SDF's Declaration on Anti-Terrorism Bill

The Rt.  Hon. Speaker,

I have the SDF official pronouncement concerning this very important bill on the “Suppression of Acts of Terrorism.”  We in the SDF did make a strong statement during the recent parliamentary conclave.

In addition, we are saying that: Nobody can be indifferent to what terrorists are doing in the northern part of our country, nobody can say something contrary to stringent measures when we know what is happening in our neighbouring country i.e. Northern Nigeria and nobody has forgotten September 11, 2001 and can therefore hesitate strong legislation against proven terrorists.

The list of striking terrorist events is more than long. We are very concerned about terrorist activities and will not hesitate to go with the international community or even with government on the issue.

However, I strongly say that the SDF has this caution, this strong word or warning to this law. The Cameroon government, true to its manner of governance in presenting this bill appears to be panicking before this awesome phenomenon. Again, the government is reacting and not carrying on serene reflection and legislation. Government has not clearly defined terrorist and terrorist activities. Our apprehensions in this are that any public manifestation could be considered as an act of terror.

This law which seeks to suppress acts committed by terrorist movements or organizations and their members, accomplices and accessories lacks definition and makes every citizen a potential terrorist. Either in its lack of reflection or its ill–intended move, the government has rather geared its objective to: Muzzle the press, open up avenues to curb opposition activities and give blanket cheque to administrative and judicial authorities (see article 9).

Meanwhile, our system has sad memories of some exactions and occurrences as regards human rights abuses. We are thinking of: Commandement operational, Les lois d’exception, through the 1962 and 1972 laws and SEDOC activities. In brief, this law makes the entire country become a ZOPAC.

The current bill is showing strong elements of oppression and will doubtlessly lead to serious human right abuses. In the various articles of the bill, the continuous references to death penalties, leads us to think that we are not aware of our numerous commitments to different international treaties and conventions voted and ratified by Cameroon especially as regards the death penalty.

May we remind you that: In 2008, Cameroon voted for the United Nations global moratorium on execution and has ratified: International Conventions on civil and political rights, the African charter on human and peoples’ rights and the charter of children’s rights with emphasis on the “right of life.”

Our strong reservation on many aspects of this bill are that it is not prudent to immediately kill suspected members of terrorist organizations whom we arrest because we will, by that endanger any of our citizens who may be taken as hostages and further entertain the cycle of violence.

Mr. Speaker,

Just as has been witnessed by the stop of execution since 1997 by President Paul Biya in Cameroon, the SDF is against the death penalty by the state or by the population. The death penalty is: inefficient – it is not dissuasive, illegal – it violates the universal declaration of human rights which is part of our constitution, unjust – it kills innocent people, cruel, without the possibility for appeal and reductive – it does not allow for rehabilitation and is counter–productive: it justifies excessive violence.

         Hon. Banadzem Joseph

SDF Parliamentary Group Leader 

On a political reflection, the SDF observes that the Cameroon social strata has been broken by tribal tendencies which are further aggravated by hate literature. Examples abound but we wish to mention only: The Yaounde Declaration against settlers and The Lekie Declaration against the Grand North. Are these not clear cases of propagation of terrorism? Should we have killed these ministers because of their statements as this law purports? Is this law brought up because the actual turn of event happen in a part of the country for which our government hasn’t shown any sign of humanity which is part of the root cause of the terrorism we all want to combat? Would this law be tabled if it would have an effect on other parts of this country? Is this law not put in place as a law of exception against political activity? We must scrutinize this law so well (and it has not been the case) so that it does not lead to settling scores.

Above all, the overall negligence of our youths and particularly those from the Northern part of our country in terms of development and unemployment is a source of concern and may lead some of them to join groups that will lead them to awkward activities. Not only terrorism should be combated but especially the root cause of terrorism. Development is key to keep our children safe from temptation and cut them off the terrorists pull for recruitment.

Mr. Speaker, this is what the SDF has to say about this bill.