Cameroon: 4 gay detainees seek pre-trial release from prison’s miseries
While awaiting trial, one man was allegedly drugged and sexually abused.
This is the third article in a three-part series on the treatment of four prisoners at New Bell Prison in Douala, Cameroon, who are awaiting trial after being arrested during a Sept. 30 raid on the offices of the anti-AIDS and pro-LGBT-rights organization Alternatives Cameroon. The earlier articlea in the series were “Four gay men forced to undergo anal exams after their arrest” and “Malnourished gay detainees get food delivery from Project Not Alone”.
Four detainees who are being held at New Bell Prison in Douala, Cameroon, pending trial on homosexuality charges are seeking provisional release rather than waiting until the next court hearing in the case, scheduled for Nov. 13.
The four were among 13 people arrested and detained during a police raid at the Alternatives Cameroon office in Douala on Sept. 30. The other nine have either been freed without charges or released on bail pending their trial on homosexuality-related charges.
Last week, detained peer educator Oumarou Ousmanou, allegedly was allegedly drugged and sexually abused by other prisoners. according to an attorney and the deputy executive director of Alternatives Cameroon, where Ousmarou worked to educate LGBT community members about HIV / AIDS.
The detainees have been abandoned by their families, who are angry with them because of the nature of the charges against them.
All four of the remaining detainees are accused of complicity in homosexuality. They are:
- Oumarou;
- Denis Watonawa, psychological counselor for Alternatives;
- Fotie Zidane, peer educator for Alternatives; and
- Hermine Ngo Ndaptie, drop-in center manager for Alternatives.
In addition, a 17-year-old client of Alternatives who was arrested in the raid has accused Watonawa of having sexual relations with him. The youth has been set from without being charged.
Alternatives Cameroon is a non-profit that advocates for LGBTI rights and fights AIDS by providing health information and treatment.
Journalist and human rights activist Jean Jacques Dissoke met with the detainees on Oct. 14 along with a lawyer and staff from a legal clinic in Douala.
He noted that the detainees had suffered a considerable loss of weight because they have been receiving so little food. He delivered a package of food to them that was supplied by Project Not Alone.
JAPSSO, a non-governmental organization based in Cameroon, offered to secure cells for the detainees, deliver additional food packages and provide needed medications.
At the meeting, the detainees urged their supporters to negotiate for provisional release.
Dissoke and the attorney agreed to try, although one attorney expressed pessimism about that prospect. The attorney stated, “The opportunity for requesting their release will be studied, but we cannot be optimistic that the accused will be released immediately. Unfortunately, we may have to wait a few weeks.”
