12, July 2019
Kidnappings Endemic in Southern Cameroons 0
On June 28, armed separatists beat and kidnapped John Fru Ndi, a well-known Cameroonian politician considered by some as one of the country’s old guard of political activism, from his home in Bamenda, North-West region. The attack was only the latest in a litany of abuses implicating armed separatists in Cameroon’s Anglophone regions.
Fru Ndi, chairman of the opposition party Social Democratic Front (SDF), has been a prominent advocate for the rights of Cameroon’s Anglophone minority. This was his second kidnapping in two months. Three days before his most recent abduction, armed separatists abducted and released another high-profile figure, Cornelius Fontem Esua, the archbishop of Bamenda.
Since 2017, armed separatists in the Anglophone North-West and South-West regions have kidnapped hundreds of people, including students and clergy, amid growing calls for the Anglophone regions to secede.
Fru Ndi told Human Rights Watch that the separatists beat him repeatedly. “I heard shooting and I ran out of my house,” he said. “Three separatists put me down on the rough cement ground of my courtyard. They hit me in the head and in the stomach. I was grabbed like an animal to be slaughtered.” They shot his bodyguard in the leg.
Fru Ndi said he was brought to an abandoned house in the nearby forest where he was told to withdraw his party’s representatives from parliament. “I was taken to what the separatists called their ‘prison.’ I saw at least 15 separatists there, armed with assault rifles. They were smoking marijuana and were under the effects of other drugs. They took off my shirt, raised the Ambazonian flag and sang their anthem. They took pictures of me,” he said. “The separatists pretend to be protecting the Anglophone people, but they are just abusing them.” They released Fru Ndi on June 29.
Since late 2016, violence has gripped the Anglophone regions of Cameroon, claiming the lives of about 2000 people and forcing half a million to flee their homes.
The grievances expressed by Anglophone groups over political marginalization and lack of recognition of their cultural identity are real. But kidnapping and abusing civilians will do little to address these grievances.
Culled from Human Rights Watch
12, July 2019
Ambazonia: Vice President Yerima announces State Burial For Justice Ebong 0
Tributes to a Legend, Fighter, Leader, Teacher and Comrade Rtd Justice Frederick A. Ebong
A State Burial is hereby announced for our great leader, Comrade Retired Justice Frederick A. Ebong.
Amongst every great people, in every great nation, history always records that the foundation lies in men and women of substance, integrity and determination. Men and women who stood up and faced the challenges of their time.
As Ambazonians, our history is rich with many such greats. We are sad to announce that Comrade Justice Frederick Ebong will be laid to rest this weekend (12th-13th of July 2019) in Washington, USA. Both days are declared days of national mourning. Our people will be in black and the Ambazonia flag will fly at half-mast.
The Interim Government joins his family, the people of our nation, Ambazonia, to celebrate the life of this unique leader who gallantly fought for freedom, justice and peace for our people right through his last breath on earth. As he exits the stage, our duty is to emulate this giant by continuing this quest for independence and freedom. Our duty is to pick the baton of selflessness and courage to keep this flame of justice and independence burning till the end.
As we reflect on the life-threatening sacrifices you made for our collective freedom, we want to reassure you that your life struggle is our struggle and we will deliver on the ultimate prize by taking our people to Buea. We will not falter on the mandate you have handed over to us to complete this historic assignment. You led a resistance movement that at its start held little prospect of success. But you were fully persuaded in the justness of our cause and nothing stopped you, not even your own freedom from pursuing this noble objective of setting your people free.
You showed us what being persuaded in the concept of a free homeland means. You showed us the power of action; of taking risks when nothing else mattered but for the freedom of your people. Perhaps like Nelson Mandela, you were right that you inherited, “a proud rebelliousness, a stubborn sense of fairness” from those who came before you.
Ambazonia will remember you for your wisdom, boldness, determination, humility, courage, your servant-leadership style, your patriotism and your statesmanship. Even when the challenges of life seemed insurmountable, with courage and determination, you taught us that we can overcome the evils of our societies. Eternal gratitude is what we owe you for your efforts and steadfastness in standing for the freedom of your people at all cost.
For our nation to see a new dawn, it had to take the sacrifice of countless people to take us to where we are today. You have left your mark. Rest in Perfect Peace Comrade, Rest in Perfect Peace our Leader.
As you rest in peace, intercede for Ambazonia. As you rest in peace, we pray that the Good Lord blesses us and our descendants with the wisdom he bestowed upon you.
God Bless the soul of Justice Frederick A. Ebong
God Bless the Federal Republic of Ambazonia
Yours in Servant Leadership,
Dabney Yerima
Vice President – Federal Republic of Ambazonia