CI-NEWS

US Senator Shelley Capito’s Office sheds light on Resolution 358.

2019-08-06

No: 439

US Senator Shelley Capito’s Office sheds light on Resolution 358.

On May 7, 2019, Karen Bass, Representative for California’s 37th congressional district, Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa, introduced legislation calling on the government of Cameroon and all armed factions to respect human rights and the rule of law in addition to adopting nonviolent methods to resolve conflict.

On Tuesday July 23, 2019, the resolution was passed in a vote in the House of Representatives. According to reports, a simple resolution if not voted on in the other chamber and does not have the force of law. The vote was by voice vote so no record of individual votes was made.

H.Res. 358, as the Resolution is called, is a simple resolution used for matters that affect just one chamber of Congress, often to change the rules of the chamber to set the manner of debate for a related bill. It must be agreed to in the chamber in which it was introduced. It is not voted on in the other chamber and does not have the force of law.

Confirming this, the office of Senator Shelley Wellons Moore Capito , a Republican Senator from West Virginia and daughter of three-term West Virginia governor Arch Alfred, told National Telegraph; Resolution 358 wouldn’t be going to the Senate. Her office confirmed that it’s a resolution of recommendation and nothing into it.

She said they can not force any thing on Southern Cameroons. The office also added that there’s nothing for the affected people of the two English-speaking people to be worried about.

This information comes to debunk previous information circulating on social media that the US has recommended Federation Cameroon. It is also seen by activists as offering hope for the restoration of the statehood for Southern Cameroons.

Karen Bass in the Resolution statement said; “The ongoing crisis and violence taking place in Cameroon at this very moment is something that deserves the attention of the world. Both the government and armed groups must be held accountable for their role in the violation of fundamental human rights. The rule of law must be adhered to regarding the civil liberties of all Cameroonian citizens including the right to free speech and assembly without the threat of being detained or executed.

“Numerous human rights observers have documented the killing of traditional leaders and the targeting of women, children, and the elderly by armed groups who are perceived to be associated with the Government of Cameroon. Meanwhile, the Government of Cameroon security forces have attacked medical facilities and health workers in the Northwest and Southwest regions and charged journalists, social activists, and members of political opposition parties with terrorism, having them prosecuted in military tribunals.

“The situation in Cameroon continues to deteriorate. In addition to hundreds of deaths, hundreds of thousands have been displaced. All parties must come together to find a peaceful resolution to this conflict.”

The, resolution Bass said, is calling on the Government of Cameroon and all armed groups to respect the human rights of all Cameroonian citizens, to end all violence, and to pursue a broad-based dialogue without preconditions to resolve the conflict in the North West and South West regions.

The resolution was cosponsored by Representative Chris Smith for New Jersey’s 4th congressional district, Rep. Ron Kind for Wisconsin’s 3rd congressional district, Rep. Tim Walberg for Michigan’s 7th congressional district, Rep. Joaquin Castro for Texas’s 20th congressional district, Rep. Mark Meadows for North Carolina’s 11th congressional district Rep. Ilhan Omar for Minnesota’s 5th congressional district and Rep. Ron Wright for Texas’s 6th district.

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US Senator Shelley Capito’s Office sheds light on Resolution 358.