ALERT - CAMEROON

3 October 2001

Editor-in-chief of independent newspaper harassed

SOURCE: Reporters sans frontières (RSF), Paris

(RSF/IFEX) -

"These actions run counter to Cameroonian press freedom legislation," he
added. The organisation noted that Cameroon has ratified the International
Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

According to information collected by RSF, the police summoned Soboth on 1
October 2001. He is accused of publishing a 24 September article about the
strengthening of security measures in the country's north-west and
south-west Anglophone provinces, as the fortieth anniversary of the
reunification of Cameroon's anglophone and francophone provinces nears. The
paper's newsroom reportedly "used" a confidential message from Junior
Defence Minister Remy Ze Meka, which was intended for the regional police
affected. According to the authorities, the newspaper allegedly revealed a
"defence secret." The journalist refused to reveal his sources, which are
protected in Cameroonian legislation by a 1990 law. Soboth was released the
same day at around 9:00 p.m. (local time).

In July, the independent newspaper "Mutations", which is also published
three times weekly,
was harassed following its publication, in a special issue, of twenty-one
government decrees concerning army reforms. After seizing 300 copies of the
newspaper, police officers sought the name of the newspaper's source.
Accused of revealing a "defence secret", publisher Haman Mana was kept in
police custody for three days. However, he did not reveal his sources (see
IFEX alert of 1 August 2001).

For further information, contact Jean-François Julliard at RSF, rue Geoffroy
Marie, Paris 75009, France, tel: +33 1 44 83 84 84, fax: +33 1 45 23 11 51,
e-mail: [email protected], Internet: http://www.rsf.fr

The information contained in this alert is the sole responsibility of RSF.
In citing this material for broadcast or publication, please credit RSF.
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