Julius Ayuk Tabe, president of the self-declared Republic of Ambazonia, and nine of his collaborators were sentenced Tuesday by Colonel Misse Njone Jacques after a heated court session in Yaounde that was boycotted by defense lawyers.
Jacques found the defendants guilty of secession, terrorism and hostility against the state of Cameroon, and ordered them to pay a 250 billion fine.
Immediately, critics voiced concern the ruling will derail efforts to end the crisis in the North West and South West regions.
Nelson Tawe, a computer engineer, says the sentences could ruin plans to send children back to school after three years of unrest.
"At a time when we are preaching back to school, at a time when we are preaching unity, at a time we are preaching reconciliation, I think it is stupid for the judge to sentence them to life imprisonment. The government should rethink its strategy,” Tawe said.
Prince Ekosso, chairman of the opposition United Socialist Democratic Party, believes the sentences will lead to more violence.
“It is actually a disgrace to democracy,” he said. “This decision would intensify tension in the North West and the South West. It would intensify killings and it would intensify the destruction of properties".
However, government lawyer Emmanuel Essim says the prison sentences do not stop any talks to solve the crisis. In addition, he says it is not the duty of the military tribunal to grant mercy to people who defied state authority and who carry weapons against their own people.
Along with Tabe, they include Cornelius Kwanga, Egbe Orock, Eyambe Ebai, Fidelis Nde Che, Kimeng Henry, Nfor Ngala Nfor, Augustine Awasum, Shufai Blaise and Tassang Wilfred.
SOURCE: VOA
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