U.S.-based "Marafa Watch" Launched On Anniversary Of Political Prisoner's Arrest

CHICAGO - April 16, 2013 - PRLog -- "Marafa Watch" is described as "(a) U.S.-based, grassroots movement for appropriate international review of the politically motivated conviction and corresponding imprisonment of former Secretary-General (Chief of Staff) at the Presidency, Mr. Marafa Hamidou Yaya of the Republic of Cameroon in central Africa."  The site doubles as a virtual command center for the self-proclaimed human rights movement.

Site visitors access biographical information by clicking "About Marafa".  That section reportedly uses Marafa's own words shared by letter in describing his circumstances.  Unrelated news reports confirm that Marafa was arrested on April 16, 2012 and jailed in the Central Prison in Yaounde Kondegui.  About 5 weeks later, Marafa was reportedly moved to the Gendarmerie Secondary Prison where he remains. According to BBC reports, Marafa is now serving a 25-year prison sentence for supposed “intellectual complicity” in the misappropriation of public funds.

Marafa's lead defense counsel is Ndiva Kofele-Kale, "University Distinguished Professor & Professor of Law" at SMU Dedman School of Law in Dallas, Texas. "Marafa Watch" describes Professor Kofele-Kale as a "leading scholar on the impact of corruption in developing countries", and places him "at the forefront of the growing movement to make corruption a human rights violation punishable under international law."  In addition to being an academic, Professor Kofele-Kale "has been lead attorney in multiple high profile human rights cases over the last 15 years."  

Attorney Kofele-Kale reports that Marafa's "punishment is unjust and unjustified for several reasons". One of the most compelling facts supporting that view is "not a single franc was ever traced to any of Mr. Marafa’s bank accounts or linked to any of the assets he acquired in 22 years of public service."

Apparently "Professor Kofele-Kale introduced Amnesty International at University of Tennessee at Knoxville (AI-UTK) and UTK’s International Law Society to the plight of his client . .  . and the seeds for 'Marafa Watch' were planted." Proposed language for letters and ideas for launching letter writing campaigns are accessible at the site under "Write for Marafa".  The site also allows visitors to submit photographs holding pictures of Marafa and signs proclaiming "Free Marafa."  In support of this U.S.-based clamor, Professor Kofele-Kale explains that "(t)he international community cannot afford to be absent from events taking place in Cameroon, which carry the risk of destabilizing the entire sub-region."

Learn more by visiting http://marafa-watch.tumblr.com/