Northwest Journalists Write to Biya

Journalists of the North West Region have written to the head of state, President Biya decrying the poor treatment and sidelining of journalists of the private media during public manifestations. In a letter signed by over 17 practicing journalists of the private media, the journalists complained bitterly that journalists of the independent media (print and audio visual) were sidelined during the 50^th anniversary celebration of the Armed Forces in Bamenda. Beside, they also mentioned that during the 2011 Presidential elections, Northwest journalists were still sidelined. More so, they say that even when a Minister visits the region, the private press is always treated as if they do not have the right to information. Northwest journalists also observed that 10 million FCFA has been disbursed to other regions to enable journalists cover the upcoming senatorial election, yet they been sidelined. They however observed that few unscrupulous and misguided collaborators of the head of state who are in “government are busy destroying” the good intention of the head of state “in the hope that we will be mute as usual”.

Accordingly, the journalists called on the head of state to look into their worries and that if funds have been allocated to facilitate private media houses do their job during the April 14, 2013, senatorial elections, media houses based in the North West region should as well be given their own share. The journalists further disclosed that if by March 25, 2013, no response have come to them, they will boycott all public manifestations. To some, this was gross marginalization and as such they would not fold their arms and watch at injustice.

Information filtering into our desk also indicates that Newspaper Publishers based in the Northwest Region have convened a crisis meeting in Bamenda tomorrow. According to the hint, newspaper publishers are also expected to take another drastic decision to boost the decision earlier taken by journalists.

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