The hearing of the three soldiers Indicted in the Ngarbuh massacre of the night breaking 14 February 2020 will begin next December 17 at the Yaounde Military Tribunal.
The information is from the spokesperson of the Cameroon military, Conel Cyrille Atonfack.
He was responding to questions from the French Press Agency, (L’ AFP), Wednesday November 25, 2020.
The three soldiers are charged with Murder, Destruction of properties, Arson, Killings, Violation of instructions as well as Violence on women.
The opening of the hearing is good news to Ilaria Allegrozzi, International researcher with Human Rights Watch , though she still strongly believes that much could have been done.
“Army spokesman announced opening of the trial on Dec 17 of 3 members of security forces implicated in the Ngarbuh Massacre, it is a good step in the fight against impunity. Authorities should ensure trial is fair + impartial” Ilaria Allegrozzi wrote on her twitter account.
The case is opening in court at a time when promises made by the Head of State are being implemented.
The good news is that a military base has already been set up in the locality to curb the growing rate of violence as instructed by the Head of State.
The victims were given a befiting burial by the government.
Other forms of compensation promised by Paul Biya to the bereaved families are still in the making and will be effected in the near future.
It was on the night breaking 14 February 2020 that soldiers attacked the locality known as Ngarbuh-Ntumbaw, Ndonga Mantung Division of the North West region.
Following investigations ordered by the President of the Republic, Paul Biya, it was disclosed that 13 civilians including 10 children and 3 women were killed in the attack.
Cameroonian soldiers were accused of introducing assailants into the military operation that turned bloody.
Reasons why Government decided to sanction all those who were involved in the operation directly and indirectly.
Besides the detained soldiers awaiting trial, others have seen disciplinary proceedings opened up on them on instructions of the Head of State Paul Biya.
Worth noting is the fact that for close to four years now, the Government of Cameroon has been leaving no stone unturned in resolving the crisis.
The Head of State has created a Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration centre which according to it’s Coordinator, Fai Yengo Francis, has received more than 800 ex fighters in the two English speaking regions.