This is the second article in a three-part series on the treatment of four prisoners at New Bell Prison in Douala, Cameroon, who are awaiting trial after a Sept. 30 raid on the offices of the anti-AIDS and pro-LGBT-rights organization Alternatives Cameroon. The first article in the series was “Four gay men forced to undergo anal exams after their arrest”.
This food from Project Not Alone was delivered last week to four gay men imprisoned at New Bell Prison in Douala, Cameroon. (Photo by Jean Jacques Dissoke)
By Steeves Winner
Four gay prisoners at New Bell Prison in Douala, Cameroon, are malnourished, but they want much more than just food.
They were among the 13 people arrested and detained during a raid on the offices of the anti-AIDS and pro-LGBT-rights organization Alternatives Cameroon on Sept. 30. While the other nine arrestees were either released on bail or freed without facing any charges, four detainees remain in prison awaiting a court hearing scheduled for Nov. 13.
A lawyer who visited the detainees at the police station after six days in custody said they were “very thin and very worried about the direction of the investigation.” They had no money for food or living expenses, so the lawyer paid for water and some food for them out of his own pocket.
Journalist and LGBTI rights activist Jean Jacques Dissoke proposed that Project Not Alone (Projet Pas Seul) should provide them with food. That project, which is sponsored by this website and St. Paul’s Foundation for International Reconciliation, has been feeding and assisting innocent imprisoned victims of homophobia in Cameroon and Nigeria since 2019. The initiative uses readers’ donations to provide LGBT prisoners with food, hygiene items and legal representation and to pay their fines, which in Cameroon typically qualifies them for early release. So far, 46 innocent LGBT prisoners have won early release through Project Not Alone.
With about US $174 of the project’s funds, Dissoke purchased and delivered eggs, salt, cooking oil, peanuts, chocolate, rice and hygienic soap for the four prisoners.
The men were appreciative, but said they would prefer to receive financial assistance for their needs rather than food packages. They say they have not received food assistance in prison.
These are the detainees, who all face homosexuality-related charges.
- Denis Watonawa, psychological counselor for Alternatives;
- Oumarou Ousmanou, peer educator for Alternatives;
- Fotie Zidane, peer educator for Alternatives; and
- Hermine Ngo Ndaptie, drop-in center manager for Alternatives,
In Cameroon, homosexual activity is punishable by up to five years in prison.
A 17-year-old client of Alternatives who was arrested in the raid accused psychological counselor Denis Watonawa of having sexual relations with him. The youth was then set free.
In discussing the 17-year-old, Alternatives said the youth’s mother “refused any contact with her son and said that Alternatives Cameroun would be responsible for the ‘destruction of her son’s life’ and that she did not want to hear anything from people who would come from this organization. She was visibly still in shock and will need psychological support or counseling herself.”
While in custody, Hermine was confronted with a possible charge related to ARV anti-HIV drugs at the reception center. When investigators raised this issue, she did not have a lawyer. She did not sign the statement and investigators did not continue this series of interrogations, Alternatives said.
According to a lawyer for those arrested, the Sept. 30 raid purportedly targeted Alternatives for alleged clandestine practice of medicine, as well as alleged human trafficking and homosexuality. No charges have been filed in connection with those allegations.
Steeves Winner, the author of this article, is a Cameroonian journalist who writes under a pseudonym. Contact him at [email protected].
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