Opening statement
On December 21st, 2010, the UN declared August 30th the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearance in order to draw attention to the fate of people detained in places unknown to their families, communities and lawyers.“Every year, people vanish after being arrested, detained, or abducted In Cameroon there have been a series of mass arrests as well as individuals and disappearances by government officials or those working in concert with them and by armed groups
We believe that we are all tired of singing this song because after all these years nothing has changed. On the contrary, more people go missing daily, some are kept incommunicado and many others languishing in the jails with trumped up charges and without trial.
So what is the way forward? Should we give up with the hurt in our hearts as the authorities in Cameroon are playing deaf and dumb?
NO, giving up is not an option here. As the saying goes, quitters don’t win. Only those who are done talking and ready to take action can make a difference but from experience that is still not enough . We must decide to take action collectively. Recognising that we are all losing .
Justice is not obtained by crying day and night but by putting all hands on deck , using all resources necessary day and night without leaving a single stone unturned.
Today we will be listening to some remedies that will help us with a road map to achieving our goals
Which is Breaking the silence surrounding Enforced disappearance
Stopping arbitrary arrests and releasing innocent people from the jails and putting an end to the anglophone crisis.
By Nchang Jerioth( coordinator #RT)