Maurice Kamto, a prominent figure in Cameroonian politics, and the founder and chairman of the Cameroon Renaissance Movement, CRM political party, expressed strong criticism regarding the decision by the Kribi Divisional Officer to prohibit the PCRN (Cameroon Party for National Reconciliation) from holding a public rally.
An authorization was said to have been granted initially in a receipt dated November 16, 2023, for the said political event to take place on December 15-17. Reports have it that, new facts handed to PCRN representative Mr. Bruce Mahellet, revealed during the hearing on the 23rd of November, 2023 that the scheduled political event is prohibited due to internal discordancy and will likely cause some public disorder if that should hold.
Professor Maurice Kamto, known for his advocacy of democratic rights, voiced concern over the restriction, emphasizing the importance of freedom of assembly in a democratic society. He highlighted the need for transparent and fair practices in permitting political gatherings to ensure citizens’ rights to expression and participation in the democratic process.
According to Professor Maurice Kamto, it is an act of attack on public freedom and he strongly condemns it.
“I was able to read through the full decision of the divisional officer of Kribi II dated November 23rd, 2023, prohibiting the PCRN public rally scheduled for December 15-17, 2023 in Kribi, to renew its Steering Committee and the national President position, according to the D.O, “Internal squabbles within this political party is likely to seriously disturb public order”. I can’t still believe this is happening. It is yet another serious attack on public freedoms and unacceptable interference in the internal operations of a legalized political party, we do not miss to recall serious internal problems which periodically shake the ruling party, without there ever being a ban on its public rallies. The D.O. could have requested the presence of law enforcement forces at the venue of the said meeting to intervene if necessary instead of anticipating serious disturbances to public order on a speculative basis.
kamto Added
“There are nearly 400 political parties in Cameroon, but only one and its allies can carry out their activities normally. At a time when the state is trumpeting the approval of 40 new political parties, how can it illustrate at the same time to this extent the folkloric character of the Cameroonian multiparty system and the caricature of democracy in our country? The D.O. still has time to change his decision and let the PCRN hold its meeting for which he had already issued the acknowledgment of receipt of the declaration.
Professor Maurice Kamto, known for his advocacy of democratic rights, voiced concern over the restriction, emphasizing the importance of freedom of assembly in a democratic society. He highlighted the need for transparent and fair practices in permitting political gatherings to ensure citizens’ rights to expression and participation in the democratic process.
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