Press Release
On the 9th of May 2016, a journalist by name Teke Julius, working for
the Cameroon Radio Television CRTV- Buea was arrested by elements of
the national gendarmerie and thrown to jail. He was on duty covering the
inspection visit by Cameroon`s Prime Minister on the various
infrastructure to host the 2016 Women`s African Cup of Nations.
The journalist who was duely assigned for that coverage, and who wore an accreditation badge for the event saw his recorder confiscated for allegedly recording the Prime Minister`s instructions to the workers. He was later handed the recorder and instructed to delete all his recordings. While attempting to do just that, he was surrounded by the gendarmerie, upon instructions by the Senior Divisional Officer for Fako, himself present in the group, and was whisked like a thief to the gendarmerie cell in Limbe.
This without regards of the rights of a journalist which should still be fresh in their minds, for, the world just celebrated the World Press Freedom Day with access to information as a major worry.
On behalf of the executive and members of CAMASEJ, we condemn in the strongest terms possible such acts which we consider as means of stifling the press. We also condemn any act of violence against pressmen in the process of data collection or broadcasting.
Also, we call on our members to stay calm in the face of such, calling on our state authorities to look into such acts, because the media will always be their partners.
The journalist who was duely assigned for that coverage, and who wore an accreditation badge for the event saw his recorder confiscated for allegedly recording the Prime Minister`s instructions to the workers. He was later handed the recorder and instructed to delete all his recordings. While attempting to do just that, he was surrounded by the gendarmerie, upon instructions by the Senior Divisional Officer for Fako, himself present in the group, and was whisked like a thief to the gendarmerie cell in Limbe.
This without regards of the rights of a journalist which should still be fresh in their minds, for, the world just celebrated the World Press Freedom Day with access to information as a major worry.
On behalf of the executive and members of CAMASEJ, we condemn in the strongest terms possible such acts which we consider as means of stifling the press. We also condemn any act of violence against pressmen in the process of data collection or broadcasting.
Also, we call on our members to stay calm in the face of such, calling on our state authorities to look into such acts, because the media will always be their partners.
The National President
Simon Lyonga
Simon Lyonga
When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)
1 comment:
This is nonsense! Why should a journalist with authorization be arrested? Where is the freedom in Cameroon if they are not allowed to collect their data? I think the authorities that be should act fast
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