Cameroon
Protests against arbitrary arrests in Cameroon

afrol News, 9 May - The World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) states it is "gravely concerned for the physical and psychological integrity" of 10 persons arrested while organising a protest against human rights abuses by the Operational Command, a special anti-crime unit. 

According to reports reaching the OMCT, the 10 were arrested while organising a rally to mourn the victims of the Operational Command, set up in February 2000 to combat banditry, but accused of human rights abuses. 

The Geneva-based OMCT said yesterday it had been informed by ACAT Cameroun and Agir Ensemble pour les Droits de l'Homme, both members of the OMCT network, of the arbitrary arrest and detention of around ten demonstrators in Cameroon.

According to the information received, the Cameroon police forces have allegedly arrested around 10 demonstrators in Duala's New Bell neighbourhood, including Thameni Djeukam, Léandre Djino, Peter William Mandio, Pokam Sindjou (Yaoundé 1st University philosophy researcher) and Olivier Sande.

According to the reports, these persons were engaged in organising a rally, being held to mourn all the victims of the Operational Command (Commandement Opérationel) and, more generally, the victims of the current regime in Cameroon, which has been in place since April 6th 1984. The Operational Command was established in February 2000 to combat banditry, especially in Douala, but has since been accused of carrying out human rights abuses. 

OMCT said yesterday that it was particularly worried about one of the detainees, Olivier Sande, who "has already survived 40 days of incarceration and ill-treatment by the Operational Command in their detention facilities known as 'Kosovo,' and is a key witness of human rights abuses, including torture and extrajudicial executions, allegedly conducted by the Operational Command."

Arbitrary detentions are noted to be on the increase in Cameroon. Only on 26 April, four members of Cameroon's Campaign Group Against Impunity, Le Collectif contre l'impunite (CNI), were arrested and brought to the central police station in Douala, accroding to AFP. The four were accused of organising an "illegal demonstration" when protesting against the case of nine youths who have not been seen since 28 January. According to reports, the nine youths were killed by the Operational Command. 

According to US government sources, arbitrary arrest and prolonged detention remain "a serious problem" in Cameroon. Government officials and security forces also "use arbitrary arrest to harass and intimidate members of opposition parties and other critics of the Government," the source says. 

According to UN Special Rapporteur Rodley, 80 percent of the Cameroonian prison population consists of untried prisoners. Rodley claims that "pretrial detention is used not to attain its primary goal of upholding order and security and facilitating investigation, but rather, in the perception both of the public and of the forces of law and order, as a sanction." 

Sources: OMCT, US govt. and afrol archives

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