Koumatekel family eclipsed from the funerals

Several relatives of Monique Koumatekel could not access the the Laquintinie Hospital of Douala, where the ceremony to remove her corps took place this Friday, April 29, 2016. They accuse the authorities to have confiscated the body of their sister.

The bodies of Monique Koumatekel and her twins, died on March 12, 2016 were removed from the morgue of the Laquintinie Hospital of Douala, this Friday, April 29, 2016, around 9:00. The hearse (4×4 car) carrying the bodies immediately headed to the birthplace of the deceased, at Yabassi in the Nkam division, escorted by the police.

These men in uniform were strongly mobilized inside and outside of this hospital institution in the early hours of the morning. Thus, to have access, you had to show a pass. These elements of the ESIR, GMI No. 2 and the Gendarmerie were there to filter the entries and to deter any attempt to protest.

Because of this safety measure, solicited by Prof. Louis Richard Njock, the new Director of Laquintinie Hospital, several family members who came without the funeral program were blocked outside the hospital institution. Same treatment to the press. From the testimony of the few who were able to attend, the ceremony was very expeditious.

No opportunity was given to family members and relatives of the deceased, to see the bodies, already packed. Lest images of the ceremony are not found on social networks, they were ordered to turn off their cell phones before entering the room.

All this protocol angered the family accusing the authorities of “sabotaging the mourning” of Monique Koumatekel. “We are angry because we have not seen the body of our sister. They demanded the program of the funeral from us at the hospital entrance. They can not decide and make our sister what they want “, outraged a family member.

Bahongui Beas Yvan Darel, the younger brother of the deceased even threatened not to go to Yabassi, where the burial is scheduled on Saturday, April 30, 2016. In the image of this young boy of 29 years still in shock, several other relatives of Monique had long been reluctant to take place in both the military trucks chartered by the authorities to accompany the family to Yabassi.

Following the program, there is a wake keeping on Friday night at Yabassi. Burial is scheduled tomorrow Saturday in the same locality, in the strict family intimacy. The death of Monique Koumatekel sparked a wave of indignation in the Cameroonian opinion. Due to the open surgery carried out on broad day light by a sister of the deceased (Rose Tacke), who was tired of seeking medical assistance.