Two Cameroonian journalists molested, detained by soldiers

by Hinsley Njila

Some two Cameroonian journalists of English expression and members of the program Cameroon Calling broadcast over state radio, CRTV, Sampson Wepsi and George Kellong were recently molested and detained by Cameroonian soldiers for being critical to the regime during the program on18 May that focused on national
unity. Their detention at the gendarmerie brigade in Madagascar, Yaounde took place shortly after the said program. To sway public opinion on the main reason behind their molestation and detention, the soldiers also accused one of the journalists of bumping into
the car of the son of an army general

Recounting the story to a group of English-speaking journalists who turned out at the gendarmerie brigade in a show of solidarity, the Herald Newspaper reported that Moki Edwin Kindzeka of CRTV said Wepsi was picked up at Madagascar by two soldiers who accused him of accidentally hitting the car of a general’s son.

That the soldiers deflated the tyres of Websi’s car and took him to the gendarmerie brigade, but not before complaining that the programme he anchored that morning preached against national unity.

It was at the gendarmerie station, that Websi telephoned his colleague, George Kellong, and informed him of his plight. But unfortunately to Kellong he was received with a series of blows by the gendarmerie officer who welcomed him at the station. As if that
was not enough Kellong was bundled and forced into the cell to join his colleague.

The situation attracted other members of the Cameroon Calling crew, who rushed to the gendarmerie station where they protested loudly against the poor treatment meted out to their colleagues. They were later joined in their protest by other Anglophone journalists of the independent press.

The detained journalists were finally released through the intervention of a senior colleague Ngetiku Musi, of CRTV who mediated between them and the stubborn gendarmes and soldiers

Though fanatics of the regime like the stubborn soldiers believed the program on 18th May, was critical to the regime, many listeners say the said Cameroon Calling maintained its tradition of critical
but objective and balanced journalism.