Dec 22, 2006

UNPO Calls for the Release of SCNC Prisoners of Conscience


UNPO received news about the arrest of Mr Nfor Jacob Lambi, who is the elder brother of the Vice Chairperson of SCNC, Nfor Ngala Nfor.

The Hague, 22 December 2006

UNPO received news about a series of arbitrary arrests in the area of Anglophonic Southern Cameroons in  the Republic of Cameroon. Following the deployment of troops to clamp down on workers of Cameroon Tea Estates who have been protesting poor working conditions, the people of Ndu in particular and Donga Mantung in general, have been witnessing arbitrary arrests.

The recent victim is Mr Nfor Jacob Lambi, who is the elder brother of the Vice Chairperson of SCNC, Nfor Ngala Nfor (who is currently on Mission in Europe). He was arrested on the 20th of December 2006 for allegedly distributing a recent publication by Pamela Taylor that appeared on the Human Rights Tribune of 05 Dec 2006 titled "The forgotten Southern Cameroons". Pa Jacob's bookshop has for a long time been serving as a "resource centre" for SCNC information and communication for the people of Ndu and Nkambe Counties. This morning he was moved from the Police detention in Ndu to Nkambe where he may be subjected to long hours of interrogation and intimidation and could face continuous detention without charge.

UNPO is deeply concerned by the fact that arbitrary arrests and unjust treatment of Southern Cameroons National Council (SCNC) representatives continue and calls for his immediate release and urges the Cameroon government to take measures to end incidents of arbitrary arrests.