By George Njanjobea
UPDATE, Buea, SWR, Cameroon, Friday, 14.10.2016………………………..The court of first instance holding in Kumba is currently prosecuting a Southern Cameroon National Council, SCNC, member, Ochie Ndocky Henry Ewane. He was arraigned in suit no CFIK/DS/254C/2015 by the presiding Magistrate Justice Mengalle Vivian. Being an activist for the secessionist group, Ochie Ndocky was apprehended by forces of law and order on National day celebrations.
Ochie Ndocky is reported to have been in possession of a placard bearing secessionist messages, advocating for the restoration of the sovereignty of Southern Cameroon which became self governing in October 1954, three years before French Cameroon which has now annexed it. If found guilty, he is likely to serve a heavy jail term.
In a related development, the trial of about 15 activists of the Southern Cameroon National Council, SCNC, at the Buea court of first instance in Suit No CFIB/206F/2016, presided by a College of three Judges including Magistrates Beatrice Nambangi Ntuba, Eno Mbi Ashutangtang and Njonji John has suffered another adjournment. The matter that lastly came up on September 30th , 2016 has been adjourned to a date in October, 2016.
The 15 SCNC activists who have been in detention for over 50days, and since remained the unwilling guest of the Buea Convict prisons, though granted bail after serious legal submissions from over 60 prominent Anglophone Lawyers drawn from the North West and Southwest Regions ,amongst them, Barristers Tangunyi Gilbert, Kemende Henry, Blaise Sevidzem Berinyuy, Nkea Emmanuel, Ehabe Eboa, and others. The SCNC activist were snatched, early July 2016, after security operatives whisked them off at Kleen restaurant in Buea. The activists include Nke Valentine Yong,Njuosi David Abang, Isaac Kanjo,Shey Alfred Sembe, Tabot James, Asoh Cletus, Besong Mathias Arrey, Fonjo Peter,Fonkum Andrew, Tebo Titaniji Christain,Nyah Watal and Chief Ekene Ivoson. The activists, while at the Buea Central Prison had earlier decried the high level of torture, poor feeding condition inhumane treatment and have threatened to go on hunger strike. One of them who spoke to us said that living conditions at the Prison are too deplorable and their survival is thanks to God.
The activists had earlier petitioned former UN Scribe Koffi Anan about their inhuman treatment at the prison. Some of the Activists Nkondem Rene a jurist, a staunch member and of the National office of the youth affairs amongst the few who managed to sneak to an unknown destination reports hold their families are currently under serious threat of prosecution if their where about is not made public and are currently under search by elements of forces of law and order. The SCNC activists mostly youths in their early thirties who were arrested, were about to organized a conclave intended to take stock on their recent move towards secession as 1st October the day of the Independence of Southern Cameroon, narrows down. The 15 SCNC activists are charged with offenses which if found guilty will land them with imprisonment for up till six months and with fine to as much as FCFA 100000.
It should be noted that the SCNC struggle is predicated on legal and historical facts found in the United Nations’ archives, has a solid foundation and enjoys international recognition by Regional bodies as well as the UN. La Republique du Cameroun, unable to challenge the SCNC, has resorted to brutal repression of its members and activists and wanton arrest and imprisonment of its members, thereby causing many youths to flee the country in search of safer shores.
According to some SCNC officials, for over fifty-five years advocates of the Southern Cameroons’ Independence have been killed, maimed, imprisoned, unlawfully raped and robbed of their basic human rights and their right to a sovereign nationhood.
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