{"id":527,"date":"2016-01-22T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2016-01-22T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/africa\/uncategorized\/527\/conviction-of-nasako-besingi-judicial-harassment-and-violation-of-freedom-of-expression-in-cameroon\/"},"modified":"2019-11-06T08:23:44","modified_gmt":"2019-11-06T08:23:44","slug":"conviction-of-nasako-besingi-judicial-harassment-and-violation-of-freedom-of-expression-in-cameroon","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/africa\/en\/press\/527\/conviction-of-nasako-besingi-judicial-harassment-and-violation-of-freedom-of-expression-in-cameroon\/","title":{"rendered":"Conviction of Nasako Besingi: judicial harassment and violation of freedom of expression in Cameroon"},"content":{"rendered":"
Yaounde, January 22: Greenpeace Africa is alarmed by the judicial harassment against a prominent environmental activist and human rights defender. Yesterday, Nasako Besingi was sentenced to pay 25,000 FCFA in fines and more than 400,000 FCFA in court charges or face 1 year in prison.<\/div>\n
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\u201cThis is Besingi\u2019s second conviction within three months and is a serious attack on freedom of expression and a clear intimidation message for the communities fighting for their land and livelihoods.\u201d Said Irene Wabiwa, Senior Campaign Manager for Greenpeace Africa.<\/p>\n

Besingi was convicted for unlawful assembly, after a number of court adjournments. The charges pertain to peaceful meetings he organised to protest the plans of agribusiness company Herakles Farms to establish a huge palm oil plantation on forested land near his home village of Mundemba, South West Region.<\/p>\n

This judgment is part of a series of court cases against him by the company seeking to silence any voice denouncing this destructive project. Last November, he was found guilty of several charges including defamation and was threatened with 3 years in jail if he did not pay a huge fine and legal costs. An appeal was filed by his lawyer.<\/p>\n

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\u201cNo matter the threats and the intimidation against me, I will continue my peaceful struggle for the rights of my community who fight for our forests.\u201d Said Besingi.<\/p>\n

Besingi is the director of the Cameroon SEFE local association based in the city of Mundemba. He has long campaigned against the establishment of a large industrial palm oil plantation in the area by Herakles Farms\u2019 local subsidiary SGSOC. The project has been pushed through despite the opposition of local communities and civil society, and the evidence that it will destroy tracts of dense rainforest that are home to endangered wildlife including the chimpanzee.<\/p>\n

\u201cThese series of convictions are worrying. Without the courage of Besingi and local NGOs such as SEFE, the rights of local communities will continue to be flouted.\u201d Said Wabiwa. \u201cThe Cameroonian government needs to take concrete measures in order to ensure the protection of community rights, the independence of the judiciary and freedom of expression.”<\/p>\n

\nNote to editors:<\/strong><\/p>\n

For Nasako Besingi photos, click here<\/a><\/p>\n

For more information about Heracles farms project click here<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p>\n

Contact for media:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Ir\u00e8ne Wabiwa Betoko<\/strong>, Forest campaign Manager, Greenpeace Africa, irene.wabiwa@greenpeace.org