"The New Bell Prison is a dungeon, a run-down colonial structure of sub-human standard," Rev Sister Jacky Atabong

Interviewed by Ireneaus Chia Chongwain
Following a fire accident that claimed the lives of nine prisoners at the Douala New Bell Prison in the early hours of Wednesday, August 20, the Catholic Prison Apostolate is struggling to alleviate the suffering of some of the victims who are presently in some hospitals in Douala. While the cause of the fire, government and penitentiary authorities say, is yet to be determined, detention conditions at the New Bell Prison continue to be a subject of grave concern. L'Effort Camerounais contacted Sister Jacky Atabong, coordinator of Prison Pastoral Care workers in Africa, who is presently assisting victim-prisoners, to have a better insight of the situation on the ground following the August 20 incident. Excerpts:

Sister, on Wednesday, August 20, fire burnt down a large portion of New Bell Prison in Douala. You work there regularly. Have you found out what caused the fire?
There are two versions from prisoners and from prison authorities. The prisoners claim the fire was caused by a short circuit because most prisoners at the New Bell Prison claim to be electricians, so they keep connecting cables from the same cable. Since the fire was provoked by a short circuit, it spread very fast. The prisoners were all locked where they were, so they had nothing but water to put out the fire. Water conducts electricity and the flames kept spreading as the prisoners battled the flames using water. Since they were locked, they could not escape. That is why the damage was quite extensive.
Since there was a riot last month as some prisoners attempted to escape, many people thought the noise that was coming from that section was another plan to escape and the guards instead reinforced security around the prison to prevent prisoners from escaping. It is only when another prisoner destroyed the lock from outside that many had a chance to escape. Before this was done, some prisoners had already died from suffocation. Others died from stampede as the prisoners were struggling to get out of their cells.

And what is the version from the authorities?
The authorities still suspect the prisoners must have set that section of the prison in flames. They have not yet confirmed that version as they say investigations are still going on. They think some prisoners started the fire and prevented other prisoners from putting it out. However, government officials say investigations are still going on to determine what actually caused the fire.

There is a controversy about the number of people who died. You were one of the first people to get the scene after the incident. How many bodies did you see?
Nine people died from the fire disaster. There were, however, ten corpses that were taken out of the prison that morning, but one of the bodies was that of an old man who probably died from ill health or something else.

What assistance has the Prison Apostolate given to prisoners who were victims of the disaster?
We are assisting the government in its efforts to assist victims. First, we are giving the victims moral support. Many of the prisoners lost almost everything they had. Presently many do not even have a place to sleep and are now sleeping in the open air. When it rains many are forced to stand under the rain as there is no shelter.
We are also giving them medical support. The government is also helping out in this direction, but unfortunately some of the victims who were treated did not have antibiotics, so we are also providing them with some antibiotics and also helping with the dressing. We are also providing anti tetanus drugs, part of which has been provided by the government. 
We are also visiting many victims in hospital. Many of them do not have the basics as they were quickly evacuated from prison and did not have the time to take anything along. Others have lost everything they had, so we are providing them with some basic needs like tooth brushes, tooth paste, soap and towels. Those in the General Hospital are given food, but those at the Laquintinie Hospital are not given food. So we are giving them food though some of them are getting food from family members and they share with those who do not have family members. Some prisoners have given us the telephone numbers of their family members. So, we call to inform them that their relatives have problems and need their help.

In past months many prisoners have attempted to escape from the New Bell Prison. What were the detention conditions there like before the fire disaster?
Detention conditions at the New Bell Prison were and are still deplorable. The New Bell Prison is a colonial run-down structure of sub-human standard. There is poor lighting, poor ventilation and poor hygienic conditions. It was built for 800 people, but at the moment there are more than 3,500 inmates holed up there. They cannot all get into the cells, so some of them are forced to sleep outside under the rain. The toilets are bad or full and human waste has to be emptied into gutters before being flushed. Others have to pay before they use the toilet. Some cannot even bathe.
One of the cells, for example, has to hold 240 people. Since they cannot all get inside, 70 sleep inside the cell and 170 sleep outside. Another cell is for 265 detainees, 82 sleep inside and 183 prisoners have to sleep outside. Others have to stand up all night to permit others to sleep. It is only when they wake up in the morning that others can take their turns to sleep. That gives an idea of what life in New Bell is like.
The feeding condition is very bad. Prisoners are given boiled corn from January to December. The health condition there is very unsatisfactory. Prisoners who have tuberculosis or are sick are put together with those who are healthy. People would understandably not accept to live under such sub-human conditions. That is why many are attempting to escape.

What are conditions at the New Bell Prison like after the fire "accident"?
The conditions now are worse than they were before. Before the incident prisoners at least had a roof over their head, but that is no longer the case. There were at least 800 prisoners who were living in the section that has been destroyed. Presently these prisoners do not have a place to sleep. You can imagine what they are going through at the moment with the heavy rains in Douala.

What message do you have for Cameroon's penitentiary officials- those at the decision making level, we mean?
They should hurry up with the building of a new prison because what is there now is just a dungeon. It is not a place for human beings. They should build a new prison with human standards, but not at the present site. The present structure is not for human beings. Reformation facilities should also be provided. Armed robbers are put together and they have nothing to do. What do you think they are going to do? They are going to think of crime, think of new ways of carrying out crime. If they are trained things will be better for them and the society as a whole.

Comments

[Etoke Atabong]

Sister Jackie, God Bless you. Keep up the good work.

[Mtr. Valentine Nde Fru]

Dear Sister Jackie
might God continue to grace and
strengthen all the good works u
have and will continue to do for
the less fortunate. I am very very
proud that i got to know you.
All the Very Best........Valentine