Cameroon Communication Minister’s Ban on Sky One Radio is Arbitrary
Buea, August 22, 2009
Global Conscience Initiative calls on the Minister of Communication to review his decision and remove the ban on Sky One Radio Station in Yaounde, Cameroon. Communication’s Minister Issa Tchiroma Bakary accuses the radio station of “pretending to solve social problems” after the radio in one of its programmes solicited support to assist a HIV-positive woman from the Democratic Republic of Congo get back home.
The Communication Ministry in a first letter to Sky One Radio ordered for a suspension of the programme, The Tribunal, from the air waves and subsequently ordered the the presenter of the programme, Duval Lebel Eballe, be fired. The Communications Ministry subsequently held talks with the authorities of Sky One Radio that culminated in the changing of the name of the programme. However, the Ministry wanted the complete removal of the programme and not its christening, and thus moved to ban the Radio station for “recurring violation of legal and administrative regulation of media laws”.
While Global Conscience appreciates the Communication Ministries move to dialogue with Sky One Radio on the issue, GCI maintains that the decision to close the radio station is extreme and amounts to stifling the freedom of expression guaranteed in the preamble of the constitution of Cameroon.
GCI Chief Executive Officer Samba Churchill said the Communication Ministry is playing the role of both referee and judge in this case and that the decision lacked due process of law that should be used to regulate media conduct and abuse of free speech.
“In the interest of the law and of freedom of expression, the Communication Ministry should have taken the matter to the Cameroon Communication Council and, if it fails, to the courts that have the competence to determine if the conduct and practice of Sky One Radio violated any laws”, Samba said, adding that the closure of the radio station by the Minister leaves the impression that Cameroon is not a state of law.
The human rights activist acknowledges that Journalists can, and do err in their practice GCI is therefore calling on the Ministry of Communication to remove the ban on Sky One radio and take judicial procedures to sanction the station for any defaulting practices so that justice is not only seen as served in Cameroon. Failing this, GCI urges the authorities of Sky One to challenge the ban before the administrative bench of the supreme court as required by law.
Thank you Samba for your updates.
It is unfortunate that African governments are failing to respect the roles and responsibilities on the media, and continue to interfere in the work of journalists.
The minister of communication as GCI Executive Director puts it should have complain to the communication council and not directly giving orders to the media institution, which I suppose is the work of the council. It is very important that the minister’s role towards the media and the work of the council be distinguish the responsibilities between the two. I wonder whether there would be a need for a communication council if line a minister can enforce laws based on their on discretion.
It is high time African journalists come together to strengthen laws guaranteeing freedom of expression. It is only journalists that can make such laws work, and we cannot do it in isolation.
The Declaration of Freedom of Expression clearly spells out the roles and responsibilities of the media and government in guaranteeing freedom of expression across Africa. The Declaration provides for the rules and regulations under which media councils, commissions, or and regulatory bodies should operate, and well as the limitations, including that of ministers and authorities concern.
The institutional framework of the African Commission established under the African Union Charter guaranteeing human rights requires the domestication of the declaration in our national constitution and to ensure their respect and guarantee at all times.
If you can recall Samba during a training held in Banjul, the idea was conceived but I understand there were some setbacks. However, such a move was a good road map and we have to pursue it because it is a requirement. Resources has already been used by the African Commission to start up the initiative. Unfortunately, I could not participate directly in the drafting of the by-laws because my email address was left out from the participant’s email list, though I had feed-backs from my colleagues. However, I want the idea to be referred back and we forge ahead. I must thank you for inviting me to the World Justice Project webblog. Through my participation, I was given the opportunity to take part in at their Conference in Cape Town, South Africa on Advancing the Rule of Law in Africa. I took part in the Media and Culture Group session and did spoke about the regional network of human rights journalists initiative. I would welcome your ideas and we we keep moving from where we stand.
We need a free and independent media that will help in guiding humanity to make this world a better place for humankind.
Yes let politicians do their work; let governments do their work; let every citizen perform his/ her duties within the law, towards national development, but let them also allow the media to operate freely and serve legitimate/ general interest.
The African Charter guaranteeing human rights was conceived because of the realisation that there cannot be unity and peace in Africa without due respect and guarantee for human and people’s rights. It is the role and responsibility of the media to sensitise the public on these rights so that society can guarantee its respect.
PEACE, LOVE AND A PROSPEROUS MEDIA IN AFRICA
PEACEFUL AND SUCCESS IN THE DRIVES FOR GUARANTEED HUMAN RIGHTS, FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION, JUSTICE; AND SERENITY ON AFRICA AND THE WORLD.
HOPING TO HEAR FROM YOU SOON
Comment by Madi S. Njie — 14/12/07 @ 9:36 pm08