240 Journalists killed in four years

A tribute to fallen journalists presented by CJA President, HRH Chief Foanyi Nkemayang Paul,  during commemorative activities of WPFD organized by CANPA in Bamenda, on Sunday 3 May 2015

 Ladies and Gentlemen,
Here we come again in Bamenda, after the World Press Freedom Day celebrations in Buea in 2014 that reincarnate troubled memories after very successful celebrations. Thank God, the truth can only be delayed and no one can kill it, no matter how strong.
    This very important presentation is anchored on a Tribute to fallen colleagues worldwide who died or were killed in the Herculean task of carrying out their exacting duties.
    But before I delve into this very challenging and emotional tribute, it is imperative for us to be reminded once more of the meaning and importance of the World Press Freedom Day.
    May 3 every year is a date that we celebrate the fundamental principles of Press Freedom, to evaluate Press Freedom around the world, to defend the media from attacks on its independence, and to pay tribute to journalists who lost their lives in the exercise of their delicate and challenging profession.
    May 3 was proclaimed World Press Freedom Day by the United Nations General Assembly in 1993 following a recommendation adopted at the 26th session of the UNESCO General Assembly in 1991.
    That said, it is important to pay glowing tribute to our colleagues who, in pursuing the cardinal objectives of their profession, met their untimely and very regrettable deaths. 
    According to the Committee to Protect Journalists with Headquarters in New York, USA, 74 Journalists were killed in 2012, 70 in 2013, 74 in 2014 and 21 have been slain in the first quarter of 2015.
    Some of the most traumatic and heart-breaking killings were the hacking to death of five Journalists in Libya last month by ISIS terrorists, and the shooting to death of a Journalist and wife by Al Shabab militants in Somalia.     In fact, they were murdered in their sleep.

It is important to know that we are paying tribute to 226 Journalists who died between the years of 2012 – 2015 for the love of their job.
2012 appeared to be a turbulent year for Journalists as 900 were also reportedly arrested, tortured and 2000 threatened or physically attacked by dictatorial regime forces, while 40 were kidnapped by terrorists.
    A statistical graphic chart shows that Journalists are most hunted when they turn their searchlights on the following sectors for investigative Journalism, viz, Politics 69%; War 59%; Human Rights 54%; Corruption 15%; Crime 10%; and Culture 5%. (Source, Committee to Protect Journalists).
    A report by UNESCO, CPJ, point to Yemen, Libya, Bangladesh, Philippines, Myanmar, Egypt, Somalia, et al as most dangerous countries for media practitioners  because they could be victims of  misdirected fire from terrorists’ smoking guns, landmines or bomb blasts at anytime.
    We are fortunate this bleak picture of deaths and kidnappings is yet to rear its ugly head in our country, for this, we should be grateful to the Almighty Father who lives in Heaven.
    Be that as it may, we must be careful with our practice. If there is anything that can push the Cameroonian Journalist to fall by the way side and be looked on as adventurers, it is corruption, practiced by some unscrupulous reporters, whose ability to blackmail, mudsling and backstab in the name of Journalism leaves much to be desired.
     The unpalatable use of words like embezzler, thief, fraudster and you name the rest, are common features on the Social Media, against innocent colleagues.
    We should embrace Investigative Journalism as the golden rule else we shall undoubtedly be cited for defamation.
    As President of the Commonwealth Journalists Association (CJA) – Cameroon and Adviser of Cameroon Anglophone Newspapers Publishers Association (CANPA), I have, on several occasions preached against decriminalization of media offences without mincing words because these are some of the Core Values and Principles of the Commonwealth of Nations.
    Can a people, not guilty of offences, be branded with these despicable titles with the knowledge of their wives, children and peoples?  What legacy will such victims of circumstances leave behind if the truth is not known?
    It is said that the pen is mightier than the sword, so, no one should groan in silence if he or she were to be murdered by fire spitting pens based on falsehood and hearsay.
    While we maintain our clarion call for decriminalization, the Laws that govern us must be respected to the latter.  Law No. 90/052 of December 19, 1990 on Freedom of Mass Communication and the Cameroon Criminal Procedure Code must be strictly interpreted and respected. These Laws must be a guide in the practice of Journalism until the year we succeed in changing some obnoxious sections through Parliament.
    Many Cameroonian Journalists are today either in the Law Courts or at the National Communication Council on media related offences. When the Minister of Communication recently dragged some media houses to the NCC bordering on the Head of State’s health, some of us cried foul. It was not worth crying because the Criminal Procedure Code allows for private prosecution.  If they have their facts, they will surely be vindicated. I say it again, let Investigative Journalism and the truth be our Bible.
    May we now rise in honour of our colleagues who lost their lives and some of those facing political persecution tagged on professional offences in Egypt, Somalia, Yemen, etc
      
Kudos to Christine Amanpour, UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador
    While we mourn the dead and pray for those facing political persecution resulting to politically motivated detentions and torture, let us also give standing ovation to the venerated tough talking ace Journalist Christiane Amanpour of CNN for  being honoured as UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador by  the Director General of UNESCO Irina Bokova on April 29, 2015.
    This brings to total nine distinguished awards in honour of the Iranian-born-American citizen.
    We need to close ranks and work dedicatedly for the growth of the media in Cameroon so that we too can some day be distinguished like Amanpour.
    Thank you.