CAMEROON: GRC ON DEFAMATION OF RELIGION

C O N F I D E N T I A L YAOUNDE 001026 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/02/2019 TAGS: PHUM UNGA CM SUBJECT: CAMEROON: GRC ON DEFAMATION OF RELIGION REF: A) STATE 122641 B) YAOUNDE 108921 Classified By: Poloff Carmelia Macfoy for reason 1.4 (d) ¶1. (C) On December 2, Poloff delivered ref A demarche on the upcoming UN General Assembly(UNGA) vote on the "combating defamation of religions" resolution to Prosper Bomba, Director of UN and Multilateral Affairs at Cameroon,s Ministry of External Relations. Poloff thanked Cameroon for its recent abstention in the Third Committee and requested Cameroon,s continued support. Similar to his statements in Ref B, Bomba stated that Cameroon believes in religious tolerance; however, he believes that there still remains no clear definition of what is meant by defamation of religion. Post had previously sent him a clarification of what the USG understands to be defamation of religion. He acknowledged receipt but still maintained that there was no international consensus on the term and that further discussion is needed. ¶2. (C) Bomba stated that Cameroon, as a member of groups like the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC),G-77, and the African Union, generally would follow the examples of such groups. Unless these positions change or unless there is a change in policy direction from his hierarchy, Cameroon is likely to continue abstaining on defamation of religion. ¶3. (C) When asked why Cameroon abstains at the UNGA Third Committee on defamation of religion issues but votes yes at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, he seemed non-plussed and stated that the two resolutions are different. However, he acknowledged that Cameroon needed to harmonize its voting records and that he would point out the discrepancy to his superiors. He reiterated, that the likely outcome in votes on this issue in the UNGA and probably in the HRC would be an abstention. GARVEY