by Evaristus Fonkah, Douala, Cameroon, April 1997
THEME = MEDIA
Owners of private newspapers are not only faced with the problem of high cost of printing material, but also with the problem of the seizure and confiscation of hundreds of copies of particular editions of newspapers. Policemen impound whole editions with wanton impunity and excitement, at every beck and call of their masters, be they of the Ministry of Territorial Administration, or any government minister who feels hurt.
In its issue of 31 March 1997, L'Expression, a French language bi-weekly privately owned newspaper, dedicated the whole edition to spotlighting one of Cameroon's millionaires, Henri Omgba Damase. The paper put all his personal details under a microscope and then published their findings: his mysteries, his secrets, his beliefs, his family, his friends, his business allies, his indiscretions, his influence in political circles, his international connections including those with presidents of foreign countries like France, his alleged complicity in shady deals and crimes, his seeming immunity, etc. This angered Mr.Omgba's "men" in the government, and pressure is currently being placed on the authorities, that publication of this newspaper should be suspended.
Meanwhile on 27 March 1997, Mr.Eyoum Ngangue, a journalist on another privately owned newspaper, Le Messager, was placed on bail and freed from detention at the New Bell Maximum Security Prison in Douala, where he had been detained for sixty- five days, for allegedly insulting the Head of State and the National Assembly. Mr.Ngangue was lucky to be working for Mr.Pius Njawe, who owns Le Messager, and is a renowned journalist, respected in most parts of the world. The international community, including diplomatic missions, Reporters Sans Frontiers, local organisations, etc, put pressure on the government to bring Eyoum's case before the courts quickly, just as they had done when Pius Njawe was detained in this same prison on similar charges. The Supreme Court, as in Pius Njawe's case, ordered Eyoum Ngangue to be provisionally freed from jail.
Other journalists, however, have not had the same opportunity of having such powerful organisations fighting for their freedom. Consequently, journalists are sent to prison without trial for undefined and undetermined periods of time.
Eyoum Ndoumbe, a journalist on the government-owned daily newspaper Cameroon Tribune and elder brother of E. Ngangue, was suspended indefinitely from his duties as a journalist, because he fought for the liberation of his junior brother.
All this is happening, despite clearly defined laws drafted to ensure Press Freedom in Cameroon. Law N§ 96/04 promulgated on 4 January 1996, which amended and completed a number of Clauses in Law N§ 90/052 of 19 December 1990, was meant to improve press freedom. However, no substantial or significant changes has been noticed in press freedom in this country.
The government continues to monopolise the ownership and control of the electronic media in Cameroon. The lone Cameroon Radio and Television (CRTV) Corporation, controls the ten radio stations in the country, one in each capital of the ten provinces. CRTV also controls the only television station, with its production centre in Yaounde, Cameroon's capital. It is situated next door to the Presidency, in Mballa II.
This government monopoly is continuing, pending a decree defining the modalities for running privately-owned radio and television stations. This decree had been sent to the presidency for approval. The Law on Social Communications N§ 90/052, authorised the ownership of private radio and television stations over six years ago. The reasons for the government's reluctance to apply this law, can be better understood by taking a look at the way the government manipulates broadcasts.
On the night of 27 March 1997, a gendarme on guard at the gendarmerie camp at Jakiri in the north-west province of Cameroon, was killed, and the offices of the Divisional Officers (government administrative officers who ensure the implementation of government policies within defined areas known as divisions), were burnt by unknown persons. These rebellious acts, which concentrated on government officers and establishments, continued into Bamenda, capital of the north-west province, and then on to Mbengwi.
While private newspapers were busy investigating what actually happened, government officials took over the editorial offices of the CRTV, to mount fake news reports which were subsequently broadcast to the public.
According to Richard Touna, writing for Le Messager, TV pictures and interviews sent to the CRTV news department from CRTV, Bamenda for broadcasting, were confiscated by the CRTV's General Manager, Professor Gervais Mendo Ze, (who is also chargé de mission at the Presidency and a member of the ruling CPDM Party). In its place, file pictures of the 1991 Ghost Town action in Bamenda, were broadcast. Private television and radio stations would have done a more decent job.
The government has succeeded, therefore, in impeding the progress of journalism in this country. Journalists have been turned into beggars. The government has rendered newspapers very poor as a result of whole issues being confiscated in a regular fashion, and the continual ban on newspapers. This means that publishers can no longer afford to pay salaries. Those who do manage to pay, can't afford enough for a decent livelihood. Others have simply gone into the diaspora. Those who work for the government are government clerks who adapt themselves to the whims and caprices of politicians and government officials. Journalism is no longer their stock-in-trade.
When it comes to political campaigning, the ruling Cameroon Peoples Democratic Party (CPDM) receives the lion's share of time on the air - at least 70% of the total air time allocated to all political parties. This means that the rest of the parties, which number nearly two hundred, have to share the remaining 30% of air time on both radio and television.
The plight of journalists in this country can be compared to a prisoner or detainee kept within a prison cell, and only occasionally allowed to walk around the prison yard in guise of freedom. This is the picture of what is understood in Cameroon as "press freedom".
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