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Cameroon's Opposition Supporters Defy Protest Ban

Moki Edwin Kindzeka

   YAOUNDE, CAMEROON - Combat-ready troops were deployed in Cameroon's
   capital Saturday as supporters ofopposition party
   leaderMauriceKamtodefied a ban onprotests againstthe outcome of the
   2018 presidential election.

   Kamtoand his backers contend he won the Oct. 7 election and that his
   victory wasstolen by long-serving President Paul Biya. Kamtowas to
   participate in the protests for the first time since Biya ordered his
   release from prison, but he reportedly was being held at his house
   under guard by government police.
   Hundreds of supporters ofKamto'sCameroon Renaissance Movement Party
   (CRM) demanded that the government withdraw its anti-riot police from
   the esplanade of theAhmadouAhijoStadium inYaoundeso they could listen
   to the message thatKamtohad for them.
   Among the protesters was EtienneTankeu, 39, a businessman who was
   arrested withKamtoon Feb. 28 inDouala and detained
   inYaoundewithKamtountil Biya ordered their release.
   Tankeusaid he did not understand why each time the CRM has wanted to
   organize peaceful protests, the government has threatened them with
   charges of insurrection, revolt and hostilities against the state.

   Court proceedings halted
   Kamtoand hundreds of his supporters were freed Oct. 5. That's when Biya
   ordered an end to court proceedings against CRM members following calls
   from delegates to the national dialogue he held to address the
   country's crises.
   The Saturday protest inYaoundewas to be the first public meeting
   betweenKamtoand his supporters since he was released from custody.
   ChristopherNdong, CRM secretary-general, told VOA in a telephone
   interview that he and some party officials, includingKamto, were
   prohibited by the police from leaving a home where they met ahead of
   the protests. He said that despite a heavy police presence, they were
   still committed to meeting their supporters, who have been eager to
   hear from their leader.
   "We cannot let our fundamental rights be trampled upon," he said. "We
   are not afraid, because what we are doing is within the law and it is
   our right.Soyou see, this is a government that is confused. They are in
   fact doing everything with impunity. We cannot be afraid, because we
   are working and acting upon our rights."
   Similar protests in the southern towns ofSangmelimaand Ebolowa were
   banned by the government.Kamto'ssupporters defied the ban inSangmelima,
   Biya's hometown, and a confrontation Friday between CRM followers and
   those of Biya's CPDM party left at least six people injured.

   Advice to Kamto: Stand down

   Rene Emmanuel Sadi, Cameroon's minister of communications, saidKamtowas
   not relenting from wanting to destabilize Cameroon. He said Biya won
   the election in a landslide and thatKamtoshould accept the result or
   face the consequences as mandated by Cameroon laws.
   "We believe that Mr.Kamtoand some warmongers among his supporters have
   failed to take full measure and to grasp the profound meaning of the
   presidential clemency welcomed by the entire national and international
   community," Sadi said.

   The election results showed Biya winning with 71 percent of the vote.
   His strongest challenger,Kamto, was a distant second with 14 percent.
   If arrested again,Kamtocould be charged withsedition, insurrection and
   inciting violence. Those are the same charges leveled against him when
   he defied a government ban on protest marches and was arrested
   inDouala.

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