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.
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