Justice for victims of a powerful Cameroonian multi-millionaire Rancher
- Target:
- Cameroon Government
- Region:
- Cameroon
For the past 25 years thousands of poor Cameroonians have been subjected to serious human rights abuses by Baba Ahmadou Danpullo a powerful multi-millionaire commercial rancher and a member of the Central Committee of the ruling CPDM Party, who travels on a Cameroon Diplomatic Passport!
As the biggest landowner after the state in the NW Region, he uses police, gendarmes, courts and government officials to persecute defenceless subsistence farmers, cattle herders, opposition activists and human rights defenders.
In 2003, the Office of the President of Cameroon ordered an investigation into these exactions. Hundreds of victims gave testimonies to the Jani Commission but since then the recommendations of the Commission have not been implemented by the Prime Minister’s Office.
The exactions include the following:
1. Illegal displacement of small-scale Kom, Kedjum and Esu farmers and Mbororo cattle herders from Ndawara area without compensation.
2. Illegal expropriation of small-scale farming and grazing lands; confiscation of properties in parts of North-West Region and systematic violation of all administrative and judicial decisions to resolve these conflicts.
3. Contested acquisition of Bakweri lands in Fako Division, South-West Region for his CTE tea plantations.
4. Use of his private TV station, Danpullo Broadcasting System (DBS) TV broadcasting across Cameroon and some African countries to attack indigenous groups he considers a threat to his land grab agendas. For example, in recent TV broadcasts his agents savagely attacked ‘Pygmies’ in an unprecedented xenophobic and racist outburst of its kind on TV in Cameroon.
5. Illegal interference and imposition of Ardos (Mbororo community leaders) across Cameroon creating community tensions e.g.in Sabga, North-West and Bertoua in the East Regions.
6. Systematic harassment, slander, arbitrary arrests, illegal detentions, trumped up charges and imprisonment of human rights activists and campaigners.
7. Forced marriages of Mbororo girls including those under 15 years, the legal minimum age for marriage for girls, harassment of any eventual partners and families of his ‘ex-partners’.
8. Systematic and sustained efforts to undermine Mbororo identity, dignity and self-organisation e.g. continuous effort to erase the name ‘Mbororo’ and to get the Mbororo organisation MBOSCUDA banned or dissolved.
9. Illegal establishment and operation of a Sharia Court in his private premises (Ndawara Alkali Court) – use of the ‘court’ to ‘try’ Mbororo herders including justification for illegal confiscation of their cattle.
10. Use of the Societe de Developpement d'Elevage et du Commerce (SODELCO) which is falsely portrayed as a ‘socio-cultural association’ to perpetrate xenophobia, oppress indigenous activists, advance his political and economic hegemony, as well as extorting money and cattle from Mbororo people by way of ‘shares’.
11. Destruction and obstruction of communal water resources and environmental pollution from pesticides and chemicals drained into water sources from ELBA Ranches.
Further information:
Justice and Dignity Website: http://www.justice-dignity.net
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JusticenDignity?sk=wall
You Tube: http://www.youtube.com/justiceanddignity1
Commission des droits de l'homme - Le Rapporteur spécial conjointement avec le Rapporteur Spécial sur l’indépendance des juges et des avocats et la Représentante spéciale du Secrétaire Général concernant la situation des défenseurs des droits de l’homme, a attiré l’attention du Gouvernement du Cameroun sur la situation des éleveurs Mbororos du Cameroun. Pages 24-28 (119-139): http://tinyurl.com/bmtvrw8
CAMEROON: Millionaire rancher probed for seizing land and cattle from tribesmen: http://tinyurl.com/cb6rm5d
Anti 'Pygmy' and Mbororo Hate Propaganda on DBS TV: http://tinyurl.com/dyvtdoh
UN Human Rights Council Denounces Ill-treatment Of Mbororos:http://tinyurl.com/d4ga6ey
L'ONU - Commission des droits de l'homme - Rapport soumis par le Rapporteur Spécial en application de la résolution 1998/38. Cf: Annexe II, (11) (17) & (53) Ardo Duni, Adamu Dohma, Mallam Dewa, Sarli Sardou Nana: http://tinyurl.com/cg374ou
The Rey Bouba of Ndawara: http://tinyurl.com/cugba6b
Cameroon: L'Onu interpelle le gouvernement sur les exactions dont seraient victimes la communauté Mbororo: http://tinyurl.com/c7qs2e7
Submission of the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative for the Universal Periodic Review of Cameroon. See C(6) Minority rights: http://tinyurl.com/c4eaw7h
"Terror campaign" against Cameroonian herders: http://tinyurl.com/cnxhyay
Amnesty Internation: Detention without charge/Fear of Torture or ill-treatment: http://tinyurl.com/cwehf7v
Survival International: Cameroon: Mbororo Land Campaigners Freed: http://tinyurl.com/d5ak2b3
Bakweri Lands Claims Committee Documents: http://tinyurl.com/ce24n9w
Survival - Cameroon: four men arrested and tortured: http://tinyurl.com/bo9qz8w
Cultural Survival - Mbororo Appeal Acquittal in Torture Case: http://tinyurl.com/czk4ypg
CAMEROON: Amnesty International, Survival protest Mbororo arrests: http://tinyurl.com/cxzkz9j
Statement, 9th Session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Peoples: http://tinyurl.com/d7thwvv
U.S. Embassy Cable on Sabga Lamidat: http://tinyurl.com/d6kbexw
Controversy surrounds BAD's acquisition of CDC Tea Estates:http://tinyurl.com/cgy4whe
Danpullo at the Origin of Babanki Fondom Crisis leading to the murder of Fon Vugah
The crisis started when the Fon sold land to Danpullo. The matter went to court and the verdict was in favour of the Babanki farmers. The then Governor of the NW Province created a Commission that granted the farmers circa FCFA 50 million, which Danpullo was asked to pay and leave the farmlands. He snubbed the decision. Details here:
http://tinyurl.com/cfl4nar
WE the undersigned call on the government of Cameroon to:
1. Fully implement the Jani Commission Report adopted and transmitted to the Prime Minister’s Office by the Office of the President of the Republic for implementation since 2004, including the liberation of illegally expropriated lands by ELBA Ranch.
2. Stop further violations and prosecute perpetrators and adequately compensate all victims including his women victims.
3. Specifically prosecute Danpullo Broadcasting System (DBS) TV for promoting xenophobia, hate and discrimination against indigenous ‘Pygmy’ and Mbororo peoples.
4. Prosecute and disband the Societe de Developpement d'Elevage et du Commerce (SODELCO) -[Livestock Development & Trading Company] for promoting xenophobia, hate, falsehood and discrimination against indigenous ‘Pygmy’ peoples.
5. Fulfil the demands of the Bakweri Lands Claim Committee regarding the Bakweri lands presently occupied by Cameroon Tea Estates (CTE) in the South-West Region. And to compensate the Bakweri communities for damages suffered as a result of the expropriation of their lands.
6. Ensure the compensation of former CDC workers who were laid off arbitrarily by the CTE.
7. Ensure that Kedjom, Kom and Esu women are given land of equal value for farming and that their crops are protected from further damages from ELBA Ranch.
8. Ensure that ELBA Ranch, SODELCO and DBS TV pay their full taxes including arrears to the local Councils where they operate.
9. Stop ELBA Ranch from further environmental pollution and for the company to pay for any clearing of chemicals necessary.
10, Comply with the provisions of United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Adopted by General Assembly Resolution 61/295 on 13 September 2007, especially Article 8, which states:
1. Indigenous peoples and individuals have the right not to be subjected to forced assimilation or destruction of their culture.
2. States shall provide effective mechanisms for prevention of, and redress for:
(a) Any action which has the aim or effect of depriving them of their integrity as distinct peoples, or of their cultural values or ethnic identities;
(b) Any action which has the aim or effect of dispossessing them of their lands, territories or resources;
(c) Any form of forced population transfer which has the aim or effect of violating or undermining any of their rights;
(d) Any form of forced assimilation or integration;
(e) Any form of propaganda designed to promote or incite racial or ethnic discrimination directed against them.
11. Comply with the provisions of the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, adopted by the UN General Assembly on December 9, 1998, especially:
Article 1, which states that “Everyone has the right, individually or in association with others, to promote the protection and realization of human rights and fundamental freedoms at the national and international levels”;
Article 5 (b) and (c), which provides that “For the purpose of promoting and protecting human rights and fundamental freedoms, everyone has the right, individually and in association with others, at the national and international levels, to meet or assemble peacefully; and to form, join and participate in nongovernmental organizations, associations or groups”;
Article 6 (b), which provides that “Everyone has the right, individually and in association with others: As provided for in human rights and other applicable international instruments, freely to publish, impart or disseminate to others views, information and knowledge on all human rights and fundamental freedoms”;
Article 12.2 which provides that “The State shall take all necessary measures to ensure the protection by the competent authorities of everyone, individually and in association with others, against any violence, threats, retaliation, de facto or de jure adverse discrimination, pressure or any other arbitrary action as a consequence of his or her legitimate exercise of the rights referred to in the present Declaration”;
12. More generally, ensure in all circumstances the respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms in accordance with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and with international and regional human rights instruments ratified by Cameroon.
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The Justice for victims of a powerful Cameroonian multi-millionaire Rancher petition to Cameroon Government was written by Sarli Sardou Nana and is in the category Human Rights at GoPetition.