(RSF/IFEX) – On 18 March 2003, RSF called on the Cameroonian government to rescind its decision to close Magic FM, a privately-owned radio station based in Yaoundé. The move was announced by Communications Minister Jacques Fame Ndongo on 14 March. The radio station’s closure comes less than one month after the authorities shut down two […]
(RSF/IFEX) – On 18 March 2003, RSF called on the Cameroonian government to rescind its decision to close Magic FM, a privately-owned radio station based in Yaoundé. The move was announced by Communications Minister Jacques Fame Ndongo on 14 March. The radio station’s closure comes less than one month after the authorities shut down two privately-owned television channels, RTA and Canal 2, on 19 February (see IFEX alert of 17 March 2003).
“These decisions are unacceptable, especially since they prevent the population from forming an objective assessment of the performance of President Paul Biya’s government at time when the country is heading toward elections,” RSF Secretary-General Robert Ménard said. A presidential election is due to be held in the first quarter of 2004.
Magic FM is accused of “affront to the president and state institutions”, making “calls for sedition”, “dissemination of false news” and generally “disturbing the peace and moral standards”. One of the station’s programmes, “Magic Attitude”, often criticised President Biya. The station accused Biya of financing sects led by former Rosicrucian Raymond Bernard, founder of the “Renewed Order of the Temple” and “Circes” sects. Magic FM also drew attention to the embezzlement of funds assigned to a road project and the fact that several Biya associates held more than one government post at the same time. The station also criticised the banning of the weekly “La Tribune de l’Est” by the minister of local government and decentralisation.
