Mother of one accused of being lesbian

By  Tanji Nkeuh

Fese Etuk is 29 years old, unmarried and a Cameroonian mother of one year-old baby girl.

    After Fese lost both parents, she continued running a small restaurant her late mother left. 
    Her parents had died-father first and later her mother-leaving her poor and emotionally traumatized.

Fese Etuk: Suspect wanted

 It emerged that she had some misunderstanding with the father of her baby girl and was said to be struggling alone to raise the baby.

    Reports said neighbors never suspected her of being a lesbian especially as she showed enormous love to her child.

But news that she is a Lesbianism suspect reportedly caught in the crime, left many tongues wagging.

   How Fese was lured into lesbianism remains a mystery .She was reportedly caught in the illegal love-making on November 14th  in Buea, as she and her partner half naked, fondled each other.

  The sad discovery provoked an alarm, attracting neighbors to the scene and forcing them to narrowly run into hiding.

But police are said to be hunting for them, since homosexuality/lesbianism is a crime in Cameroon.

   According to Section 347 of Cameroon penal code, "Whoever has sexual relationship with a person of the same sex shall be punished with imprisonment from six months to five years and a fine from 20.000Fcfa to 200.000 Fcfa"

Of recent in Cameroon, many homosexuality suspects have been prosecuted.  

   Yet, Cameroonian young women are reportedly falling for this outlawed sexual orientation for various reasons, one of which being that they want to avoid the cruelty of men.

   In Cameroon, some rights organizations and individuals still advocate for homosexuality, arguing that sexual orientation is a Human Right.

 In certain rural localities in Cameroon those found guilty of homosexuality or lesbianism are rough handled and or banished, according to reports.

   Cameroon is reportedly under pressure from some Developed countries to decriminalize homosexuality, but the country is yet to review its stance on it.

   Many opponents hold that because homosexuality/lesbianism is a crime, the government should intensify the search and prosecution of those accused, and punish them accordingly.