CAMEROON: ANTI-CORRUPTION DEMONSTRATION REPRESSED

UNCLAS YAOUNDE 001236 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR AF/C LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: CM KCOR PGOV PHUM SUBJECT: CAMEROON: ANTI-CORRUPTION DEMONSTRATION REPRESSED ¶1. (U) On December 10, a local NGO, Association Citoyenne de Defense des Interets Collectifs (ACDIC),held a demonstration in Yaounde to protest corruption in the Agriculture Ministry. According to media and NGO sources, the police dispursed the demonstration forcibly, resulting in several injuries to demonstrators. Police arrested demonstration organizer Bernard Njonga and four others, charging them with disturbance of public order and demonstrating without authorization. The detainees were released on December 11. Emboffs tried to visit Njonga during his detention on December 10 but were denied access by the local police. Post has subsequently tried unsuccessfully to meet with Njonga. ¶2. (SBU) In a December 17 meeting with Secretary General at the Ministry of External Relations Sebastien Foumane, Pol/Econ Chief expressed concern about the government,s violent response to the ACDIC demonstration, noting that the response made the international press and tarnished Cameroon,s image. Pol/Econ Chief pointed to frustrations by many NGOs in getting legal permits to demonstrate and urged the government to respond to future demonstrations without violence. Foumane responded that Cameroon is a country of law and that many citizens do not understand the legal procedure to carry out a protest. Foumane also agreed that, at times, local security forces react with excessive force and contrary to state policies. GARVEY