gays used international human rights day to challenge cameroonian arrests

By Abeli Zahabu (BTM French Reporter)

December 11, 2007: Monday, 10 December, marked the International Human Rights Day where local and international gay and human rights organisations used the day to revolt and protest at the Cameroonian High Commission.

Coincided with the CAL/ ARC International dialogue ended the same day, the organisations – particularly the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) organisations – marched to the Cameroonian embassy in Tshwane.

The organisations demanded the release of more than 13 homosexuals detained in that country for allegedly violating section 347 of the Cameroonian Penal Code which criminalises homosexuality.

According to the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC), more than 30 people had been arrested in Cameroon in the last two years on charges of homosexuality despite an October 2006 ruling by the United Nations that termed such arrests to be arbitrary and unfair.

Dozens of students, particularly girls and young women, have been expelled from schools as result of their real or perceived sexual orientation.

The atmosphere was electrifying and the mood was that of militancy and combat. With slogans such as ‘amandla awethu’ (the power is ours) and other similar revolutionary songs, about 50 activists, including activists form Brazil, Peru, Colombia, Morocco, Senegal, Mali, Ivory Coast, Cameroon, Nigeria, DRC, Rwanda, Namibia, Botswana, Mozambique and India were transported to Tshwane’s Cameroonian embassy.

In the streets of Tshwane as well as at the front gate of the Cameroonian High Commission, LGBTI people were chanting and dancing.

“It’s very powerful to me. It’s the first time that I take part in this type of demonstration. It’s cruel for the Cameroonian government to detain people on false grounds. I’m proud to be here today to march for the rights of my brothers in Cameroon”, declared Jean-Hervé Beute, from Ivory Coast.

It was the same feeling one could get from various demonstrators: a combination of pride and anger.

“I’m very excited as it is also the first time that I attend this kind of event. I’m here to support my homosexual brothers jailed in Cameroon. I’m here to fight for equal human rights for homosexuals”, insisted Modibo Diabaté, from Mali.

“I feel very confident to be part of such a huge family. This does not happen every day, I feel empowered”, added, only known as Alok, from India.

For Cary Alan Johnson, IGLHRC Senior Coordinator for Africa, the demonstration is a big step in the right direction for LGBTI organisations in Africa.

“I’m very excited. It’s important that the Cameroonian government understands that it’s the African people themselves who are longing for change in their countries. They want human rights to be inclusive. It’s not the US, the UK or France who are dictating this to them, but Africans themselves”.

While demonstrators were chanting and making speech after speech demanding immediate release of homosexuals in Cameroon, Cameroonian officials at the embassy stood calmly and listened to the grievances.

“We received the memorandum which was addressed to the Cameroonian authorities in Yaoundé. All we could do was to send it to Cameroon. There is nothing we can do from here [South Africa]. Homosexuality is punished by law. If people infringe that law they get arrested”, said one official from the Cameroonian embassy.

The Cameroonian High Commission promised to give a feed back as soon as the government responds. 

Some demonstrations of protest were held in France and the US’s Cameroonian embassies.