Cameroon: JOURNALISTS ASSAULTED BY POLICE IN DOUALA

Statement by the National Executive Bureau of the Cameroon Journalists Trade Union. 

On this day dedicated to press freedom, the press was attacked in Douala.

In 1993, the United Nations General Assembly established a “World Press Freedom Day”, celebrated on the date of adoption of the Windhoek Declaration, May 3.

As professionals around the world we seized the opportunity of this day to :

1. Reflect on issues of press freedom and professional ethics.

2. Celebrate the fundamental principles of press freedom,

3. Assess press freedom around the world,

4. Defend the independence of the media, and related works

5. Pay tribute to journalists who have lost their lives in the exercise of their profession.

The Littoral regional section, which had declared the event law 90/055 of December 19, 1990, announced that it would gather at the Place du Gouvernement, in Bonanjo Douala, to read statements by the President General of UNESCO, the Secretary General of the UN and the National President of the CJTU, was denied access to the venue.

The police intervened to brutally charge the journalists as soon as they arrived, brutalizing them and confiscating their working equipment.

The BEN of the CJTU :

Calls national and international opinions to witness this behavior from a bygone era.

Will report to the Government of the Republic, to the Preside20 to nt General of UNESCO, to the Secretary General of the United Nations, and to the President of the IFJ.

Strongly condemns this arbitrary act, which does no credit to our country.

Regrets that at a time when Cameroon has fallen 20 places in the RSF rankings (138th place), the forces of law and order are conspicuous by their violence against men and women in the media.

The CT denounces this action to muzzle the press in Cameroon.

The knows who benefits from this action by the forces of law and order. But it wishes to reassure its members, and national and international opinion, that the CJTU will not back down. Never in the face of intimidation.

Calls on professionals to continue their public service work in a spirit of solidarity.

The press is not the problem, it’s part of the solution!

For the CBEN