Suspected looters tried without any guarantees of impartiality

Kumba, March 5, 2008

Although Cameroon's President Paul Biya said that Cameroon was a state of law and that he would use all “legal means” to quell down the unrest that resulted in the loss of many lives and tens of billions worth of property, his government is doing the exact opposite in the arrest and trial of the alleged perpetrators of the looting and burning that characterized the arrest.

The Post Newspaper reported on Monday, March 2, 2008 that some of the suspected looters a day or two earlier had been hurriedly tried in the “legal department” of a Yaounde court and slammed two years jail terms each.

Cameroon's minister of Justice, Amadou Ali, is also reported to have handed down very firm instructions that all other matters before the courts be suspended for the recent cases of looting reported across the country. The Yaounde Court of First Instance was operating under this directives and put aside laid down laws pertaining to the trial of accused persons.

Last Tuesday, Lawyers in Buea, The capital city of the Southwest provinces put up a strong resistance to any attempts to try suspected looters in disregard of legal procedures guaranteeing accused person the right of preparing their defenses.

In the economic city of Kumba, still in the Southwest Province, where they violence is reported to have been so high, a judge hearing the case adjourned the matter and gave the accused persons a few days to prepare their defense. He arraigned them in a closed court session as soldiers and other forces posted at the entrance to the court prevented the public and relations of the tried persons from attending the trial. All the accused persons who numbered about thirty were remanded in custody on the motion of the prosecution that they constituted a danger to public life and property. Most of the accused persons do not have counsels.

Accused persons who talked to us said they were arrested from their homes at night after forces broke into their houses, and that they were tortured in detention to make confessional statements implicating themselves and others.

Curiously also, all the business magnates in Kumba arrested in connection to the looted property, some of which were recovered from their business premises, did not appear in court to be arraigned.

Kumba, February 28, 2008

Soldiers yesterday fired indiscriminately at populations after protesters destroyed the 1st and 2nd police district police stations in Kumba. Three deaths were reported yesterday only while about sixteen persons with life threatening bullet wounds have been admitted in the Presbyterian Health centre, Hope Clinic and the Kumba District hospital.

The soldiers, covered by a military helicopter that fired tear gas and bullets at crowds, targeted small groups of more than two persons and opened fire on them without warning. Many people got bullets in their buttocks, legs, arms, and groin.

Burning and looting characterize riots

Kumba, February 26, 2008

Most major cities in Cameroon are experiencing various degrees of violence as protesters have taken to streets with anti government slogans. Many administrative buildings and some corporate structures as Brasseries du Cameroon and PMUC have been targeted and their offices and premises looted and burnt down in some areas by angry protesters.

The strike action, many think is consequent to the recent increase in the price of fuel that has caused a corresponding increase in the prices of basic commodities and building materials. No traffic was reported in all major cities in Cameroon on Monday, February 24, 2008 and the main markets and some top business places remained shut.

Protesters in Kumba, as in most parts of the country carried no placards with them as they marched across the cities in the early hours of the Monday. However, by midday, they had designed notices with various anti-government and anti Biya messages such as: "Biya is old and tired", "Biya must go", "Constitutional Change only over our death bodies", "Reckless government", "No peace for the government till further notice". In Kumba the protesters carried a crucifix with the inscription: "Even Jesus di vex" (Even Jesus is angry).

The riot in Kumba got real violent in the afternoon of Monday when protesters clashed with gendarmes around the Brasseries du Cameroon Depot in Fiango. They bundled up the few police and gendarmes guarding the premises and severely wounded them. Then they forced their way into Brasseries and looted furniture, crates of beer, motor parts, and all other movables. They later put fire on part of the buildings. One lady reported fell under crumbling crates of beer and was killed instantly. Her corpse was still lying under the debris on Tuesday.

The riots started violently on Tuesday. No forces could be seen around. After barricading all roads and streets, protesters attacked the taxation office and carted away its content before setting the building on fire. Police shut themselves in their office nearby and fired gunshots into the air.

From the Taxation office, the growing crowd of protesters crossed over to the Treasury, and then to the divisional delegations of basic education, lands, town planning, social affairs, and other government services in the vicinity. They took away computers, cupboards, chairs, and all other movables and then set the buildings on fire. Their next target was fueling stations. The carried away canisters of gas, beverages, biscuits and all other things in the shops. While a crowd returned to the Central police station to burn down cars and motorcycles parked inside, another crowd of protesters assembled at the treasury where they struggled with the safe for hours before broking one of them. Soldiers drooped in at this juncture and opened fire on the crowd dispersing them. Two persons fell and were rushed to nearby hospitals. A serious down pour of rain brought some calm in the town but at the night the protesters moved to the main market but were kept away by more forces brought in from Douala and Buea.

Kumba got up into a calm Wednesday. Most of the barricades in Kumba I had been removed but very few private cars could be seen on the roads. A few commercial motor bikes transported persons in and around Kumba I until about midday when some protesters started barricading the roads once again and stopping bikes and cars. Kumba II (Fiango) and Kumba III (Mambanda) remained dead.

At the time of writing, Soldiers had cordoned the court area around the Global Conscience Initiative and no persons or auto mobiles were allowed to move into or out of the area. The soldiers are harassing the population and seizing food.

We have report that the protesters have attacked the Kumba main market and that soldiers have shot a protester.

 

Global Conscience's International Intern gives a Day to Day Account of the taxi drivers' strike in Kumba

Monday 25 th February 2008:

As I strolled to work I noticed the junction I live on was blocked. Each road was lined with various materials, from broken wooden tables and chairs to burnt out cars to old sofas. About twenty to thirty young men stood around the road occupying various positions. When I asked one gentleman what was happening, he told me that today taxi drivers were on strike due to the increase in oil prices. The blockades were to ensure no vehicle would drive on Kumba's roads to ensure the effectiveness of the strike.

The place was bustling with anticipation. Taxi drivers were urgently exchanging information with one another and contemplating their next step.

By the time I reached my office the news had spread. The U.S. Embassy had phoned the office and asked about the situation in Kumba. The strike was underway in both Yaoundé and Douala. At approximately 12 noon we heard some noise out on the street. The demonstrators had formed into a group of about 50. They were carrying wooden planks and various instruments. They moved quickly down the street shouting at businesses to close their doors in support of their grievances. A few fruit stalls were knocked over and a few demonstrators attempted to enter an off-license to order for its closure but were quickly removed. They carried on all the way into town, growing in number and continuing to instruct businesses to close. When they reached Total petrol station a few of the demonstrators entered the building and took various items from the shop.

The demonstrators continued in to Fiango where they were met by more demonstrators. That night reports surfaced that the Brasserie, a government owned building was burnt down by the demonstrators and all the alcohol stolen. It was also reported that one woman died as crates of beer fell on her head. The night witnessed a lot of disruptive behaviour amongst the strikers. Police and Gendarmerie forces were present and faced some violent interactions with the crowds.

Tuesday 26 th February, 2008:

The day began with similar disruption to the night before. Greater numbers took to the street in anger and frustration. The demonstrators first set their sights on the Taxation building, stole computers, chairs and desks and then proceeded to burn the building down. The treasury was next to fall victim to the strikers followed by the education, town planning and etc government buildings.

There were now approximately 100,000 people occupying the streets in the centre of Kumba town. Their focus shifted from government buildings to petrol stations. They burnt down several Total petrol stations and stole petrol from the pumps. The crowd then moved up to the Central Police Station. The police had locked themselves inside the station and were shooting out into the air to warn the demonstrators to keep away. The crowd persisted and after several hours succeeded in burning down part of the building. Rain fell heavily and dispersed most of the crowd for the remainder of the night.

Wednesday 27 th February 2008:

The morning began quite peaceful. There was some movement among the road and people were quietly hoping that the strike was over following the government's decision to drop the price of oil by 6CFC but alas that was not to be the case. It is speculated that news traveled about how violence had broken out in Yaoundé and so the strikers here in Kumba decided to keep the strike going. Road blockades were erected once again and movement was ceased.

Forces from Douala and Buea, which had been brought in on Tuesday, were deployed to protect the market, Bicec Bank and the High Court. Soldiers cordoned the road outside the High Court, which is situated across from Global Consciences' office. Soldiers spent their time drinking beer, confiscating money and humiliating innocent civilians who mistakenly strolled passed. It is reported that soldiers shot approximately 4-5 civilians around the market area. No demonstrators were on the streets yesterday yet soldiers were shooting arbitrarily at people in groups of three or more.

The number of deaths has yet to be confirmed.

President Biya addressed the nation in a live television broadcast in the night. He accused political opponents of fomenting the protests to try to topple him. The objective is to “attain through violence what they were unable to obtain through the ballot box," the Cameroonian president said.

Biya said his government would use "all legal means" to guarantee the rule of law. He said the riots had destroyed public buildings, shops and businesses and caused a number of deaths, but gave no precise toll. Those involved had included "delinquents motivated by the prospect of looting," he said.

Thursday 28 th February, 2008:

Walking around Kumba town, one can witness the aftermath of the strike. Petrol stations emptied and vandalized, rubbish scattered around the roads. Most shops and stalls remain closed. Some motorbikes can be seen carrying passengers but generally an eerie silence encapsulates the town. Movement is limited apart from the police vans patrolling the streets with soldiers scattered in various positions around the town. Fear, uncertainty and anticipation fill the air. A nation holds its breath and waits.

Observations:

• The demonstrator's decision to carry wooden planks and various other instruments instead of using placards to air their grievances set the tone of the strike from the beginning. It was clear that the demonstrators had violence on their minds from the onset.
• The decision to attack private businesses and steal computers, chairs and petrol and other various items and even the decision to burn down such buildings as the education ministry, undermined the legitimacy of their strike action.
• The general feeling from the public was that initially the majority were in support of the strikers but following the looting, violence and destruction, opinion shifted unfavorably on them.
• It seemed evident from the onset that the general reason for striking was not solely based on increased oil prices. It was, instead, the result of accumulated grievances with the government over recent weeks, namely the government's attempt to amend the constitution to allow President Biya to extend his term in office and also the decision to close down private television station, Equinoxe TV. The government says the station was closed for failing to pay its broadcast licensing fee. But a number of local journalists say the closure was linked to Equinoxe's coverage of the public debate about the proposed constitutional amendment.
• The president, in his address to the nation, failed to restore confidence in the masses. He did not openly address the grievances of the strikers nor did he offer a sustainable resolution to the problem. Instead he pointed fingers and assigned blame to his political opposition. He accused them of manipulating the youth into violence. This is not productive and cannot help the Republic of Cameroon restore peace and order to society.

 

Five persons shot dead by soldiers in Kumba (The list below is not exhaustive but include the names of victims we have visited their homes and can independently confirm their death)

 

(1 ) Che Emmanuel

Age:                   24 years
Residence:         Kossala    
Native of :         Bafut in North West province    
Profession :       Plumber    
Marital Status:   Single    
Date of death:   27-02-08

 

(2) Maleg  Thaddeus

Age:                     18yrs           
Residence:        Kumba Town
Native of :         -
Profession :       Student (Divine High School   - Kumba)              
Marital Status:  Single
Date of death:   27-02-08 

(3) Anya  Elvis Eyong

Age:                   24 years
Residence:       Metta Quarters
Native of :          Batchuo – Manyu Division
Profession :       Driver
Marital Status:  Single
Date of death:   27-02-08

(4) Tekoh Roland 

Age:                 22 yrs
Residence :       Mbonge Road
Native of :        Momo - in North West province
Profession :       Student (Divine High School)
Marital Status:  Single
Date of death:   27-02-08

(5) Owuboki  Paul 

Age :                       25 years
Residence:              Ngamalikum
Native of :              Nigerian
Profession :           Refrigerator Repairer
Marital Status:        Single
Date of death :       27-02-08

 

WOUNDED VICTIMS

(1) Tegen  John :  operated upon in the Hope Clinic in Kumba
(2) Elizie  Saidu : Referred to Nguti St. John Hospital For leg to be amputated
(3) Tchoumnou Thomas : Admitted for one day in the Hope Clinic and discharged
(4) Tah Dorothy Andong. Mother of 8. Shot in the right arm and still in St. John Hospital in Nguti
(5) Ekene Dominic, 17-year-old Nigerian shot in the right leg. He is now limping
(6) Nico, Nigerian mechanic shot in the stomach. Still receiving treatment in the Douala General Hospital. Father of five

Those injured by broken bottles and treated in Hope Clinic Kumba

( 7 ) Babila Doh Elvis
( 8 ) Atemgeh  George         
( 9 ) Mbah  Napoleon