Cameroon: Arrestation and detention of Human Rights activist Gérard Kuissu Mephou
Cameroonian Human Rights activist of the organization Tribunal Article 53 Gérard Kuissu Mephou was arrested in Douala by the cameroonian military police (Gendarmerie) after a meeting with Amnesty International Delegation visiting Cameroon. He has been released on the 18th of March in Yaounde the capital city of cameroon situated 238 km east from Douala.
—-PRESS RELEASE OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMITEE TO FREE GERARD KUISSU MEPHOU —–
The Committee for the Release of Gérard Kuissu and the Tribunal Article 53 relate to the knowledge of all, the arrest of Gérard Kuissu Mephou, Cameroonian activist of Human Rights.
On March 14, 2015, while leaving the Foyer du Marin, where he had been invited to dine with a delegation of Amnesty International, Mr. Kuissu was arrested alongside of Benjamin Guifo, Elvadas Kengne, and Akwe Sab by undercover Cameroonian officers at around 11:00 PM that night. They were taken to the gendarmerie of Bonanjo in Douala. The Amnesty International delegation was informed the next day.
While in custody at the gendarmerie of Bonanjo, they were questioned about their militant activities related to human rights, the purpose of their dinner with the Amnesty International delegation, and whether, during dinner, the discussion had rolled on to the Burkinabe popular revolution of October 2014 having lead to former Burkina Faso president Blaise Compaoré’s exile.
Even more aggressive towards Mr. Kuissu, gendarmes imposed upon him an individual interview; bamboozling him with questions about the goal of his visit to the North of the country and his recent humanitarian activities with Dr. Christopher Fomunyoh. The names of those he met there were also requested, as well as the nature of his relations with Amnesty International members with whom he had dined a few hours earlier.
Business cards he received from Amnesty International members were confiscated. Gerard Kuissu companions in the misfortune were released on Sunday, March 15 at 1:30 AM in the morning; however, Gérard Kuissu was held in jail for further questioning. On that same Sunday, the alleged hacking of the website of the presidency of Cameroon, where a crude photomontage shows president Paul Biya bowing before the coffins of dead Cameroonian soldiers in the fight against Boko Haram, will be pinned on Gerard Kuissu.

Gerard Kuissu Mephou, Cameroonian Human Rights activist arrested by the military police (Gendarmerie) in Douala, transferred to its High Security Directorate in the Capital City Yaounde, where he was released on the 18 of March 2015.
At the time of the incident, the President Biya have left Cameroon for an unknown destination; thus, in response to the indignation of Cameroonian citizens, images and associated text have been deleted by the Presidential teams that believe in a hacking site.
Gendarmes also reproached Mr. Kuissu, for posting a video on YouTube showing the brigade commander holding Cameroonian civilians in captivity and arbitrarily abusing their civilians’ rights. Moreover, they condemned Mr. Kuissi for having direct contact with members of Amnesty International.
In the evening of Sunday March 14, Gerard Kuissu – who has been assigned a team of defense attorneys, was questioned without the presence of his lawyers. This has happened several times.
On Monday, March 15, unbeknown to his lawyers, Gerard Kuissu was clandestinely transported to the State Secretariat for Defence (SED) in Yaoundé; his case was assigned to Mr. Bamkui, a dreaded Cameroonian colonel, famous for shooting to death the lover of his adulterous wife without ever being worried for his crime.
The Committee for the release of Gérard Kuissu and the Tribunal Article 53 alert the public of the arbitrary arrest of Mr. Kuissu, as well as the fallacy of allegations made against him.
The committee denounces flagrant disregard of the principle of legality and the violation of civilians’ fundamental- rights including the rights of an attorney at all time- Sir Kuissu.
Finally, the committee invites the public opinion indignation and vigilance to this emblematic case of violation of human rights in which the State of Cameroon is customary.
———
SOURCE: PRESS RELEASE OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE TO FREE GERARD KUISSU MEPHOU (WEB)