As the Kuwaiti Members
of Parliament, MPs continue their visit to Cameroon, some girls for the most
part trapped at the Kuwaiti Government Shelter have petitioned Head of State
Paul Biya and the Ministry of External Relations.
TO PRESIDENT BIYA PAGE 1 |
In two separate letters,
one written since November 2015, and the other in February 2016, when they
expected MINREX officials to visit the government shelter, the Cameroonians
girls are painting a sordid picture of their stay in Kuwait. We stumbled on both
letters written in French language.
In the letter to the President
of the Republic, the Cameroonian ladies said they were allegedly dubbed to
travel to Kuwait for work and studies.
They ladies alleged they
are 108 of them at the shelter and at immigration services; a population which they
said was more than that of some African countries combined.
They said some of
them are sick and with wounds after jumping off story buildings to flee from
their ‘slave masters’. Some the letters said are developing mental problems
resulting from the trauma they have been subjected to, for months.
TO PRESIDENT BIYA PAGE 2 |
The Cameroonian girls in the
letter to President Biya and the Minister of External Relations are decrying alleged sexual abuses and torture while in Kuwait and pointed accusing fingers at some diplomats
in the Central African Republic Embassy for extortion.
“The most crucial part
is our disagreement with Mr Kalil (of the Central African Republic Embassy).
31- 41 KDs (Kuwait Dina- Kuwaiti currency - approximately 62 – 82 thousand CFA Frs)
are demanded for ‘laissez passers’ which have never been issued,” partly read the
letter to the Ministry of External Relations.
TO MINREX PAGE 1 |
When this reporter spoke
to Mr. Kalil months back, he denied all the allegations arguing that he was
making much sacrifices.
“I don’t have any explanations to give. I am spending
my money to help Cameroonian girls who sought refuge at our embassy.
I would be
writing the Cameroon Ambassador in Saudi Arabia, (the nearest Cameroon embassy
from Kuwait) after which the Central African Republic Embassy would take a
decision,” Kalil said then.
TO MINREX PAGE 2 |
Apart from the problem
of having travel documents issued, the Cameroonian ladies are complaining that
their personal documents; passports, dresses and certificates among others have
been confiscated by the former employers from where they escaped.
The letters to President
Biya also appealed to the government to provide those at the shelter with
bathing soap, vaseline and toiletries including menstrual pads.
A source at MINREX who
claimed they are aware of the existence of the existence of te letters was
unable to explain what they are doing to address the issues raised.
“Let the letters be
presented also to the Kuwaiti Delegation of MPs and let us hear their reaction to claims that they respect human rights,” one of the girls at the shelter
said.
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