The United Nations on Tuesday expressed «deep concern» for the safety of journalists in Cameroon following the murder of Jean-Jacques Ola Bebe, radio presenter and orthodox priest, less than two weeks after the kidnapping and murder of Arsene Salomon Mbami Zogo, popularly known as Martinez Zogo, director of Amplitude FM radio station.
The spokesman for the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Seig Magango, has highlighted that «Ola Bebe and Martinez Zogo were critical voices against corruption who used their radio platforms to denounce cases of embezzlement.» «Ola Bebe was at the forefront of calls for justice and accountability for the murder of Zogo, a close collaborator,» he recalled.
He said that during the month of January «at least three other Cameroonian journalists reported having received credible threats from unidentified persons» and added that «the Cameroonian authorities must take all necessary measures to create a suitable environment for journalists to work without fear of reprisals and respect the right to freedom of expression, guaranteed by Humanitarian Law and the Cameroonian Constitution».
«A free, independent and diverse media climate is crucial to ensure that citizens are informed and can hold institutions accountable,» explained Magango, who stressed that Cameroonian President Paul Biya has ordered an investigation into these cases, which have already led to several arrests.
«We call on the authorities to ensure that the murder of Ola Bebe is investigated independently, effectively and impartially and that those responsible for these murders, at all levels, are held accountable,» he reiterated during a press conference.
On Monday, businessman Jean-Pierre Amougou Belinga, owner of a media conglomerate, was arrested for his alleged role in the murder of Zogo, who was abducted in January outside a police station in the capital, Yaoundé. The reporter had recently denounced an alleged embezzlement of funds in public sector procurement that would have benefited Amougou Belinga himself.
Following this, Cameroon’s Minister of Justice, Jean de Dieu Momo, ordered an immediate investigation into the journalist’s murder. «No journalist and no one deserves to be killed for speaking out. Everything must come to light,» he said. Cameroon is ranked 118th out of 180 in the Press Freedom Index published by the non-governmental organization Reporters Without Borders (RSF).
Source: (EUROPA PRESS)