CAMEROON: JUSTICE MINISTER DISCUSSES REFORM PRIORITIES IN

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 YAOUNDE 000237

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE FOR AF/C AND DRL
STATE FOR USAID

E.O. 12958: N/W
TAGS: PHUM PGOV CM
SUBJECT: CAMEROON: JUSTICE MINISTER DISCUSSES REFORM PRIORITIES IN
LIGHT OF HRR


1. (SBU) The Government of Cameroon (GRC) acknowledges the
persistence of significant human rights violations in Cameroon, but
is committed to stepping up investigations and punishment of
violators, according to Amadou Ali, the Vice Prime Minister and
Minister of Justice. Ambassador, accompanied by Poloff, met
recently with Ali to discuss the recently-released Human Rights
Report for Cameroon, the protracted incarceration of employees of
American transport company Le Car, and the GRC's anti-corruption
efforts (septel).

Protracted Incarceration of Le Car Staff
--------------


2. (SBU) On February 27, Ambassador met with Ali to follow up on a
letter she sent him to request further information regarding the
arrest and continued incarceration of four Cameroonian nationals
working for the Le Car bus company, a subsidiary of American
investor Transnational Automotive Group (TAUG). Ali provided the
GRC's version of events, saying the arrests were made pursuant to
allegations that members of Le Car's guard force (contracted from
G4S) assaulted a Cameroonian magistrate on orders from the Le Car
bus station manager. Ali's account differed substantially from what
Le Car has told us, but Ali admitted that, under Cameroon's new
criminal procedure code, the four individuals should have been
granted bail rather than kept incarcerated for more than three weeks
while awaiting a hearing. Ali assured the Ambassador that the four
would be granted bail as soon as they requested it. (Note. TAUG
officials told the Embassy that the four individuals were released
on bail within the week. Their trial date is still pending. End
note.)

Pre-Judging the HRR
--------------


3. (SBU) Admitting that he hadn't read the courtesy copy of the
2008 HRR the Ambassador sent him the day it was released, Ali
launched into a commentary on the HRR process, saying foreigners who
commented on the human rights situation in Cameroon were never
willing to acknowledge steps the GRC had taken to improve the
situation and often compiled their reports without having visited
Cameroon. Ambassador and Poloff explained that the USG dedicated
substantial resources to compiling the annual HRR and highlighted
GRC progress whenever appropriate, as had been done in the 2008 HRR
for those areas (including corruption, prisons, women's rights and
other issues) where there had been meaningful positive
developments.

Cameroon's Mentality: "Authority Before Justice"
-------------- ---


4. (SBU) Ali said he is trying to change the prevailing mentality
among Cameroonian magistrates, which is to "throw someone in jail
first, then to reflect on what he might have done," a legacy of
Cameroon's turbulent early years of independence, when "authority
took priority over justice." To illustrate this point, Ali pointed
out that there are fewer than 60 courts at all levels in Cameroon to
dispense justice, while "authority" is exercised by 500
administrative units, 1,000 gendarmerie units, 400-500 intelligence
(DGRE) offices and dozens of military units. Ali estimated that
Cameroon currently incarcerates about 24,000 people, of whom about
4,000 should be released on bail under the new criminal procedure
code. To relieve the burden on the justice system, Ali said he is
hiring more magistrates (especially to handle cases in Douala,
Cameroon's largest city) and seeking to integrate traditional courts
into the formal justice system to handle pedestrian civil disputes.

Prisons Are a Priority
--------------


5. (SBU) Saying that prison reform remains a top priority, Ali
predicted that "Cameroon's prisons will be completely revamped
within three years." Ali reviewed the GRC's plans to spend 1.2
billion CFA (about $2.4 million) in a joint program with the EU to
construct new prisons and refurbish existing structures. For the
first time in Cameroon's history, the prison budgets include line
items for medications, Ali boasted.

Better the Minister You Know...
--------------


6. (SBU) Comment. Ali was customarily prickly in denouncing
foreign finger-waggers and defending Cameroon's justice system while
at the same time admitting its shortcomings. Ali is a stalwart of
the "authority before justice" regime and he played a central role
in the GRC's questionable response to the riots of February 2008,
but his long record of service is marked by uncommon competence and
integrity. Our contacts still wax eloquent about his unparalleled
effectiveness as Minister of Defense (1997-2001). Mindful that the

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next Minister of Justice might not offer the same opportunities for
engagement and reform, we have already begun coordinating with other
donors to identify some shared priorities for short-term action.
End comment.