4. That the survival of Cameroon in peace and harmony depends upon the attainment of this objective towards which all patriotic Cameroonians, Francophones as well as Anglophones, should relentlessly work.” th st 15. Subsequent to the 1993 Buea Declaration, it is alleged that between 29 April and 1 May 1994, the Second Anglophone Conference convened in Bamenda adopted the Bamenda Proclamation, which stated, inter alia, that: “….one year since the Anglophone constitutional proposals were officially submitted, the government had not reacted to them; that all efforts to generate the interest and understanding of the Francophone officials and Francophone public generally in the Anglophone constitutional proposals had been greeted with responses ranging from indifference through apathy to hostility…” IN THE LIGHT OF THE FOREGOING the Anglophone people of Cameroon…; reiterated the Resolution taken at its first session in April 1993… It stated further in paragraph 6 of the Proclamation that; “6. Should the Government either persist in its refusal to engage in meaningful constitutional talks or fail to engage in such talks within a reasonable time, the Anglophone Council shall inform the Anglophone people by all suitable means. It shall, thereupon, proclaim the revival of the independence and sovereignty of the Anglophone territory of Southern Cameroon and take all measures necessary to secure, defend and preserve the independence, sovereignty and integrity of the said territory.” (emphasis added) 16. The Complainants allege that the failure by the Respondent State to address the concerns of the Southern Cameroon people for a new constitution, coupled with the adoption of the 1995 December Constitution by the National Assembly of La Republique du Cameroun without public debate, meant that the door was being finally closed on any future constitutional links between the Southern Cameroon and La Republique du Cameroun. Henceforth, the Complainants decided to conduct a signature referendum, in view of “the hostile atmosphere created by the occupying power… which would not want to allow any form of consultation which might reveal the true suppressed aspirations of the people of Southern Cameroons.” st th 17. The Complainants aver that between 1 and 30 September 1995, the Southern Cameroons National Council (SCNC) conducted a signature referendum which revealed that 99% of Southern Cameroonians favour full independence by peaceful separation from the Respondent State. 18. Besides their claim for statehood, the Complainants allege further that human rights of various individuals have been systematically violated by the Respondent State. The Complainants compiled eye witness accounts and field investigations relating to arbitrary arrests, detentions, torture, punishment, maiming and killings of persons who have advocated for the self determination of Southern Cameroon. Complaint 19. The Complainants allege that; 1. Articles 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7.1, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 17.1, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23.1, 24 of the African Charter have been violated. 2. the Republic of Cameroon has violated its general duty under in Article 26 of the African Charter to guarantee the independence of the judiciary. Procedure th 20. The complaint was received at the Secretariat of the African Commission on 9 January 2003. 21. On 10 January 2003, the Secretariat acknowledged receipt of the complaint. 22. On 19 January 2003, the Secretariat wrote another letter to the Complainants requesting for further information relating to the communication.