Nearly two years have passed since imprisoned poet Enoh Meyomesse’s lawyers first succeeded in having his case referred to a civil court for appeal in April 2013. His hearings have now been postponed at least 21 times, due to various legal technicalities. In a powerful open letter, Enoh Meyomesse has urged President Paul Biya to intervene and ensure that his next hearing, due to take place this Thursday 19 March, goes ahead. Please join him.

TAKE ACTION

Spread the word

If you are active on social media, please share information about Enoh Meyomesse’s case with your friends and contacts, using the hashtag #FreeEnoh and our handle @englishpen.

Buy his book

‘when i get out of here a different man i’ll be / i’ll bear no grudge against the earth / i’ll bear no grudge against the sea’ 

As a result of the numerous postponements and additional months in prison, funds to cover Meyomesse’s legal fees and daily needs – including food, medicine, family visits, and writing materials – are now dwindling. Here at English PEN we have published a crowd-sourced translation of his prison poetry, in order to raise funds for him and his family, and greater awareness of his case.

Show your support for Meyomesse – buy your copy today.

Write to the authorities

Please send appeals:

• Protesting the ongoing detention of writer and activist Enoh Meyomesse on charges that are widely believed to be politically motivated;
• Expressing concern that 21 appeal hearings have been postponed since April 2013;
• Urging the authorities to release Meyomesse immediately and unconditionally on humanitarian grounds.

Write to:

President

President Paul Biya
Fax: +237 22 22 08 70
Email: cellcom@prc.cm or contact@presidenceducameroun.com
Twitter: @PR_Paul_Biya

Minister of Justice

Hon. Minister of Justice Laurent Esso
Ministry of Justice
Yaoundé
Cameroon
Fax: +237 22 23 00 05

Prime Minister

Mr. Philemon Yang
Prime Minister
Fax: +237 22 23 57 35
Email: spm@spm.gov.cm

Ambassador to the UK

His Excellency Mr. Nkwelle Ekaney
Cameroon High Commission
84 Holland Park
London
W11 3SB
Fax: 020 7792 0608
Email: info@cameroonhighcommission.co.uk

A sample letter is provided but it is always better if you put the appeal in your own words. Please copy cat@englishpen.org into any emails you send.

Dear President Biya

I am writing to you as a supporter of English PEN, the founding centre of the international association of writers, to call for the immediate release of writer and activist Enoh Meyomesse.

Nearly two years have now passed since Meyomesse’s lawyers first succeeded in having his case referred to a civil court for appeal in April 2013, and 21 separate appeal hearings have been postponed due to various legal technicalities. In a recent open letter, Meyomesse requested that you intervene in order ensure that his next hearing, due to take place this Thursday 19 March, goes ahead.

I share PEN’s view that Enoh Meyomesse has been detained on charges that are politically motivated, and urge the Cameroonian authorities to release him immediately and unconditionally.

Yours sincerely