Press freedom day:

Recent press freedom ranking nails Cameroon

By Nche Jude Mbah in Yaounde

An international watchdog on press freedom ‘Reporters Without Boundaries’ has ranked Cameroon 130th among 180 countries in a recent classification, thereby rubbishing recent claims by the minister of communication, IssaTchiromaBakary, that journalists in Cameroon are free and independent. Cameroon regressed four places compared to 2016 when it ranked 126th.

                The watchdog noted that Cameroon is a “Not Press Free Country” where there is a massive crackdown on the press.

                Fielding questions from journalists at a recent press conference in Yaounde, IssaTchiroma maintained that Cameroon was the lone country in the world where freedom of press is a cherished government policy.

                He noted that there were no journalists jailed in Cameroon because of the practice of their profession, and that all the pressmen languishing in jail in Yaounde are charged with crimes not related to their profession.

                this year's press freedom day unfolded, the International Organization for the Defense of Journalists hinted that media professionals in Cameroon are constantly under police harassment and arbitrary arrest.

                It added that the Yaounde regime operates a vicious media regulatory board known as the National Communication Council that regularly shuts down independent news organizations and regretted that Journalists were arrested during demonstrations in the English-speaking regions where Internet connection was cut off in January 2017 for three months.

                In a way of celebrating the day, Some news reporters grouped under the National Union of Cameroon Journalists, SNJC converged on Buea and demanded the unconditional release of all Southern Cameroon journalists arrested during the current Anglophone uprising.

                They marched through the streets of Buea brandishing placards calling on the government to stop harassing journalists. Others held banners with messages calling for the release of some six Anglophone journalists so far arrested this year.

                The newsmen lamented over the 10-year jail term slammed on the Radio France Internationale (RFI) reporter, Ahmed Abba, for his coverage of the Boko Haram insurgency in Northern Cameroon. 

                Noting that at least ten other journalists are equally in detention in Cameroon, they wondered if this is the country that prides itself as a press freedom hub.

                The World Press Freedom Day commemoration in the South West region of Cameroon was observed with journalists appearing in black, signifying the stifling of Press Freedom.

Kum Leonard, President of SNJC revealed that some journalists have been forced to go into hiding, while others like CRTV’s John MbahAkuroh and Tina Nene Nganda have fled the country.

Watchdog on Tchiroma’s throat over detention of Journalists

                Independent press freedom advocacy organization, Committee to Protect Journalists, CPJ, has requested IssaTchiromaBakary, Minister of Communication, to explain the circumstances that led to the arrest and detention of at least eight journalists in the country.

                In a letter dated March 1, and signed by CPJ’s Africa Program Coordinator, Angela Quintal, CPJ insists Tchiroma should give reasons for the detention of the journalists arrested on separate occasions. The outfit which defends the right of journalists to report the news without fear of reprisal also wants the Communication Minister who doubles as Government Spokesman to indicate where the journalists are being held as well as their current legal status.

                Going by CPJ, AtiaTilariousAzohnwi of The Sun newspaper, Amos Fofung of The Guardian Post newspaper, Thomas Awah Junior of Aghem Messenger magazine, MoforNdong of Voice of the Voiceless newspaper, Hans Achumba of Jakiri Community Radio, Tim Finnian of Life Time newspaper, Jean Claude Agbortem of CamerVeritas online magazine, and Medjo Lewis of La Détente Libre newspaper are imprisoned for their work as journalists.

                Tchiroma had told CPJ by telephone on February 15, that government is “completely transparent” and that “people are free to speak their mind.”

                “You [Tchiroma] further said no journalist was in prison in Cameroon and that journalists should not ‘pretend to be arrested for their work.’ You [Tchiroma] requested that we forward you a list of detained journalists. We [CPJ] did this privately the same day and repeatedly but unsuccessfully attempted to follow up with you [Tchiroma] directly,” CPJ stated in a recent communication to Tchiroma.

                The press freedom advocacy organization challenged Tchiroma, who is noted for inconsistencies in his declarations, to reconcile his contention that no journalists are jailed in the country with the recent findings of the National Commission on Human Rights and Freedoms.

                “On February 20, the National Commission on Human Rights and Freedoms (NCHRF), an official body, confirmed the detention of at least five journalists. Since then we [CPJ] have heard reports of at least three other journalists jailed in Cameroon,” CPJ noted.

                By press time, we gathered on good authority Tchiroma had received the CPJ correspondence but was yet to react to it.

Since the Anglophone crisis erupted last year, government has intensified its crackdown on the media, particularly in the two English speaking regions.

                The government has taken steps to stifle communication as it shut down the internet in the South West and North West Regions; a move the UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of expression David Kaye described as “an appalling violation of [the] right to freedom of expression.”

                Journalists and media organs have been threatened with arrest for reporting, media houses have been closed while government continues to hunt journalists.