NAN-H-86
Dialogue
By Deji Abdulwahab
Abuja, March 6, 2017 (NAN) A Civil Society Organisation, Africans Rising for Justice, Peace and Dignity, has called for the establishment of an open dialogue process between government and Anglophone speaking Cameroonians to address their grievances.
Ms Sola Folayan, Head of Mobilisation and Membership Team of the organisation made the call at a news conference on Monday in Abuja.
Cue in audio (Folayan)
“We have recommended that the government immediately act to end repressive actions and fear by ending its militarised security operations in the Anglophone regions with immediate effect.
“We are also recommending the immediate unconditional release of all people including children, civil society leaders and journalists that have been arrested and detained in connection with the ongoing crisis.
“We also demand for the immediate restoration of internet access, resumption of schooling for the Anglophone speaking Cameroonians.
“And lastly, we ask for the establishment of an open, independently-mediated dialogue process between government and Anglophone civil society to address all grievances.’’
Cue out audio
Folayan recalled that in October 2016, an association representing teachers and lawyers in two of Cameroon’s Anglophone South west and North West regions embarked on protests.
She said they protested against the general “marginalisation and deprivation’’ of Anglophone Cameroonians by the Francophone authorities.
Folayan, who was a member of the Fact Finding Delegation who went to Cameroon, said the delegation’s findings revealed that the government responded to protests with a security crackdown that led to human rights violations by the authorities.
She said the security crackdown also led to killings, arbitrary arrests, detentions, torture, harassment and intimidation.
“An internet blockade was instituted in January 2017 and has denied millions of people in the Anglophone regions access to the internet.
“There is also an ongoing militarised security operations which has produced a pervasive climate of repression, fear and intimidation across the South west and North West regions,’’ Folayan said. (NAN)
ADA/DOR/YEE
Edited by Nyisom Dore/Emmanuel Yashim
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