Arrests, Kidnappings, Killings as Cameroonian Journalists Celebrate World Press Freedom Day

By Boris Esono Nwenfor [caption id="attachment_106074" align="alignnone" width="780"] Journalists, especially in the NW-SWRs remain targets in their day-to-day reporting. Some of them have been victims of abductions and others received stray bullets in the course of reporting[/caption] BUEA, May 3, 2023 – At a time when more than one hundred journalists have been killed and others are under detention for the exercise of their profession, the importance of journalists spotlighting pertinent issues in society is ever-much important despite these threats to their lives. Every year, May 3 is a date which celebrates the fundamental principles of press freedom, evaluates press freedom around the world, defends the media from attacks on their independence and pays tribute to journalists who have lost their lives in the exercise of their profession. It also serves as a day to inform citizens of violations of press freedom – a reminder that in dozens of countries around the world, publications are censored, fined, suspended, and closed down, while journalists, editors, and publishers are harassed, attacked, detained and even murdered. This year, celebrations are under the theme: “Shaping a Future of Rights: Freedom of expression as a driver for all other human rights,” and look at the rise of digital technologies that have enabled the free flow of information. However, media freedom, the safety of journalists and freedom of expression are increasingly under attack, which impacts the fulfilment of other human rights. Media men and women are constantly being threatened with the case of wars and civil unrest not only by bullets but run the risk of being kidnapped, detained or killed. The situation is equally worrisome with the case in Cameroon which has been going through the Anglophone crisis for more than five years now. There are constant reports of journalists being molested and some have been held incommunicado for months now simply for “going against one warring faction.” From Samuel “Wazzi” to the recent being Martinez Zogo, a handful of journalists have been killed in the practice of their profession while others have been arbitrarily arrested, and given huge sentences. Cameroonian journalists who choose to remain in the Anglophone regions increasingly prefer to report on non-controversial issues such as health, education and infrastructure and avoid discussing the ongoing conflict. Separatists and government troops alike will not hesitate to harass authors of reports that are not in their interest. "The last time I fell into the hands of the military, they almost destroyed my working tools simply because they asked me a question in French and I responded in English," Dingana told DW. "They got angry and called me all sorts of names." Maikem Emmanuella, radio station manager at NVEFCAM said: "You do not know what to say or write," she said. Emmanuella does her job every day in a state of fear. "When writing a story, you have to be careful, especially when it concerns the crisis," she explained. "We get stories of people shot by the military, but you can't report on these cases and stories saying it was the military." [caption id="attachment_106075" align="alignnone" width="1024"] May 3 is a date which celebrates the fundamental principles of press freedom, evaluates press freedom around the world, defends the media from attacks on their independence[/caption] “Journalists are not free to do their jobs. They are constantly under surveillance,” Arison Tamfu, an international journalist and former worker with private media house Equinox said during the 2022 World Press Freedom Day celebration in Buea. “But there is hope. One ingredient that can help journalists is their mindset. Journalists must engage in using social media and must also engage in fact-checking and digital journalism. This will lead to them being their bosses and won’t be constrained with the present circumstances.” Fongoh Primus, a journalist with Rainbow Radio Mbengwi told DW that the journalism field at the moment is laced with so many challenges and obstacles. He said: "How can I feel safe, when every day I see trigger-happy government soldiers armed to the teeth, pointing their guns at civilians and ready to kill, sometimes just for fun?" "How can I feel safe when every day I come across drugged separatist fighters with fetish objects on their bodies carrying sophisticated weapons and ready to shoot to death any suspects?"