The National Commission on Human Rights and Freedoms, NCHRF, Chair has condemned the refusal by the Government Delegate to the Yaounde City Council to grant a building permit for the construction of its head office. The NCHRF Chairperson, Dr. Divine Chemuta Banda, expressed his disgust during the 16th ordinary session of the NCHRF on May 13 at the Yaounde Conference Centre.

He said the commission needs a befitting head office from where it can function and collaborate well with its branch offices. Thus, the refusal to grant a building permit is detrimental to effective human rights activities, he said.To Dr. Chemuta, the Government Delegate’s reason that the site (Warri Municipal in Yaounde) is not proper for the head office is illogical.

He said the Government Delegate said that the site was chosen without his permission; therefore, construction could not be carried out there. He said the Delegate was against the construction because, it would require the cutting of some trees. Chemuta said this reason was illogical because, if trees were cut from the site, they could be re-planted in the surrounding or other places. Besides, he said, the Delegate’s decision is illogical especially as he has not provided another site since last January when construction was supposed to commence.

“How can an individual oppose Government policy? The State had chosen the site and instructed that work be carried out in 24 months. Work was supposed to start last January. As of now, nothing has been done because an individual has refused to sign a building permit: Is it not absurd?” he quipped.

“We thought of achieving one of our goals of having a befitting head office in 24 months and then increasing the number of branch offices to enhance the promotion and protection of human rights. But time is passing and we have not even commenced the construction of the head office,” he reiterated. He said the NCHRF is able to have certain posts at the international level because of its high accredited position.

“If the 2015 analysis of human rights institutions observes that our efforts in the promotion and protection of human rights are not increasing, we might be demoted, which is really negative,” he said.Concerning the increasing attacks in the country suspected to be carried out by the Islamic militant group, Boko Haram, he said there is destabilisation going on which is bringing uncertainty. The unfortunate thing, he added, is that these elements of destabilisation are not known.

He stated that security concerns around the borders with several attacks in some parts of Cameroon remain troublesome. In addition, the clashes in Nigeria and the Central African Republic are bringing an influx of refugees. That is why, he said, there are lots of arrests of suspected persons. “Doing good is good, doing harm is bad. If you cannot do good, don’t harm. My prayer is that people should learn to do good than to harm for the peace and security of a country”.

He complained of the NCHRF’s current budget stating that it is insufficient for the commission to carry out its activities, like visiting trouble areas.Analysing the state of human rights situation in Cameroon, he said much more still needs to be done considering that there are lots of harassments and illegal detentions.

The 16th ordinary session of the NCHRF was devoted to the examination and adoption of 2013 activity report and the report on the state of human rights in Cameroon as well as on other issues concerning the functioning of the commission.