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Cameroon: Update - Seven human rights defenders give evidence in courtposted on: 2012/01/18

On 16 January 2012, human rights defenders and trade unionists Jean-Marc Bikoko, Maurice Angelo Phouet Foe, Tobie Mbassi Ondoa, Joseph Ze, Eric Nla'a, Nkili Effoua and Claude Charles Felein appeared before the Court of First Instance in Mfoundi.

Cameroon: UPDATE - Hearing rescheduled so human rights defenders can present their version of factsposted on: 2011/12/21

On 19 December 2011, Jean-Marc Bikoko, Maurice Angelo Phouet Foe, Tobie Mbassi Ondoa, Joseph Ze, Eric Nla'a, Nkili Effoua and Claude Charles Felein appeared in the Court of First Instance in Mfoundi, marking the ninth hearing since the judicial procedure against them started on 15 November 2010.

Cameroon: Harassment and surveillance of human rights defender Ms Maximilienne Ngo Mbeposted on: 2011/07/21

On 16 July 2011, human rights defender Ms Maximilienne Ngo Mbe received a phone call summoning her to a meeting at the Department of Security of the Territory (Département de la Sécurité du Territoire – DST) in Yaounde. The call followed an interview given on 11 July 2011 to Radio France Internationale (RFI). Maximilienne Ngo Mbe is the executive director of the Human Rights Defenders Network of Central Africa (Réseau des défenseurs des droits humains de l'Afrique Centrale – REDHAC), based in Douala.

Maximilienne Ngo Mbe received a call from a withheld number on 16 July at 7.30 pm. The caller, who refused to reveal his identify, stated that he was calling from the DST. He requested that Maximilienne Ngo Mbe present herself at the DST in Yaounde two days later, on 18 July, for questioning about an interview given to RFI on 11 July 2011.

Cameroon: Stigmatisation and fear of arrest of human rights defender Ms Alice Nkomposted on: 2011/01/12

Sunday 9 January 2011, the TV programme Canal Plus broadcast an interview with the technical advisor to the Minister of Communications, who referred to the possibility that human rights defender Ms Alice Nkom may be arrested in connection with her human rights work, in particular concerning the protection of the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people (LGBT).

Further Information

Alice Nkom is a human rights lawyer as well as founder and president of ADEFHO, an association working against discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.

During the interview broadcast by Canal Plus on 9 January, the representative of the Minister of Communication suggested that Alice Nkom may be arrested on the basis that she would have committed crimes and acts undermining the sovereignty and independence of Cameroon by accepting European Union funds in support of the work of ADEFHO.

Cameroon: Trial of human rights defender Jean-Marc Bikoko and six other trade union members adjourned until 20 Decemberposted on: 2010/11/16

On 11 November 2010, seven trade union members were interrogated and held in police custody following a public demonstration organised by the Centrale Syndicale du Secteur Public (CSP) in front of the office of the Prime Minister in Yaoundé.

Further Information

The seven individuals arrested are Messrs Jean-Marc Bikoko, President of CSP, Maurice Angelo Phouet Foe, Secretary-General of the Syndicat National Autonome de l'Education et la Formation (SNAEF), Tobie Mbassi Ondoa, Executive Secretary of the Fédération Camerounaise des Syndicats de l’Education (FECASE), Joseph Ze, Secretary-General of the Syndicat National Unitaire des Instituteurs et Professeurs des Écoles Normales (SNUIPEN), Eric Nla'a, accountant at CSP, Nkili Effoua and Claude Charles Felein of SNUIPEN.

On 11 November, CSP organised a peaceful sit-in from 10:00am to 12:00pm in front of the office of the Prime Minister. The trade unionists intended to deliver to the Prime Minister Philémon Yang a memorandum on public sector employees for the attention of the President of the Republic Paul Biya.

Cameroon: UPDATE - ACDIC members sentenced to suspended jail term and 26500 CFA fine eachposted on: 2009/05/28

Mr Bernard Njonga, Mr Isaac Difakoué and two other members of the Association Citoyenne de Défense des Intérêts Collectifs - ACDIC (The Citizens Association for the Defence of Collective Interests) have been sentenced on 28 May 2009 in Yaounde on charges of organising an illegal demonstration.

Cameroon:Sentencing of journalist, Mr Lewis Medjoposted on: 2009/01/27

Front Line is concerned following the sentencing to a prison term and fine, of human rights defender and journalist, Mr Lewis Medjo, on 7 January 2009. Lewis Medjo is Publications Director for the weekly newspaper La Détente Libre. Lewis Medjio and La Détente Libre regularly report on the human rights situation and good governance in Cameroon.

Cameroon – Charges pending against human rights defender, Mr Mamsour Hamadouposted on: 2008/12/03

Front Line is concerned following reports of charges of “impersonating a lawyer” and “threats” pending against human rights defender Mamsour Hamadou, following his arrest on 22 November 2008 in Maroua, Far North Province. Mamsour Hamadou is a member of the Mouvement pour la Défense des Droits Humains et des Libertés – MDDHL (Movement for the Defence of Human Rights and Liberties).