secession”.  Ayuk Tabe, 54, was the first self-proclaimed president of “Ambazonia” – a breakaway state declared in October 2017 in two English-speaking regions of the central African country. The government responded with a military crackdown.  In addition,  the military court reportedly levied fines of 250 billion CFA francs ($422 million, 381 million euros) on the 10 Anglophone separatists. ,  Source: youtube.com /    Cameroon Anglophone separatist leader Julius Sisiku Ayuk Tabe given life sentence in jail.

Jailed leader Ayuk Tabe Called For United Nations To Help Solve Crisis in Cameroon

Detained Ambazonia leader wants UN intervention in Cameroon.      Ayuk Tabe wrote a letter from jail that  stressed the need for the dialogue to be supervised by the United Nations as well as foreign observers like the United Kingdom, Ecowas, African Union, Ecowas, European Union and the Commonwealth, journalducameroun.com reported. However, the government of Cameroon has since stressed dialogue can hold on any topic except separation and secession.

Nearly 60 opposition members tortured by Cameroon security forces: Amnesty International

Last month, Amnesty International called on authorities in Cameroon to promptly and independently investigate  the severe beatings and ill-treatment that 59 opposition supporters -including six women- were allegedly subjected to during their questioning at the State Secretariat for Defense (SED).  Before releasing them, security forces beat them with sticks and forced them into humiliating positions, according to Amnesty International.

“We’ve taken note of the decision that was taken, that was taken by the military court in the sentence of Mr. Tabe and others, and nine other activists to life imprisonment and also a very serious fine. We also understand there is an intention to appeal the sentence. We continue to reiterate the need for due process to be followed throughout these proceedings, and we remain concerned about the allegations of ill‑treatment of prisoners and call on the authorities to ensure that all detainees are treated humanely in accordance with international human rights standards.”

Stéphane Dujarric,  Spokesperson for UN Secretary-General  António Guterres

Credit:  Gary Raynaldo /  Stéphane Dujarric,  Spokesperson for UN Secretary General António Guterres at press briefing at UN world headquarters in New York Aug. 22, 2019.

 Cameroon  Government  Statement on Life Sentences Of Ambazonia Leaders:

“Ten of the separatist leaders prosecuted before  the camerounian court, have each, among others, been sentenced to life imprisonment. The Yaoundé Military Tribunal, has, acting by the unanimity of its members and after the hearing of both parties, declared that the separatist leaders were guilty of the offences levied against them. The Government has taken note of the court ruling.”

–Compte du Ministère de la Communication du Cameroun– Ministry of Communication Twitter  

Amnesty International Calls for the Immediate Release of Opposition Leader Maurice Kamto

Credit:  agencecamerounpresse.com  / Cameroon’s main opposition leader Maurice Kamto  also in prison 

Amnesty International calls for the release of Cameroon’s main opposition leader Maurice Kamto and more than 100 other supporters arbitrarily detained six months to the day solely for peaceful participation in protests.

Kamto, who insists he won last October’s presidential election, was  arrested and charged with insurrection in February 2019.    At the time of Kamto’s  arrest, the central-west Africa nation was gripped by violence in the wake of the country’s disputed presidential election.   Paul Biya, an octogenarian who has ruled Cameroon for 36 years, was  sworn in last November as the Central African country’s  President for a seventh term. The opposition accused the October 7 elections of being rigged in favor of Biya.  The 85-year-old Biya was officially declared the  winner of the  elections on October 22. The polls were stained by low turnout and voter intimidation. Biya, who  is sub-Saharan Africa’s oldest president, garnered 71.3 percent of the  vote.  Opposition challenger Kamto came in a distant second with 14.2 of vote. A large grass roots campaign against President Biya  was launched, and the Cameroon government responded with police violence and arrests of opposition members including Kamto.