Walter Wilson Nana
Buea, Cameroon
Media men and women in the Southwest Region were also party to activities to commemorate the World Press Freedom Day 2014. Under the canopy of the Commonwealth Journalists Association, CJA – Cameroon, the Cameroon Association of English speaking Journalists, CAMASEJ, the Cameroon Anglophone Newspaper Publishers Association, CANPA and the Cameroon Union of Journalists, CUJ, journalists practicing across Cameroon gathered at the Buea Parliamentarian Flat Hotel to reflect on their professional activities, while decrying the various strategies in which the press is gagged in Cameroon.
From right; Charly Endeley, Bouddih Adams, Yerima Kini Nsom following discussions at the Buea commemoration of World Press Freedom Day
CJA – Cameroon President, Chief Paul Nkemanyang said journalists cannot operate freely in an environment of bad laws. To him, press freedom in Cameroon is on paper, noting that press freedom in Cameroon has been given with the left hand and taken from the right, citing Articles 13, 14, 15, 16 and 81, which are arbitrary and contemptuous to the practice of journalism.
He will invite Cameroonian journalists to be united, stay stronger, sit up, remain fearless and courageous when doing their
CJA - Cameroon President, Chief Nkemanyang making a point
job.
Charly Ndi Chia, CUJ Chair and Editor-In-Chief, The Post Newspaper entreated journalists to be ethical, data-oriented, profound and orderly in their operations. He told journalists to work in tandem with the government for a better society, while indicating the respect for national security requirements.
According to the CUJ Executive, freedom of the press is not press passes for
Julius Tata, Social & Cultural Adviser in the Southwest Governor's office at the commemoration of World Press Freedom Day in Buea
journalists to stray anywhere.
CAMASEJ President, Tricia Oben saw in the World Press Freedom Day an opportunity for all meaning people to be reminiscent of the necessity to promote, protect and safeguard freedom of expression and freedom of the press. “Free and independent media is central to building strong democracies, promoting civic participation, the rule of law and encourage human development,” she mentioned.
A family picture to close the day's activities
Oben challenged journalists to face issues of corruption and bad governance, which are impediments to the execution of their duties.
She will indicate that laws criminalising news reports, commentaries or criticising public officials are meant to gag and should have no place in democracy. “These laws have a negative impact on investigative journalism as it makes it difficult for journalists to expose corruption, bad governance, human rights abuses and issues of accountability,” she added.
Elvis Ntui Arrey of the British High Commission in Yaounde, Cameroon corroborated some of the aforementioned views, highlighting that freedom is fundamental in building a democratic society.
Ntui Arrey noted that freedom of expression in Cameroon is not perfect, but a lot is been achieved. He said the British High Commission in Cameroon is promoting the practice of investigative journalism through capacity building opportunities.
Inspector General in the Ministry of Communication, Metuge Ekane asked journalists to know where their liberty starts and ends but will also advise Cameroonian journalists to set standards.
Julius Tata, Social and Cultural Adviser in the Southwest Governor’s office said the Cameroon administration is no longer the hangman of the press but a partner in nation building. However, George Ngwane, Executive Director of the civil society organisation, AFRICAphonie mentioned in a Press Freedom and Advocacy Project to the journalists that there is for a freedom to information act to be enacted in Cameroon, saying journalists should be at the fore of its advocacy.
UN Officials Speak Out!
In a joint message by the UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon and UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova they mentioned that it is the fundamental rights of all people to enjoy freedom of opinion and expression, explaining that the rights are essential to democracy, transparency, accountability and the rule of law. “These rights are vital for human dignity, social progress and inclusive development,” stated the joint message.
According to Ban Ki-moon and Bokova, journalism provides a platform for informed discussions across a wide range of development issues; from environmental challenges and scientific progress to gender equality, youth engagement and peace building. “Only when journalists are at liberty to monitor, investigate and criticise policies and actions can good governance exist,” the officials said.
The UN Secretary General and the UNESCO Director also made a plea on all States, societies and individuals to actively defend freedom of expression and press freedom as fundamental rights and as critical contributions to achieving the MDGs and advancing the post – 2015 development agenda.
