EXTERNAL (for general distribution)AI Index: AFR 17/11/91

Distr: UA/SC

UA 406/91 Torture/Legal Concern21 November 1991

CAMEROON Senfo TONKAM, student leader

Amnesty International is seriously concerned about the safety of Senfo Tonkam, a student leader, who was arrested by security forces in Douala during the night of 17/18 November 1991. His present whereabouts are unknown and there are fears that he will be tortured while held in incommunicado detention.

Senfo Tonkam was arrested after attending a meeting organised in Douala by the coordinating committee of Cameroon opposition parties at which he was representing a student organization. It appears that he may be a prisoner of conscience, detained only because of his non-violent opposition to the government.

He was previously arrested in May 1991 and charged with organizing a public meeting without permission. He was convicted in July 1991 and received a six months' suspended sentence.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION:

Amnesty International continues to receive reports of the torture and ill-treatment of prisoners in Cameroon. During 1991 there has been an emerging pattern of short-term detention and ill-treatment in police custody. In September 1991 at least 15 prominent members and leaders of newly formed-formed opposition groups were arrested in Douala and detained without charge for about 24 hours. During this time they were reported to have been tortured and ill-treated and held in harsh and unsanitary conditions (see Cameroon: Torture and ill-treatment, AI Index: AFR 17/09/91, of November 1991).

RECOMMENDED ACTION: Telegrams/telexes/faxes/express and airmail letters:

- expressing concern about reports that Senfo Tonkam was arrested in Douala during the night of 17/18 November 1991;

- urging that he be humanely treated while in detention;

- appealing for his place of detention to be made known, and for him to be allowed immediate access to a lawyer, members of his family and a doctor of his own choice;

- calling for him to be released immediately if, as it appears, he has been detained solely because of his non-violent opposition to the government.

Page 2 of UA 406/91

APPEALS TO

1) President:

Son Excellence Monsieur Paul Biya Monsieur le Président

Président de la République Dear Mr President

Palais de la Présidence

1000 Yaoundé, Cameroon

Telegrams: President Biya, Yaounde, Cameroon

Faxes: + 237 22 08 07

Telexes: 8207 PRESID KN

8230 PRESID2 KN

8595 PRESID B KN

2) Prime Minister:

M. Sadou Hayatou Monsieur le Premier Ministre

Premier Ministre Dear Prime Minister Palais de la Présidence

1000 Yaoundé

Cameroon

Telegrams: Premier Ministre Hayatou, Yaounde, Cameroon

3) Director of National Security:

Monsieur Jean Fochivé Monsieur le Directeur

Directeur Sûreté nationale Dear Director

Centre national d'études et de recherches

Yaoundé, Cameroon

Telegrams: Directeur Surete nationale Fochive, Yaounde, Cameroon

COPIES TO SOME OF THE FOLLOWING NEWSPAPERS:

La Gazette, BP 5485, Douala, Cameroon

Le Mont Cameroon, BP 3979, Douala, Cameroon

Cameroon Post, BP 1981, Yaoundé, Cameroon

Peuple d'Afrique, BP 1287, Yaoundé, Cameroon

and to diplomatic representatives of Cameroon in your country

PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY. Check with the International Secretariat, or your section office, if sending appeals after 2 January 1992.