The arrest amount to nothing less than a breach of the right of the journalists to liberty and legitimate performance of his reportorial duties
– Jude Viban, President CAMASEJ
The Cameroon Association of English-Speaking Journalists, CAMASEJ is yet to see the corpse of Samuel Wazizi who died just recently after illegal detention. Here comes another, Tah Maih Javis, reputable investigative journalist for My Media Prime TV based in Douala arrested and yet to be seen.
Tah Maih who was lastly spotted at Deido, Douala, Cameroon’s Economic Capital on a Live Tv report for his media organ was arrested amongst many others who were protesting the ousting of long serving President Paul Biya of Cameroon who has been in power for close to four decades. The protest was called by Professor Maurice Kamto, Leader of the Cameroon Rennaissance Movement Political party who himself was reprimanded under House Arrest. The Journalist alongside his Cameraman Tebong Christian, reports say they have been moved from the Mboppi Gendarmerie to an unknown detention location. No military sources have made a statement on their whereabout.
The President of the Cameroon Association of English-Speaking Journalists, CAMASEJ, Viban Jude in his outing just a day after the September 22nd Protest says, the arrest is arbitrary. “We find the arrest arbitrary and unlawful and therefore demand their immediate release. Their arrest amount to nothing less than a breach of the right of the journalists to liberty and legitimate performance of his reportorial duties” , say Viban.
U.S Secretary for African Affair, Tibor Nagy has also expressed frustrations over the arrest of Peaceful protesters and Journalists by the government military forces. According to Nagy, every democratic Government must listen to the worrying voices of their oppositions and give them free Rights to protest.
Of the about 4 journalists arrested over the protest in Yaoundé and Douala, Jarvis and Crew is believed to be the only left despite all identifications.
The Committee to Protect Journalists, CPJ has also condemned this arrest.
Tah Mai Javis is one of Cameroon’s most daring Journalist to cover the war events in the restive Southwest Region of the Country as he has been to ravaged communities like Ekona, Muyuka, Mbonge etc, to paint a reality of the people in the war. The ugly arrest as usual, is a continuous series of repressive approach adopted by the government of Cameroon in cracking down of the Press.
Cameroon currently is ranked one of the continent’s worst jailers of journalists after Eritrea.
Some who had earlier died in Cameroonian Jails include Bibi Ngota and Samuel Ajieka (whose corpse is yet to be accounted for).
The Cameroon English Speaking Journalist are bracing up for a showdown should there be any further delay accorded the journalistic crew.
