Tens of thousands left homeless
Urgent Action Appeal
The government of Cameroon is responsible for violating the human right to adequate housing for tens of thousands of inhabitants of Yaoundé between 2006 and 2008. The government of Cameroon intends to carry on ignoring the human right to adequate housing of Cameroonian citizens with their extended policy of mass evictions planned for 2009.
What you can do!
Send a letter of appeal to the Cameroonian government to protest their recent actions, urging them to comply with international law. Contact the Cameroonian Mass Media and international human rights organizations to expose and denounce the current violations of Cameroonian citizens’ civil rights, thereby forcing Cameroonian authorities to take action.
Please follow these steps:
1) Read the Brief Description and the Sample protest letter below
2) Copy the following list of e-mail addresses and paste them into your e-mail address field:
celcom@prc.cm, spm@spm.gov. cm, ancm@assemblee- nationale. cm, pbckono@yahoo. fr, aloysnnama@yahoo. fr, soyabes@yahoo. fr, michelmahouve@ yahoo.fr, macmfoula@yahoo. fr, edouemmanuel1@ yahoo.fr, etienowono@yahoo. fr, mfoulacathy@ yahoo.fr, andelaelisabeth@ yahoo.fr, andelaelisabeth@ yahoo.fr, coreencm2003@ yahoo.com, halla237@yahoo. fr, mahentsama2007@ yahoo.fr, abengjui@yahoo. fr, etondeeko@yahoo. com, monadaes2006@ yahoo.fr, phioakoa@yahoo. fr, zodoobelinga@ yahoo.fr, kelyr2005@yahoo. fr, anniverth@yahoo. fr, cteurbaine_yde_ cm@yahoo. fr, georgesmahou@ yahoo.fr, cteurbaineydecm@ yahoo.fr, wmbiakop59@yahoo. fr, ycngono@yahoo. fr, ambaso365@yahoo. fr, juliefotso@gvtmail. com, fadeac@yahoo. fr, rikiatou@yahoo. fr, ahhryaounde@ hotmail.com, cameroon-tribune@ cameroon- tribune.cm, lemessager@camnet. cm, edouardtamba@ hotmail.com, hamanmana@yahoo. fr, abatongue@yahoo. fr, niu@ohchr.org, gmagazzeni@ohchr. org, civilsocietyunit@ ohchr.org, wlee@ohchr.org, roaas@unhabitat. org, infohabitat@ unhabitat. org, enquiries@uclgafric a.org, gumbis@uclgafrica. org, ldodzo@uclgafrica. org, echotos@yahoo. fr, jmondjanagni@ pdm-net.org, jpem@pdm-net. org
3) Copy the sample protest letter below and paste it into the main body of your e-mail.
4) Send the letter to the Cameroonian authorities
5) Send this appeal to any other people, civil society organizations, public services and academic and research institutions who could take action.
Brief Description:
Since June 2008, the Cameroonian government has been carrying out mass forced evictions and demolitions against the inhabitants of the city of Yaoundé . More than 7,000 people, most of whom are low-income families, are now homeless. These evictions are the latest in a wave of evictions carried out continuously since 2006 in Yaoundé which have left tens of thousands homeless. Government sources indicate that 2009 will be worse than previous years. It is estimated that thousands more people will be left homeless in the coming few months, unless urgent action is taken.
The largest eviction carried out by the government so far in 2008 has been the eviction of the Ntaba district. On 1 July 2008, a team from Yaoundé City Council descended on Ntaba-Nlongkak and marked crosses on those dwellings they were going to destroy in the following eight days; a scenario which filled the few remaining inhabitants with sheer panic (5,000 people from some 600 houses). Knowing full well what had already taken place in other districts of Yaoundé (i.e., Etetak, Mballa II, Tsinga, and Nkolbisson), which were systematically razed by Yaoundé City Council, from 7 July the inhabitants of Ntaba-Nlongkak (men, women and children) started emptying their houses and transporting their belongings to settle by the edge of the road. Masses of personal effects were transported, much of which were strewn along the edge of the road, as
the victims desperately tried to gather their belongings before the demolitions begun. Indeed, on 29 July, Yaoundé City Council began the demolitions. More than 5,000 people are today without shelters and nearly 600 houses have been destroyed.
More evictions have been carried out in the “la briqueterie” district, were at least 1,000 people have been left homeless. Other small scale evictions have been observed in central districts, such as Melen, Nkol Bisson and others.
And new forced evictions are planned for the 13 areas of the city officially plagued by evictions. These areas being Mfoundi valley, Tongolo valley, Ntem valley, Ebogo valley, Ewoué valley, Ake valley, the valley between Nsam, Efoulan and Ndamvout (Dakar) districts, the valley between Efoulan, Nsimeyong and Mvolyé districts, Olézoa valley, Biyenne valley, the valley that stretches from “gendarmerie nationale” to “champ de tirs”, across Elig-Effa, Mokolo and Oyom-Abang districts, Nkolbisson’s Agronomic Center and Madagascar district, Aubiergue valley and Ekozoa valley. Tens of thousands of people living in these areas are currently facing imminent eviction. Hundreds of homes
have already been marked with crosses to be destroyed in the coming six months.
These forced evictions are being carried out by government representatives, under the direct instructions of the government delegate, Mr. Gilbert Tsimi Evouna. Officials say that the affected areas are state property areas and that no one is authorized to settle there; but the settlers, who are made up largely of poor families that are categorized as aliens, have been living there for decades.
The Cameroonian government has failed to provide both alternative shelter and compensation. Victims are forced to either live with their neighbors, if they’re lucky, or are cast aside to the inhumane conditions of the street, as is most often the case. Government officials announced that holders of the correct property documentation would receive compensation after evictions have been carried out, but less than 2% of those evicted have such documentation. Several deaths have been registered as a direct or indirect result of these forced evictions.
In September 2008, a press conference organized by various civil society organizations to discuss the evictions at the Hilton hotel in Yaoundé, was prohibited by the authorities.
Mass evictions in Yaoundé:
A violation of the Human Right to Adequate Housing
At a national level, the preamble of the Cameroonian Constitution recognizes every individual’s right to land and housing.
At an international level, the Cameroonian State is violating the human right to adequate housing, specifically:
- Articles 8, 12, 13,17,19,23 and 25 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,
- Articles 2, 4, 11, 15 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR, ratified by Cameroon on 27 June 1984) and the corresponding General Comments 4 (1991) & 7(1997)
- Articles 1, 2, 17, 19, 21, 22, 25 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (CCPR, ratified by Cameroon on 27 June 1984)
Briefly:
Article 11(1) of the CESCR stipulates that “The States Parties to the present Covenant recognize the right of everyone to an adequate standard of living for himself and his family, including adequate food, clothing and housing, and to the continuous improvement of living conditions. The States Parties will take appropriate steps to ensure the realization of this right, recognizing to this effect the essential importance of international co-operation based on free consent.”
The general comment number 4 to article 11(1) of the CESCR specifies that “forced eviction are prima facie incompatible with the requirements of the Covenant and can only be justified in the most exceptional circumstances, and in accordance with the relevant principles of international law”.
The general comment number 7 to article 11(1) of the CESCR specifies that “States parties shall ensure, prior to carrying out any evictions, and particularly those involving large groups, that all feasible alternatives are explored in consultation with the affected persons, with a view to avoiding, or at least minimizing, the need to use force. Legal remedies or procedures should be provided to those who are affected by eviction orders. States parties shall also see to it that all the individuals concerned have a right to adequate compensation for any property, both personal and real, which is affected”.
The general comment number 7 to article 11(1) of the CESCR specifies that “Evictions should not result in individuals being rendered homeless or vulnerable to the violation of other human rights. Where those affected are unable to provide for themselves, the State party must take all appropriate measures, to the maximum of its available resources, to ensure that adequate alternative housing, resettlement or access to productive land, as the case may be, is available.”
The current cycle of mass expulsions in Cameroon violate the victims’ human right to adequate housing.
With these mass evictions, the authorities of Cameroon are denying their citizens the following elements of their human right to adequate housing: legal security of tenure and freedom from dispossession; the right to information; participation and self-expression. These rights, as elements of the right to housing, are accentuated in General Comments No. 4 and No. 7 of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR), and require that States respect the human right to adequate housing. Cameroon bears the obligation to respect, protect and fulfill the right to adequate housing owing to its ratification of the CESCR on 27 June 1984, including the obligation to inform those affected well in advance, agree on a plan with them and provide adequate compensation and alternative housing. No one can be left homeless as a result of
eviction. In Cameroon’s case, the State has not only failed to consult those affected or put forward any sustainable alternative, they have also failed to offer any monetary or other form of compensation and alternative housing.
These expulsions also have an impact on the congruent rights connected to the adequate dwelling of the inhabitants, such as the right to food, the right to water, the right to health, the right to education and the right to a means of livelihood.
The Convention on the Rights of the Child, which Cameroon ratified on 10 February 1993, requires that States particularly protect the right of children to adequate housing (Article 27.3).
The Cameroon authorities have claimed that these evictions are based on the requirements of law enforcement. However, through their cruel use of force and failure to form concerted action plans with those affected, they have also contravened the Code of Conduct for Law Enforcement Officials (Article 3), which the UN General Assembly adopted in resolution 34/169, 17 December 1979. In addition, they have breached the UN Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials (1990). The African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights affirms these same principles, in particular under Article 6.
At a regional level, the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights have also established that authorities must explore alternatives and options with the affected community before eviction, provide adequate notice and information, and ensure the availability of replacement housing, as well as an opportunity to appeal an eviction order. As provided in General Comment No. 7 of CESCR, African jurisprudence affirms that nobody shall be left homeless following an eviction.
Actions Requested:
Please write to the authorities in Cameroon , urging them to:
· immediately cease the mass evictions that are taking place around the country;
· take urgent measures to ensure that adequate alternative housing is immediately provided for already displaced populations, now reportedly homeless;
· initiate dialogue with affected communities in accordance with human rights principles, especially CESCR General Comment no. 7;
· investigate and prosecute the use of excessive force by the police during the current eviction drive;
· comply with their obligations under international law and respect all citizens’ right to adequate housing - including legal security of tenure and freedom from dispossession; information; participation and self-expression; and resettlement -, but also the right to food, the right to water, the right to health, the right to education and the right to earn a livelihood.
Sample Protest Letter for the Cameroon Authorities
A l’attention des élus, des représentants et des serviteurs de l’état camerounais et de ses citoyens
Objet : Violations massives du droit humain au logement suffisant dans la ville de Yaoundé
Monsieur, Madame
Nous avons suivi attentivement et avec préoccupation les démolitions qui ont frappé le quartier Ntaba-Nlongkak à Yaoundé (Mairie de Yaoundé 1er) au Cameroun entre le 29 juillet 2008 et le 8 Août, ainsi que celles qui ont frappé le quartier de la briqueterie au mois d’Août 2008. Ces démolitions ont laissé sans domicile près de 7.000 personnes, pour la plupart de situation sociale très modeste. Ces déguerpissements viennent s’ajuter à la vague de démolitions massives qui ont frappé les quartiers populaires de la capitale politique du Cameroun depuis 2006 (Etetak, Mballa II, Tsinga, Nkolbisson.. ) et qui on laissé des dizaines de milliers de personnes sans domicile et dans des conditions de vie inhumaines.
Nous sommes d’ailleurs profondément inquiets d’apprendre que la Communauté Urbaine de Yaoundé, en suivant des instructions de la délégation du gouvernement, est en train de prendre des dispositions pour procéder à des nouveaux déguerpissements massifs dans les zones de la vallée du Mfoundi, la vallée de Tongolo, la vallée du Ntem, la vallée de l`Ebogo, la vallée de l`Ewoué, la vallée de l`Ake, la vallée entre les quartiers Nsam, Efoulan et Ndamvout (Dakar), la vallée entre Efoulan, Nsimeyong et Mvolyé, la vallée d`Olézoa, la vallée de Biyenne, la vallée allant de la gendarmerie nationale, jusqu`au lotissement du champ de tirs, en passant par Elig-Effa, Mokolo, Oyom-Abang, le Centre agronomique de Nkolbisson et Madagascar, la vallée del`Aubiergue et la vallée d`Ekozoa.
Des dizaines de milliers de personnes pourraient ainsi perdre leur foyer dans les mois à venir.
Cette politique de l’Etat constitue une violation flagrante et indéniable du droit humain au logement suffisant tel que prévu par la législation internationale, notamment des droits à la sécurité légale de l’occupation ; du droit à ne pas être dépossédé ; du droit à l’information ; à la participation ; au relogement, à la réparation (incluant la restitution et la compensation) ; et de la sécurité des biens et des personnes. Tous sont des éléments internationalement reconnus du droit au logement suffisant, que le Cameroun est tenu, par traité, de respecter. A travers ces actes, le Cameroun va à l’encontre des articles 2, 4, 11, 15 du style="FONT- FAMILY: Arial">Pacte international relatif aux droits économiques, sociaux et culturels (CESCR), des observations générales nos. 4 et 7 du Comité des droits économiques, sociaux et culturels (CDESC), et des articles 1, 2, 17, 19, 21, 22, 25 du Pacte international relatif aux droits civils et politiques (ICCPR), entre autres.
Sans être exhaustifs, nous tenons à signaler que l’observation générale no.4 au CESCR spécifie très clairement que « les décisions d’éviction forcée sont prima facie contraires aux dispositions du Pacte et ne peuvent être justifiées que dans les situations les plus exceptionnelles et conformément aux principes applicables du droit international.” L’observation générale no7 du CESCR précise que «Il ne faudrait pas que, suite à une expulsion, une personne se retrouve sans toit ou puisse être victime d'une violation d'autres droits de l'homme. Lorsqu'une personne ne peut subvenir
à ses besoins, l'Etat partie doit, par tous les moyens appropriés, au maximum de ses ressources disponibles, veiller à ce que d'autres possibilités de logement, de réinstallation ou d'accès à une terre productive, selon le cas, lui soient offertes. ». D’ailleurs, il est aussi dit dans l’observation générale no7 au CESCR que “Avant de faire procéder à une expulsion et, en particulier, lorsque d'importants groupes de population sont concernés, les Etats parties devraient veiller à ce que toutes les autres solutions possibles soient envisagées en concertation avec les intéressés, afin d'éviter le recours à la force, ou du moins d'en limiter la nécessité. Les recours prévus par la loi devraient être accessibles aux personnes tombant sous le coup d'un arrêté
d'expulsion. Les Etats parties doivent également veiller à ce que toutes les personnes concernées aient droit à une indemnisation appropriée lorsque l'un quelconque de ses biens, meuble ou immeuble, est visé. ». Aucune de ces dispositions n’aurait pas été respectée par l’état Camerounais.
Au niveau régional, la Commission africaine des droits de l'homme et des peuples a établi aussi que les autorités doivent explorer des alternatives et des options avant toute expulsion avec la communauté touchée, fournir le préavis adéquat et les renseignements, assurer la disponibilité de logement de remplacement, aussi bien qu'une opportunité de faire appel à un ordre d'expulsion. Comme dans le Commentaire général No.. 7 au CESCR, la jurisprudence africaine affirme que personne ne sera rendu sans foyer à la suite d'une expulsion.
lang=FR style="FONT- SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">[1]
Sur l’occasion de sa revue du Cameroun en 1999, le CDESC était déjà « préoccupé par la fréquence apparemment élevée des expulsions forcées dans les zones rurales du Cameroun, problème dont l'État partie n'a pas fait mention dans ses réponses écrit, » et invitait instamment le Cameroun d’appliquer des lois et des mesures appropriées pour combattre le problème des expulsions forcées, conformément aux commentaires Nos. 4 et 7 au CESCR. Apparentement ce problème n’a pas du tout été résolu.
Par conséquent, nous pressons les autorités concernées de corriger leurs pratiques et de respecter le droit humain au logement suffisant tel que prévu dans la législation internationale ratifiée par le Cameroun. Pour cela l’état devrait mettre un terme aux violations du droit au logement suffisant des populations les plus démunies et mettre en pratique les mesures qui suivent :
§ Arrêter immédiatement les expulsions et déguerpissements en cours et/où programmées;
§ Prendre des mesures urgentes pour garantir un logement digne aux populations déguerpies jusqu’à présent;
§ Engager le dialogue avec les communautés affectées conformément aux principes des droits de l'homme, tel que spécifié dans l’observation générale no. 7 au CESCR;
§ Enquêter et poursuivre l'utilisation excessive de la force par les agents de l’état observée pendant les expulsions massives menées jusqu’aujourd’hui;
§ Respecter les engagements et obligations de l’état dérivé de l’acceptation des lois internationales ratifiés par le Cameroun, ce qui inclut le droit au logement suffisant;
§ Assurer la pleine réparation des personnes touchées par les expulsions et démolitions passées.
Dans l’attente que la suite que vous donnerez à ces mesures sera compatible avec la législation international ; et dans l’espoir qu’elle sera à la hauteur des droits des citoyens camerounais, veuillez agréer, monsieur/madame, nos meilleures considérations.
Respectueusement,
…………………………….
Cameroon’s government
M. Paul Biya
President of the Republic of Cameroon
M. Ephraim Inoni
Prime Minister of Cameroon
National Assembly of Cameroon
aloysnnama@yahoo. .fr (deputy)
soyabes@yahoo. fr (depuy)
michelmahouve@ yahoo.fr (Justice Ministry)
macmfoula@yahoo. fr (External relations Ministry, African Union delegate)
edouemmanuel1@ yahoo.fr (Minister Delegate of Territorial Administration and Decentralization)
etienowono@yahoo. fr (Director of Regional and Local Authorities)
mfoulacathy@ yahoo.fr (Development and Decentralized Cooperation Unit)
andelaelisabeth@ yahoo.fr (comunal agent)
coreencm2003@ yahoo.com (Local governement ministry)
Special Council Support Fund for Mutual Assistance - FEICOM
halla237@yahoo. fr (senior oficial)
mahentsama2007@ yahoo.fr (senior oficial)
abengjui@yahoo. fr (senior oficial)
etondeeko@yahoo. com (senior oficial)
monadaes2006@ yahoo.fr (senior oficial)
phioakoa@yahoo. fr (director)
zodoobelinga@ yahoo.fr (senior oficial)
kelyr2005@yahoo. fr (senior oficial)
anniverth@yahoo. fr (senior oficial)
Yaoundé city council
cteurbaine_yde_ cm@yahoo. fr
georgesmahou@ yahoo.fr (hygiene and environment services, Yaoundé city council)
cteurbaineydecm@ yahoo.fr (Yaoundé 7)
wmbiakop59@yahoo. fr (Yaoundé 6)
ycngono@yahoo. fr (Yaoundé 5)
ambaso365@yahoo. fr (Yaoundé 5)
juliefotso@gvtmail. com (Yaoundé 1)
fadeac@yahoo. fr (Yaoundé 1)
rikiatou@yahoo. fr (Yaoundé 1)
Cameroon Mass Media
Cameroon Tribune
cameroon-tribune@ cameroon- tribune.cm (Newspaper e-mail)
Le Messager
lemessager@camnet. cm (Newspaper director)
edouardtamba@ hotmail.com (journalist)
Le Jour
hamanmana@yahoo. fr (Newspaper director)
Mutations
abatongue@yahoo. fr (Newspaper director)
International human rights organizations and other international bodies
UUNN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
National institutions unit
Civil society unit
Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (secretary)
UN-HABITAT
Regional Office for Africa and the Arab States
UN-headquarters
United Cities and Local Governments of Africa
enquiries@uclgafric a.org (enquiries)
gumbis@uclgafrica. org (enquiries)
ldodzo@uclgafrica. org (enquiries)
echotos@yahoo. fr (secretay general)
jmondjanagni@ pdm-net.org (secretary general)
jpem@pdm-net. org (secretary general)
[1] Social and Economic Rights Action Centre (SERAC) et The Centre for Economic and Social Rights (CESR) v. Nigeria, 200, Communication No. 155/96, Commission africaine des droits de l'homme et des peuples, 6 Juin 2001.
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Manel Rebordosa
Associació Catalana d'Enginyeria Sense Fronteres (ESF)
Représentant au Cameroun
Montée Maison Blanche
B.P:3356 Yaoundé/Messa
22 31 56 67/96 40 95 73
mrebordosa@uoc. edu
www.esf-cat. org
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