Thursday, June 22, 2023

Journalism on Fire; Increased media threats set new platform for Journalists in the restive Anglophone Regions of the Cameroons.

Targeted media practitioners and journalists in the warring Anglophone Regions has taken a new tune with multiple faces in recent time. This happening just weeks after the gruesome murder of Journalist Nde Soh Anye in Bamenda, risk threats have far doubled just within days. Reporters now fear to cover stories that have to do with investigative reporting on the field. The regions NW/SW, have been in war with separatists and government forces for over 7 years now which shows no sign of its end soon. The tusel for freedom and independent is at the heart of the enslaved  Anglophone Regions. Death toll has risen with millions being internally displaced, while  others have narrowly disappeared, having no report on their where about.

In the  same note, the publishers of the alternativenewspaper; David Mifang have been serouely victimized, and tortured by some unknown gun men i while covering an investigative news on the crisis. He suffered  severe injury, hospitalised and have been discharged from medical attention. Since living the hospital, the publisher have received numerous phone threats from these unknown individuals in the region. Mr. Mifang like  otjers risk practicing journalism in Bamenda. 

World press freedom day brought to light media men and women, calling on the government of Cameroon to sit up and protect journalists, who are on constant threats and exposed to violence from society, state embezzlers  and  politicians. Journalists and Media family took on the streets of towns to demand justice to colleagues killed, the  release of imprisoned repoters.

In Cameroon, Journalists like David Mifang are facing operational threats, attacks, illigal detentions and the killing of reporters. Government and state officials are blamed; this to silence reporters and journalism in the country.

According to Journalist Samson Ngengeh, Cameroonian laws are hostile to the media."A journalist can be charged for libel and defamation and sent to prison; now we have the 2014 law on the fight against terrorism in Cameroon," said Samson. " Many provisions in that law are really scaring journalists, because according to that law, a Journalist can be charged for supporting terrorism simply by publishing articles or being in possession of information; which is considered by the government qs sensitive."

These and many others, exposed the risk of reporters on the field; while doing their job. Therefore should we not say, the practice of Journalism is on Fire?



Worldecho

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