Cameroonian authorities must stop the repression of
environmental human rights defender according to an international coalition of
six environmental and human rights organizations including Greenpeace Africa
and the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA).
The call comes following the conviction of farmer Nasako
Besingi, from the country’s Southwest Region, after a protracted and
controversial legal process, on two counts of propagation of false news against
the US agribusiness company Herakles Farms and two counts of defamation against
two employees of the company. After more than 3 years and multiple judicial
delays, Besingi has been ordered to pay 1 200 000 FCFA ($2400 US dollars)
in fines or face up to 3 years in prison. He was also sentenced to pay damages
of 10 million CFA francs ( $ 17000 US dollars) to the two civil parties .
“I am very surprised by the judgement, the charges
against Nasako were trumped up charges and meant to put him away.” says
Barrister Adolf Malle, Nasako lawyer. “We will appeal the judgement in the
coming days.”
Besingi, the director of Cameroonian NGO SEFE in the town
of Mundemba, was awarded the 2012 TAIGO prize for non-state actors and was
nominated in 2014 as one of the most notable human rights defenders by the Jeune
Afrique newspaper. Besingi and his colleagues have long campaigned against
the establishment of a large industrial palm oil plantation in the area by
Herakles Farms local subsidiary SGSOC. The project is set to destroy tracts of
dense rainforest that are home to endangered wildlife including the chimpanzee.
It has been pushed through despite the opposition of local communities and
civil society.
Besingi has been assaulted, arrested without charge and
routinely threatened by employees of Herakles Farms. His conviction is only the
first result of a series of pending legal actions against him and he could yet
face further sanctions.
“Without the courage of SEFE and others, the voices of
local communities and farmers who have little say in what is done with their
land and livelihoods, would not be heard,” says Victorine Chethoener, Forest
project leader, Greenpeace Africa . “Those voices cannot fall silent
because of government repression and intimidation.”
The Nasako Besingi judgment is a great threat to freedom
of expression in Cameroon. Unfortunately, it’s not an isolated case. In other
parts of the country, other organisations and activists have their rights
violated because they stand for their rights and attempt to defend their lands
and communities.
“The situation is worrying and the government, companies
and donors should pay particular attention and take concrete measures to ensure
the protection of the environment defenders in Cameroon” concluded Victorine
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