UNITED SOCIALIST DEMOCRATIC PARTY

PARTI SOCIALISTE DEMOCRATIQUE UNI

P.O. Box 31 237 Yaounde, Cameroon

BP 31 237 Yaounde, Cameroun

OFFICE OF THE NATIONAL PRESIDENT

Ref. N: 000459/2016/USDP/NP/SG/NEC/December 1, 2016

Through
The US Ambassador
Rosa Parks Ave., Yaounde, Cameroon
To
Committee on Foreign Affairs
The United States House of Representatives
We are confident that you are as shocked as we by images, videos and photos of the latest
brutal attack on protesters in the North West and South West Regions of Cameroon by the
Biya regime. The images of law enforcement brutality subjecting innocent citizen, and
students to severe forms of torture, and other forms of human rights violations are not only
profoundly disturbing but are appalling to millions of people all over the world.
Whereas the Constitution of Cameroon guarantees, the people the right to protest and
free speech as well as the freedom of assembly, the Biya regime has made it official
government policy to use repressive and oppressive means to violate the peoples rights
through police brutality, arbitrary arrests and detention of citizens exercising their
constitutional rights. It is worth noting here that the actions of the Biya regime constitute the
violations of international law and warrants the international community to act decisively to
halt such abuses of human rights.
While we acknowledge the Press Release by the State Department calling for
dialogue, we are deeply concerned that the press release has had and will have little or no
effect as there is increasing evidence of the continuous perpetration of human right abuses,
torture, and rape by the law enforcement officials deployed and instructed by the Biya regime
to subdue the Anglophone population. We are also deeply concerned that if the United States
and the international community fail to take immediate and decisive measures against the
murderous and repressive Biya regime more lives will be lost, more women will suffer rape,
and more people will be subjected to torture with the possibility of increasing violence in this
part of the world.
Based on verified videos of law enforcement officials forcing students to drop-androle and drink water from muddy puddles; of law enforcement officers violently beating and
brutalizing innocent citizens, of military water cannons spraying student hostels in Bamenda;
of law enforcement officers conducting arbitrary arresting, and of law enforcement officer
using tear-gas and maze on peaceful protesters, we are profoundly concerned that there is a
humanitarian imperative arising from the brutal attack on civilians in Anglophone Cameroon
by the Biya regime. Reports of law enforcement officers raping students in their hostels in
Buea have surfaced but because rape is still a taboo subject in Cameroon, denial is a first
recourse for victims and this makes authentication difficult. We are firmly aware that the
protection of civilians from crimes against humanity, and torture and severe violations of
human rights are among the interests of the US government. The government of the United
States is fully aware that the Biya regime has repeatedly committed crimes against civilians
and political opponents, including the arrest of 54 members of CPP party in a peaceful party
meeting, and the on-going ghastly attacks on Anglophone populations.
We are therefore firmly convinced that it is time for the US and the International
Community to hold Mr. Paul Biya and his regime accountable for their actions. The
Tel: 237 675 514 817 / 237 664 205 959 / 237 654 56 77 20 / +913 608 9151
Website: www.usdpcameroon.org / Email: prince.ekosso@usdpcameroon.org
Creation Decision No. 0000403 D/MINATD/DAP/SDE/SPP/of 05/09/2011

UNITED SOCIALIST DEMOCRATIC PARTY

PARTI SOCIALISTE DEMOCRATIQUE UNI

P.O. Box 31 237 Yaounde, Cameroon

BP 31 237 Yaounde, Cameroun

OFFICE OF THE NATIONAL PRESIDENT

government of the United States cannot afford to remain silent or make neutral press
statements in the face of increasing crimes against humanity, and the suppression of freedoms
of speech, protest and assembly. The US government and the international community have a
moral obligation to impinge upon the Biya regime to stop the oppressive attacks on unarmed
citizens and pay attention to their worries .
Sincerely,

Prince Michael Ngwese Ekosso

National President, USDP
Cc:
United Nations Headquarters, New York, USA
African Union Headquarter, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
United Nations Commission on Human Rights, Yaounde, Cameroon
United Nations Committee Against Torture, Geneva, Switzerland
File.

Tel: 237 675 514 817 / 237 664 205 959 / 237 654 56 77 20 / +913 608 9151
Website: www.usdpcameroon.org / Email: prince.ekosso@usdpcameroon.org
Creation Decision No. 0000403 D/MINATD/DAP/SDE/SPP/of 05/09/2011