Cameroon accused of systematic use of torture

Cables show US was secretly briefed on abuse of civilians in the North-West and South-West of Cameroon.

Us official has evidence of widespread torture by Cameroonian police and security armed forces and were secretly briefed by Pearce Corps volunteers staff working in Agroforestery, community development, education and health, about the systematic abuse of prisoners, detainees in police custody, journalists on special assignment and political activists in the areas, according to leaked diplomatic cables released last night.

The dispatches, obtained by website Wikileaks, reveal that US diplomats in Yaounde for a long period of time were briefed since 2000 by the International Committee of the Red Cross ( ICRC), the Pearce Corps Volunteers about the use of electrocution ( in some police cell and military police cell as well...) instrumental beatings and sexual humiliation against hundreds of detainees, specially women who have been involved in politics activities against the will of their husbands and also those tried to express their view in current affairs.

Janet E Garvey, former US Ambassador in Cameroon

 Others cables show that as recently as 2007, American diplomats were concerned about widespread human rights abuses by armed secret and security forces, who they said relied on torture for confessions. In Cameroon, cables show that journalists are often targeted for these technicals of getting information from them.

The revelations will be intensely embarrassing for Paul Biya who takes pride in its status as the longest president in Cameroon and the one who brought peace and stability and economic growth and come at a time of the end of the year wishes ahead of the next presidential election in the country. The embassy reported the ICRC concluded that Cameroon condones torture and that the torture victims were civilians. The ICRC and the Pearce Corps Volunteers have a long standing policy of engaging directly with government and avoiding the media, so the briefing remained secret.

Human rights abuses included security force torture, beatings, and other abuses, particularly of detainees and prisoners. Prison conditions were harsh and life threatening. Authorities arbitrarily arrested and detained citizens advocating secession, local human rights monitors and activists, persons not carrying government-issued identity cards, and other citizens. There were incidents of prolonged and sometimes incommunicado pretrial detention and infringement on privacy rights.

The government restricted freedoms of speech, press, assembly, and association, and harassed journalists. The government also impeded freedom of movement. Other problems included widespread official corruption; societal violence and discrimination against women;there were reports that security forces committed unlawful killings.

There were also some incidents of officers using excessive force; however, the government rarely prosecuted the officers responsible. The cables reveal a careful US policy of pressure in Yaounde, while maintaining a strictly neutral stance. These cables were sent by Robert P Jackson, Janet E Garvey, Niels Marquardt, George M Staples, Mrs Judi Marquardt, all former Us ambassador in Cameroon and Lahoma Smith Romocki as the director of the Pearce corps volunteers.The cables note that officials are unable to verify with evidence the claims against some report of human right abuses.

Paul Biya tightens grip on power amid calls to step down

Cameroon`s repressive regime will send in the next 10 months a dramatic message to the International community over its determination to face down any challenge to its authority.

October 2011, there will be a presidential election with Paul Biya as candidate. The formal opposition in Cameroon has been wipe out from the last parliamentary elections and left with fewer seats in the house of parliament.

The Cameroon People Democratic Movement, CPDM, the party that has the full majority in the parliament and that runs the country with a less power sharing with a small and insignificant group of coalition political parties will be dictating his way to others.

 It is still unclear whether there will be a kind of strong pressure on President Paul Biya after 28 years in power in Cameroon and with no designated successor at the moment, to embrace some democratisation.

They will do everything to show the world that the next presidential election will be fair and credible.

 Cameroon under Paul Biya now has joined the ranks of world`s most autocratic countries. Cameroon now is a dictatorship. The last parliamentary election was widely seen as a dry run for the next year`s presidential elections, when the 78 year old Biya might be forced to step down..

Paul Biya who is believed to hide a serious heart condition problem has ruled Cameroon for almost three decades and has remain a close ally for the west, despite reports of systematic human rights abuses at the hands of his extensive security apparatus, and slow progress on political reform..

As the end of the year is looming, attention will now turn to the regime insiders jockeying for position to replace Biya, and there is no name in the lead officially and the head of the armed forces could take over the  country.

It is a possibility at the moment just in case they have to retain a strong influence over the process of selecting Cameroon`s next president. The CPDM now is a divided political party with neoliberals, economic reformists, political reformists, modernists all powerless and Biya as a real the real master is still there, like a procrastinator.

Living with HIV, dying of TB

December 1st, Today on World AIDS DAY, millions of people living with HIV/AIDS are at risk of dying of tuberculosis (TB), Although treatable in most cases, TB is the world`s leading killer of people living with HIV.

Worryingly, new drug-resistant strains of TB are emerging that are particular and growing risk. These strains are almost always fatal in people who are HIV-positive.

Journalists urge Biya administration to act on political commitment


The deadly synergy of HIV-TB presents a massive public health threat. On WORLD AIDS Day, stop Aids campaign a UK based charity highlight that it is not possible to achieve zero deaths of people suffering from AIDS without also tackling those dying of TB.



The UK coalition to stop TB and the UK stop aids campaign call on the UK government to make TB and HIV a joint public health priority and to tackle the epidemics together.
The Cameroonian journalist network against Aids also call on Biya government to renew his commitment to make free access to Arv's a reality in Cameroon.

Political commitment is desperately needed. Millions of cfa francs have been spent on policies and on the implementation of policies rather than on people living with HIV in Cameroon. Millions have been spent on cars purchasing, commissions and missions around the country and organizing workshops but less directly on those in real need

( Le reseau des journalistes contre le sida) in Cameroon joint his voice with others organisations and charities around the world today to urge governments to ensure integrated HIV-TB policies are part of its global HIV strategy an d within its plans to improve women`s and maternal health. TB is the third biggest infectious killer of women worldwide.

Just half of pregnant women with HIV in Cameroon get the drugs necessary to stop their babies becoming infected at birth. UNICEF now is distributing a pack full of drugs that will help pregnant women testing positive for HIV.

Women are being given a box containing all the drugs needed to protect their baby from infection, with clear instructions on when and how they should be used. The pack is being tested in Cameroon

It is essential Cameroon government step up its commitment to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria, an effective, transparent and results-focused organization. In the eight years since it was established, the Global Fund has provided anti-retroviral HIV/AIDS treatment to 2.8 million ,

and successfully treated 7 million people with TB. People are living with HIV but dying of TB. This dual epidemic can be reversed and million of lives saved.