From: barnhart@ddsw1.MCS.COM (Mr. Aaron Barnhart)
Subject: IPS:CAMEROON: SECURITY FORCES MOVE ON OPPOSITION LEADER
Date: Tue, 5 Jan 1993 14:00:38 GMT
Organization: Evanston, Illinois, U.S.A.

Copyright Inter Press Service 1992, all rights reserved.  Permission to re-
print within 7 days of original date only with permission from 'newsdesk'.

Title: CAMEROON: SECURITY FORCES MOVE ON OPPOSITION LEADER


an inter press service feature

by tansa musa

yaounde, dec 28 (ips) -- renewed clashes over the weekend
between security forces and civilians in the north-western town
of bamenda have dashed hopes that a speedy solution might be
sought to the political conflict in cameroon.

the violence was sparked by news that 173 detainees held in
connection with the state of emergency imposed in the region
following the controversial october presidential election had
been taken to an unknown destination and that troops had been
sent to ''hijack'' opposition social democratic front (sdf)
leader john fru ndi.

thousands of people took to the streets sunday, raising
barricades of abandoned vehicles across the roads leading into
fru ndi's hometown and major streets to prevent the populist
leaders removal.

security forces shot in the air and used tear gas to try to
disperse the determined crowds but failed.

the detainees were smuggled out saturday night by the
authorities after electricity to the town was cut for six hours.

''after hijacking my victory at the polls in october, biya
has now developed guerrilla tactics to hijack me'', john fru ndi
under house arrest told ips in a telephone interview monday.

he confirmed that two extra truck loads of troops had arrived
and were surrounding his house as he spoke.

''about 5,000 people have taken position around fru ndi's
compound since yesterday (sunday) and have vowed not to leave
until the soldiers go away'', george forgwei of posts and
telecommunications service in bamenda told ips.

meanwhile, the 173 detainees removed from bamenda are now
being held at the maximum security prison of kondengui in
yaounde.

the government's decision to move the detainees to the
capital is believed to be connected with a high court decision
in bamenda dec. 23 to release them.

the high court had ruled that 34 should be freed, and granted
bail to 139 others. among the 34 to be released was the ''union
des forces democratiques du cameroon'' (ufdc) leader hameni
bieuleu who was fru ndi's campaign manager within the ''union
for change'' opposition umbrella grouping. (more/ips)


cameroon: security forces (2)

justice fombe who gave the ruling said that the detainess had
not been charged and moreover they had already served the time
required by the state of emergency decree in detension.

that decision brought an angry response from justice minister
douala moutome who ordered that the files of the case be
forwarded to him for study.

''the people were held in administrative detention and only
an administrative decision could have released them'', he said,
affirming that they were political prisoners contrary to an
earlier assertion by communication minister and government
spokesman augustin kontchou that they were common law criminals.

the opposition alleges that presidential incumbent paul biya
rigged cameroon's first multiparty polls since independence,
robbing fru ndi of victory. it is a view supported by
international election monitors.

political observers see the recent invitation of fru ndi
to washington as a white house decision to recognise him as the
legitimate leader of cameroon. with the government latest
action, it is expected that biya will not allow him to travel.

the charismatic opposition leader has, however, vowed to make
the trip to the u.s.

''i am going to washington for the inauguration. nobody can
stop me. he (biya) can send out all his boys with guns, i will
go. my army, that is my people, the masses, will help me out. he
has the arms, i have the people'', he added.

fru ndi called on biya who has ruled this central african
country for a decade to organise a run-off election for the two
of them as the best way to break the political impasse.

he said: ''the only advice i can give him now is that if he
wants to lose honourably, he should organise a run-off election
for the two of us. failure to do this he should resign and hand
over power to the legitimate president, john fru ndi.

he welcomed the decision by the european parliament calling
on biya to reorganise presidential and legislative elections in
the country but regretted that it was a delayed move.

''i hope they will take harder action and beat some sense
into him (biya) to act now rather than wait until the situation
deteriorates into one similar to somalia before they step in'',
fru ndi said.

to most cameroonians there can be a solution to cameroon's
present political crisis if washington acts decisively by
cutting all aid to cameroon and impressing on france, the only
country backing biya now, to do the same. (end/ips/tm/oa/92)
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