§ Mr. ChaytorTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of Cameroon in respect of the arrest of Justice Frederick Ebong, Chief Ayamba and James Sam Sabum; and what assurances he has been given concerning(a) their welfare, (b) their condition and (c) location of their detention. [110066]
§ Mr. HainJustice Ebong, Chief Ayamba and James Sabum were arrested on 8 and 9 January and are being held in Yaounde for firearm offences, following their alleged participation in demonstrations in the South West. Prison conditions are being monitored by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
We regularly raise our concerns about human "right"s and prison conditions with the Government of Cameroon (GoC). We have urged them to respect human "right"s and their international obligations. We have also called on them to charge prisoners within 72 hours, as stipulated by Cameroonian law. We did this most recently on 1 February. We will continue to monitor the situation carefully.
§ Mr. ChaytorTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received which estimate the total number of members of the Southern Cameroons National Council detained in Yaounde, Buea and Limbe following demonstrations held on 8 and 9 January. [110067]
§ Mr. HainThe British High Commission in Yaounde has received reports that 25 SCNC members were arrested following these incidents. We are concerned about this as we are about the general deterioration in human "right"s in the Cameroon.
§ Mr. ChaytorTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received which estimate the total number of English-speaking political prisoners in Nkondengui Prison, Yaounde, Cameroon. [110068]
§ Mr. HainWe are aware that 25 English-speaking prisoners are being held in Nkondengui Prison, Yaounde. They were arrested for alleged firearms offences.