Human Rights NGO says the kidnapping and torture of women in Big Babanki of the North West Region by ‘Ambazonia’ fighters is barbaric and unacceptable.
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Following the kidnaping and torture of women in Big Babanki of the North West Region of Cameroon by armed separatists fighting to separate the Anglophone Cameroon from French Cameroon, the Centre for Human Rights and Democracy in Africa, a Nongovernmental Organization in a statement published on 23 May 2023 have call on the separatist fighters to released these women unconditionally.
Below is the full statement as publish on their official website
CHRDA condemns in strong terms the cruel and degrading treatment meted out on a group of women in Big Babanki after these women (at least 30 in number) publicly demonstrated on Friday, May 19, 2023, to denounce “Amba fighter’s” exploitative activities in Big Babanki, Mezam Division, North-West Region. A local whom we spoke with told us the demonstration was in protest of the economic policies on payment of monthly dues of FCFA 10,000 for men and FCFA 5000 for women imposed by the separatist fighters on the population of Big Babanki.
In a video released online by the “amba boys’’, a group of women are seen sitting on the ground begging for mercy while the fighters can be heard in the background scolding and raining insults on the women. Speaking in the Pidgin English language, the separatist fighters refer to the women as “blacklegs”, accusing them of complicity with the military in an attack against them (“amba boys”) which occurred the previous night. Towards the end of the video, the separatist fighters can also be heard threatening and promising death on the women stating that they have signed their death warrants by protesting against them.
As of the time of this statement, The ‘Ambazonia’ Governing Council, through their communication channel ‘Ambazonia Communication Network-ACN’, has acknowledged the act. As stated on their official Facebook Page, “After a thorough background investigation into the video in which some brave Ambazonia forces ARRESTED some women who attempted to carry out a protest against Ambazonia Liberation, ACN can now confirm that the protest was engineered by the enemy..’’. Capo Daniel, former spoke person for ‘Ambazonia’ Governing Council, who now operates as an activist has also reacted to the act. According to him, different fighters operate in Big Babanki and the women were protesting against the so-called ‘Liberations tax’ levied against all inhabitants including children who are forced to pay up to FCFA 500 per month. Though he did not name the group that perpetrated the act, he condemned the act by the separatist fighters.
According to the President of CRHDA, Barrister Agbor Nkongho, ‘The abduction of civilian women not taking any active part in hostilities is clearly a war crime and a crime against humanity. This inhumane and senseless action is a glaring example of terrorizing the civilian population. It is embarrassing that so call “protectors” of the Population are now persecutors of the population…’
This action goes against principles of international humanitarian and human rights law, which protects civilians who are not taking part in armed conflict, and the rights of women and their dignity as provided by international conventions like the UDHR, CEDAW.
CHRDA calls on the warring parties to show restraint and desists from using women as instruments of war and subjecting them to different forms of violations and abuses. Civilians not taking active participation in hostilities are not and should not be targeted.
CHRDA calls on the separatist fighters responsible for this barbaric act to immediately and unconditionally release these women. We urge the local authorities in the region to carry out a prompt, independent and transparent investigation and hold accountable the perpetrators of this heinous act.
Read original statement on their website here
Berinyuy Cajetan is the founder and publisher of Human Rights and Legal Research Centre (HRLRC) since 2017. He has intensive experience in strategic communications for Civil Society Organizations, campaign and advocacy, and social issues. He has an intensive experiencing in human rights monitoring, documentation and reporting.
