Tamfu Saga: Rights group calls for punishment of lawyer’s abusers
The Network of Human Rights Defenders in Central Africa, REDHAC, has expressed its indignation at the ill-treatment of Barrister Tamfu Richard by gendarmes on November 27.
The incident which took place in Douala showed Tamfu being shoved into the boot of a pickup truck.
REDHAC’s executive director Maximiliene Ngo Mbe said that this sort of behavior by gendarmes towards human rights defenders, journalists and particularly towards Tamfu, was unacceptable.
Ngo Mbe called for sanctions against the perpetrators, insisting these must include physical, psychological, material and financial compensation for Barrister Tamfu as a result of the degrading and inhuman treatment meted on him by the security forces. Mrs Ngo Mbe said Barrister Tamfu remains traumatized as a result of the incident.
Barrister Tamfu had asked his client to resist an arrest protesting that summons does not mean arrest. The client was however arrested and the lawyer molested for protesting. While Tamfu was taken to the hospital after an intervention from the Cameroon Bar Council, the woman remained in Gendarme custody at the Groupement in Douala.
At press time, CNA could not verify claims that the gendarmes involved had already been arrested, but the Secretary of State at the ministry of defence in charge of national gendarmerie, Galaxy Etoa had asked for an inquiry into the matter within 72 hours.
