(RSF/IFEX) – According to RSF’s information, on 3 September 1998, plainclothes police arrested Michel Michaut Moussala, editor of the privately-owned publication “Aurore Plus”, near his Douala home. He was taken to a police station in the morning, then transferred to the New Bell Prison in the afternoon. **Updates IFEX alerts of 22 and 14 January […]
(RSF/IFEX) – According to RSF’s information, on 3 September 1998,
plainclothes police arrested Michel Michaut Moussala, editor of the
privately-owned publication “Aurore Plus”, near his Douala home. He was
taken to a police station in the morning, then transferred to the New Bell
Prison in the afternoon.
**Updates IFEX alerts of 22 and 14 January 1998**
Background Information
On 13 January, the journalist was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment and
fined one million CFA francs (equivalent to 10,000 French francs). His
conviction followed a complaint lodged by Jean Tchoussa Moussa Mbatkam,
Director General of the National Ports Department of Cameroon (ONPC) and a
deputy of the Rassemblement Démocratique du Peuple Camerounais (RDPC), the
ruling party. On 16 December 1997, the paper had published an article,
titled “ONPC, Volume II, Tchouta Moussa at the centre of a failed coup”
(“ONPC, tome II, Tchouta Moussa au centre d’un coup d’Etat manqué”), in
which it accused him of having taken advantage of his position as director
of the ONPC to incite a coup (see IFEX alerts). The police officers who
arrested the editor on 3 September had a warrant issued by the courts on 14
January, the day after he was sentenced.
Recommended Action
Send appeals to the president:
Cameroon has ratified the International Covenant on Civil and Political
Rights, Article 19 of which safeguards the right to inform and be informed,
and that the country has ratified the African Charter on Human and People’s
Rights, Article 9 of which guarantees the same rights
ensure they are respected by others
release, awaiting trial
Appeals To
President Paul Biya
Presidential Palace
Yaoundé, Cameroon
Fax: +237 23 30 33/22 12 99/23 00 05Please send copies of your appeals to RSF and to the:
Ministry of Justice
Yaoundé, CameroonMinistry of Communications
Yaoundé, Cameroon
