Freedom for all political prisoners in Cameroon and Creation of an International Commission of Inquiry on the mass murder of unarmed civilians by the Cameroon armed forces in February 2008

Petition for the liberation of all political prisoners in Cameroon and for the creation of an international Commission of inquiry on the mass murder of unarmed civilians by the Cameroon armed forces in February 2008.


Following sustained popular demonstrations against rampant inflation and a planned constitutional tampering to scrap presidential term limits and allow Mr Paul Biya, the Head of State- and one of the longest serving autocrats in the world- to hold on to power, several bloody incidents occurred throughout the country late in February 2008 when government armed forces used excessive force to brutally quell peaceful protects. As a result,

- More than 100 people were killed according to local Human Rights Organisations while several others were seriously injured;

- About 2000 Cameroonians were arrested and a over a thousand of them have been handed up to 15 years prison terms and remained detained in poor conditions in several prisons in Cameroon. Many of these political prisoners are presently ill and are not allowed to received medical treatment;

- Many independent Medias have been closed and the broadcasting rights have been severely restricted.


We, the undersigned, urge the United Nations, the African Union, and the international community to:

1- Put pressure on the Cameroon dictatorial regime to obtain the immediate release of all political prisoners in Cameroon, arrested following the popular demonstrations of February 2008;

2- Call for the establishment of an International and Independent Commission of Inquiry in Cameroon to carry out a thorough investigation into the bloody repression of unarmed civilians by the armed forces and to take judicial actions against those responsible for the bludgeoning of unarmed civilians and other Human Rights Abuses in Cameroon;

3- Denounce the massive human rights violations and the continuing exactions of Biyas antidemocratic government against civilians and

4- Monitor the political situation in Cameroon to prevent a descent into civil war that now seems virtually inescapable since the incumbent autocrat dictator has successfully manipulated the constitution to remain in power.

Petition initiated by:
International Committee for the Liberation of Political prisoners in Cameroon (Freedom for Joe & Co.)
Cameroon Democratic and Patriotic Network in the Diaspora (CODE)