Cameroon: Human Rights Promoter to Run for 2011 Presidential Election

By Christopher Ambe Shu

Christopher Tambe Tiku(pictured), South West Regional Secretary of the National Commission on Human Rights and Freedoms (NCHRF) of Cameroon, yesterday, December 10 in the town of Buea, used the 60th anniversary celebration of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, to announce his decision to run for Cameroon’s next presidential election, billed for 2011.

This year’s anniversary was celebrated under the theme "Dignity and Justice for all"

It was unclear why Mr. Tambe Tiku chose but the Human Rights anniversary to make public his political and presidential ambition. It was not also known under which political party he would be running and the reason for his very early announcement, which took many people by surprise.

Mr. Tambe Tiku, an outspoken lawyer and pioneer Secretary of NCHFR in the South West Region, announced his candidature in his formal opening address at a conference marking the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in his office.

" I have decided to run for the 2011 presidential elections in this country in a bid to exercise my rights guaranteed by the Cameroon Constitution", he said in his speech, drawing applause from the assembly.

Journalists, lawyers, Human Rights advocates, magistrates, University Students,security operatives and a cross section of the local population attended the conference.
Also in attendance was Njonjo John Njie, Deputy State Counsel (deputy prosecutor) for Buea, who expressed satisfaction at the inquisitiveness of the audience on Human Rights concerns

In presenting his two-year report of activities as NCHRF pioneer Southwest Regional Secretary Mr.Tambe Tiku said his regional office experienced a steady increase in the number of complaints about Human Rights abuses filed in.

"For example in 2006 the office recorded 45 complaints. The number of complaints increased to 96 in 2007 and in 2008 there are already 120 complaints. Altogether, the regional office has received a total of 261 complaints since its inception," he disclosed

He added that about 80% of the complaints were disposed of by mediation, a mode of conflict resolution deemed "faster, informal, non-confrontational, relatively cheaper and more suitable for the majority of clients who fall within the lower income bracket and are among the most vulnerable groups in our society"

Mr. Tambe Tiku justified that his office played a pivotal role in the crusade against corruption in the Southwest region, investigating numerous complaints of corruption, abuse of office and conflict of interest

"My office…insisted on the dismissal of a certain police officer at the Judicial Police for extortion. This officer was suspended for six months and subsequently transferred," he disclosed
The Regional Secretary noted that their determination to do more in human rights promotion was handicapped by the paucity of funds. "Lack of adequate financial resources limited the office’s ability to organize more training workshops and seminars," he noted.

But Mr Tambe Tiku faulted the Commission’s Permanent Secretariat in Yaounde for not doing much to help his regional office.

"We are highly disappointed by the fact that the Permanent Secretariat in Yaounde concentrated its promotional activities in Yaounde and Bamenda", he fumed, suggesting that more sensitization activities be focused in the regions and peripheries where people are still ignorant of their basic rights.

A question -and -answer session as well as a donation and an exhibition of human rights books to participants characterized the conference

The National Commission on Human Rights and Freedoms (NCHRF) of Cameroon was set up in 2004,charged with the promotion and protection of Human Rights. But its Southwest Regional Office was established October 2006.