National Rights Commission divided over September 22nd nationwide protest

Members of the national commission for the promotion of human rights and freedoms in Cameroon are speaking in different tongues as concerns a nationwide manifestation programmed by the Cameroon Renaissance Movement party and other political parties in Cameroon.

Going by a two page released issued September 16th 2020 and signed by James Mouangue Kobila;interim chairman of the national commission for promotion of human rights and freedoms,manifestations to oust the regime of president Paul Biya for September 22nd are illegal and unconstitutional. James Mouangue Kobila quotes the constitution of Cameroon and other legal instruments that forbids public protests that have not been authorized by the administration.

“The national commission for the promotion of human rights and freedoms condemns a call for uprising in Cameroon.We call for the respect of the law and the constitution of the land.”He adds that,actions of the defense and security forces in the North West and the South West regions of Cameroon are to make sure that a portion of the country is not carved out by those who want to separate the country.

Reacting to the release of James Mouangue Kobila,Christophe Bobiokono;a member of the national commission on of human rights and freedoms has distanced himself from the release signed by the interim president of the commission.

Speaking to Mimi Mefo Info on phone Thursday 17th September 2020 Christoph Bobiokono said “The interim president of the commission signed the release without consulting all the decision making members of the commission.We as members only discovered the release on the social media.This has made me to conclude that James Mouangue Kobila mainly expressed his opinion as a Cameroonian and not the point of view of the National commission for the promotion of human rights and freedoms”.

Christophe Bobiokono says the interim president for personal reasons has violated internal rules governing affairs of the commission by single handedly signing a release that condemns public manifestations programmed for September 22nd 2020.

Questioned on what would have been his reaction if consulted by the interim president,Christophe Bobiokono sees nothing wrong with a decision by some Cameroonians to protest against what they think is not right in Cameroon. “The constitution in Cameroon gives room for protest upon declaration to competent administrative authorities.The only thing the protesters should respect is order in the course of the protest.That is ,no destruction of public or private property of Cameroonians.”

He adds that security forces are supposed to be on the field just to protect the protesters and not to brutalize them as threatened by the minister of territorial administration.

Contrasting views from members of the national commission for the promotion of human rights and freedoms on the September 22nd planned nationwide protests has left many Cameroonians confused on what to do as the countdown narrows.

By Mbatho Ntan.