Global Conscience discusses Press Freedom Ocean City Radio
Freedom of the press is covered under Article 19 of the UDHR, which guarantees freedom of expression.
Freedom of the press is necessary not only for freedom of expression, but also to fulfil many other rights, such as the right to education, to influence the government, and to advocate for human rights to be respected.
In Cameroon journalists face many difficulties which inhibit their right to freedom of expression. According to Amnesty International in 2007, several journalists were detained or assaulted because of their work in Cameroon. The authorities were not known to have taken any action against those responsible for assaults.
• Duke Atangana Etotogo, director of L'Afrique centrale newspaper, was arrested on 3 September by members of the military security service after the newspaper published an article critical of the army. He was released without charge on 8 September.
• Patient Ebwele of Radio Equinoxe was beaten and detained for four hours in April by gendarmes in Akwa-Nord district of Douala.
• Eric Motomu, editor of The Chronicle newspaper, was assaulted in April by SDF supporters in Bamenda who accused him of publishing articles critical of their leader, John Fru Ndi.
The international press watchdog, Reporters Sans Frontières, expressed a concern that Cameroon risked becoming the most repressive country in Central Africa in terms of freedom of expression. GCI has heard numerous stories from journalists in Cameroon who have had their notes or recording equipment confiscated or experienced physical threats or torture by both government officials and members of the public.
However, like any other right, the right to freedom of expression and therefore freedom of the press, is subject to legitimate restrictions. There are certain limits which must be placed on the press (and ideally the press should place on themselves) in order to protect other human rights.
The press must be especially careful to report honestly and fairly in order to protect the rights to be presumed innocent until proven guilty, to a fair trial, and to freedom from attacks upon one's honour or reputation. On several occasions, journalists in Cameroon have violated these rights by labelling people as ‘adulteresses' or ‘homosexuals' on the basis of hearsay.
GCI recognises that some of the human rights violations committed by journalists result from the difficult conditions they face in conducting their profession. To combat this, GCI has devised a Media Watch Project which will monitor and report on human rights violations committed both AGAINST and BY journalists, and provide training for journalists to combat this.
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Press Freedom
Freedom of the press is covered under the right to freedom of expression.
Article 19. UDHR
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.
Why it is important
A free press is an outlet for the people to speak and listen to one another, to exercise their right to freedom of expression.
Other than being central to the right to freedom of expression, freedom of the press provides crucial support to many other human rights.
It enables people to be well informed so that they can increase their knowledge – the right to education.
It helps people to know what the government is doing and so helps people to exercise their right to participate in government and influence who governs them.
A free press can help to expose human rights abuse and gather support for change, thereby putting pressure on human rights abusers.
Cameroon
Freedom House, an international NGO, says that Cameroon 's constitution provides for freedom of the press. Several private newspapers publish regularly, and there are a growing number of private radio stations around the country. However, repression of the media remains a serious problem, and criminal libel laws have often been used to silence regime critics. The government shut down 12 independent radio and television stations in December 2003 on the grounds that they were operating without licenses. In July 2004, two BBC journalists were detained and placed under house arrest by security forces in Bakassi, where they had travelled to report on the handover by Nigeria ; they were accused of spying, but released without charge five days later. In April 2005, a court fined and sentenced the editor of L'oeil du Sahel and a journalist colleague to five months in jail after they published a story about abuses and extortion perpetrated by the security forces. There are at least six national internet service providers, some of which are privately owned. The government has not tried to restrict or monitor internet communication. (Freedom House 2006)
The international press watchdog, Reporters sans Frontières (RSF), based in Paris , strongly criticised the high level of press censorship and the harsh situation that journalists in Cameroon face in their professional pursuit; reiterating that Cameroon risked becoming the most repressive country in Central Africa in terms of freedom of expression.
The RSF report remarked that many privately owned radio stations and newspapers especially in the southern part of the country have being closed to prevent criticism of the Head of State, President Biya, or his ruling party and to regulate the dissemination of information during the run-up to the 2004 presidential election.AI Report 2007
Several journalists were detained or assaulted because of their work. The authorities were not known to have taken any action against those responsible for assaults.
• Duke Atangana Etotogo, director of L'Afrique centrale newspaper, was arrested on 3 September by members of the military security service after the newspaper published an article critical of the army. He was released without charge on 8 September.
• Patient Ebwele of Radio Equinoxe was beaten and detained for four hours in April by gendarmes in Akwa-Nord district of Douala.
• Eric Motomu, editor of The Chronicle newspaper, was assaulted in April by SDF supporters in Bamenda who accused him of publishing articles critical of their leader, John Fru Ndi.
Legitimate restrictions on freedom of the press
Like any other right, the right to freedom of expression and therefore freedom of the press, is subject to legitimate restrictions. There are certain limits which must be placed on the press (and ideally the press should place on themselves) in order to protect other human rights.
The right to freedom of expression in the press has the potential to conflict with articles 10-12 in the UDHR.
Article 11.
(1) Everyone charged with a penal offence has the right to be presumed innocent until proved guilty according to law in a public trial at which he has had all the guarantees necessary for his defence.
Therefore, if a journalist claims that a person is guilty of a crime before they have been tried, the accused person's right to be presumed innocent has been violated.
ARWEN – adulteress situation, attempted suicide (abuses being committed AGAINST and BY journalists.)
This type of careless reporting could potentially prejudice the outcome of a trial, violating...
Article 10.
Everyone is entitled in full equality to a fair and public hearing by an independent and impartial tribunal, in the determination of his rights and obligations and of any criminal charge against him.
Article 12.
No one shall be subjected to arbitrary interference with his privacy, family, home or correspondence, nor to attacks upon his honour and reputation. Everyone has the right to the protection of the law against such interference or attacks.
Journalists must be careful not to violate the right to privacy during investigations and must never use their reporting to attack the honour or reputation of a person. Specifically, if a journalist does not have evidence of something, they should not report it. Arwen – recent (this year) allegations of homosexuals within the govt party.
Summary
To sum up, press freedom is protected under the Right to Freedom of Expression. Press freedom is important for this, as well as several other human rights. In Cameroon , journalists face many limitations on this right. Some are also guilty of committing human rights abuses through the media, such as violating the right to be presumed innocent and the right to freedom from attacks upon one's honour. This is why some limitations on the right to a free press are legitimate.
Arwen Introduce Media Watch Project – overall explanation and first phase (surveys)
What have some of the responses been, issues that come up?
- lack of training conducting research and poor access to research materials
- Intimidation, inc. confiscation of equipment and physical harm.
- dealing in conflict situations eg Feb strikes
P gives own examples from his experience.
What will you do to address these issues?
What are some of the things that really stick out to you about the style of reporting in Cameroon ? Some of your other personal observations about the press?
No human interest and representation of the average population. Among Youths Magazine.
Circulation (none to rural areas), newspaper being a dying breed of news (all over world)
Arwen's goodbye, what she's doing next.
Freedom of the Press
Why is freedom of the press a human right?
Why is it important?
How free is the press in Cameroon ? – Freedom House, Reporters sans Frontières, Amnesty International.
Is it ever legitimate to restrict freedom of the press?
Kate sums up this section.
Arwen introduces GCI 's Media Watch Project – overall explanation and first phase (surveys).
What are some of the issues that emerged from your surveys?
- lack of training conducting research and poor access to research materials
- Intimidation, inc. confiscation of equipment and physical harm.
- dealing in conflict situations eg Feb strikes
(Peter – feel free to give some examples from your own experience!)
What will you do to address these issues?
What are some of your other personal observations about the style of reporting in Cameroon ?
Goodbye to Arwen!
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