Anti-terrorism bill creates terror - Hon. Joshua Osih

The 1st Vice National Chairman of the SDF has classified the anti-terrorism bill in Cameroon as the “guillotine law that fails to differentiate between political activities and terrorism-related acts.”

This was during a December 13, 2014 interview on Radio France Internationale, RFI. Hon Osih said: “the cure seems more dangerous than the disease. We cannot fight terrorism by institutionalising terror against citizens, whereas it is evident that the source of insecurity (Boko Haram) comes from abroad.”

He added that the Biya regime, which is exhibiting signals of crossing the finish line, ought to tackle social injustice, inequality and disparity in the country’s development calendar.

Law No.962/PPJL/AN was adopted by Cameroon's Parliament at the end of its November session. Article 2 of the bill places a death penalty on individuals judged to be terrorists.

The definition of a terrorist remains ambiguous. Thus legal experts such as Professor Maurice Kamto of the Cameroon Renaissance Movement (MRC) argue that the bill, if promulgated into law by President Paul Biya, would prohibit public demonstrations in whatever form. It will equally punish people who publish terrorism-related stories and those who fail to inform security officials about such acts.

Meanwhile, the SDF scribe “condemns the judicial affair against three journalists at the Military Tribunal and expresses confidence that media practitioners would never relent in their struggle to liberate Cameroon.”

When asked about his appraisal on the recently announced FCFA 925 billion emergency plan to develop Cameroon, Honourable Osih said: “either it is an electoral campaign strategy for the 2018 presidential elections or it is a channel to clean the illicit wealth amassed by members of the 32-year-old regime.”