Philip Njaru
Encyclopedia
Philip Afuson Njaru is a Cameroon
ian investigative journalist. He has been internationally recognized for his work, but has faced widespread harassment from local authorities in his home country. In September 2008 he applied for political asylum in Norway.
, a town close to the Nigeria
n border, responded to Njaru's allegations of various corruption by warning Njaru "that he would 'deal with him', should he continue to publish 'unpatriotic' articles, accusing police officers of corruption and alleging that constable P.N.E. had raped a pregnant Nigerian woman". According to Njaru's statement, he was eventually kicked and beaten to unconsciousness by the Chief of Post in October 1997. Complaints to the local authorities were fruitless because "his complaint had disappeared from the Registry". In February 1998, Njaru, hospitalized, was approached by the constable P.N.E., who arrested him, threatened him and slapped his face.
Njaru spent parts of 1998 in hiding in Bekora Barombi. He was found and approached by the constable P.N.E.
Around May 1999, Njaru wrote a newspaper article where he alleged ill-treatment of civilians conducted by the 11th Navy Battalion
based in Ekondo-Titi. In late May Njaru was approached by the local captain who asked Njaru "to stop writing such articles and to disclose his sources". Refusing to do this, Njaru five days later found his house encircled by armed soldiers, and escaped to Kumba
. Here, he was assaulted by police in June 2001, with no particular reason stated. Njaru complained to the local authorities, but later learned that "his complaint had not been received".
Later, while still living in the Southwest Province, Njaru was threatened again in October and December 2003.
In 2006, he was accused by local police of working for the Southern Cameroons National Council
, a Southern Cameroons
secession
ist organisation. He was arrested on a bus, beaten and his gear confiscated, according to a piece written by former executive director of the World Press Freedom Committee
Marilyn Greene.
In August 2008, Njaru wrote a long complaint about alleged police fraud, arbitrary arrests and extortion of Nigerian immigrants, again in the town of Kumba.
and citing "unlawful arrest, ill-treatment and torture, threats from public authorities and failure to investigate" as the reasons for his complaint. The Committee found that Cameroon (the State party) failed to cooperate, not responding regarding the substance of Njaru's claims. Citing previous cases, the Committee found that Njaru's claims should be given weight. Concluding the case in 2007, the Committee commented "that the author [Njaru] is entitled (...) to an effective remedy" and that the state of Cameroon "is under an obligation to ensure that similar violations do not occur in the future".
He was also mentioned specifically in Amnesty International
's 2008 country report on Cameroon, as one case in a series of concerns about the human rights in Cameroon
.
He has won "multiple international awards" for his investigative journalism, among others the 2002 PEN-Novib Award, given by International PEN
and NOVIB
for "brave efforts to resist censorship". He was also given the Hellman-Hammett Grant in 2003 by Human Rights Watch
.
, Norway
. He represented the Ocean City Radio, for which he has worked the past six years. He had previously been invited to the 2007 edition of the conference, held in Toronto
, but was denied entrance into Canada
. However, although there were suspicions that Njaru might defect during the conference, no objections were raised towards his entrance into Norway. On the night before the last day of the conference, he applied for political asylum in Norway. According to Njoru himself, he had a "90% chance" of getting murdered if returning to Cameroon. Commenting on the United Nations Human Rights Committee report, which called upon a remedy as well as future protection, Njaru stated that nothing had happened in this respect.
Cameroon
Cameroon, officially the Republic of Cameroon , is a country in west Central Africa. It is bordered by Nigeria to the west; Chad to the northeast; the Central African Republic to the east; and Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and the Republic of the Congo to the south. Cameroon's coastline lies on the...
ian investigative journalist. He has been internationally recognized for his work, but has faced widespread harassment from local authorities in his home country. In September 2008 he applied for political asylum in Norway.
Work
His harassment began in May 1997, when the Chief of Post for the Immigration Police in Ekondo-TitiEkondo-Titi
Ekondo-Titi is a commune and arrondissement in the Ndian département, Southwest Province, western Cameroon.-References:*...
, a town close to the Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
n border, responded to Njaru's allegations of various corruption by warning Njaru "that he would 'deal with him', should he continue to publish 'unpatriotic' articles, accusing police officers of corruption and alleging that constable P.N.E. had raped a pregnant Nigerian woman". According to Njaru's statement, he was eventually kicked and beaten to unconsciousness by the Chief of Post in October 1997. Complaints to the local authorities were fruitless because "his complaint had disappeared from the Registry". In February 1998, Njaru, hospitalized, was approached by the constable P.N.E., who arrested him, threatened him and slapped his face.
Njaru spent parts of 1998 in hiding in Bekora Barombi. He was found and approached by the constable P.N.E.
Around May 1999, Njaru wrote a newspaper article where he alleged ill-treatment of civilians conducted by the 11th Navy Battalion
Military of Cameroon
The Cameroonian Armed Forces generally has been an apolitical force where civilian control of the military predominates. Traditional dependence on the French defense capability, although reduced, continues to be the case as French military advisers remain closely involved in preparing the...
based in Ekondo-Titi. In late May Njaru was approached by the local captain who asked Njaru "to stop writing such articles and to disclose his sources". Refusing to do this, Njaru five days later found his house encircled by armed soldiers, and escaped to Kumba
Kumba
Kumba is a city in Southwest Province, western Cameroon also known around Cameroon as K town. It had a population of 144,268 . The N8 and N16 highways meet at Kumba.- History :...
. Here, he was assaulted by police in June 2001, with no particular reason stated. Njaru complained to the local authorities, but later learned that "his complaint had not been received".
Later, while still living in the Southwest Province, Njaru was threatened again in October and December 2003.
In 2006, he was accused by local police of working for the Southern Cameroons National Council
Southern Cameroons National Council
The Southern Cameroons National Council is a self determination organisation seeking the independence of the anglophone Southern Cameroons from the francophone Republic of Cameroon . It is a non-violent organisation, and its motto is "The force of argument, not the argument of force." The current...
, a Southern Cameroons
Southern Cameroons
Southern Cameroons was the southern part of the British Mandate territory of Cameroons in West Africa. Since 1961 it is part of the Republic of Cameroon, where it makes up the Northwest Province and Southwest Province...
secession
Secession
Secession is the act of withdrawing from an organization, union, or especially a political entity. Threats of secession also can be a strategy for achieving more limited goals.-Secession theory:...
ist organisation. He was arrested on a bus, beaten and his gear confiscated, according to a piece written by former executive director of the World Press Freedom Committee
World Press Freedom Committee
The World Press Freedom Committee is a coordination group of national and international news media organizations.The WPFC set out global press freedom principles in the 1981 Declaration of Talloires , followed in 1987 by the 10-point Charter for a Free Press...
Marilyn Greene.
In August 2008, Njaru wrote a long complaint about alleged police fraud, arbitrary arrests and extortion of Nigerian immigrants, again in the town of Kumba.
International attention
In 2005 Njaru filed a case to the United Nations Human Rights Committee, evoking the International Covenant on Civil and Political RightsInternational Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights is a multilateral treaty adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on December 16, 1966, and in force from March 23, 1976...
and citing "unlawful arrest, ill-treatment and torture, threats from public authorities and failure to investigate" as the reasons for his complaint. The Committee found that Cameroon (the State party) failed to cooperate, not responding regarding the substance of Njaru's claims. Citing previous cases, the Committee found that Njaru's claims should be given weight. Concluding the case in 2007, the Committee commented "that the author [Njaru] is entitled (...) to an effective remedy" and that the state of Cameroon "is under an obligation to ensure that similar violations do not occur in the future".
He was also mentioned specifically in Amnesty International
Amnesty International
Amnesty International is an international non-governmental organisation whose stated mission is "to conduct research and generate action to prevent and end grave abuses of human rights, and to demand justice for those whose rights have been violated."Following a publication of Peter Benenson's...
's 2008 country report on Cameroon, as one case in a series of concerns about the human rights in Cameroon
Human rights in Cameroon
Human rights in Cameroon are addressed in the constitution. However, the 2009 Human Rights Report by the United States Department of State noted concerns in regards to election irregularities, security forces torture and arbitrary arrests.-Issues:...
.
He has won "multiple international awards" for his investigative journalism, among others the 2002 PEN-Novib Award, given by International PEN
International PEN
PEN International , the worldwide association of writers, was founded in London in 1921 to promote friendship and intellectual co-operation among writers everywhere....
and NOVIB
Oxfam Novib
Oxfam Novib is the Dutch affiliate of the international Oxfam organization. It is an association dedicated to establishing a fair world with no poverty in it. The organization is based in The Hague.Oxfam Novib was founded under the name Novib in 1956...
for "brave efforts to resist censorship". He was also given the Hellman-Hammett Grant in 2003 by Human Rights Watch
Human Rights Watch
Human Rights Watch is an international non-governmental organization that conducts research and advocacy on human rights. Its headquarters are in New York City and it has offices in Berlin, Beirut, Brussels, Chicago, Geneva, Johannesburg, London, Los Angeles, Moscow, Paris, San Francisco, Tokyo,...
.
Defection attempt
In September 2008 he travelled to the Global Investigative Journalism Conference in LillehammerLillehammer
is a town and municipality in Oppland county, Norway, globally known for hosting the 1994 Winter Olympics. It is part of the traditional region of Gudbrandsdal. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Lillehammer. As of May 2011, the population of the town of Lillehammer was...
, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
. He represented the Ocean City Radio, for which he has worked the past six years. He had previously been invited to the 2007 edition of the conference, held in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, but was denied entrance into Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. However, although there were suspicions that Njaru might defect during the conference, no objections were raised towards his entrance into Norway. On the night before the last day of the conference, he applied for political asylum in Norway. According to Njoru himself, he had a "90% chance" of getting murdered if returning to Cameroon. Commenting on the United Nations Human Rights Committee report, which called upon a remedy as well as future protection, Njaru stated that nothing had happened in this respect.