Collective protest:

Journalists boycott May 20 celebration in Buea

By Ajongakou Santos in Buea

Civilian march past at Bongo Square Buea

A greater part of journalists and cameramen in Buea refused to cover the National Day celebration on 20 May, in the South West Regional capital. Unlike in past editions, Equinox Television, Vision 4 Television, Canal 2 International, The Post, The Sun, The Star, The Horizon and Eden Newspaper were absent at the celebrations. Reports say journalists of these news outlets boycotted the events in Buea, preferring to cover the same event in other neighboring towns.

                It was not immediately clear why these journalists chose to boycott the big event, but speculations were that they did it in show of solidarity for their colleagues of Canal 2 who had a stand-off with the South West Regional Delegation of Communication.

                The Median learned that the Regional Delegate of MINCOM deliberately refused media accreditation to Canal 2 International, after charging them CFAF 7,500 as accreditation fee. For this reason and other reasons, Canal 2 and a host of other media organs boycotted the May 20 celebration at the Buea Independence Square.

                Similarly, all media organs who managed to cover the National Day Celebration in Buea; amongst them, The Median; were each charged CFAF 1,000 for the purchase of “Fiscal Stamps” to accompany their applications. The media organs condemned this act, referring to it as “exploitation of the press”. Many questioned if it is the prerogative of the MINCOM to collect taxes for the state.

                This reporter also learned from some pressmen that officials at the MINCOM delegation in Buea frowned at journalists who refused to pay the 1000 frs in cash, preferring to affix the fiscal stamps on their applications. 

                Meantime, May 20 celebration at the Buea Independence Square (Bongo Square) was chaired by South West Governor, Bernard Okalia Bilai, in the presence of the Buea Divisional Officer, UB’s Vice Chancellor- Nalova Lyonga, Senator Mbella Moki Charles, Buea Mayor-Patrick Ekema Esunge and a host of others.

                The military parade, notably the National Gendarmerie, the Rapid Intervention Battalion (BIR), the Marine, Ex-Service men, through the motorized military parade and the civilian match past graced the celebration.

                70 Primary Schools, 45 secondary/ high schools, 20 higher and professional institutions of learning, 6 socio-cultural groups and 3 political parties (CPDM, SDF & UNDP) also marched past.

                Talking to the Median after the march past, South West Governor, Bernard Okalia Bilai challenged all inhabitants of Buea to take time and listen to and apply the patriotic songs sung by pupils and students during the march past.

                Celebrated under the theme: “Defense Forces and Dynamic Forces of the Nation, standing together to combat terrorism and preserve peace and territorial integrity”, the 3 hour event in Buea saw the award of medals to some 39 deserving Cameroonians. Amongst the medalists were the Registrar of the Cameroon GCE Board- Mr. Humphrey Ekema Monono and Justice Itoe Motanga; all decorated with the medal of Grand Officer of National Order of Valor.

                The 20th May celebration in Buea rounded up with a gala football match at the Buea School of Public Works, a musical concert and a gala night at Chariot Hotel Buea.