Human Rights Watch Report on Ngarbuh Killings : Civil Society Criticises Content

#Politique www.cameroon-tribune.cm

In a press conference in Yaounde on February 28, 2020, Observatoire du Developpement Societal equally called on Cameroonians to be patriotic and loving towards one another.

Following the publication of a report by the non-governmental organisation, Human Rights Watch on February 25, 2020 relating to the unfortunate incident in Ngarbuh, Donga-Mantung Division of the North West Region, the civil society organisation dubbed ‘Observatoire du Developpement Societal’ (ODS) has denounced its content. This was during a press conference in Yaounde on February 28, 2020. 

The report entitled “Cameroon: Civilians Massacred in Separatist Area,” according to the General Cordinator of ODS, Maurice Lilian Koulou Engoulou is biased and entirely against the defence and security forces.

While terming the report as essentially negative as the non-governmental organisation throws blames at government, ODS denounces and frowns at the content of the publication which accuses government of working in complicity with the defence and security forces to kill civilians and burn five houses. Maurice Engoulou used the opportunity to remind the population on the measures taken by government to ensure a return to normalcy in the North West and South West Regions, protecting territorial integrity and promoting social cohesion.

He equally cited the humanitarian assistance being provided by government and partners to internally displaced persons and questioned the silence on actions being done by government to peace and stability in the said publication. 

To further prove a case in point that the publication is faulty, video projections, images and audios were played to show the atrocities caused by separatist fighters to the population. 

In testimonies from victims (Bororos who are being accused of collaborating with government to kill and set houses ablaze) of the area who opted animosity for security reasons, they said the bone of contention stems from the fact that they did not accept to get into war with separatist fighters and do not share in their ideologies.

“Even if one of the Bororos is involved in the saga, the person should be identified. It is not a paradigm to start killing or trying to extinct a religion or race. Our Imams are being beheaded, our girls raped and special ghost towns imposed on the Bororos. We want to live in peace and harmony with everyone,” one of the victims stated. 

Lire aussi : Simone Gbagbo: Now Tried For Crimes Against Humanity