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Cameroon: Gov't Dines With Prisoners, Murderers - Fru Ndi
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The Post (Buea)
24 March 2008
Posted to the web 24 March 2008
Kini Nsom
The Chairman of the Social Democratic Front, SDF, John Fru Ndi, has accused the government of dining and wining with prisoners and murderers.
He made the accusation during a press conference in Yaounde on March 17. Fru Ndi used the press conference to react to the accusations levelled against him by the Minister of Territorial Administration and Decentralisation, MINATD, Marafa Hamidou Yaya.
Marafa had earlier said Fru Ndi was spotted in Bamenda driving with a murderer and hardened criminal who escaped from New Bell Prison recently. Marafa also accused Fru Ndi of masterminding the recent nationwide protest.
Fru Ndi qualified the allegations as malicious, unfounded and childish lies told to discredit his person. According to him, it is the government that is dealing with criminals.He said the government did not only unduly release a criminal from New Bell prison, but also appointed him Minister.
"It remains a scandal that government has released Fon Doh after he was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment term for murder," said Fru Ndi."Mr. Marafa made the extremely serious allegation that a convict for the murder of Mr. Nourry in Douala, who escaped from prison on December 25, 2007, was seen in my company in Bamenda on February 27, 2008 and that he was found leading operations in Bamenda," Fru Ndi observed.
He said by making such a statement, the Minister was implying that he (Fru Ndi) is part of a criminal gang of murderers with whom he dines and wines.Fru Ndi expressed disappointment that after creating socio-economic and political tension all over the country, government was trying to shirk responsibility over the strike.
Said he: "The SDF resolutely repudiates the blackmail and smear campaign directed at my person and my party by irresponsible government officials who, having lost control of the government machinery due to their poor management and lack of vision, have resorted to political witch-hunting."
He said Biya ordered for the torture and killing of Cameroonians when he promised to use all legal means at his disposals to restore order. That is why, Fru Ndi claimed, troops tortured and killed more than 150 Cameroonians.
Fru Ndi regretted that the CPDM has recruited youths to rig elections. "The regime thought that this could go on forever, but scales are falling off the eyes of the youths because they have been used for too long. They cannot continue to be jobless, go hungry and without a future when a few of Mr. Biya's cohorts live in arrogant opulence," said Fru Ndi.
Marafa, Owona To Answer Defamation Charges
Fru Ndi said the Minister Delegate at the Presidency of the Republic (also CPDM Deputy Secretary General) Gregoire Owona, fabricated statements to the effects that he called on the youths to go on strike.
He indicted Marafa for also making defamatory statements against him. He said his lawyers were building a case file to drag the ministers to court for defamation. He said the SDF will also drag the Mfoundi elite to court for recently sowing seeds of genocide by declaring ethnic cleansing in Yaounde.
Fru Ndi said he was also contemplating dragging the government-run media, Cameroon Tribune and CRTV to court for publishing vituperative attacks on his person.He debunked Marafa's claim that the SDF National Executive Committee, NEC, meeting that held in Bamenda from January 26 to 28 and the party's youths meeting that held later had anything to do with the violence.
Declare Day Of National Mourning
Meanwhile, the SDF Chair claimed security forces killed over 150 people in the strike action and urged President Biya to declare a day of national mourning. He also called for the creation of a commission of inquiry to investigate the killings.
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Alluding to Marafa's claims, Fru Ndi said he was surprised that vandals kidnapped two Italians and it was only made known to Cameroonians after they were released in Bamenda. He said he was surprised that only Marafa alone knew about the vandals he allegedly sent to destabilise Yaounde but were caught in Makenene. He also said he was astonished that he has the powers to ground the whole nation as the Marafa claims.
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