Boko Haram urged to respect human rights

The Chairperson of the National Commission on Human Rights and Freedoms, NCHRF, Dr. Divine Chemuta Banda, has urged Boko Haram proponents to end violent activities and respect human rights.

Dr. Chemuta was speaking October 14, in Yaounde, during a press briefing. He exhorted the terrorists to end violence, kidnapping, killing, provocation, terror, looting, pillaging and destruction of property which, he said, have restricted movements, sent people into refugee camps, instilled fear and suspicion, left many hungry and have led to a decline in economic activities in the country.

The Boko Haram militants were advised to seek dialogue in a peaceful and democratic atmosphere to achieve their desired goal. Chemuta also advised the populations affected by the activities of the terrorists to be vigilant and not to assist the group in any way.

During the briefing, members of the Commission made public results of investigations carried out in some leading business sites in the Southern Regions of Cameroon between 2011 and 2014.

The Commission’s report stated that it carried out field work to the Tole Tea Estate in 2011 and 2013, Kribi Deep Sea Port in 2012 and 2014, National Oil Refinery, SONARA, in 2013 and two times to the Lom Pangar hydro-electricity site in 2014.

The Chairperson said in each of these sites, they sought to see the steps the State had taken to protect the rights of workers and rights of affected populations. He noted that the missions identified several irregularities and called the attention of the state authorities concerned to strengthen the protection instruments.

“We encouraged the creation of human rights focal points or human rights desk officers, who would work to ensure that human rights are understood and respected in the general interest,” Chemuta said.

According to him, “Lom Pangar handled the problem of expropriation better than Kribi.” He stated that his Commission is determined to investigate the land grabbing issue in the Fako Division where administrative authorities have illegally acquired much land.

Members of the Commission also undertook two missions to the Far North in August and September 2014, to investigate the security and human rights situation in the northern regions.

The first mission trained leaders of civil society organisations affiliated with the NCHRF, while the second was a sensitisation campaign carried out in four of the six divisions of the Far North.

The population was also sensitised on the need for social cohesion in the fight against Boko Haram.

“It is gratifying to note that our efforts contributed to some positive results, the release of the hostages about two weeks after our campaign,” an elated Chemuta told reporters, stating that there is no rebellion being planned in the Far North against the State.

The commission also launched the building of its 7th Regional Office in Maroua in the Far North Region.