On Thursday 19 March 2015, in accordance with statements made by Judge Gilbert Chilick and the president of the military criminal chamber of the Centre’s Court of Appeal, my trial was finally due to commence. On the Wednesday evening, however, we were startled to learn, from the prosecutor, that the judge would not be present. We, the accused who expected to be tried the next day, were plunged into a state of turmoil and despair by this news.
Nevertheless, on the Thursday morning, the warrants for our removal having been delivered to the prison the preceding day, all of us who were due to appear before the military Court of Appeal were called, and handcuffs attached to our wrists in the usual way. A few moments later, we were overwhelmed by terror and panic when we realised it was already 9.00 a.m., the judge having indicated at the previous hearing (in February) that he would open proceedings at exactly 9.00, and that these would continue all day and late into the night. We were still within the prison walls at 9.00, and at 9.30. At 10.00 we were still there.
It was not until 11.00 that we were loaded into the cursed prison truck; we therefore arrived at the Court at 11.30, which was of course far too late. Indeed, we had scarcely descended from the truck than he declared the hearing postponed… Not for a month, this time, however – but for a mere ten days, to Monday 30 March.
Accustomed as we are to the adjournment of our hearings for 30 days, we were naturally very relieved; in fact we almost cried out with joy. ‘At last, a judge who takes us into consideration – the last one had had an air of total indifference when sending us away for a month…’: that was how most of the prisoners who had been brought before Gilbert Chilick at the court felt. So we were satisfied with the judge when we arrived back at the prison, but mad at the prison authorities – whose unprecedented disorganisation at the very moment of our scheduled departure for the court had, in our opinion, led to the adjournment of our cases.
The head of the administrative department immediately called us in to reassure us that we would be in court before 9.00 on Monday 30 March. As the spokesperson for the group, I clearly and courteously pointed out to him that if we arrived late at court on that day because the warders had once again made a complete mess of things when we were due to leave, the drug addicts with whom I had left for the court and returned to prison had sworn they would go on the rampage.
His reply: ‘I can understand that. Life in prison isn’t easy – but on the other hand, the magistrates have us remove 300 inmates at once, and the risk of escape is much higher as we haven’t enough handcuffs…’.
Enoh Meyomesse, Kondengui Prison, Cameroon
Translated by Claire O’Kell
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;
- 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: [email protected] or [email protected]
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: [email protected]
Ambassador to the UK
His Excellency Mr. Nkwelle Ekaney
Cameroon High Commission
84 Holland Park
London
W11 3SB
Fax: 020 7792 0608
Email: [email protected]
A sample letter is provided but it is always better if you put the appeal in your own words. Please copy [email protected] 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, during which time numerous appeal hearings have been postponed due to legal technicalities.
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