The Nation (Nairobi)
27 October 2009
Nairobi — Popular Cameroonian musician Lapiro de Mbanga has been adopted as a prisoner of conscience, as numerous international human rights organisations continue to protest that he be released from jail. He was sentenced to three years in prison last year on grounds of instigating a riot in his hometown, Mbanga.
In March this year Mbanga, whose real name is Pierre Roger Lambo Sandjo, faced fresh charges from Cameroon's Ministry of Justice of fanning the destruction of a banana plantation near the same town. A song the musician composed, "Constipated Constitution", was cited by the prosecution, with a straight face, as the culprit.
Freedom Now, global forum of lawyers backed by former Czech President Vaclav Havel, the international writers' organization PEN, and Freemuse are among the international rights groups that are campaigning for his release.
His imprisonment last year coincided with a nationwide strike in the country which was part of a campaign demanding the resignation of President Biya, who has been in power for 26 years. The strike was against a controversial constitutional amendment Biya was pushing enabling to run for unlimited presidential terms.
Mbanga became a target of the authorities because of his active participation in that campaign. "Constipated Constitution" was a protest song against Biya's constitutional amendment.
Critic
Besides the music, Mbanga has been a frequent critic of Biya's and a member of the opposition Social Democratic Front. He unsuccessfully run for local elections in his home region in 2006.
His lawyers see a political vendetta behind his travails as most of prisoners detained with him in connection with the strike have since been released through presidential pardon.
State prosecutor Justice Helen Fon-Achu said it openly in the courtroom on June 24, 2009, in the hours before the musician was convicted. According to her, "Lapiro should be given an exemplary and dissuasive sanction in order to intimidate those who would try to repeat such an act." So, she asked for a record 20 year-jail term.
According to his barrister, Rene Manfo, the owner of the banana plantation Mbanga was alleged to have destroyed, Societe Plantation de Bananeries, had actually been in the process of hiring him to calm the rioting mobs.
A fine of CFA540,000 the convicting judge imposed on the musician was widely decried as excessive. A subsequent appeal against the jail term was dismissed.Descended from a family of traditional chiefs, it's no coincidence that Mbanga modeled his name on the town he loves, which happens to be his birthplace.
He has been shuttled from jail to jail from Mbanga to Nkongsamba to New Bell in Douala, to the dismay of his family and fans.
He is in poor health, according to his wife Louisette. The quality of food and sanitary conditions in the prisons are poor and this has contributed to his developing chronic back pains, cough and catarrh, she says. He has also suffered from typhoid attacks.
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