(RSF/IFEX) – On 15 April 2003, RSF warned that press freedom in Cameroon has sharply deteriorated with the arrest of Haman Mana, editor of the country’s only privately-owned daily newspaper, “Mutations”, and the seizure of the paper’s 14 April issue. “For the past few months, the authorities have taken a tough line with the independent […]
(RSF/IFEX) – On 15 April 2003, RSF warned that press freedom in Cameroon has sharply deteriorated with the arrest of Haman Mana, editor of the country’s only privately-owned daily newspaper, “Mutations”, and the seizure of the paper’s 14 April issue.
“For the past few months, the authorities have taken a tough line with the independent and opposition media, undoubtedly because of next year’s presidential election,” said RSF Secretary-General Robert Ménard. “Working conditions for journalists improved last year but now things are deteriorating and people fear a return to the very repressive period of the mid-1990s,” he added.
Ménard urged President Paul Biya to do all he could to ensure the release of Mana, who was arrested at the paper’s offices in Yaounde on 14 April. He was not formally charged, but the paper’s staff said the police mentioned that a complaint had been filed by the president’s office. Mana is being held at Yaounde police headquarters and is not allowed any visitors.
During the night of 13 April, the computer disk containing the next day’s issue of “Mutations” was seized by police at the printers (Sopecam) on the orders of Defence Secretary Remy Ze Maka. Two printing foremen, Moïse Moundi and Etienne Kenfack, were questioned for several hours at Defence Ministry offices and roughed up by police. Sopecam prints Cameroon’s two daily newspapers, “Mutations” and the government paper “Cameroon Tribune”.
The 14 April issue of “Mutations” (available on the website www.quotidienmutations.net) contained an in-depth report on President Biya’s succession. The paper’s front-page headline was “After Biya: the uncertainties of an era that is ending.” Shortly before he was arrested, Mana told Agence France-Presse that the report appeared to be the reason for the seizure. Biya, in power since 1982, has not yet said whether he will stand in the 2004 election.
In March, RSF protested the closure of the Magic FM radio station and two privately-owned television stations, RTA and Canal 2 (see IFEX alerts of 19 and 17 March 2003).
