Tuesday, 13 December 2016

Perpetrators of violence in B’da will be punished

Being the introductory statement of IssaTchiromaBakary, Minister of Communication at a press conference in Yaounde on 10 December 2016
Distinguished Journalists,
Whereas on December 08, 2016, CPDM militants were preparing to attend a meeting organized by the Mezam 1 CPDM section and presided over by the Secretary General of the said party, in the presence of the Prime Minister, Head of Government, the Bamenda ceremonial ground, precisely at the Commercial avenue, was stormed by a group of protesters armed with projectiles, catapults and Molotov cocktails.  
                This meeting fell within the framework of a concerted approach undertaken by officials of this party to invite each and everyone for appeasement and to bring back calm in the cities of Bamenda and Buea.
                This meeting is similar to the one which took place last December 06, 2016 in Buea and which went on hitch free.
Everything was in place for the harmonious conduct of the public meeting in Bamenda, duly authorized by the competent authorities, when some highly motivated individuals, and acting by groups, visibly prepared and perfectly organized, started to carry out acts of protesterism and urban guerilla to clearly obstruct the holding of this public meeting.  
                In their destructive madness, these protesters, who had become real insurgents, began to erect barricades on roads in order to hinder traffic, burn many vehicles, burn tires on the roads, siege and then burning public buildings, including schools and hospitals, taking hostage students, patients and medical personnel as, and assaulting natural persons.
                The human balance sheet is as follows: two people dead, under circumstances which are yet to be clarified, four gendarmes and four police officers, a young woman also wounded and partially burned, a senior member of the CPDM party also sustained a head injury.
                With regard to the material balance sheet, 9 vehicles were destroyed, including that of the Commander of the Gendarmerie Legion, the Commander of the Second Motorized Rapid Infantry Battalion (BRIM), that of the Bamenda 3 Divisional Officer, la Camerounaise des Eaux, Campost, Special Rapid Intervention Units of the Police (ESIR), the National Gendarmerie, as well as two private vehicles.
                Several businesses and other urban stands, two public buildings: the Third District Police Station and several pavilions of the Bamenda Regional Hospital were also burned.

                In addition, the protesters hoisted the flag of the Southern Cameroon National Council at some crossroads and public buildings.
                Faced with this situation, the forces of order were deployed on the field to ensure security in the city and its surroundings, leading to the arrest of 58 people, 34 of whom are kept in custody by the National Gendarmerie, and 24 detained by the police.
                In order to avoid a confrontation between the militants of the CPDM and the protesters, the political rally that was initially scheduled to take place the Commercial Avenue finally took place in a hotel in Bamenda.
                On the spot, in order to sustainably restore order, emergency measures have been taken by administrative authorities in order to arrest the breakers, identify and search out their sponsors and accomplices.
It should be noted that in the management of this situation, the Security Forces were effectively deployed with a constant aim of restoring peace and order in the city of Bamenda and its surroundings by preserving human lives - including those of troublemakers - and by ensuring the safety and tranquility of populations.
                To these Forces of law and order who showcase courage, self-denial, patriotism and the sense of sacrifice, the Head of State extends his encouragements for their action in order to restore public order and security.
                The violent demonstrations in Bamenda took place on December 8, when the Government, on the Highest Instructions of the Head of State, His Excellency Paul BIYA, is pursuing his efforts to find adequate solutions to the problems raised by teachers and lawyers, provided that these have been deemed legitimate and compatible with the laws of the Republic.
                The persistence of these acts of violence has become incomprehensible and hide the maneuvers of some people who are fun of shady dealings, refractory to dialogue and consultation, and who cheerfully manipulate the populations and especially the youths, in support of a hidden agenda.
                Cameroon being a rule of law, the perpetrators of such destruction of public and private property as well as their accomplices, must be aware that while remaining open to dialogue and consultation, the Government of the Republic intends to fully fulfill its mission of protecting the populations and their property, guaranteeing freedom of movement, and protecting our children's right to education.
                Therefore, the perpetrators of the acts of protesterism on December 8 in Bamenda must know that they will have to face the rigors of the law and will receive, if need be, the rightly deserved punishment for the abuses for which their guilt will have been established.
                On behalf of the Government, I am calling on our young compatriots, prey to the illusions sold to them by the sponsors of this violence, to be more vigilant and lucid enough in order to avoid being drawn into these paths which are pathways to perdition and self destruction.
                The Government strongly warns those who undertake to use the communication advantages of social media to misinform public opinion, misrepresent facts and incite hatred, disorder and violence, that the State will do everything in its power and with the support of friendly countries, to track them, search them out, arrest them and take them to court.
                The Government will continue to leave no stone unturned, in keeping with the laws of the Republic, to ensure public order and guarantee all citizens the protection they are rightfully entitled to, and which should enable them carry out their daily activities in all freedom.
                To the families of our compatriots whose lives were claimed during these sad events, the President of the Republic, His Excellency Paul BIYA, hereby addresses his most heartfelt condolences and wishes the wounded quick recovery.
                Thank you for your kind attention.
Pic

IssaTchiromaBakary, gov’t spokesman

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