Cameroon: opponents fighting against the coronavirus still in police custody

Entrance to the general hospital in Yaoundé, Cameroon, March 6, 2020. AFP

Text by: RFI Follow

Six members of the "Cameroon Survival Initiative" operation, launched by Maurice Kamto against the Covid-19, were taken into police custody Monday, May 11.

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The six members of Operation Cameroon Survival Initiative, launched by Maurice Kamto against the Covid-19, were distributing hydroalcoholic gel and masks at the Mokolo market in Yaoundé. The prosecutor did not prosecute them, but they are kept in police custody.

Olivier Bibou Nissack, adviser to the president of Initiative Survie Cameroon and also spokesperson for Maurice Kamto deplores the fact that members of the operation "Initiative Survie Cameroon" have been kept in police custody. He attended the hearing Tuesday afternoon and described the successive changes in charges: “  The charges between yesterday and today have varied. At one point, on their minutes, it was marked "violations of the rules of public demonstration". Then they were heard on the charge of "illegal distribution of hydroalcoholic gels and anti-Covid masks" . Finally, when they were brought before the prosecutor, the reason which was now attributed to them was "rebellion" .  "

► To read also: Coronavirus in Cameroon: showdown between Maurice Kamto and the government

" The prosecutor found that this reason did not hold, and that there was no reason to prosecute, continues the spokesman for Maurice Kamto . And instead of making the necessary decision, that is to say the outright release of these persons recognized innocent of the charges brought against them, the judge in a sort of precedent which boils down to a kind of procedure groped, therefore decided to refer these innocent people to the central police station number two of Yaoundé. It is a kind of surreal vaudeville. That is what I would say . "

Other targeted initiative leaders

Joined by RFI concerning the existence or not of a prefectural order prohibiting the distribution of material against the Covid-19, the prefect of the department of Mfoundi, Jean-Claude Tsila, affirms "  not to be informed of such an incident  ".

In addition, Christian Penda Ekoka, another manager of the “  Cameroon Survival Initiative  ” program, and Alain Fogué, the treasurer of the Movement for the Renaissance of Cameroon (MRC) are summoned to the judicial police on Friday as part of an investigation into the fundraising initiated by this party to fight the Covid-19.

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  • Cameroon
  • Coronavirus
  • Africa
  • Justice

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