By George Njanjobea
UPDATED, Yaounde, Cameroon, 12.10.2016………………A recent crack down on same sex “doers” have let gay men and lesbians in Cameroon running for their lives. Last week incident was life threatening to these group of people who have been labeled under section 347 of Law no. 2016/007 of July 12, 2016 relating to the New Penal Code in Cameroon. This provision of the law maintains government’s tough stance on same sex relationships.
Last Sunday, October 19, Police in Yaounde raided a very vibrant bar/cabaret.
The Mistral bar as it is known, situated in the Essos neighborhood of Yaounde, Cameroon’s capital city has been branded a fertile and “ love site” for homosexuals and “would be” homosexuals. The bar/cabaret which always begins at 3 am was visited by the forces of law and order in the early hours of the day, last Sunday, October 09. Reports say the bar was surrounded by police vehicles and one Police truck placed at the entrance of the bar leaving no run for escape.
According to some eyewitnesses, everyone present in the bar was taken away to an unknown destination. Both the bar patrons, staff and customers were taken away.
It is not known if this act of the police in the capital city was a move to fish out homosexuals in the city or it was man hunt for prominent gay men on police wanted lists.
After one of such crack down in the Cameroon Economic capital, Douala, where many gay men escaped and went into hiding, there was a long list of wanted men for homosexuality at the police department. Thereafter most of those whose names were on the list have not been seen around for so long, some have been found dead under unclear circumstances and the cases go nowhere because of their sexual status.
According to section 347 of Law no. 2016/007 of July 12, 2016 “Whoever has sexual relations with a person of the same sex shall be punished with imprisonment for from 6 (six) months to 5 (five) years and a fine of from FCFA 20,000 (twenty thousand) to FCFA 200,000 (two hundred thousand),” Section 437 of Cameroon’s Penal Code states. This same provision is contained in the now repealed penal code which dates back to 1967.
Lobby groups have seized government to legalize gay relationships, but government failed to succumb. The enactment into law of the new law has sent many fleeing for fear of being stigmatized and to evade the inhumane treatment reserved for gay men.
Litet Elie and many others are among the many youth who are on the police “wanted list” for the practice of homosexuality. The whereabouts of the 30-year-old remains unknown, especially given that it has been difficult to trace anyone of his relatives. Rumor has it that Litet has since been on the run after he was caught pants down late last year, with a certain Donard in Yaounde. The two received snake beatings from an angry mob about, an event which led to Litet’s disappearance.
Litet Elie who before his escape was a resident of Douala in the Litoral Region of Cameroon is said to have been raised by a Christian family.
Information on Litet whereabouts remains sketchy even as the police have intensified investigations into his alleged homosexual record. There are rumors that Litet’s partner Donard was present at the Mistral bar in Yaounde during last Sunday Police raid.
Advocates of gay rights and their lawyers are under constant threats.
Gay rights advocates estimate that in 2011, at least a dozen men were arrested under Section 347 of the Penal Code. One of these, Jean-Claude Roger Mbede, was arrested by security forces for sending SMS messages to a male acquaintance and sentenced to three years imprisonment at Kondengui Central Prison in Yaounde. In November 2011, a Yaoundé court convicted two young men who had been arrested for homosexuality outside a nightclub based solely on their appearance and behavior to five years imprison.
Men of God in Cameroon have also hardened their position on homosexuality. Barrister Alice Nkom who has been fighting for rights of homosexuals said “I accuse the state. If there had not been criminalization of homosexuality, he would not have gone to prison and his life would not be over. His life was finished as soon as he went to prison”.
It should be recalled that the office of a Human Rights activist who fights for homosexuals rights Barrister Alice Nkom, have also been ransacked by unknown assailants. Most Homosexuals believe their lives are constantly in danger as they continuously being persecuted not only by security operatives but also by the public.
Barrister Ernest Acha, a Kumba based Legal Practitioner of Remeduim Law Firm, a gay rights activist, last year in December, was attacked by unknown individuals, for defending a homosexuals.
“Homosexuality and lesbianism are not only grievous ethical faults but crimes against humanity.”
Christian Cardinal Tumi, Cameroon’s leading Roman Catholic cleric and has criticized in very strong terms the perverse sexual attitudes currently preached and spearheaded by western nations. He hails government for tightening the noose on gays, insisting that the fine should be increased as a deterring measure. He has however said gays have a place in God’s vineyard only if they repent.
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