cameroon: CPJ deplores worsening press freedom climate

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IFEX - News from the international freedom of expression community
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ACTION ALERT UPDATE - CAMEROON

24 April 2003

CPJ deplores worsening press freedom climate

SOURCE: Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), New York

**Updates IFEX alerts of 18 and 16 April, 19 and 17 March 2003**

(CPJ/IFEX) - In a 22 April 2003 letter to President Paul Biya, CPJ expressed
great concern over the deteriorating press freedom climate in Cameroon
following the detention of three journalists from Cameroon's only
independent daily, "Mutations", and the closure of the private radio station
Magic FM.

On 13 April, the Société de presse et d'édition du Cameroun (Sopécam), a
state-owned printing press, refused to publish the Monday 14 April edition
of the Yaoundé-based "Mutations". Police later seized the computer disk
containing that edition of the paper and detained two of the printer's
employees for questioning.

Local sources said that the seizure of the disk was prompted by an extensive
report on President Biya's succession titled, "After Biya: The Uncertainties
of the End of His Rule," which was to appear in Monday's edition. The report
discussed the possible political and ethnic turmoil that
could ensue in the event of Biya's retirement.

On 14 April, police went to "Mutations"' offices and detained the
newspaper's publisher, Haman Mana. Mana was released later that night and
was told to return to the station the next day with the journalists who were
responsible for the article.

On 15 April, Mana, editor-in-chief Alain Blaise Batongué and editor Emmanuel
Gustave Samnick reported to the police station. The three were detained all
day, questioned about the article, and released early that evening,
journalists at "Mutations" said.

The newspaper was unable to publish on 14 and 15 April. When officials found
that "Mutations"' 16 April edition contained the same report, police began
seizing copies of the paper from vendors as it appeared on the streets.

The harassment of the "Mutations" journalists follows the mid-March closure
of the private radio station Magic FM. Authorities accuse the broadcaster of
"insulting the president and state institutions", disseminating "false
information", "calling for sedition" and "disturbing moral standards".
Journalists in Yaoundé said that in the weeks before the station was
shuttered, Magic FM had broadcast political debates and call-in shows during
which listeners criticized President Biya's frequent trips abroad, his
appointment of government officials to multiple posts, and government
corruption.

In February, the government suspended the operation of two local television
networks, RTA and Canal 2. Authorities claimed that the suspensions were for
licensing violations, because the networks were only allowed to broadcast
foreign-produced programs and had begun airing locally produced shows
instead. Cameroonian journalists told CPJ they believe the licensing
requirement was a pretext, and that the suspensions were related to the
political nature of the local shows that the networks had broadcast.

The censorship of these news outlets, which are reporting on matters of
legitimate public concern, and the harassment of journalists who are merely
doing their jobs, is alarming, said CPJ. Although presidential elections are
a year away, political activity is increasing. This trend of silencing any
media that carry criticism of President Biya seems designed to intimidate
the press and to stifle political debate.

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Send appeals to the president:
- calling on him to do everything in his power to see that authorities cease
harassing journalists in reprisal for their work
- urging him to allow Magic FM to restart broadcasts immediately

APPEALS TO:

President Paul Biya
Palais de L'Unité
Yaoundé, Cameroon
Fax: +237 233 022

Please copy appeals to the source if possible.

For further information, contact Yves Sorokobi (ext. 112) at CPJ, 330
Seventh Ave., New York, NY 10001, U.S.A., tel: +1 212 465 1004, fax: +1 212
465 9568, e-mail: [email protected], [email protected], Internet:
http://www.cpj.org/

The information contained in this action alert update is the sole
responsibility of CPJ. In citing this material for broadcast or publication,
please credit CPJ.
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