Cameroon

(RSF/IFEX) – RSF has condemned the government’s shutdown of Radio Veritas, a station founded and run by Cardinal Christian Tumi, a leading critic of President Paul Biya. “We do not understand how, in the space of a few weeks, some stations have been allotted frequencies while this one has been closed down,” said the organisation’s […]

(RSF/IFEX) – Privately-owned radio station Freedom FM’s equipment was put under seal by police in May 2003. In an effort to recover his equipment, station owner Pius Njawé initiated legal action. A Douala court is expected to rule on the case on 19 September. RSF has urged Communications Minister Jacques Fame Ndongo to take measures […]

(CPJ/IFEX) – In an 11 August 2003 letter to President Paul Biya, CPJ expressed concern that Rémy Ngono, a former journalist for the private, Yaoundé-based Radio Télévision Siantou (RTS), has been imprisoned on charges of criminal defamation. Ngono hosted “Kondré Chaud,” a satirical program on RTS, until last fall, when he was fired after the […]

(RSF/IFEX) – On 5 August 2003, the Yaounde National Police arrested Rémy Ngono, who hosts a satirical programme on Radio Télévision Siantou (RTS), and jailed him in Kondengui central prison. Ngono’s incarceration follows a year-old court ruling against the journalist. He had been sentenced in absentia to six months’ imprisonment with no parole for “defamation”. […]

(WAN/IFEX) – In a 27 May 2003 letter to Communications Minister Jacques Fame Ndongo, WAN and the World Editors Forum expressed serious concern at the government’s banning of the launch of the Freedom FM radio station and the threats made against three journalists. According to reports, on 23 May a state official came to the […]

(RSF/IFEX) – On 23 May 2003, in the afternoon, the offices of Freedom FM, a Douala-based private radio station, were surrounded by police officers. Communications Minister Jacques Fame Ndongo ordered the station’s closure, accusing it of operating illegally. Prior to the police action, the station had been expected to launch on 24 May. In a […]

(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 […]

(RSF/IFEX) – RSF has protested the state printing house’s (Société de presse et d’édition du Cameroun, SOPECAM) refusal to publish the newspaper “Mutations”, which is the country’s only private daily. “We are witnessing a return to prior censorship. SOPECAM’s decision proves that the authorities continue to control the news sector and that censorship has not […]

(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 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 14 March 2003, RSF expressed concern over the recent closure of two privately-owned television stations, RTA and Canal 2, which has threatened the development of diverse and independent broadcast media in Cameroon. Although the country’s laws provide for privately-owned broadcast media, the government has ignored all requests from television broadcasters for authorisation, […]

(CRN/IFEX) – The following is a 3 December 2002 CRN press release: Cartoonist Attacked at Police Check Point Cameroonian cartoonist Paul Nyemb Ntoogue (pen name: “Popoli”) is no stranger to heavy handed “Goon Squad” threats because of his satirical and hard hitting editorial cartoons. In 2000, after he received repeated anonymous phone threats against his […]

(RSF/IFEX) – On 16 June 2002, border police at Douala International Airport in Cameroon confiscated journalist Pius Njawé’s identity papers. Njawé is director of Le Messager Press Group. “Pius Njawé is once again the victim of harassment by the Cameroonian authorities. This measure constitutes a de facto travel ban, and is therefore a serious attack […]

(WiPC/IFEX) – The following is a 22 March 2002 letter to President Paul Biya by Eugene Schoulgin, the International Chair of the WiPC of International PEN: S.E. Paul Biya Président de la République Palais de l’Unité 1000 Yaoundé Cameroon Fax: +237 233 022 E-mail: celcom@camnet.cm 22 March 2002 Re: Georges Baongla Dear President Biya, I […]

(RSF/IFEX) – In a letter to Justice Minister Amadou Ali, RSF expressed its concern following the arrest of the publication director of “Le Front Indépendant” and the police’s efforts to locate and arrest the editor of “La Nouvelle Presse”. Though not wishing to comment on the details of this case, RSF urged the minister to […]

(RSF/IFEX) – In a letter to Justice Minister Amadou Ali, RSF asked for clarification following the sentencing of Georges Baongla, publication director of the weekly “Le Démenti”, to five years’ imprisonment. “Due process was seemingly not respected in this case. Firstly, Georges Baongla was not warned of his trial’s opening in October 2001. Secondly, he […]