EXCLUSIVE: Paul Biya raises his voice and opposes the release of Amougou Bรฉlinga
The Martinez Zogo affair now goes beyond a simple legal news item.
The information is contained in a correspondence of exceptional gravity, through which the Secretary-General of the Presidency of the Republic transmits ยซ Trรจs Hautes Instructions ยป from Paul Biya, concerning the assassination of journalist Martinez Zogo.
The message is clear, direct, without ambiguity: ยซLE TRIBUNAL MILITAIRE DOIT ALLER JUSQUโAU BOUT DE LA PROCรDURE โฆ SANS AUCUNE MISE EN LIBERTร PROVISOIRE DE QUI QUE CE SOIT.
Behind the administrative solemnity, a question burns on everyone’s lips: where does political authority stop, where does the independence of justice begin?
By ordering in such a precise manner the conduct of an ongoing judicial procedure, the executive power sends an echo that some will say is reassuring, others deeply disturbing.
โReassuring, for those who demand that all the light be shed on a crime that shocked the nation.
โDisturbing, for those who see it as direct interference in the functioning of justice.
In a state of law, justice is supposed to be rendered in the name of the people, and not under instruction, however ยซ haute ยป it may be. However, in this ultra-sensitive case, everything seems to indicate a desire for total control of the judicial process.
So, is it a firm commitment to avoid any excesses… or a dangerous precedent that weakens the balance of power?
ยซ Le Ministre d’รtat, Secrรฉtaire Gรฉnรฉral The Minister of State, Secretary General
ร
Monsieur le Ministre d’รtat, Ministre de la Justice, Garde des Sceaux
Yaoundรฉ.
Obiet: Affaire de l’assassinat du sujet journaliste ยซ Martinez Zogo
J’ai l’honneur de vous rรฉpercuter les Trรจs Hautes Instructions du Chef de l’รtat vous prescrivant, en ce qui vous concerne, de veiller ร ce que le Tribunal Militaire vide sa saisie au fond, sans aucune mise en libertรฉ provisoire et dans le strict respect des rรจgles de la procรฉdure.ยป
One thing is clear: the Martinez Zogo affair now goes beyond a simple legal news item. It is becoming a full-scale test of the credibility of the institutions.
Shance Lion
