10, December 2019
Southern Cameroons Crisis: Biya Regime Told To Make Humanitarian Response More Inclusive 0
Concrete action is needed to make the humanitarian response to the crisis in the Anglophone regions of Cameroon more inclusive of people with disabilities, Human Rights Watch said today on International Human Rights Day. In September 2019, the United Nations under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs made a commitment to make the humanitarian response more inclusive, but the commitment needs to be translated into action on the ground.
Violence has intensified since July 2019 in the North-West and South-West regions, escalating in August after a Yaoundé military court handed down life sentences to 10 leaders of the separatist Ambazonia Interim Government following a flawed trial. Human Rights Watch research and media reports indicate that at least 130 civilians have been killed in over 100 incidents since July, and thousands have been forced to flee. Given the ongoing violence and the difficulty of collecting information from remote areas, the number of civilian deaths – including of people with disabilities – is most likely higher.
“As the crisis in the Anglophone regions shows no sign of slowing, people with disabilities are struggling to find safety and face heightened risks of attacks, displacement, and abandonment,” said Shantha Rau Barriga, disability rights director at Human Rights Watch. “Cameroonian authorities and armed separatists should stop their abuses against civilians, while international organizations should fulfil their promises to those most affected by the crisis, including people with disabilities.”
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reported in November that the humanitarian situation deteriorated, with over 656,000 internally displaced people in the Anglophone regions. Humanitarian access to people in need is difficult, with aid workers facing greater risks. In October alone, armed separatists kidnapped 10 aid workers, all of whom have been released. Another aid worker was killed in November.
On September 10, President Paul Biya called for a “national dialogue” to address the Anglophone crisis. The dialogue ended on October 4 with the release of hundreds of people arrested in connection with the unrest in the regions, as well as political opponents. However, violence has continued unabated.
Between September and November, Human Rights Watch interviewed 24 people with disabilities living in the Anglophone regions, their family members, as well as representatives of UN agencies and of national and international humanitarian organizations. Human Rights Watch research indicates that people with disabilities are more likely to be exposed to danger from attacks, including because of barriers to escaping and staying out of harm’s way, and because of the degradation of whatever support systems existed before the crisis.
Since the crisis in the Anglophone regions started three years ago, Human Rights Watch has documented the experiences of people with disabilities who were unable to flee to safety, or were killed, assaulted, and tortured by soldiers or armed separatists. New cases have been documented since August 2019.
In one case, on September 19, Cameroonian security forces searching for armed separatists attacked a locality called “Number One Water” near the town of Muyenge, South-West region, killing four civilian men, including a man with an intellectual disability. A witness to the attack said people fled when the military arrived and started shooting: “I hid in the nearby bush and I went back when things calmed down, the same day. I found four bodies on the ground and helped bury them. Among those killed, there was a man called ‘Jasper,’ who had an intellectual disability, which is the reason why he stayed behind. The military killed him in front of his hut. His body was partly burned, because the military also set his hut on fire.”
11, December 2019
Federal Republic of Ambazonia: VP Yerima to meet with senior ANC leaders 0
The plane that transported Vice President Dabney Yerima touched down at the Oliver Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg yesterday at 9:45 am and he was welcomed by the newly elected leadership of the Ambazonian community in South Africa.
Upon arrival, the exiled leader held a 7 hour meet the people tour of Johannesburg and Ekuhuleni munipalities in Gutung Province where he met with a cream of Ambazonians professionals and entrepreneurs.
Comrade Yerima was full of praise for the Southern Cameroons community in South Africa for being the vanguard of the revolution. He pointed out that his mission to South Africa was not only to say thank you but to also to remind them of their responsibilities to own and redirect the revolution.
Dabney Yerima appealed to all Southern Cameroonians in South Africa to buy their AmbaFreedomBonds and also fund the revolution through other means. He emphasized that the new dawn Interim Government will not fail because of its new institutional principles of transparency, accountability and responsibility.
Vice President Dabney Yerima’s convoy that travelled to the Ekuhuleni municipality was led by the South African Police Service (SAP) and the South African Metropolitan Police Service (Traffic police). In the Ekuhuleni Municipality, Yerima held very intensive and productive discussions with senior Ambazonian elites in Isando, Germiston, Primrose, and Elsburg.
The Vice President was also at the Johannesburg Municipality and made stops at Braamfontien, Turffontein , Hilbrow, Yeovile, and.Bramley. He concluded the first part of his 10th of Dec 2019 working session by visiting the famous Black and White Ambazonia Cell in Johannesburg.
The climax of the South Africa trip came during a surprise visit to Chief Taka the 4th of Muea-Piyin’s palace. He was traditionally decorated by Chief Taka the 4th with the title ‘Achefor ‘ (Meaning the closest friend of the Chief).
Dabney Yerima will be travelling today to Mafikeng in the North West province where he will be joined by the renowned Professor Carlson Anyangwe and the Secretary for Communications Milton Taka to speak to top ANC leaders and Ambazonians in a seminar on Decolonization and Justice for Sustainable Peace and Development in Africa at the Municipal Chamber.
By Ayuk Patrick in South Africa