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Schillergäßchen 5, 07745 Jena, Tel.: 03641/449304, Fax:03641/420270

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Kto.Nr.: 1363638, BLZ: 83053030, Sparkasse Jena
 
 

Since March 1997 after terrorist attacks on military, police and civilian establishments in some towns of the North West province of Cameroon, about 68 activists of the SCNC ( Southern Cameroons National Council ) an organisation which supports the independence for the English speaking provinces are still in detention in the Central Prison of Nkondengui ( in Yaounde ) and the Principal Prison of Nfou ( in the outskirts of Yaounde ). They are now being tried in front of a military tribunal in Yaoundé, a court with no jurisdiction.

After these attacks which led to the death of 10 people amongst them 3 gendarmes and which took place between the 27th and 31th of March in the towns of Bamenda, Kumbo, Oku and Jakiri, about 300 people mainly opponents of the government were arrested in the two English speaking provinces, detained and tortured. It is clear that the government exploited this ocassion to crack down its opposition. No charges were brought against those who were detained and for more than two years, about 68 of them are still being held incommunicado. During this period of detention, about 10 detainees have died due to torture and ill-treatment and some have also been rendered handicap.

Due to cries and pressure from national and international human rights organisations their trial was opened in July this year with charges of attempted secession, murder, destruction of monuments, stealing of explosive and all other criminal charges one could think of. It is also clear that most of those who were arrested had no evidence of criminal activity. Even before
the openning of the trial, they were already condemed in parliament by the minister of defence which shows that the military councel, his subordinate who is incharge of this trial and who has even threatenen these political prisoners not to defend themselves against the charge of attempted secession can do nomore but follow suit. It was already shown by the Cameroonian
government that the trial will not be a fair and just one. After the first hearings, the panel was changed. In no legal system in the world can two different panels hear the same case.

RECOMENDED ACTION:

Please send telegrams/telexes/faxes/express/airmail letters in English, French or your own language

- expressing concern about the health and safety of these political prisoners who remain either at the central prisons,
  Nkondengui, in Yaoundé or at the Principal Prison in Nfou;

- urging that they be treated humanely in accordance with international standards for the treatment of prisoners, in
  particular, that they be protected from torture and ill- treatment which they already confirmed having received.

- Urging the government to give them a fair and just trial and by the proper judicial court, not a military court
   some hundreds of kilometres away from where the attacks took place, when there is a computent judiciary court in
  Bamenda.

- Acknowledging the government's responsibility to bring to justice those responsible for these attacks that occured in the
  North West Province but expressing concern about the way the trial of these prisoners is being carried out.

APPEALS TO:

Please note: fax tone may be difficult to obtain

President

Son Excellence M. Paul Biya

Président de la République

Palais de l'unité

1000 Yaoundé, Cameroon

Telegrams: President, Yaoundé, Cameroon

Faxes: +237 221 699

Salutation: Dear President/ Monsieur le Président de la République

Minister of Justice

M. Laurent Esso

Minis tre de la Justice, Garde des Sceaux

Ministère de la Justice

1000 Yaoundé, Cameroon

Telegrams: Ministre Justice, Yaoundé, Cameroon

Salutation: Dear Minister/ Momsieur le Ministre

And to diplomatic representatives of Cameroon accredited to your country

COPIES TO: (Also for more information)

The VOICE, Africa Forum, Human Rights Organisation

Schillergäßchen 5

07745 Jena

Thüringen- Germany

Tel: +49 3641 66 52 14 or +49 3641 44 93 04

Fax: +49 3641 420 270

PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY