From: barnhart@gagme.chi.il.us (Mr Aaron Barnhart)
Subject: IPS: CAMEROON: PRIVATE NEWSPAPERS TO FIGHT SUSPENSION ORDER
Originator: barnhart@gagme
Organization: Evanston, Illinois
Date: Tue, 29 Sep 1992 00:12:18 GMT

Copyright Inter Press Service 1992, all rights reserved.  Permission to re-
print within 7 days of original date only with permission from 'newsdesk'.

Title: CAMEROON: PRIVATE NEWSPAPERS TO FIGHT SUSPENSION ORDER


yaounde, sept 21 (ips/tansa musa) -- managers of cameroon's
three most widely read newspapers -- le messager, la nouvelle
expression and challenge hebdo - have vowed to disrespect a
suspension order imposed on them by government.

''the suspension order is illegal and there is no way we are
going to respect it,'' says le messager general manager, pius
njawe.

seen here as a blatent attempt to muzzle the opposition
press in the run up to the oct. 11 election, the three weeklies
were suspended last week for ''failing to respect the law'' by
not submitting their dummies for censorship before publication.

the newspapers had been taking advantage of loop-holes in the
regulations. they allow the choice of either having the dummies
censored before publication, or after they come off the press,
in which case the paper is circulated four hours later if the
office of censorship does not react.

most publishers have always chosen the later option and have
copies deposited late enough to prevent the censors responding
within the four hours. the government then tried to force them
to respect the first option.

says benjamin zebaze, general manager of challenger hebdo:
''the government passed the law without understanding its
implications. why should they pick on us arbitrarily when we
choose the option that suits us. if they think we are violating
the law the government should sue. we cannot accept this.''

the suspension order is regarded by the papers as part of the
ruling cameroon people's democratic movement (cpdm)
election rigging plans in this west african country's first
multi-party poll since 1964.

''the ruling party has control of the public media which it
is monopolising almost to near exclusion. by suspending us now
they only want to deprive the opposition of a key instrument
during this period of electioneering,'' accuses editor-in-chief
of la nouvelle expression, severin tchounque.

''this repressive government knows that in any freedom and
democracy struggle the private press is in the forefront,'' says
njawe. ''this is exactly what we have been doing here since
1990. if it succeeds in stopping us then it would have scored a
major victory.''

apart from the suspension order, the three papers have been
the object of frequent and arbitrary seizure by security forces.
street vendors have also been arrested and beaten up. (more/ips)


cameroon: private (2)

the papers' journalists have not been immune to the
intimidation. last tuesday severin tchounque was arrested and
detained in the commercial capital of douala and only released
six hours later when the main opposition party, the social
democratic front, threatened to lead a demonstration to the
governor's office.

asked what they will do if the suspension is followed by an
outright banning order, ''then we will go underground as was the
case in most east european countries under communism,'' answers
benjamin zebaze of challenge hebdo.

''we will circulate in the form of tracts to keep the flame
of the freedom struggle alive.''

there is no doubt in anybody's mind that the three papers are
being punished for their criticism of president paul biya's
10-year-old regime and support for the opposition.

since being free to publish last year, the private press has
revealed a number of scandals involving the biya family, his
acquaintances and members of government.

by backing the opposition, the three weeklies have made brisk
business to the detriment of state-owned and pro-government
papers. circulation has more than doubled this year, despite
the harassment.

''our sales are good. that comforts us. and that is why we
must continue to fight on inspite of all odds,'' says njawe.
(end/ips/tm/oa/92)

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