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CAMPAIGN
25 April 2008

Freemuse:
Urge for immediate release of Cameroonian musicians

Freemuse joins campaign supporting the two musicians arrested in Cameroon

Earlier this week, the Media Foundation for West Africa called for international protests in support of the musicians Pierre Roger Lambo Sandjo – also known as Lapiro de Mbanga – and Joe La Conscience.

The two artists were arrested in Cameroon on 9 April and 20 March 2008 for criticising constitutional amendments allowing the President unlimited terms of office.






Read more about the case:

Cameroun: Imprisoned for singing 'Constipated Constitution'

Plus d’information de ce qui s’est passé :
Cameroun: Emprisonné pour chanter de la ‘Constitution Constipée’





Freemuse encourages you to send letters of protest and demands of the release of the two musicians to the nearest Cameroonian embassy. For exemple:

Embassy of Cameroon in USA:
Fax : (202)387-3826
E-mail: cdm [AT] ambacam-usa.org

Embassy of Cameroun in France:
Fax : +33 1 46 51 24 52

Embassy of Cameroon in Belgium:
Fax: +32 (0) 2 345 18 70
E-mail: embassy [AT] cameroon.be



Below you find the English and French letters Freemuse
sent by mail and fax to the Cameroonian embassies in
USA, France and Belgium:





  Letter in English:

Copenhagen, 25 April 2008

Excellencies,


We are writing to express our concern over the arrest of two of your country’s renowned musicians Pierre Roger Lambo Sandjo – also known as Lapiro de Mbanga and Joe La Conscience.

According to our information they were arrested and detained by the authorities in Cameroon for singing songs in which they criticized the recent controversial constitutional amendments. The two were arrested respectively on 9 April and 20 March 2008.

Freemuse is an international organization advocating freedom of expression for musicians and composers. We wish to remind your government of the principles of Article 19 and Article 20 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights:

Article 19
Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.

Article 20
1. Everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association.


We urge your government to immediately release the two musicians.


Yours sincerely,

Marie Korpe
Executive Director



  Lettre en français:

Copenhague, 25 Avril 2008

Messieurs, Mesdames,

Nous vous écrivons concernant l’arrestation de deux musiciens camerounais. Il s’agît des musiciens renommés Pierre Roger Lambo Sandjo – alias Lapiro de Mbanga – et Joe La Conscience.

D’après l’information que nous avons obtenue, les deux musiciens sont arrêtés par les autorités camerounaises pour avoir chanté des chansons dans lesquels ils ont critiqué les amendements constitutionnels controversés. Les musiciens ont été arrêtés le 9 Avril respectivement le 20 Mars 2008.

Freemuse est une organisation internationale qui travaille pour la liberté d’expression pour des musiciens et des compositeurs dans le monde entier. Nous souhaitons de vous rappeler des principes des articles 19 et article 20 de la Déclaration Universelle des droits de l’Homme :

Article 19
Tout individu a droit à la liberté d'opinion et d'expression, ce qui implique le droit de ne pas être inquiété pour ses opinions et celui de chercher, de recevoir et de répandre, sans considérations de frontières, les informations et les idées par quelque moyen d'expression que ce soit.

Article 20
1. Toute personne a droit à la liberté de réunion et d'association pacifiques.

Nous encourageons votre gouvernement d’immédiatement libérer Pierre Roger Lambo Sandjo et Joe La Conscience.

Je vous prie, Messieurs, Mesdames, de bien vouloir accepter mes salutations les plus distingués,

Marie Korpe
Directeur Exécutif



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