marafa-watch

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We have mourned in private.  Now, the U.S. Friends of Marafa Committee join with Marafa Watch and all its supporters to publicly bid our fond adieu to Mme Jeanette Noora MARAFA whose battle with cancer came to a most unfortunate close on August 25, 2017.  Mme MARAFA fought valiantly against the dreaded disease, and to free the political prisoners of Cameroon including her husband, our own Marafa Hamidou Yaya.  

It is our pledge to Mme MARAFA and the world to continue our Marafa Watch and fight for Marafa’s freedom until he is in fact released by the Republic of Cameroon as ordered by the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detentions.  

To Cameroon’s President Paul Biya, a ruthless despot masquerading as a free world leader, we say each hour is a mark against your soul that Mme MARAFA endured her last illness, separated from her beloved husband and your former Secretary-General, Marafa Hamidou Yaya, due to his wrongful detention under your oppressive administration.   

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The U.S. Friends of Marafa Committee and Marafa Watch honor their National Human Rights Day 2016 by, among other things, extending this public reaffirmation of their unwavering commitment to press U.S. and Cameroon government leaders to accomplish the prompt release of Marafa Hamidou Yaya and all political prisoners within their respective jurisdiction.

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Life still goes on for the family of political prisoner, Marafa Hamidou Yaya

Last week in the historic city of Garoua in the north of Cameroon, two grand families become one in marriage as Mr. Marafa's youngest daughter, Aissatou got married to Bello, the youngest son of Maidadi, one of Cameroon's iconic Government minister under the first and second republics.

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U.N. BODY DECLARES MARAFA HAMIDOU YAYA’S IMPRISONMENT CONSTITUTES ARBITRARY DETENTION IN VIOLATION OF INTERNATIONAL LAW

The United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention has ruled that the Republic of Cameroon's imprisonment of political prisoner, Marafa Hamidou Yaya, constitutes arbitrary detention in violation of international law.

The United Nations body has demanded that Mr. Marafa be released immediately and be awarded compensation by the GOC for the harm caused by being deprived of his liberty. The Working Group established that Marafa's detention violates Articles 9 and 10 of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights as well as Articles 9 and 14 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

Click to Read International Press Release

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Highlights of U.S. State Department 2015 Cameroon Human Rights Report

~ As of October 31, there were no reported developments in the case of the three suspects arrested in connection with the 2014 killing of Christiane Soppo Mbango, a close aide of former government minister Marafa Hamidou Yaya, who was serving a 25-year prison term.  p 3, para. 2; 

~ Unlike in previous years, there were no reports that human rights activists attempting to visit prisoners were required to pay bribes to prison officials.   Some human rights activists, however, reported they were unable to obtain the necessary permits to visit prisoners.  For example, NGOs reported they were denied access to Marafa Hamidou Yaya, including while he was at the Yaounde General Hospital receiving treatment.  In response the government insisted that proper procedures requesting access were not followed.  p 7, para. 5; 

~ As of September Aboubakar Sidiki and Abdoulaye Harissou, arrested August 9 and 26, 2014, respectively, remained in pretrial detention at Yaounde Kondengui Principal Prison.  Hearings were scheduled to commence in January 2016. p 11, para. 5; 

~ Political Prisoners and Detainees 

No statistics were available on the number of political prisoners.  Political prisoners were detained under heightened security, often within the Secretariat of State for Defense.  Some detainees were held within the General Delegation of External Research under high security, and the government did not permit access to such persons on a regular basis, or at all, depending on the case. 

Former minister of state for territorial administration Marafa Hamidou Yaya, convicted in 2012 on corruption charges and sentenced to 25 years’ imprisonment, remained in detention.  During the year the government reportedly refused regular access to him.  On July 3, barrister Saskia Ditisheim, Marafa’s Swiss lawyer, and her local colleague, barrister Alice Nkom, were expelled from the Yaounde General Hospital during a visit to their client, who had been receiving treatment in the hospital over the preceding few weeks.  A police officer arrived at the hospital room with an order to usher the two visitors to the hospital director, who told them they could not continue their visit because they did not have a permit to communicate with Marafa.   p 14.

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For full report, CLICK HERE

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Four Years Later and Marafa is Not Free

Dr. Andrew D. Jackson of the U.S. Friends of Marafa Committee (USFMC) shares another poignant OpEd reflecting on April 16, 2016 as the fourth year anniversary of Minister Marafa’s arrest and his continuing wrongful detention.

Click here to read Dr. Jackson’s latest OpEd for USFMC

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Coalition Based Outside the U.S. Issue Declaration Supporting Marafa:

Ladies and gentlemen, activists and defenders of our cause Asma welcomes the successful holding of the international meeting SU 23 Jan in Brussels, and would like to thank all the actors who are engaged in this dynamic. We welcome the serenity that had prevailed throughout the work, professionalism, and the determination of the participants in favour of the release of marafa hamidou yaya.  By the same fact we thank all our supporters wherever they are, for your support, which we are comforted in this momentum in favour of the release of marafa hamidou yaya.

Thank you The PD of asma

Please find attached the link of the declaration of Brussels @ http://asmarafa.over-blog.com/2016/01/les-camerounais-de-l-etranger-s-engagent-pour-la-liberation-de-marafa-hamidou-yaya.html

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Both Marafa and Mebara Cannot Be Guilty!

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Earlier this month, the Council of the Socialist International convened at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, NY. The council's extensive agenda included adopting a resolution calling for the rights of prisoner Marafa Hamidou Yaya in Cameroon. This is a particularly profound development given that Marafa is not a political party leader and his party, the CPDM, is not a member of the SI.

The SI is the worldwide organisation of social democratic, socialist and labour parties. It currently brings together 152 political parties and organisations from all continents. Pictured is a session of its most recent meeting in New York which prompted a written appeal for Marafa's freedom to be issued:

Meeting of the Council of the Socialist International - United Nations, New York, 6-7 July 2015; APPEAL FOR THE RELEASE OF MARAFA HAMIDOU YAYA IN CAMEROON -- The Socialist International expresses its concern at the imprisonment of Marafa Hamidou Yaya in Cameroon, on seemingly politically motivated charges. Though steps are needed to tackle corruption and embezzlement in Cameroon, this process should not be used as an excuse to settle political scores. The SI calls on the government of Cameroon to ensure that human rights, the United Nations charter and Cameroon’s constitution are respected in this matter.

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I posted the above picture of me exactly two years ago, today. Just yesterday, the U.S. State Department noted in its country report on human rights in Cameroon that "(f)ormer minister of state for territorial administration Marafa Hamidou Yaya, convicted in 2012 on corruption charges and sentenced to 25 years’ imprisonment in a trial that featured little hard evidence, remained in detention."   Marafa is accordingly designated a political prisoner by our U.S. government for the third year in a row.

Please grab your camera plus a "Free Marafa" sign and join me by submitting your photo signature @ http://marafa-watch.tumblr.com/submit  What better way to celebrate Independence Day 2015 in the U.S. than with this gesture in support of Marafa's independence and that of political prisoners all over the world?

Your prompt support is greatly needed and will be very much appreciated. It is my understanding that Marafa's health is failing fast. The U.S. State Department confirms that "(d)uring the year the (Cameroon) government reportedly refused to issue the necessary permit to allow NGOs regular access to the (Marafa)."

Thank you, Attorney Zena Crenshaw-Logal* Co-Founder of U.S. Friends of Marafa Committee and Marafa Watch

Learn more at https://www.facebook.com/MarafaWatch

U.S. Country Report on Human Rights in Cameroon as of 2014: http://www.state.gov/j/drl/rls/hrrpt/humanrightsreport/#wrapper

*Bar admissions limited to 7th Cir. COA

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"Marafa Hamidou Yaya, former Minister of State for Territorial Administration and Decentralization and former secretary general of the presidency, a political prisoner today, in poor health, was hospitalized. His wife Jeanette Marafa appeared on JT Africa TV5 Monde, edition of 27 June 2015. She is very concerned about the health of her husband and for humanitarian reasons,has appealed to President Paul Biya to intervene for medical evacuation of her husband."

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While April 16, 2015 is a day of remorse because it marks the third anniversary of Marafa’s arrest, it is also a day of our renewed commitment.  As intensely as these candles, a determination burns in our hearts and minds to insist on Marafa’s freedom.  

America must not forget Marafa.  Cameroon must Free Marafa!

U.S. Friends of Marafa Committee and Marafa Watch

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Entering his third year of imprisonment, having been designated a political prisoner by the U.S. State Department, Marafa Hamidou Yaya recently published "The Choice of Action".  The book chronicles his 10 years as Cameroon's Minister of Interior. Minister Marafa notes past and present difficulties confronting Cameroon and meaningful solutions to these problems.  Through this memoir, we see why Marafa has earned a reputation for being courageous, a visionary, and an astute political analyst.      

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Members of the U.S. Friends of Marafa Committee (USFMC) and Marafa Watch (MW) supporters extended a Happy National Day to the Republic of Cameroon on May 20, 2014, the premiere day for their documentary, "INJUSTICE ANYWHERE - The Story Behind a U.S. Protest for Cameroon Political Prisoner, Minister Marafa Hamidou Yaya". 

While the May 20th online premiere party began at 7 pm CT, which was early morning on May 21st in Cameroon, all were and are encouraged to view the documentary at their earliest convenience.

INJUSTICE ANYWHERE introduces viewers to Marafa's plight and seeks to explain why Americans should care and be willing to push for his freedom.  To view the documentary, CLICK HERE   

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Birthday Wishes For All The Best To Minister Marafa!

Marafa Watch supporters and U.S. Friends of Marafa Committee members proudly extend their wishes for the very best to Minister Marafa on this 62nd anniversary of his birth.

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DEMOCRACY WITHOUT BORDERS: U.S. Friends of Marafa Take To The Streets

A Recap by Zena Crenshaw-Logal, Coordinator

Marafa Watch Anniversary Demonstration in Washington, D.C.

April 23, 2014

READ MORE

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Some Marafa Watch supporters warmed up for their April 23, 2014 protest of the Republic of Cameroon's Embassy in Washington, D.C. by demanding more transparency from and democratic operations by their own U.S. Supreme Court.  The related call for cameras in America's High Court was shared via banners displayed in front of the Court's building in Washington, D.C. on April 22, 2014.