[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 718 Introduced in House (IH)]

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115th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 718

   Condemning the actions taken by the Government of the Republic of 
  Cameroon against Patrice Nganang and others, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            January 29, 2018

 Mr. Zeldin submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
                    the Committee on Foreign Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
   Condemning the actions taken by the Government of the Republic of 
  Cameroon against Patrice Nganang and others, and for other purposes.

Whereas, on January 17, 2017, the Government of the Republic of Cameroon shut 
        down mobile internet access to English-speaking regions of Cameroon 
        after clashes involving separatists;
Whereas, on October 1, 2017, the Department of State expressed serious concern 
        over the Government of Cameroon's use of force to restrict free 
        expression and violence against protestors in the country's English-
        speaking regions;
Whereas the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights 
        (OHCHR) publicly urged the Government of Cameroon to halt violence after 
        17 people had reportedly been killed and dozens wounded and arrested in 
        demonstrations in the country's English-speaking regions since October 
        1, 2017;
Whereas the Government of Cameroon has retained control of electronic media by 
        refusing to grant licenses to private radio and television stations and 
        has intensified political attacks against the independent press;
Whereas commenting unfavorably on political or human rights issues frequently 
        results in official repercussions for writers and journalists in 
        Cameroon;
Whereas publishing material critical of the Government of Cameroon on political 
        or human rights issues frequently results in official repercussions for 
        writers and journalists;
Whereas Patrice Nganang criticized the Government of Cameroon for its 
        marginalization of English-speaking persons and publicly criticized 
        President Biya on online media outlets;
Whereas Patrice Nganang is highly educated, with a Ph.D. in comparative 
        literature and is currently a professor of cultural studies and 
        comparative literature at the State University of New York at Stony 
        Brook;
Whereas, on December 6, 2017, Patrice Nganang was arrested at Douala 
        International Airport and charged with violating the antiterror law for 
        insulting President Biya;
Whereas Patrice Nganang was taken into custody and detained in the Kondengui 
        Central Prison in Yaounde, Cameroon, for approximately 20 days;
Whereas the Government of Cameroon delayed a public hearing for Patrice Nganang 
        and neglected to issue a warrant of criminal charges;
Whereas hundreds of English-speaking detainees have been beaten or mistreated in 
        custody;
Whereas these actions of the Government of Cameroon constitute gross and 
        reprehensible violations of international law and basic human rights;
Whereas the police, gendarmerie, and Government authorities reportedly continued 
        to arrest and detain persons arbitrarily, often holding them for 
        prolonged periods without charge or trial and at times incommunicado; 
        and
Whereas there are numerous documented accounts of citizens of Cameroon being 
        imprisoned and beaten for publicly reporting on unrest in Cameroon's 
        English-speaking regions or criticizing President Biya: Now, therefore, 
        be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) strongly condemns the actions taken by the Government 
        of the Republic of Cameroon against Patrice Nganang and the 
        English-speaking minority of Cameroon;
            (2) affirms that the United States continues to hold the 
        Government of Cameroon responsible for upholding all the rights 
        of its citizens, regardless of political views or beliefs; and
            (3) urges the Government of Cameroon to extend to all of 
        Cameroon's citizens, including political dissidents, the rights 
        guaranteed by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of the 
        United Nations and other international covenants on human 
        rights, including the freedoms of expression with equal 
        protection under law.
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