Amnesty International has condemned the excessive and abusive use of force against demonstrators in Bamenda, the regional capital of North-West. The Amnesty statement followed that of the Roman Catholic Church issued last week.  Amnesty International observed that the Yaoundé regime demonstrated a frightful and unloving attitude against the Anglophone communities in the country. The authoritative human rights defense group denounced the brutal police repression against peaceful and unarmed demonstrators in the Anglophone section of the country.

Amnesty International has also called on the Biya Francophone Beti Ewondo regime to make public details of what happened in Bamenda, Buea and Kumba. The NGO noted that Cameroon government authorities must shed light on the circumstances of the killings and military atrocities by conducting immediately a thorough, impartial and effective investigation. Amnesty International’s Central Africa bureau has also stated that those who were reasonably suspected of criminal responsibility for these deaths must be brought to justice.

A highly placed Amnesty International official was quoted as saying “Responding to violence through violence is likely to inflame an already tense situation and jeopardize lives.”  On December the 8th, individuals who demonstrated against the holding in Bamenda of a meeting of the ruling CPDM crime syndicate were violently repressed by the security forces.

According to the Yaounde Francophone government only two people were killed and eight members of the security forces (4 gendarmes and 4 policemen) were wounded.(The photo attached to this report taken by our chief intelligence officer in Bamenda speaks a thousand words). Independent sources say more than 12 people were reportedly killed.

By Sonne Peter