PEN, Committee to Protect Journalists, and Internet
Sans Frontières issue report on Cameroon to the UN Human Rights Council
NEW YORK, October 16, 2012/African
Press Organization (APO)/ -- Free expression is under threat in Cameroon,
according to a report submitted this week to the UN Human Rights Council by PEN
International, Committee to Protect Journalists, and Internet Sans Frontières.
Cameroon is a “perilous country in
which to be a writer or journalist both on- and off-line,” says the report,
which spells out how the country, ruled by President Paul Biya since 1982, has
used increasingly authoritarian measures to stifle writers, musicians, and the
press. A host of draconian criminal laws punish writers and journalists for
their work, including lengthy pre-trial detention in severely overcrowded
prisons, routine torture, and a lack of a fair trial.
“Writers who express dissident
opinion in Cameroon run a tremendous risk,”
explained Cathal Sheerin, Africa
Researcher at PEN International. “Enoh Meyomesse, the founder of the Cameroon
Writers Association, has been wallowing in Kondengui prison for 11 months,
including one month spent in solitary confinement, despite having had all
charges dropped against him.” Meyomesse is currently on trial before a military
tribunal, with minimal access to attorneys or medical care.
The government has also clamped down
on the press with expensive and selectively enforced licensing laws for
newspapers and publications.
“Investigating corruption and
reporting on political unrest are punishable acts for Cameroonian journalists,
leading to their detention and even death,” explained Mohamed Keita, Africa
Advocacy Coordinator at the Committee to Protect Journalists. “Self-censorship
is not a sustainable safety mechanism and undermines the right of citizens to
independent, reliable information that empowers them to make vital decisions.”
Threats to free expression persist
online as well. Cameroon has censored or blocked Internet content and has
privatized the enforcement of cybercrimes with no effective judicial review
process. Less than 5 percent of citizens in Cameroon access the Internet
because of firm state control over infrastructure and restrictive regulation,
resulting in soaring costs for Internet Service Providers and users.
“The UN declared access to the
Internet a human right and fundamental to personal and economic development. In
Cameroon, the Internet is not available for everyone to use. The state's
control of the Internet, and its restrictive monopoly on access to it, have
hindered free contribution by users and prevented them from expressing
themselves online,” said Archippe Yepmou, President of Internet Sans
Frontières.
Cameroon will be reviewed by the
Human Rights Council in April and May 2013.
PEN International celebrates
literature and promotes freedom of expression. Founded in 1921, our global
community of writers now comprises 144 centers spanning more than 100
countries. Our programs, campaigns, events and publications connect writers and
readers for global solidarity and cooperation. PEN International is a
non-political organization and holds consultative status at the United Nations
and UNESCO. www.pen-international.org
The Committee to Protect Journalists
is an independent, nonprofit organization founded in 1981. We promote press
freedom worldwide by defending the rights of journalists to report the news
without fear of reprisal. www.cpj.org
Internet Sans Frontières is a
nonprofit organization founded in 2007 that promotes and defends online freedom
of expression, privacy, and net neutrality. We also believe that the Internet
is a powerful tool for social change. www.internetsansfrontieres.org
Provided by PR Newswire
No comments:
Post a Comment