Appeal to address the Besong Abang crisis

Dear

·        Elected Officials, politicians, and elites of Manyu,

·        Manyu Traditional Chiefs,

·        Leaders & Members of Manyu Elements Cultural Association (MECA) at home and around the world,

·        Leaders & Members of NOMA worldwide,

·        Manyu Women, Youths and other organized groups,

·        Religious, Community, & Opinion Leaders in Cameroon and worldwide,

 

 

It is with a very heavy heart and unprecedented feeling of shame that I address you today regarding the current disgraceful state of affairs in Besong Abang Village, Manyu.

 

I do appeal to you for an immediate action to quell the crisis in Besong Abang that was triggered by the killing in cold blood of an innocent young man, an unarmed motor bike owner, Mr. Maxim Ashu Beteck. The horrific slaying of this young Manyu son, and the subsequent natural reaction of the citizenry of Besong Abang and Mamfe, rather than of attracting sympathy from the government of Cameroon, has instead led to the illegal mass arrest of law abiding citizens in Besong Abang Town, in Manyu Division.

 

My dear Elites, Traditional Chiefs, elders, brothers, and sisters, staying silent is not an option in this very undignifying situation. We are in the 21^st century, and there cannot be any justification for such brutal show of excessive of force, indiscriminate killing or even harassment of unarmed citizens by law enforcement officials. It is very distasteful and embarrassing for Cameroonians across the globe to see fellow Cameroonians being slaughtered by the very people who were hired to protect them from harm. This is one too many!

 

Honestly, in spite of our ethnic and political affiliations, peace loving Cameroonians should be ashamed of the graphic image of dead brother's body lying on the streets of our town.  The present Besong Abang crisis and the many others we have witnessed in the recent past in our country, have painted a terribly dark picture of Cameroon in the international community, and have given an impression that law enforcement officials in Cameroon are dangerous and ruthless, and will not hesitate to shoot anyone who stands in their way. What has become of our government?

 

No enlightened society in this 21^st century should tolerate such savagely abuse of the basic human rights of its own people. We must begin to hold our law enforcement officials and those who control them accountable for their reckless actions. Consequently, we the Manyu elements in Diaspora are calling on our elected officials, politicians, elites, clergymen and traditional chiefs to use their leverage to stem the heat that this senseless killing is generating in Besong Abang and beyond. All those that have been illegally arrested and detained under inhuman conditions must be released! Further harassment of innocent citizens has to stop too!!

 

We are also strongly appealing to you, to use your privileged positions, to bear on government to institute a meaningful investigation on this senseless and despicable killing and molestation/harassment and bring the perpetrators to justice. Only real and meaningful Justice can heal the painful wounds inflicted by the crisis and bring peace back to the area. It is also our position that all the victims of this military brutality have to be compensated. After all, Manyu young men and women would not have taken to the streets if they believed that justice will be served in this matter.

  

We in the Diaspora cannot have any peaceful sleep knowing that you, our politicians, are standing by the sideline while our loved ones at home are being killed or tortured for no reason. We are thus counting on you to seek ways to bring this unfortunate event to a speedy end and to see that those presently incarcerated are released in a timely manner.

 

 

Thank you all.

 

 

Long live MECA-USA

Long live Manyu Division

Long Live Cameroon

 

Samuel Besong

Chairman, MECA-USA

 

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Samuel Besong, PhD
Professor and Chairperson
Department of Human Ecology
Delaware State University
1200 North DuPont HWY
Price Bldg, RM#103
Dover, DE 19901
Phone: 302-857-6440
Fax: 302-857-6441