AFRICAN CONSCIENCE : African Network Of Grassroots Democracy
PRESS RELEASE N"_49/CA-NW/LT/24OBJECT: BRUTAL ASSASSINATIONS OF 4 PERSONS BY ALLEGED ARMED SEPARATISTS AT BAMBUI, NORTH WEST REGION OF CAMEROON.
WE WISH TO BRING TO THE ATTENTION OF NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY AS FOLLOWS:;
1) That according to reliable sources, 4 persons were shots to death and 1 other severely injured around CHS Bambui, Turbah sub division, North West region by Armed men alleged to be Separatists.
2) That the incident happened at about 8 pm yesterday 14th May 2024 as the well armed men invaded the area and started shooting indiscriminately.
3) That among those killed were 2 unarmed civilians, 2 members of Cameroon Defense forces who were dressed on civilian attires and 1 other civilian injured.
4) That the 2 Uniform Officers on civilian attires killed were about leaving a Bar where they were drinking, when the Armed men arrived the scene and started shooting randomly, causing the casualties.
5) That through out the night of 14th May 2024, gunshots were heard at many neighborhoods in Bamenda, North West region including Hospital Round About, Che Street Ntarikon and other premises and no group has however, claimed responsibility for the act.
6) That at the time of writing this report, there has not been any official reaction from an administrative authority or Government Official to that effect.
7) That amidst the recent systematic human rights violations and abuses in these regions, the Cameroon Government has remained silence as the situation worsen on daily basis.
8) That targetting unarmed Civilians by Warring parties is prohibited what ever be the motive(s) as prescribed by the Fourth Geneva Convention and other related International legal instruments,
9) That the Republic of Cameroon is indeed a State-party to the Fouth Geneva Convention of 1949 and the Second Additional Protocol to these Conventions relating to the protection of victims of Non-International Armed Conflicts, and must respond clearly and obligatorily to all human rights violations,
10) That it is clearly established without ambiguity that the responsibility for these facts is thus attributed to the State of Cameroon by virtue of International law, under the terms of article 4 and following of resolution 56/83 of the UN General Assembly dated December 12, 2001, on the responsibility of the State for « INTERNATIONAL WRONGFUL ACTS « .
THAT IN VIEW OF THE ABOVE, CONSCIENCE AFRICAINE, NORTH WEST AND LITTORAL REGIONS:
- Condemns in UNEQUIVOCAL TERMS the BRUTAL ASSASSINATIONS of 4 persons and injury of 1 other by Unidentified Armed men alleged to be Separatists at Bambui, Turbah sub division, North West region.
- PRAY proper investigation is carried out to ensure perpetrators of this heinous act are arrested and prosecuted accordingly.
- Demands an IMMEDIATE AND PERMANENT BILATERAL CEASEFIRE, through INCLUSIVE and SINCERE DIALOGUE with the Separatists and other Stakeholders to seek amicable and durable end of hostilities in Anglophone Regions,
- Strongly recommends that the Cameroon Government should scrupulously comply with its International commitments for the effective protection of fundamental human rights, thus violated on daily basis with IMPUNITY in these regions.
- Request the International Community and other friendly Nations of Cameroon to persuade the Cameroon Government to SEEK a PACIFIC MEANS of resolving the conflict, through direct negotiations with the leaders of armed opposition groups and other concerned Stakeholders.
- Strongly remind the Cameroon Government of imminent need to establish a protection mechanism to ensure unarmed civilians who are being subjected to systematic human rights violations on daily basis because of their vulnerability are protected.
Done in Douala, this 15th Day of May 2024
Signed
Amadu TARNTEH
Executive Director
