Legal support for Southern Cameroonian Prisoners

BACKGROUND

There are an estimated 3000 Southern Cameroonians detained by the Government of Cameroun in the context of the conflict in the Southern Cameroons. While they are not yet officially designated as Prisoners of Conscience (PoCs) by Amnesty International, their trials at the hands of one of the most unfair and opaque judicial systems in the world have largely gone unnoticed and unreported. Southern Cameroonians are often arrested without any warrant. They are usually held incommunicado for long periods of time while they undergo interrogation and torture. Many are maimed and some summarily executed and their bodies disposed of by the authorities. To Increase the odds of survival for those arrested, the first few days after arrest are extremely critical. A team of committed common law lawyers have been working diligently over the past 3 years to track down the locations of those arrested, trace their whereabouts and to raise an alarm to ensure that they are not permanently disappeared. For those that eventually get sent to one of the many prisons, their cases are usually sent before a military tribunal where they are usually subjected to questioning without the presence of counsel by an examining magistrate where trumped up terrorism charges are levied against them. Many spend years in prison, before a case is brought against them and some even die without ever being charged. For those that have been charged to court, the process is even worse, some have gone to court as many as 50 times without their cases being heard. This happens on a monthly basis, in a ritual of postponement without explanations or any opportunity to ask questions. When trials are finally conducted, they are sham events, held entirely in French language, in front of a panel of all French speaking magistrates, and by prosecutors and witnesses who only speak French and often without translators present. A team of common law lawyers have been put together to represent these unfortunate detainees. They travel to the various prisons, tribunals and courts to represent detainees, provide counsel, file briefs and appeals and follow up with the courts to ensure that their cases are heard and that, where possible, translators/interpreters are brought in, so that some semblance of due process is followed. They also travel to various detention facilities to track down missing detainees to ensure that they are not permanently disappeared. While they have agreed to provide their services on a pro bono basis, financial resources are required to support their travel, accommodation and feeding while they are on the road, often for days at a time, to provide this invaluable service. Hence the need for the fund raising campaign organized by VRF and which is still very active till date.

HOW YOUR DONATIONS HAVE HELPED 

In the first report, you read how we intervened in the cases of 15 detainees being held in various detention centers all over La République du Cameroun. 

For the past 4 months, we have spent $3265.86 (1.9 million CFA) on various cases involving 124 detainees and all these have been possible because of your generosity. Out of the 124 detainees, 8 were discharged and acquitted. We will relentlessly continue in our pursuit for justice as we are determined to reduce the number of detainees to the barest minimum.

 Below is a breakdown of the cases for which we have provided counsel to so far. 

CASE 1 (6 PERSONS, 5 MALES, 1 FEMALE)

These persons were alleged to have carried out acts of terrorism without any substantial evidence. The Military state prosecutors urged the courts to convict the accused while the defense argues that the evidence warrants that the accused be discharged and acquitted. The matter was adjourned to another date for judgment. 

CASE 2 (2 PERSONS, BOTH MALES)

Both were arrested and alleged to have been supplying military hardware. We provided counsel for them. 

CASE 3 (2 PERSONS, BOTH MALES)

These detainees were arrested in different towns and locations on various allegations ranging from armed banditry to terrorism. Our lawyers took their brief in order to prepare a defence. 

CASE 4 (1 MALE)

He was arrested in Ekona since 2020 and is being charged of terrorism, secession and hostilities against the fatherland and also peddling of false information. 

CASE 5 (1 MALE)

He is a bike rider who was arrested in January of 2022 on accusation of being in collaboration with Amba fighters and they also alleged that they found bullets in his shoes. Our lawyer is presently working with him to prepare a defense. 

CASE 6 (1 FEMALE)

She was detained for failing to report and is still being held in custody. 

CASE 7 (90 PERSONS, ALL MALES)

They were all arrested on trumped up charges varying from complicity of secession to terrorism. 

CASE 8 (1 MALE)

He was charged with accessory to acts of terrorism, aggravated theft, arson etc. 

CASE 9 (3 MALES)

They were arrested in Kumba in 2020 and transferred to Buea where they were being tried in military court on charges of secession and terrorist. At the end of the trial, they were found guilty. 

CASE 10 (2 FEMALES)

These 2 ladies (one a farmer, the other a business woman) were arrested at military checkpoints and accused of supplying drugs to amba fighters. They were detained unjustly for over a week. We provided counsel for them and the case is ongoing. 

CASE 11 (4 MALES)

They were charged for purported acts of terrorism. 

 CASE 12 (10 PERSONS, ALL MALES)

They were arrested in Nigeria and extradited to Cameroun on allegations of secession. 

CASE 13 (1 MALE)

He was arrested in November 2020 on allegations that he is financing terrorism and refusal to denounce terrorism. 

COMPASSIONATE INTERVENTION

One of our lawyers was kidnapped on his way to provide legal service to one of the detainees. He was severely beaten and tortured before he was finally released. He spent a long while in the hospital and is still recovering from the aftermath of that ugly incident. We supported him with 60,000CFA

Our fundraising campaign is still active and if you wish to continue supporting our cause, you can make your donations by clicking on the link below

https://www.globalgiving.org/52303 

Thank you.