CAMEROON: SUPPORTING HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS

UNCLAS YAOUNDE 000106 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: CM KDEM PHUM PREL SUBJECT: CAMEROON: SUPPORTING HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS REF: 06 STATE 200959 ¶1. (U) Poloff met with Felix-fils Eboa Ebongue of Foreign Ministry (MINREX) on January 17 to discuss points outlined in reftel. Ebongue said he would convey the U.S. concerns to the Ministry. He pointed out that NGOs receive protection under the new penal code, which was promulgated January 1. Cameroon has a registry of what it considers to be legitimate NGOs, which it uses to answer public inquiries to verify their status. ¶2. (U) Reftel talking points have also been conveyed to public affairs to disseminate to journalists. MARQUARDT