Human Rights Activist criticises death penalty bill

Cameroon Tribune in its delivery on 2 December 2014 announced the review of a law deemed admissible by the Conference of presidents of the National Assembly, which offers the ultimate sanction, the death penalty for anyone who personally, in collusion or complicity, commits a terrorist act.

"This text is a step backwards in the evolution of humanity and an admission of powerlessness of political and Government of Cameroon authorities. I would not reveal here the whole philosophy surrounding the death penalty. The Bill submitted to the reading and the adoption of our members is an oven in the definition of terrorism in the qualification of considered terrorist.

"Anyone who personally in co-action, commits any act or threat of acts likely to cause death, endanger the physical integrity, to cause injury or property damage, damage to natural resources, environment or cultural heritage" The Government has asked the national representation to actually grant him the license to kill with impunity Cameroonian citizens.

Who can imagine that this is just, moral, ethical to give death to show that it is forbidden to kill? No, we don't want this law, the death penalty is the denial of the most fundamental human right, that of living as stated in the Universal Declaration of human rights, it is an inhumane act.

I paraphrase Robert Badinter from slavery to say that the death penalty "is a crime that dishonors yet humanity", Cameroonians have a conscience, the world is watching us and universally the general trend in the world is the abolition of the death penalty, Government Yang by this law wants to legitimise mob justice.

I have read many reports of the greatest experts on crime, it has never been proven that the death penalty is more deterrent than other forms of punishment; well instead, many studies show that the death penalty is likely to lead to the increase in violent crimes because "it contributes to trivialize the brutal behaviour."

Cameroonians for democracy movement associated itself with all progressive forces in our country to invite the Government of Cameroon to withdraw this Bill, we draw the attention of the head of State on the trivialization of crime in our country.

The best way to work preventively against crime, violent crimes included, is not the most severe penalty, but the guarantee that all crime will not go unpunished. It is the president of the Republic that I address now, as Jaurès said, "the death penalty is contrary to what humanity two thousand years thought of earlier and dream of more noble." The death penalty is contrary to the three religions.

Note: Vincent-Sosthène FOUDA, is National Chairman of the movement of Cameroon for democracy [M.C.P.S.D]