AFRICAN CONSCIENCE : African Network Of Grassroots Democracy
PRESS RELEASE N"_48/CA-NW/LT/24OBJECT: GRUESOME MURDER OF 1 UNARMED CIVILIAN AND SEVERE INJURIES OF OTHERS BY A MEMBER OF CAMEROON DEFENSE FORCES AT LIMBE, SOUTH WEST REGION OF CAMEROON
WE WISH TO BRING TO THE ATTENTION OF NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY AS FOLLOWS:;
1) That according reliable sources, Sergent Chef Sanda of Rapide Intervention Battalion (BIR), entered a Night Club at Limbe, South West region of Cameroon and started shootings indescriminately on unarmed customers of the Night Club, leading to the death of 1 person and severe injuries of others.
2) That the member of Cameroon Defense forces entered the said Night Club at about 4:00 am Sunday 12th May 2024, armed with M21 ASSAULT RIFLE & MULTIPLE LOODED MAGAZINES.
3) That it was thanks to swift intervention of bystanders and a Gendarme Officer that the perpetrator was stopped from his act, arrested and taken to Gendarmerie Company Limbe, where he’s currently detained.
4) That it’s alleged his act was as revenge for the recent killings of his Colleagues in Bamenda and other parts of Anglophone regions by Armed Separatists. Recently Soldiers have been killed in some parts of the Anglophone regions with latest being the killings of 5 Gendarmes including the Brigade Commander of Eyumojock along Ekok-Mamfe highway, South West region by Armed Separatists.
5) That it should be noted the WARRING PARTIES to ongoing Armed Conflict have systematically targeted unarmed civilians and their dwellings in different parts of Anglophone regions since the armed conflict started.
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:
- Condemn in STRONGEST TERMS the GRUESOME MURDER OF 1 UNARMED CIVILIAN and SEVERE INJURIES OF OTHERS at a NIGHT CLUB in Limbe, South West region by a member of Cameroon Defense forces.
- PRAY proper investigation is carried out on this barbaric act to ensure perpetrator(s) is 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 14th Day of May 2024
Signed
Amadu TARNTEH
Executive Director
