"Canal International" cameraman Freddy Nkoue was covering a trial involving leaders of opposing factions of a political party.
(JED/IFEX) – On 17 September 2009, “Canal International” cameraman Freddy Nkoue was attacked and beaten in the Douala courthouse by two police officers named Ndingie and Nyonga. Nkoue was at the courthouse to cover a trial involving leaders of two opposing factions of the Union of the Peoples of Cameroon (UPC), a political party. “Canal International” is a private television station based in Douala, the second largest city in Cameroon.
Contacted by JED, Nkoue said he had placed his camera’s tripod in the courthouse while awaiting the return of the journalist who had gone to ask the authorities’ permission to cover the trial. He was approached by two police officers who ordered him to stop filming and began to beat him. Nkoue’s camera was damaged, his clothes torn and his belongings were taken away by police. He managed to escape bare-chested with a fractured left hand.
Asked about the motive for the attack, Nkou said he had not filmed the police officers or the courthouse building before receiving official authorisation to do so.
