The media and new deal in Cameroon
Kwaw Ashiakwei, Yaounde
Even though the concept of press freedom in the Third World is seen by most as utopian, the press should be given every encouragement to operate in an atmosphere of tolerance and cooperationThe press, no doubt, plays a vital role in the administration of a nation. Most developed countries have achieved near perfection as a result of their govern- ment's tolerance of constructive press criticisms. In developing countries, however, the concept of press freedom is virtually non-existent.
Of late, the 'nouveau riches' military leaders of the sub-region have looked on press freedom as an alien concept. Examples are not far fetched. The governments of Ghana and Nigeria as well as Liberia have openly expressed their indignation to press freedom. The leadership of these governments are known to have launched senseless onslaughts against the press in their respective domains.
In Ghana, for instance, the PNDC government of Flt-Lt. Rawlings openly expressed its indignation and dis- approval of press freedom by subject- ing editors of both public and private press to unjustified physical assault and indecent brutalities. Soon after the second emergence of the Flt-Lt. on Ghana's political scene, the entire editorial committee of Ghana's leading daily, Graphic, was dissolved and the editor replaced. Further attempts were made to frustrate the highly qualified and experienced editors viz literary, features, news, as well as other qualified staff writers. Incompetent fanatics were immediately appointed in their places.
The government went further to teach the press a lesson when organised thugs (at the instance of the PNDC government) stormed the editorial offices of the Free Press, a private press owned and managed by Mr Tommy Thompson, a vocal social critic, destroyed equipment and property worth thousands of cedis and assaulted the staff on duty. The managing director, the editor, and a correspondent of the paper were later whisked away by security forces and detained for several months without formal charge or trial. Their crime? The paper had carried an article which the PNDC government considered unpalatable and therefore branded it seditious. The three gentlemen were released from detention after more than a year, but the editor, Mr John Kugblenu, died a few weeks later.
Only recently, the editor and news editor of the Pioneer, another privately owned newspaper in the Ashanti capital of Kumasi were picked by security forces and transported to Gonda Barracks in Accra, the official seat of the PNDC, intimidated, brutally assaulted and senselessly shaved with blunt razor blades before being released.
Days later the government shamefully denied official knowledge of such brutish and inhuman treatment of man by his fellow man, all in the name of the so-called revolution, and apologised to the managing director of Abura Printing Works who owns the Pioneer, for the attack on the two editors.
In neighbouring Nigeria, the story has not been any different since the khaki man Major General Buhari emerged on the political scene with a gun in his hand, barely 19 months ago.
It is in the light of these reports that the President of Cameroon, Paul Biya needs to be congratulated and awarded full marks for his tolerance of press criticism since his accession to office barely 22 years ago. The President has surely enjoyed the support of the press since then
The obnoxious Decree 4 which has already claimed two victims, journalists of the Guardian newspaper, was specifically enacted to deal with a 'recalcitrant' Nigerian press. The two journalists recently came out of prison more as 'heroes' than criminals judging from the tumultuous and enthusiastic welcome accorded them by the Nigerian populace as well as the string of receptions hosted for them by groups and individuals. These two gentlemen are indisputably more popular in Nigeria now than the Buharis, Idiagbons, Babangidas and what-have-you.
In Liberia, the self-appointed leader of the Liberians, Master Sergeant Samuel Canyon Doe, has had a couple of brushes with the press. Doe's clash with the press led to a ban placed on the Daily Observer for the paper's refusal to accord publicity to a party organised for shoe-shine boys by the National Democracy Party of Liberia of which Gen. Doe is the self-appointed leader and which action was considered an affront and disrespect to the head of state. Doe went further to dismiss the editor of the government owned paper, the New Liberian for daring to publish the picture of the General's cosy million-dollar mansion constructed in his village. The editor, Mr Tom Kamaza has since been subjected to all types of intimidation and has been imprisoned thrice within the space of three years.
It is in the light of these reports that the President of Cameroon, Paul Biya, needs to be congratulated and awarded full marks for his abundant tolerance of press criticism since his accession to office barely 2½ years ago. The President has surely enjoyed the support of the press since then and this was amply demonstrated by the condemnation by the Cameroon press of the two abortive attempts to destabilise and dislocate the administration in 1983 and 1984 respectively.
The Cameroon People's Democratic Movement of which President Biya is the leader has demonstrated its pre- paredness to ensure the translation of the New Deal package into a concrete reality. As a first step towards the achievement of this noble objective, the CPDM has made adequate pro- vision for the free expression of ideas without fear of victimisation or harassment of any kind. In this connection, a special commission appointed by President Biya has been touring the provinces to sample opinion from the public on the most effective way to administer the New Deal policy.
This is a concrete demonstration of participatory democracy. The task of the special commission is by no means onerous and it is the fervent belief of many Cameroonians that the government will be sensitive to the proposals submitted by the provinces in the form of memoranda and implement them with minimum delay. Up to date, the gist of most of the memoranda submitted by the provinces centre on such social evils as red-tapism, nepotism, unwanted delays and injustices in the administrative machinery.
All such factors lead to bribery and corruption, social evils which the New Deal is itself seeking to eliminate. It is the considered opinion of many that if the new Deal policy is responsibly applied, it will provide inspiration and hope for all Cameroonians irrespective of class or ethnicity. Little wonder that the proponents of the new deal package, President Biya, has often expressed considerable optimism about a bright future for his subjects.
Already a team of journalists and University lecturers have made an objective appraisal of the resolutions made during the New Deal Congress held in Bamenda in March this year. The discussion, which was relayed by Radio Cameroon, was done in an atmosphere of frankness and objectivity without any fear of political intimi- dation. This is clearly in consonance with the President's call for an open society that accommodates various shades of opinion from all sections of the community.
The New Deal Policy of the govern- ment can only succeed with the active involvement and support of the press. It is the duty of the press to enlighten the populace on the tenets of the policy through such media as radio, cinema, newspaper and television.
Meanwhile, government officials could assist tremendously in the success of the exercise by freely giving out information to the press instead of allowing the latter to wrest it from them. The government must be more open than the governed. Healthy government-press relationships, devoid of unpleasant confrontation is needed to set the stage for the early take-off of the principles of vigour, moralisation and democratisation concept.
Even though the concept of press freedom in the third world is seen by most as Utopian, the press should be given every encouragement to operate in an atmosphere of tolerance.
