by Valentin Siméon Zinga, Cameroon, April 1997
THEME = MEDIA
It was thought that with the suppression of censure of newspapers in January 1996, a new era was beginning for private publications. But people are now completely disillusioned. The government has found other means of controlling the Press: fines, arrests, a series of court cases leading to imprisonment of journalists, suppression of newspapers etc. All these are questionable procedures, especially in view of human rights agreements made previously at Yaoundé.
On 27 March 1997, a number of those involved in Cameroon's media, in Yaoundé, were holding their breath. The Supreme Count, the highest court in the land, was due to give judgment on a request to grant bail to Mr.Eyoum Ngangué, a journalist with the bi-weekly Le Messager, published in Douala (where most of the independent papers are concentrated). The suspense and the anxiety lasted for several hours, but finally the barristers representing the journalist won their case.
Eyoum Ngangue had been held in the New-Bell Central Prison for the last two months. He had begun to serve a one-year sentence imposed by the Appeal Court of Douala.
The story goes back to December 1995. Ngangué was co- editor of the satirical newspaper Messager Popoli, part of the Media group Le Messager.
The article was topical. A new Constitution had just been approved by the National Assembly. Ngangué, under the pseudonym "Cena", spoke of the "Con-stitution of the depités" (Editor's note: careless people, acting out of pique). Ngangué was commenting on a section in Cameroon's Basic Law, which permits all former Heads of State to be Members of the Senate. The journalist saw this as a way in which the President of the Republic could work his way to remain in politics, in spite of his reputation being at an all-time low in public opinion. Ngangué even went so far as to call the President "a bastard". The Interior Minister immediately accused Pius Njawé, the Messager Group's managing director, and his associate, of "insulting the Head of State and the members of the National Assembly".
On 27 February 1996, the lower court of Douala condemned the accused and imposed a fine of 2,500,000 CFA francs. Obviously an extremely severe burden for the paper, which like all other private publications in the country, was in dire financial straits. The Messager took the case to the appropriate Appeals Court. The Minister of Justice did likewise, deeming that the decision of the court was outside all reality.
On 3 October 1996, the Court of Appeal increased the sentence imposed on the journalists: one year in prison and a fine of 300,000 CFA francs for "Cena"; six months and the same fine for Pius Njawé, as Manager of the publication. On 29 October the latter was arrested in his office and taken to Douala Central Prison.
According to Le Messager, the sentence was unjust: "The Court had not taken into account the satirical and humoristic style of writing used in such a publication". Both national and international opinion expressed its disapproval and indignation. La Nouvelle Expression, which together with Le Messager are the two most important private newspapers in Cameroon, observed: "The powers-that-be have chosen to attack the Press through a symbol". Many organisations for the defense of human rights and Press Freedom, spoke out against the sentence passed on Pius Njawé.
The Commonwealth Press Union invited the Cameroon government: "To act in accordance with the principles of the Harare Declaration (Editor's note: Which made Cameroon's entry into the Commonwealth conditional on making more progress in respecting human rights and democracy) and the obligations laid down on all those who are signatories to the International Charter of Human Rights". This preoccupation was echoed even more insistently by Reporters Sans Frontières which declared: "The sentences imposed by the Courts are completely inappropriate for dealing with press misdemeanours".
Opposition political parties and diplomats were likewise incensed by the action taken against the Press and those who work in the Media. In addition to several visits to the prison, the opposition issued messages of encouragement to the journalists who had been so hardly done by. Among the ambassadors, the intervention of the United States is noteworthy. Charles Twining, the American Ambassador visited Pius Njawé and asserted that democratic practice demands that journalists should no longer be punished by depriving them of their freedom.
Seventeen days after Njawé went to jail, his lawyers appealed against the sentence and the Supreme Court ordered him to be freed on bail. It is not known whether this decision was taken out of any real conviction, or as a result of pressure by the public on the Yaoundé authorities. In any case, the public welcomed the Court's decision. Little did they know that in a few months, they would be faced with a similar situation yet again - Ngangué was taken to Douala Central Prison on 23 January 1997. In fact, nobody could understand why he had not been arrested at the same time as his managing director.
Ngangué's case is not unique. Other journalists have been held for questioning by the police.
Peter William Mandio is the editor of Le Front Indépendant - an alternative name for Le Nouvel Indépendant which had been prescribed by the regional authorities. In December 1996, he was detained for ten days at the prison of the mobile police centre in Yaoundé, charged with "espionage and calls for insurrection by the army". In several editions of his paper, Mandio had revealed some misdemeanours supposedly committed by the Minister of Public Works. Another employee of this paper, Evariste Menounga, was also detained. Gilbert Andze Tsoungui, the vice-premier in charge of regional administration, said: "Menounga was arrested because of a legal complaint lodged before the competent authorities by the Minister of Public Works".
In December 1996, Daniel Atangana was kidnapped in Douala and taken to the premises of the gendarmerie at Yaoundé. All those detained say that they were tortured.
But the authorities in Cameroon do not stop at arrests and imprisonment. By a Decree of 6 December 1996, Tsoungui suspended publication of the bi-weekly La Nouvelle Expression -which since then has used the name L'Expression in order to continue publication. The official explanation for the action taken against the newspaper, was: "This measure has been taken in pursuance of Law Number 90/052 of 19 December 1990, dealing with social communications. This particular section foresees what has to be done when something is published in breach of the peace or of moral standards".
The Minister of Regional Administration says that he has in his possession: "Articles likely to cause inter-tribal/clan hatred or insurrection". Yet, at the same time, publications such as Elimbi, print real hate-articles which continuously stoke the fires of tribalism (the country has more than 230 tribes). Such articles continue to appear without any reprimand from the authorities.
As a result, the arguments of the vice-premier in charge of regional administration have no value whatsoever. His decisions are arbitrary, aimed at settling old scores with journalists. Suspicion is founded on the fact that previously the prescribed newspaper had published a file on the failure of a bank in Cameroon of which Mr Tsoungui was president. Because of his position, he was suspected of having given loans to his relatives. When La Nouvelle Expression commented on the failure of the Crédit Agricole du Cameroun, Tsoungui seems to have decided to use every possible administrative means within his power, to "deal with" that particular publication. And he talks about "preserving public order!"
This is a classic excuse in Cameroon, especially during elections. It is also typical that the government tries to silence the newspapers which do not sing its praises. In the coming days, observers will concentrate on whether this same strategy will be repeated. The provisional liberty accorded to the two journalists is still very fragile, and gives no real guarantee that the Media's problems are ending.
In truth, the future is not very reassuring for the independent press.
END