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Njaru v Cameroon
(2007) AHRLR 21 (HRC 2007)
CAMEROON
Communication 1353/2005, Philip Afuson Njaru v Cameroon
Decided at the 89th session, 19 March 2007, CCPR/C/89/D/1353/
2005
Persecution of journalist
Evidence (failure of state to respond to allegations, 4, 5.2)
Admissibility (exhaustion of local remedies, complaints not
investigated, 5.2)
Cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment (torture, conditions of
detention, 6.1)
Personal liberty and security (arbitrary arrest and detention, no
warrant or charges, 6.2; no reasons given for arrest, complaints
not investigated, 6.2; death threats, 6.3)
Expression (persecution because of opinions expressed, 6.4)
1. The author of the communication is Mr Philip Afuson Njaru, a
national of Cameroon. He claims to be a victim of violations by
Cameroon of articles 7; 9(1) and (2); 10(1); and 19(2) all read in
conjunction with article 2(3) of the International Covenant on Civil
and Political Rights. He is represented by counsel, Mr Boris Wijkström
of the World Organization Against Torture (OMCT). The Covenant and
the Optional Protocol to the Covenant both entered into force for the
state party on 27 September 1984.
The facts as presented by the author
2.1. The author is a journalist and well-known human rights
advocate in Cameroon. Since 1997, the author has been a victim of
systematic acts of persecution by various agents of the state. He
recounts these incidents as follows. On 1 May 1997, Mr HN, Chief of
Post for the Immigration Police in Ekondo-Titi (Ndia Division), in the
presence of police constable PNE, warned the author that he would
‘deal with him’, should he continue to publish ‘unpatriotic’ articles,
accusing police officers of corruption and alleging that constable PNE
had raped a pregnant Nigerian woman.
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