Cameroon: Human Rights Record Rated Poor
The human rights situation in Cameroon for 2007 remained poor, the US Department of State report has indicated.
Yet, it seems that of 2008 would deteriorate further if government does not make significant efforts at curbing police brutality, improving prison conditions and accelerating judicial proceedings in the country.
The report, published March 11, 2008, among other things, faulted the activities of the police, prison conditions, prolonged pre-trial detentions, faulty elections and corruption. Despite the introduction of the new criminal procedure code on January 1, 2007, and the installation of human rights offices in many parts of the country, little or no progress seem to have been made in this direction.
“The government’s human rights record remained poor and it continued to commit numerous human rights abuses. Security forces committed numerous unlawful killings. They engaged in torture, beatings and other abuses, particularly of detainees and prisoners… Prison conditions were harsh and life threatening.
Authorities arbitrarily arrested and detained anglophone citizens advocating secession, local human rights monitors and activists and other citizens… There were reports of prolonged and sometimes incommunicado pre-trial detention and infringement on citizens’ privacy rights…
Other problems included official corruption, societal violence and discrimination against women; female genital mutilation (FGM); trafficking in persons, primary children; discrimination against pygmies and ethnic minorities, and discrimination against homosexuals,” the report reads in part.
The report has similar indications to that of Transparency International, TI, when it published its corruption perception index for 2007; the abuse of power by administrative officials, police extortion, the emasculation of the judiciary by the executive arm of government and poor management of elections.
The US report, in detail, highlighted acts either by government or individuals that infringed on the rights of individuals or group of people, throughout the year. It took interest in government’s efforts to keep the private press weak, through arrests, torture, detention, information hoarding and other administrative means; and to project itself through the State media; CRTV and Cameroon Tribune. Also, government’s repressive measures against the Southern Cameroons National Council, SCNC, were brought to the fore.
However, the report acknowledged that neither the government nor its agents carried out any politically motivated killings. Besides, it said the National Security boss has taken measures over the past three years to equip, sanitise and make the police professional. It also highlighted government’s collaboration with the United Nation’s High Commission for Refugees, UNHCR, and other international bodies in protecting and housing thousands of refugees in central and West Africa.
The year 2008 appears more precarious for Cameroon’s human rights situation, especially as it started with the unpopular bid by the ruling CPDM party to modify the Constitution to extend the mandate of the President of the Republic; the killings, torture, arrests and jailing of demonstrators of the February nationwide upheaval.
Even though international bodies such as the US Embassy and the European Union have advocated for a national consensus on the modification of the Constitution, it is unlikely that government would heed to it. Observers hold that if the Constitution is modified without a national consensus, the government would be denying citizens the right of participating in major decisions concerning their wellbeing.
But the citizens share the blame for the poor human rights situation. The report did not only fault government alone but implicated citizens for perpetrating child labour and child trafficking, prostitution and other vices which government failed to check.
The issue of human rights violation in Cameroon rests not solely with government, but with the citizens that are largely ignorant of their rights.
Source: The Post – 11 April 2008
