Sunday 23 April 2017

Press Release

The team of lawyers for the defence of Barrister Felix NkonghoAgborBalla, Dr. NebaFontem, Barrister Abadem Walters, ManchoBibixy and other persons standing trial at the Yaounde military court,
Wishes to inform national and international public opinion that:

In the context of grievances expressed by the population of the two Anglophone regions of Cameroon, many persons have been arrested and taken into custody; some of them, such as Barrister Felix NkonghoAgbor, Dr. NebaFontem, Mr. BibixyMancho and Barrister Walters Abadem, are standing trial at the Yaounde Military Court.
                Other persons have been forced into exile, fearing for their safety or their life while others still are forbidden to leave the national territory.
                Furthermore, as is well known, the populations of the two regions mentioned above have been deprived of access to internet in the past three months.
                Several mediations have been undertaken by and with various national and international actors with a view to bringing the crisis peacefully to an end.
                It is in this context that, with a view particularly to securing the release of lawyers held in custody, the special representative for Africa of the United Nations Secretary-General, Ambassador Francois Lounceny Fall, met on 11 April 2017, at his request, with lawyers of the Defence team designated for this purpose by Barrister Felix NkonghoAgborBalla and Dr. NebaFontem.
                On the same day, this high-level personality visited the Yaounde prison at Kondengui where he held discussions with Barrister Felix NkonghoAgborBalla and Mr. BibixyMancho.
                Following these steps taken by the United Nations Emissary, all lawyers of the Defence team, through the person whose signature is appended hereto, have regard to the general situation:

                Take Note of the measures announced by the Government through the press briefing held by the Minister of State, Minister of Justice and Keeper of the Seals, on 30th March 2017 to respond to grievances expressed by Anglophone lawyers;
                Express the wish that these measures will be effectively and expeditiously applied and that others of a similar nature would be taken;
                Express their gratitude to, and confidence in, Ambassador Francois Lounceny Fall, special representative for Central Africa of the United Nations Secretary General, for his good offices undertaken to secure the release of lawyers in custody and other persons in a similar situation and for his display to transparency by meeting with members of the Defence team before and after his discussions with government officials;
                Distance themselves from the steps taken by the president of the Bar Council within the framework of the unrepresentative entity styled the “Conclave” as outlined in a press release issued by him on 9 April 2017 without prior consultation with the detainees and the team of defence lawyers; hereby clearly state that neither they nor the detained persons whom they defend are bound by any promise given or commitment made by the Bar Council President;
                Express regret that in his press release mentioned above the president of the Bar Council neither requested the release from custody of lawyers in detention nor raised the issue of lawyers in exile or whose freedom of movement is restricted;
                Request the competent Cameroonian authorities, in furtherance of the progressive and lasting dissipation of the crisis, to release the lawyers ad all other persons held in custody and to take appropriate measures with a view to the safe return of all in exile and the lifting of the prohibition to leave the national territory.
                Convey the willingness of the accused persons to work towards the progressive resumption of activities in the North West and South West regions upon their release within the framework of a constructive dialogue that would lead the final and lasting solutions to various aspects of the Anglophone problem that are the root cause of the present crisis.

Done in Yaounde this 13th day of April 2017

For the team of defence Lawyers,

Barrister Bernard Muna, former Bar Council President

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