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Cameroon: Whether there was a rally by the Southern Cameroons National Council (SCNC) on 20 May 2005 calling for a boycott of the celebration of National Day; whether SCNC members were arrested at this event; whether there was an SCNC rally on 20 May 2006; if so, whether SCNC members were arrested by police at a meeting at the Buea-Fako branch of the SCNC after the rally and if so, the length of time those arrested were held

The United States (US) Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) lists "Republic Day," also referred to as "National Day," as a national holiday in Cameroon that is celebrated on 20 May (18 Dec. 2008).

Information on whether there was a rally by the Southern Cameroons National Council (SCNC) on 20 May 2005 calling for the boycott of the celebration of National Day or on the arrest of any SCNC members on 20 May 2005 could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

Sources report that 65 members of the SCNC were arrested at the end of April 2006 in Oku in Northwest province (US 6 Mar. 2007, Sec. 3; Le Messager 2 May 2006), for allegedly "planning to disrupt the 20 May national celebrations" (RFI 5 May 2006). Although all were released several days later (ibid.; US 6 Mar. 2007, Sec. 3), Agence France-Presse (AFP) reports that the president of the SCNC and three other SCNC members, all of whom were among those arrested in April, were re-arrested in early May for holding an "illegal meeting" (10 May 2006; see also The Post 22 May 2006).

A source quoted in an article of a Cameroonian newspaper states that in 2006, "the 20 May celebrations were hitch free," despite SCNC calls for a boycott in Cameroon's two anglophone provinces (The Post 22 May 2006). The article indicates that the celebrations in the region were "massively attended" (ibid.). Information as to whether an SCNC rally took place on 20 May 2006 could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

Information as to whether SCNC members were arrested by police at a meeting at the Buea-Fako branch of the SCNC after a 20 May 2006 rally or any other event promoted by the SCNC on or around that date could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

Agence France-Presse (AFP). 10 May 2006. "Cameroon English-speaking Separatists Re-arrested." (Factiva)

Le Messager [Cameroon]. 2 May 2006. "Scnc : 65 activistes aux arrêts." (Factiva)

The Post [Buea, Cameroon]. 22 May 2006. Chris Mbunwe. "Cameroon: Detained SCNC Leaders' Health Deteriorates." <http://www.postnewsline.com/2006/05/detained_scnc_l.html> [Accessed 23 Dec. 2008]

Radio France internationale (RFI) [in French]. 5 May 2006. "Cameroon: Members of Secessionist Group Freed on Bail." (BBC Monitoring Africa / Factiva)

United States (US). 18 December 2008. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). "Cameroon." The World Factbook. <https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/print/cm.html> [Accessed 22 Dec. 2008]
_____. 6 March 2007. Department of State. "Cameroon." Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2006. <http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2006/78723.htm> [Accessed 23 Dec. 2008]

Additional Sources Consulted

Internet sources, including: AllAfrica.com, Amnesty International (AI), Cameroon – Prime Minister's Office, Freedom House, Global Insight, Human Rights Watch (HRW), Quotidien Mutations [Yaoundé, Cameroon], Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

Topics: Political parties,