By Valentine Amanze, Online Editor
The authorities in Cameroon have faulted the United Nations (UN) over its experts’ allegation that the country’s main opposition leader, Maurice Kamto, was in “house arrest”.
The government on Thursday also called the UN experts’ comments “subjective and biased” and accused them of having relaying and amplifying “untruths”.
The governmrnt however accused Kamto and his associates of defying laws and regulations by “violating the ban on public demonstration”.
“Faced with such threats to public order, it was naturally incumbent on the public authorities to take the necessary measures to deal with the situation, which has been done,” the government stated, without elaborating.
Of 294 arrested supporters of the Movement for the Rebirth of Cameroon (MRC) led by Kamto, it added that 176 had been released.
“Nine people… formally identified as being leaders, planners or organiser of insurrectional marches are currently in the hands of justice,” the statement said.
Some 109 people were also brought before courts in the economic capital, Douala, and western Bafoussam.
Kamto is the chief opponent of President Biya, who has ruled the Central African country for 38 years.
His house has been surrounded by police for 24 days.
The opposition politician told AFP on Tuesday that he was still being prevented from leaving and was “sequestered”, without any notification from the authorities.
A court hearing which was to rule on a complaint by Kamto’s lawyers for “administrative assault” has been postponed until October 20, AFP reports.
UN rights experts on Monday called for Kamto’s release from house arrest for calling for peaceful protests against Biya.
They also called for the release of dozens of others reportedly arrested during demonstrations on September 22.
