Press Freedom in Danger in Cameroon: Government Should Release Jean-Bosco Talla and other Journalists in Cameroon Prisons Immediately

CCDHR strongly condemns the arbitrary arrest and detention of Jean-Bosco Talla, Managing Editor of the newspaper Germinal. Talla was secretly arrested on December 10 and taken to the State Secretariat for Defense. Talla was transferred to the notorious Kondengui prison on December 14. On December 16, he was brought before a court in Mfoundi, Yaounde and pleaded not guilty to a charge of ‘Insulting President Paul Biya’. The arrest of Talla followed the publication of an article in Germinal issue No. 046 of December 8, 2009 entitled “The secret pact between Ahmadou Ahidjo and Paul Biya”. This article carried passages from the book of Ebale Angounou "Blood for Blood". Banned in Cameroon in 2001, this book claims that before becoming president, Biya made pledges to his predecessor, Ahmadou Ahidjo, in a secret pact that was sealed by ‘a homosexual act’.

The arrest of Jean-Bosco Talla is in violation of the Constitution of the country and international treaties duly ratified by Cameroon. The Constitution of Cameroon guarantees “The freedom of communication, of expression, [and] of the press ….” The Constitution of Cameroon also recognizes international human rights principles by stating clearly that everyone:

“Possesses inalienable and sacred rights; affirm our attachment to the fundamental freedoms enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Charter of the United Nations, The African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and all duly ratified

International Conventions ….”

Article 9(2) of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights states that:

“Every individual shall have the right to express and disseminate his opinions within the law.”

Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that:

“Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.”

Article 19(2) of International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights state that:

“Everyone shall have the right to freedom of expression; this right shall include freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds, regardless of frontiers, either orally, in writing or in print, in the form of art, or through any other media of his choice.”

Despite being party to numerous international treaties that guarantee freedom of expression, and irrespective of the ostensible guarantee of this freedom in the Constitution of the country, the Government of Cameroon has paid lip service to its human rights obligations. It appears the Government of Cameroon finds fund in adhering to various international treaties for the sole purpose of gaining international approbation. CCDHR notes that the continuous suppression of the human rights of Cameroonians by their government is validation of the lack of real conviction by the Government of Cameroon to hold itself accountable or treat Cameroonians with some sense of dignity and civility.

CCDHR is very concerned about the established pattern of abuses against press freedom in Cameroon. The right to Freedom of the Press is in danger of annihilation in the face of growing efforts by the Government of Cameroon to control what information gets to the people. Over the years, the government has systematically sought to undermine the effectiveness of the Cameroonian media. Strict licensing rules and high fees are placed on radio, newspapers, and television to deter them from criticizing the government, while threats, arrests, and imprisonment have been employed against journalists to enforce self-censorship. CCDHR is calling on members of the Cameroonian media to remain strong in the face of mounting government pressure and act at all times as authentic sources of information and the rightful eye of the people. CCDHR is also calling on the civil society to continue relentlessly in their pursuit of justice and respect for the human rights of all Cameroonians.

CCDHR recognizes that Jean Bosco Talla had face threats of arrest, intimidation, harassment and death early this year over his investigations and publications on the personal wealth of President Paul Biya and other close members of the Biya regime acquired with stolen public funds while the Cameroonian people live in abject poverty. This publication infuriated members of the regime who have been on the watch for an opportunity for reckoning.

On June 3, 2009 a Yaounde military court sentenced two journalists to five years in prison and fined them 500,000frs CFA. The victims Editor Jacques Blaise Mvié and Editor-in-Chief Charles René Nwé of La Nouvelle were tried in absentia and sentenced by default following a complaint filed by former Defense Minister Rémy Zé Meka over articles that were critical of his performance in office. This verdict issued by a panel of judges headed by Colonel Jean Legrand Mvondo Akoutou was in violation of fair judicial process in Cameroon. On January 7, 2009, Lewis Medjo, the Publications Director of La Détente Libre was sentenced by the Court of First Instance in Wouri, Douala to 3 years imprison and fined 2.000.000frs CFA. This verdict followed his arrest and detention on September 22, 2008 by Vincent Minkoa Nga, Head of the provincial division of the judicial police of Douala, following the publication of a news article by Lewis Medjo on the alleged attempts by Paul Biya to compromise the independence of the Supreme Court by forcing its president to leave in 2009.

CCDHR is requisitioning President Paul Biya to order the release of Jean-Bosco Talla and other journalists in prisons across Cameroon for the sake of respect for human rights. The Government of Cameroon needs to be conscious of its obligation towards its people, and respect their rights to hold opinion and freely disseminate their information without fear of reprisal. The actions of Jean-Bosco Talla falls squarely within the ambits of this internationally guaranteed human right. If Paul Biya and members of his regime belief that the actions of Jean-Bosco Talla violates any laws, they should institute appropriate civil actions under the law rather that criminalize anything that runs contrary to the subjective feelings of Mr. Paul Biya. Journalists should not be imprisoned for merely doing their job. This pattern of abuse must be brought to a halt. Cameroon must adhere to international standards which treats defamation a civil, not criminal matter.  Ambushing people who hold opinions different from that of the regime or who write against the regime in Cameroon is a tendency only favored by dictators because they have no facts to proof their allegations except through force and judicial fraud.