Below is a report issued by the Southern Cameroons National Council (SCNC). It details the events that led to the arrest and continued detention of a number of SCNC leaders and activists during a Press Conference presenting the work of UNPO Member Representative Mr. Nfor Ngala Nfor. UNPO has issued several appeals calling for his immediate and unconditional release.

[UNPO Appeal]

“REPORT ON ARBITRARY ARREST AND DETENTION OF SCNC LEADERS:

1.         Introduction:

1.1

In Annexed and occupied British Southern Cameroons the enjoyment and exercise of human rights - the right to freedom of movement, assembly, association, to hold opinion and freely express, freedom from torture, right to liberty and security of person, to name but a few does not exist.  Arbitrary arrest, inhuman and degrading treatment, long detentions without charge and trial, prolonged adjournment of cases are the established order of the day. The relationship between occupation forces of la Republique du Cameroun and SCNC, in particular and Southern Cameroonians in general is that of hostility and savage cruelty.

1.2       

This brief write up is an account of the arbitrary arrest and detention of SCNC leaders on January 20, 2007 and eloquent testimony of the annexation and brutal occupation of Southern Cameroons by la Republique du Cameroun.

2.         The Press Conference:

2.1       

A well publicized Press Conference was organised by the SCNC to enable Nfor Ngala Nfor, the National Vice Chairman, to report to Southern Cameroonians about his three months mission abroad within which he attended the 2nd and 3rd UN Human Rights Council Sessions, the UNPO VIII General Assembly in Taiwan and meetings with SCNC Units and Southern Cameroonians in the USA, Switzerland and Holland, among others.

2.2       

This Press Conference of Saturday January 20, 2007 was held within the premises of the SCNC Office because the occupation forces of la Republique du Cameroun have prohibited religious bodies and cultural associations from offering their premises for SCNC activities. Private Radio Stations are banned from broadcasting any news about the SCNC.  Penalty is closure.

2.3       

With this unwritten law and conscious of the brutal executions of such stern orders, effort made to secure a hall for the Press Conference failed. It should be pointed out that Rev. Pastors have suffered arbitrary arrests and detentions for praying for the SCNC or for the mere suspicion of being SCNC supporters.  In addition to arrests and brutalisation, Journalists of private radios have suffered suspensions.  Towards 1st October 2006, occupation forces were guarding Church premises after stern warnings had been issued.

2.4       

The Press Conference, as usual, started with the singing of the Southern Cameroons National Anthem, "Freedom Land", and prayers after which Nfor Ngala Nfor took the floor to present the preliminary Press Statement. Three paragraphs to the end, troops armed to the teeth invaded the premises. Not paying attention to the invaders, Nfor finished the presentation to the audience that was body, soul and mind attentive to the message he had for them.

2.5       

Brutal interruption came as Mr Peterkins Manyong of The Post Newspaper who was the Moderator of the Press Conference took the floor.

3.         The stand-off

3.1       

As respecters of the law and conscious of their fundamental rights and freedoms, the people remained seated as instructed.  The stand off lasted some two hours because the people wanted the so-called forces of law and order, in reality "forces of lawlessness, disorder and brutality", to in conformity with the New Criminal Procedure Code to produce the warrant of arrest duly signed by the State Counsel as stipulated by the New Criminal Procedure Code Section 12 (1) A and B.

"The State Counsel may issue;

a) "Summonses, warrants of arrest, search warrants or production warrants

b) "In case of offences committed flagrante delicto he may issue remand warrants".

3.2       

But unfortunately the New Criminal Procedure Code which came into force on January 1, 2007 under fanfare, was being violated with impunity for the following reasons;

a) the Press Conference  was taking place in private premises,

b) the order to arrest SCNC activists was signed by the "Prefet" not the State Counsel. 

We here quote the relevant sections for your appreciation.

Section 119 (4) "Except in cases of felonies or misdemeanor committed flagrante delicto, remand in custody shall not be ordered on Saturdays, Sundays or public holidays".

Section 118 (3)" …. No person may be remanded in police custody for the purpose of criminal investigation without the written approval of the State Counsel".  

3.3       

When they wanted to use force and arrest Nfor N. Nfor and other leaders, Nfor drew their attention to the fact that their order of arrest talks of "SCNC activists in a meeting …" , it does not mention any individual's name.  He said they were ready to go anywhere even to The Hague with the troops. But the SCNC activists would move on foot with military vehicles in front and behind.  Nfor N. Nfor explained that the four vehicles brought could not carry everyone present.

3.4      

Because this dialogue of opposing camps prolonged, the first Assistant 'Prefet', Mr. Sombe Simon for Mezam, (all francophones) was brought to the scene twice to take full charge of the situation and ensure that the colonial orders were respected.

3.5       

Not ready to allow us match to their charge office, they resolved to use brute force and arrest Nfor Ngala Nfor, who was their main target.  But the population, which had vowed to go anywhere with their leaders was not ready to see Nfor Ngala Nfor, arrested as a sacrificial lamb.

3.6       

Completely in the hands of the occupation forces and SCNC activists, Nfor was like a ball played by hostile enemies; the more the people tried to protect Nfor, the more this provoked the blazing anger of the colonial forces.

3.7       

While this scuffle was on, one Gendarme discovered Nfor's phone and snatched it.  His hand was hit at once and the phone dropped to the ground.  Guilty, he could not react violently. 

3.8       

As soon as they succeeded in dropping me and Clement Atanga and Augustine Shintum in their van whose engine had been ignited, they drove off at lightning speed. We were all abused, while Augustine Shintum, whom one mocked as Nfor's bodyguard, was badly hit with the boot of a gun on the jaw close to the eye.

3.9       

We were driven to the Research Unit of the Gendarmerie Upstation.  There, every fowl language was used on Nfor Ngala Nfor. He was described as a beast who wants to stir up rebellion in a country enjoying peace.

3.10     

After statements were taken, the three of us were dumped in a cold room.  The francophone young Gendarme in charge removed the small old mattress so we spent the whole night on the bare, cold cement floor. The purpose of such physical, moral and spiritual torture is aimed at breaking and destroying our sustaining will power.

3.11     

My family knew I was arrested but did not know where I was detained.

3.12     

Meanwhile some determined SCNC faithfuls traced their way to this isolated building after the torturous BMM, where many a Southern Cameroonian had his God-given life snatched away by the occupation forces.  These SCNC faithfuls camped outside pleading to be let in.  They were chased away at nightfall.

3.13     

By Saturday night SCNC leaders and activists were detained in four different locations: Public Security - Old Town, Gendarmerie Legion, Germarme Brigade -  - Mendankwe, and the Gendarmerie Research Unit.  My wife visited three different detention centres Sunday morning before locating us and giving us breakfast.

3.14     

Meanwhile the stand-off of Saturday January 20 between determined Southern Cameroonians and the occupation forces armed to the teeth, sent a powerful message to Yaounde, the United Kingdom, the UN and the international community as a whole.  The patience of the Southern Cameroonian people for preventive diplomacy is running out.

3.15     

That there was no bloodshed on January 20, is a miracle for the occupation forces were armed with live bullets to kill.

4.         Transfer to Bamenda Central Prison

4.1      

After some of those arrested had been released for various reasons, such as old age, poor health, eleven of us, ten men and a lady, were on Monday January 22, moved to the Bamenda Central Prison.  These are :

Nfor Ngala Nfor, National Vice Chairman & Chair, Foreign Affairs Com, Mbinglo H. Humphrey, Northern Zone Chairman, Tanto Simon, National Auditor & National Information Bureau Member, Stephen Kongnso, County Chair, Bui, Henry Lamnyam, County Secretary, Donga Mantung, Achu Njei David Santa, Organising Secretary, Nguemo Clement, Financial Secretary, Santa LGA, Lucas Che Ngwa, Activist,  Dzeni Augustine Shiyntum, Activist, Mongo Steven, Activist,  Mrs Mbi Ann-Rita Eyong, Vice Chair, Kumba LGA and Ngiewih Asunkwan, National Communication officer.

4.2       

Today, more than one week after our arbitrary arrest and detention, no charge has yet been preferred against us.

4.3      

It is worth pointing out that our colleague, Mr Ngiewih Asunkwan, National Secretary for Communication, arbitrarily arrested on December 29, 2006 up to date has not yet been charged and all efforts to have him granted bail have been snubbed with impunity.

4.4       

In effect, Ngiewih Asunkwan was arbitrarily arrested on 29th December 2006 and held in solitary confinement for a day before being transferred to the Judicial Police Station on 30th December, where he was further detained in deplorable conditions for five days. Contrary to the stipulation of the law, he was refused contact with his wife, family members, relatives and friends.

4.5       

Some family members who wanted to get into contact with him were turned away and it is most disturbing that for the whole time Asunkwan was at Judicial Police, his name was never mentioned in the register of detainees held at that centre.  We believe that he was programmed for death because while he was there, he was denied warm clothing and finally got access to warm dresses only through the intervention of some highly placed friends who were alarmed at the rapid deterioration of his health.

4.6     

Up to the moment of this report, it is not apparent as to when Nfor and his colleagues or Mr Asunkwan will be charged to Court or released on bail.

We call on defenders of human rights and the right to self-determination, the UN to mount pressure on President Paul Biya to unconditionally release all Southern Cameroonian prisoners of conscience and respect their right to self determination.  The right of the Southern Cameroonian people to FREEDOM and JUSTICE which can only be guaranteed by Southern Cameroons sovereignty is defended by international law and good conscience.

Southern Cameroons will never surrender to annexation, occupation and brutal foreign domination.

Done, in Bamenda, this January 29, 2007

For the SCNC;

Nfor Ngala Nfor
National Vice Chairman (SCNC)”