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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