Cameroon: Bar Council says 30 lawyers are wanted by security forces as government continues crackdown

By Tata Mbunwe

About 30 lawyers are wanted by the Cameroon Government following the earlier arrest of Barristers Richard Tamfu and Armel Tchuemegne, the Cameroon Bar Council has said.

The lawyers are being “hunted” for allegedly being at the front line of the November 9 demonstrations at the Court of First Instance Bonanjo, Douala, according to information revealed by interim Bar President, Claire Bikouna Atangana.

Following their arrests on Wednesday, Barristers Tamfu and Tchuemegne have been kept at the Coastal Judicial Police awaiting hearing, but the Bar has termed it a “repressive machinery” meant to hinder the lawyers from exercising their functions.

The Bar has denounced their arrests and says the group is worried about the pressure the two Barristers have undergone since the events of November 9.

The two lawyers were arrested by men in uniform who pretended to be clients, the Bar has said.

Cameroonian authorities have charged the Barristers of contempt of court, destruction, and disturbance of a public service.

But the Bar Association is saying they are supposed to be presumed innocent and charges against them are bias.

On November 9, a rivalry sparked off between lawyers and magistrates at the Court of First Instance Bonanjo, and police officers intervened and reportedly exercises violence on lawyers.

Regarding the lawyers-magistrates dispute, the Bar Association has said the two parties should appease each other and settle for peace.

A body of lawyers who investigated on police brutality towards lawyers during the November 9 incident, recommended that culprits of violence against lawyers should be prosecuted.

However, Government has not made any public statement on the arrest of lawyers.

Picture: archive

Mimi Mefo Info