Ma lettre au premier ministre britannique, et en même temps , camarade et collègue militant , au parti conservateur britannique , Boris Johnson, pour l’alerter sur la situation du Pr Kamto .
Dear Prime minister and Comrade , of the Conservative party .
First and foremost, please do allow me by starting to congratulate you , over the amazing job you are doing, in showing a great and outstanding leadership, during these difficult times for both our party and country . I command and salute you , for the care you’ve shown , all along this challenging and unprecedented situation. I’m sure , and rightly so , that the British people will have a special place for you in history, and indeed in their hearts, it goes without saying .
Comrade Prime minister , I also write to bring your attention towards some terrible human rights abuses, that are occurring presently in Cameroon, that was once partially under Britain colonial administration, as Im sure you are only too aware , and which indeed remains a current member of the Commonwealth .
I my self, even though a french National , my roots trough my parents go back there . There is a leader of the main opposition party ( MRC ) , called Maurice Kamto , challenger of president Paul Biya during the presidential élection of October 7th 2018 . Those elections , according to all observants presents on the field , were ripped as usual , by the incumbent President in power for the last 38 years.
On September 22nd 2020 , Mr Maurice Kamto , in his capacity of the leader of main opposition party , called upon his fellow citizens, to attend a rally for the purpose of a peaceful demonstration, against regionals elections called , by the president in December , in the current climate , prior to resolving the crisis in English speaking provinces , confronted with a standoff against the army . There are countless scores of people killed every day , from both sides , on one hand those asking for secession , and in the other , the army killing and raping indiscriminately.
Another claim of Mr Kamto , is a proper and transparent electoral system reform , in order to enable and empower each and every Cameroonian, with the ability of freely chosen the leader as they see fit . For those reasons , Mr Kamto is actually as I write , under house arrest since a week , and his house and compound are under siege and complet lockdown .
Neither himself nor any member of his household, are able to leave the premises, and no one can go in. Some members of his household, are currently as I write , having some serious health issues , but are unable to sick or receive any medical assistance. Water and electricity supplies , are being intentionally and purposefully disrupted, and food is in shortage and isn’t being supplied .
I desperately call upon , your assistance , Comrade Prime minister , in order to put some pressure on the government for the solely purpose of resolving and putting to bed , this matter in a civilised , and peaceful manner .
Yours sincerely.
Jean-Pierre Du Pont
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Rights Groups Condemn Cameroon Police Stationed at Opposition Leader’s Home
YAOUNDE, CAMEROON – Human rights groups in Cameroon have condemned the de facto house arrest of opposition leader Maurice Kamto, who has spent a week at his residence surrounded by riot police. Authorities say Kamto’s Cameroon Renaissance Movement party is being investigated for attempts to destabilize the country after last week’s anti-government protests.
Ilaria Allegrozzi, senior central African researcher for Human Rights Watch says several hundred people have been arrested in Cameroon since September 22 protests. Opposition leader Maurice Kamto called for demonstrations demanding the cancellation of upcoming regional elections and to protest Paul Biya’s leadership of the country.
Allegrozzi says by cracking down on protesters, Cameroon disrespects fundamental rights.
“This follows a well-documented pattern of politically motivated arrests and prosecutions and also threats to crush opposition parties and silence dissent,” Allegrozzi said. “It is a step backwards for Cameroon and authorities should immediately end the crackdown and release all those who have been unjustly imprisoned since the demonstration of September 22nd.”
Allegrozzi said several hundred civilians were arrested and some have been released. She said it was unjust for anti-riot police to surround the Yaounde residence of Maurice Kamto after the September 22 protests.
Christopher Ndong, secretary general of Kamto’s Cameroon Renaissance Movement Party says 600 civilians were arrested in the coastal city of Douala, the capital Yaounde, the western towns of Bafoussam and Mbouda and the northern town of Garoua. He says the arrests and the presence of anti-riot police at Kamto’s residence will not stop the CRM from asking Biya to peacefully hand over power.
“I want to reiterate that Professor Maurice Kamto is in good health but for the fact that his rights of movement have been restricted and this act is illegal,” Ndong said. “That march{protest} was peaceful but for the security forces that beat, killed, imprisoned and are now torturing more than 600 of our militants{supporters}. We decry that dehumanizing situation, creating terror and in fact refusing people to express their democratic rights.”
The police have not issued a statement regarding their presence at Kamto’s home. VOA contacted the communication unit of the Cameroon police but received no comment.
The government’s communication minister, Rene Emanuel Sadi, says Kamto’s CRM party is being investigated for attempts to destabilize state institutions and mount insurrection. Sadi says many supporters and CRM party executive members have been arrested and are helping the police in investigations.
“Its leader and its cronies have once against singled themselves out in an engrained and systematic logic of provocation, defiance of state authority and confrontation of public authorities,” said Sadi. “It should be recalled that this political party (CRM) had already in the same way disturbed public order in the aftermath of the presidential election of October 2018”
Sadi did not say how many people have been arrested, but noted that some of Kamto’s associates are wanted by police.
On September 22, the CRM said Cameroon’s police violently suppressed opposition party demonstrations throughout the country, beating protesters and arresting journalists.
In January, 2019, police detained Kamto and 200 of his supporters who insisted Biya stole the 2018 presidential election, which Kamto claims he won.
Amid international criticism, Biya pardoned Kamto last November and had him released.
