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Cameroon Decries Beheading of Government Troops by Suspected Separatists

Moki Edwin Kindzeka

   YAOUNDE, CAMEROON - There has been widespread condemnation in Cameroon
   of the killing and beheading of government troops and
   civilians,including an influential cleric,by suspected separatist
   fighters. Cameroonianofficials say June was the bloodiestmonth of
   theyear,with more than 40 people killed and 70 houses torched.

   Cameroon's military says it was involved in at least 30 heavy gun
   battles with separatists in June. A military spokesman said Anglophone
   rebels massacred several dozen civilians and tried to blame the
   military.The statement by Army Captain Cyrille
   SergeAtonfackGuemoalsosaidthreetroops were killed and beheaded
   inBamali, an English-speakingnorthwesternvillage two weeks ago.
   Atonfacksaid on Cameroon state radio,CRTV,that many army vehicles
   weredestroyed butdid not give details on how many troops were
   killed.Local media, suchasVision4 TV andCanal2 International,reported
   that at least 40 troops,separatistfighters and civilians were killed in
   Cameroon's English-speakingNorth-WestandSouth-WestRegions in June.

   Deben Tchoffo, governor of Cameroon'sNorth-WestRegion, says several
   civilians including a Muslim cleric were accused of collaborating with
   the military and beheaded. Tchoffo says many civilianswere killed by
   homemade bombsthat are increasingly used byseparatistfighters.

   He says he has ordered the military to adopt different strategies to
   respond to new forms of separatist attacks, such asthe use ofimprovised
   bombsthatcausehuge casualties among civilians and government troops. He
   says the military has been deployed to stop fighters. He says village
   chiefs, the clergy and militias created by civilians should assist the
   military by sharing information on possible separatisthideouts.

   Tchoffo says it will be difficult for the military torestorepeace if
   civilians refuse to collaborate with the military for fear of being
   targeted by separatist fighters.

   Capo Daniel is a self-proclaimed deputy defense chief of
   theAmbazoniaDefense Forces, a rebel group in Cameroon's western
   regions. He says fighters have reviewed their strategy and are
   increasingly plantingbombson roads used by the military.

   "It has been close to a year now since the Cameroon military
   introducedarmoredpersonnel carriers andarmoredvehicles, so our
   forces[separatistfighters]on the ground have adapted and they are now
   using improvised explosive devices to target thosearmoredpersonnel
   carriers andarmoredvehicles. We have used those weapons inKumboin
   Melim, inJakiri, inNkar, Takijah area there and going towardsNdu. We
   are in the middle of a war," he said.

   Cameroon'smilitary said it detonated 30 IEDs planted by fighters in 14
   northwestern towns and villages including Melim,JakiriandNkar.

   Civilians said the military torched houses in villages and towns
   wherebombs were planted, accusing civilians of collaborating with
   fighters by not reporting them.
   The military said it remained professional and
   accusedseparatistfighters of what it called atrocities.

   CameroonianNGOs, churches and political parties including the
   opposition Social Democratic Front and the rulingCameroon People's
   Democratic Movementhave condemned the killing and beheading. The SDF
   described June as thebloodiestmonth this year in Cameroon.

   Fabrice Lena is secretary general of the Popular Action Party and
   coordinator of the NGO African Peoples Foundation, whichprotects
   civilians in conflict. He blames both the military
   andseparatistfighters for abuses on civilians.

   "Violence in all its forms is unacceptable. Beheading is gross human
   rights violation, and wehave tounderstand thatwhateverthing that people
   do, they are going to face the law, face justice because we are very
   sure thatwe[Cameroonians]are going to set up a truth, justice and
   reconciliation commission that will investigate into the crimes that
   have been committed by whosoever.Sowe condemn all sorts of killing,
   violence, beheading and burning of houses by separatist or the
   military. It is unacceptable," Lena said.

   Violence erupted in 2017 in Cameroon's English-speaking regions when
   teachers and lawyers protested alleged discrimination at the hands of
   the French-speaking majority.

   The United Nationssays 3,000 people have been killed and more than
   750,000 displaced in Cameroon's French-speaking towns and in
   neighboring Nigeria.

   TheNorwegianRefugee Council reports that Cameroon topsits annuallist of
   the world's most neglected displacement crises.

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