Sangmelima: Security officers disrupt MRC meeting, brutalise, arrest supporters.

Security forces in the area reportedly stormed a meeting venue and prevented the supporters from continuing their meeting, Saturday August 26. 

The Guardian Post gathered that the meeting was organised to elect a new team at the party’s grassroots structures, under the supervision of a delegation of party officials from Yaounde. 

In a video that has been circulating on social media, security forces are seen brutalising the supporters, who were apparently resisting arrest. 

It is alleged that when security officers stormed the place and demanded the meeting to be dissolved, the MRC supporters denied to heed the demand, but brandished an approval decision from the administrative authority of the Subdivision.

An acknowledgement of receipt of authorisation, also circulating on social media, showed the application filed by MRC to the Divisional Officer of Sangmelima for the holding of the elective meeting for the area. It is dated August 22, 2023.

In spite of this, the security forces, without warrants of arrest or explanation, we gathered, decided to whisk off the supporters to one of the detention facilities in the area. 

MRC party condemns brutality, arrests 

Reacting to the incident in Sangmelima, MRC’s National Communication Secretary, Joseph Emmanuel Ateba, condemned the “brutality” and “arbitrary arrest” of the party’s supporters. 

“We denounce in the strongest possible terms these practices of a different kind and call on national and international opinion to witness the Yaounde regime’s desire to take the Cameroonian public arena hostage and to ostracise opposition political parties, principally the MRC,” the Communication Secretary said. 

According to him, besides having notified the Divisional Officer, DO of Sangmelima and the Governor of the South Region, the forces of law and order went on to brutalise their party members. 

“After regularly informing the Governor of the South Region of these activities in his command unit, our members were surprised to see the police force storm the place chosen for this activity, brutalising supporters along the way and arresting some, followed by detention in police units,” the MCR Communication Secretary added.

Demands immediate release of supporters

The MRC Communication Secretary, equally demanded the unconditional release of the party supporters who remain “illegally” detained. 

“We demand the unconditional release of our arbitrarily imprisoned comrades. We also demand the opening of an enquiry to establish who is responsible for this umpteenth crime,” he stated.

According to Emmanuel Ateba, such actions of the ruling Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement, CPDM party-led administration portrays dictatorship of the regime and gives the impression that the South Region is a separate state.   

“The people of the South Region have never shown the slightest desire to withdraw from Cameroon and no one should, for political reasons, try to exclude them,” the MRC bigwig stressed.

MRC re-organisation of basic party organs 

It is worth noting that the meeting in Sangmelima falls in line with the reorganisation of MRC structures at the grassroots level in preparation for national elections, expected in the country as from 2025.

The reorganisation of the party’s basic organs is confirmed by a party circular signed by the Secretary General, Barrister Ndong Christopher.   

A few months ago, the operation to reorganise the MRC party was launched with the West Region taking the lead. This was followed by the Littoral II of the party covering the Moungo Division, the Littoral I representing the Wouri Division, and the Centre I representing Mfoundi. The reorganisation was proceeded by the installation of elected officials.

Meanwhile, the party hierarchy has called on its supporters in the South Region to remain courageous and determined to see a new regime to man the affairs of the state.