The politically motivated life
sentences slammed on Sisiku Ayuk Tabe and nine Ambazonian leaders by a
Court-martial in Cameroun with the complicity of the government of the Federal
Republic of Nigeria is one more unfortunate example of the militarization of
justice, civil and political rights in African through inter-state terror. The
ten victims, who were in Nigeria under the protection of international law,
were abducted from a hotel in Abuja Nigeria in a coordinated operation carried
out by Nigeria and Cameroun intelligence and paramilitary operatives. A Federal
High Court in Abuja, Nigeria has since decided that the abduction and rendition
of these victims was illegal and violated the Nigerian constitution and
international law and ordered the return to Nigeria of the abductees; a
decision, the Nigerian government has so far ignored.
The entire operation leading to
this Cameroun staged night judicial terror is a slur on the rule of law
credentials and constitutional governance of Nigeria and Cameroun. It provides
cattle fodder for the validation of the criticism made by an increasing number
of observers that the two countries may be paying lip-service to the supposed
fight against Boko Haram in which the international community has deployed
extensive resources. Going by the interstate abduction and court-martial of
these victims in a night judicial ritual, a method allegedly used by Boko Haram
in its operations, could this hydra-headed monster so-called Boko Haram not be
but a stealth interstate ruse used to create instability to justify political
brigandage and the corrupt externalization of political power relying on
international resources and support? Why will supposed sovereign nations prefer
interstate terror to the international rule of law in the conduct of
international relations?
This irrelevant parody of justice
against Sisiku Ayuk Tabe and Southern Cameroons leaders is about ten
individuals. It is about the consequences in Nigeria, La Republique du Cameroun
and Africa of the legitimization of abduction and state terror as alternatives
to the international rule of law. The international community must make a
strong statement condemning this travesty and judicial brigandage and seek the
unconditional release of these victims. Its indifference may unfortunately be
construed as a tacit validation of impunity in an explosive region where
violence is not a rare commodity.
No one should be under the
illusion, that the impugned court-martial process and its outcome is a victory
for French Cameroun or Nigeria that collaborated in it. It is an international
symbol of shame for the two countries and a validation of the just claims of
the Southern Cameroons to sovereignty and freedom. The ten did not present the
case of the independence of the Southern Cameroons by violent means. At their
abduction, they were merely articulating the claims which the Southern
Cameroons have strenuously presented for the past fifty-seven years, at the
United Nations, at home and worldwide. Rather than seek dialogue to resolve the
conflict, Cameroun declared war with impunity, hoping to subdue the aggrieved
people of the Southern Cameroons through genocide, crimes against humanity and
war crimes. The Nigeria government which Africa and the world relied on to
mediate in this and other African disputes, decided to throw its support to the
government of French Cameroun in the mistaken belief that the abduction of these
victims would end the crisis! By its own miscalculation, Nigeria, lost an
opportunity to oversee a peaceful solution to a potentially protracted conflict
in its own backyard.
Ambazonia is an albatross on the
neck of the Republic of Cameroun which will loosen its grip only when Ambazonia
is fully liberated. The life sentences only extend the duration and complexity
of the conflict which neither the present leaders of Cameroun or Nigeria will
be around to see how it plays out. May be only their progeny, may as fate often
does, have the chance to have glimpses of these victims when they will be
liberated to partake in the celebration of an independent and free neighbouring
Ambazonia. The night justice of shame will not define the cause they stand for.
The sustained resistance, self-defense and the unbreakable will and resolve of
a people who have craved for justice with peace plants, memoranda to the UN and
the international community, their precious blood and the eternal conscience of
humanity will determine the outcome of this conflict and not conspiratorial
carnage, terror and the arrogance of ephemeral power of a frail failing
dictatorship. For this reason, by imposing the so-called life sentences and
other coercive conditions of life on Southern Cameroons captives, they might in
this occasion, have put their own poisoned portions on their own lips and that
of their nation.
20, August 2019
Ambazonia-Yaounde Military Tribunal gate: Irrelevant Parody of Justice 0
The politically motivated life sentences slammed on Sisiku Ayuk Tabe and nine Ambazonian leaders by a Court-martial in Cameroun with the complicity of the government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is one more unfortunate example of the militarization of justice, civil and political rights in African through inter-state terror. The ten victims, who were in Nigeria under the protection of international law, were abducted from a hotel in Abuja Nigeria in a coordinated operation carried out by Nigeria and Cameroun intelligence and paramilitary operatives. A Federal High Court in Abuja, Nigeria has since decided that the abduction and rendition of these victims was illegal and violated the Nigerian constitution and international law and ordered the return to Nigeria of the abductees; a decision, the Nigerian government has so far ignored.
The entire operation leading to this Cameroun staged night judicial terror is a slur on the rule of law credentials and constitutional governance of Nigeria and Cameroun. It provides cattle fodder for the validation of the criticism made by an increasing number of observers that the two countries may be paying lip-service to the supposed fight against Boko Haram in which the international community has deployed extensive resources. Going by the interstate abduction and court-martial of these victims in a night judicial ritual, a method allegedly used by Boko Haram in its operations, could this hydra-headed monster so-called Boko Haram not be but a stealth interstate ruse used to create instability to justify political brigandage and the corrupt externalization of political power relying on international resources and support? Why will supposed sovereign nations prefer interstate terror to the international rule of law in the conduct of international relations?
This irrelevant parody of justice against Sisiku Ayuk Tabe and Southern Cameroons leaders is about ten individuals. It is about the consequences in Nigeria, La Republique du Cameroun and Africa of the legitimization of abduction and state terror as alternatives to the international rule of law. The international community must make a strong statement condemning this travesty and judicial brigandage and seek the unconditional release of these victims. Its indifference may unfortunately be construed as a tacit validation of impunity in an explosive region where violence is not a rare commodity.
No one should be under the illusion, that the impugned court-martial process and its outcome is a victory for French Cameroun or Nigeria that collaborated in it. It is an international symbol of shame for the two countries and a validation of the just claims of the Southern Cameroons to sovereignty and freedom. The ten did not present the case of the independence of the Southern Cameroons by violent means. At their abduction, they were merely articulating the claims which the Southern Cameroons have strenuously presented for the past fifty-seven years, at the United Nations, at home and worldwide. Rather than seek dialogue to resolve the conflict, Cameroun declared war with impunity, hoping to subdue the aggrieved people of the Southern Cameroons through genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. The Nigeria government which Africa and the world relied on to mediate in this and other African disputes, decided to throw its support to the government of French Cameroun in the mistaken belief that the abduction of these victims would end the crisis! By its own miscalculation, Nigeria, lost an opportunity to oversee a peaceful solution to a potentially protracted conflict in its own backyard.
Ambazonia is an albatross on the neck of the Republic of Cameroun which will loosen its grip only when Ambazonia is fully liberated. The life sentences only extend the duration and complexity of the conflict which neither the present leaders of Cameroun or Nigeria will be around to see how it plays out. May be only their progeny, may as fate often does, have the chance to have glimpses of these victims when they will be liberated to partake in the celebration of an independent and free neighbouring Ambazonia. The night justice of shame will not define the cause they stand for. The sustained resistance, self-defense and the unbreakable will and resolve of a people who have craved for justice with peace plants, memoranda to the UN and the international community, their precious blood and the eternal conscience of humanity will determine the outcome of this conflict and not conspiratorial carnage, terror and the arrogance of ephemeral power of a frail failing dictatorship. For this reason, by imposing the so-called life sentences and other coercive conditions of life on Southern Cameroons captives, they might in this occasion, have put their own poisoned portions on their own lips and that of their nation.
By Chief Charles A.Taku