Dec 04, 2006

Southern Cameroons: Another Death upon Imprisonment


On 28 November 2006 Southern Cameroonian activist Philip Tete passed away, following prolonged detention under severe conditions in prison. A victim of “prolonged torture, trauma, lack of medical attention when sick and gross neglect,” states National Vice-Chairman, Nfor Ngala Nfor.

On 28 November 2006 Southern Cameroonian activist Philip Tete passed away, following prolonged detention under severe conditions in prison. A victim of “prolonged torture, trauma, lack of medical attention when sick and gross neglect,” states National Vice-Chairman, Nfor Ngala Nfor.

In a correspondence from National Chairman of the Southern Cameroons National Council (SCNC), Chief Ayamba Ette Otun, expresses grief over the bereavement of Pa Philip Tete who died in his home village Mbengwi. Prior to this he was brought from Yaoundé Prison to Bamenda Central Prison, where he fell ill, and was subsequently taken to Bamenda Provincial Hospital. As the medical doctor there found that there was no further treatment that could be given, Philip Tete was brought to his home where he died shortly after. He was buried on 02 December in Bome Nowebun, Momo County.

Chief Ayamba holds the government of La Republique du Cameroun responsible for the loss of Philip Tete, as his death follows that of Henry Nchadze, another imprisoned SCNC activist, earlier this fall. In a statement the SCNC states “They are victims of prolonged torture, trauma, lack of medical attention when sick and gross neglect. Held under inhuman and degrading conditions and denied due process of the law, their appeals have been pending for too long. They were subjected to slow death.”

Upon receiving the news of Philip Tete, Nfor Ngala Nfor, SCNC National Vice-Chairman, issued an appeal to United Nations Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial, Summary or Arbitrary Executions, Mr. Philip Alston, calling for a fact finding mission to Southern Cameroons, and intervention by the UN Human Rights Council.

“Treated as a conquered people and deprived of their inalienable right to freedom of assembly, opinion, expression, peaceful protest, even of the right to wear a T-shirt with the inscription "Southern Cameroons," they are arbitrarily arrested, tortured, kidnapped and detained in la Republique maximum security prisons where they frequently fall victim of extrajudicial and summary executions,” states Nfor.

The death of Philip Tete follows a prolonged period of persecution, including the obstruction of free assembly and arbitrary arrests, of SCNC activists by the Yaoundé authorities. UNPO expresses its condolences to the family of Mr. Tete on their tragic loss and strongly condemns the persecution of SCNC activists engaged in lawful, non-violent calls for self-determination, human rights and justice. UNPO furthermore supports the call for a fact-finding mission to La Republique du Cameroun and Southern Cameroons to establish the current situation, document critical and widespread human rights abuses, draw considerable international attention to the matter and consider further action by the United Nations and the international community.