GCI Condemns Mob Justice in Kumba
Kumba, May 29, 2009
On May 26 and 27 Global Conscience Initiative received reports of two incidences of mob killings in Kumba. On May 26, a man who was reportedly a known armed robber who targets okada (motorbike) riders, was caught at Krammer Junction in Kumba. He was beaten severely by a crowd. The authorities intervened and he was transferred to the hospital. He died of his injuries the following day.
On May 27, a group of robbers were caught in the act of stealing goods from a shop in Fiango. People were alerted and formed a mob to apprehend them. Three of the robbers escaped, but two were caught by the crowd. The crowd beat the men before covering them with tires and petrol and burning them to death. This happened before the authorities could intervene.
Even though acts of theft naturally attract an angry reaction from the population, this is no reason to abuse human rights. Human rights are protected under Cameroonian and International Law.
The law of Cameroon states that even if a criminal is caught red-handed, he must be brought before the State Counsel who will deal with him in accordance with the law. In respect to international law, Cameroon is a member state of the Convention Against Torture which makes the mob killings committed in Kumba illegal.
Global Conscience Initiative fully supports the punishment of criminals, but maintains that this punishment should be in accordance with the law and human rights. Mob justice violates the right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty, the right to a fair trial, to freedom from torture, and right to life for the presumed criminals. It also deprives people of real justice, which can only be achieved by following legal procedures.
GCI is concerned that the people of Kumba resort to mob justice because they lack faith in the forces of law and order and the judiciary. GCI therefore urges the authorities to strengthen their efficiency in fighting crime so that people will no longer take justice into their own hands. GCI further calls on the forces of law and order to take action more quickly when there is a danger of mob justice so that such gross violations of human rights will not occur.
Finally, GCI encourages the residents of Kumba to learn more about human rights which are the rights of all persons, including criminals. If the human rights of any person are violated, there will be less respect for human rights in general and this impacts negatively on every member of the community .
