Demands of Independent Investigation into Death of Cameroonian Journalist

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(PORTLAND, Ore.) - The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) is calling on the Cameroonian government to quickly open an independent investigation into the death of journalist Cyrille Germain Ngota Ngota alias Bibi Ngota.

“We are surprised by the bias in the report presented by the Cameroonian authorities which purports to validate simply the official version conveyed shortly after the tragic incident,” declared Gabriel Baglo , Director of IFJ Africa office. “Cameroonian government has to take practical steps against impunity for violence on media.”

IFJ and the Cameroon Journalists’ Trade Union (CJTU) publicly rejects the government’s published statement into this investigation, stating the report lacks the accountability of tangible concerns outlined by journalists and human rights defenders. The groups are repeatedly requesting the immediate set up, without delay, of an independent commission to examine,

• the arrest of four journalists
• detention conditions in the central prison of Yaounde and the judicial police
• circumstances of the death of the journalist and editor Bibi Ngota
• the recent aggression in the central prison of Yaounde of Robert Harrys Mintya.

In May 2010, a delegation of the Federation of African Journalists (FAJ), the Association of Journalists’ Trade Unions in Central Africa (USYPAC) and CJTU, met with Cameroonian authorities to communicate the above concerns listed by the community of African journalists.

IFJ reiterated to Salem-News.com their urging of the Cameroonian government, “help restore calm by releasing all the journalists in prison, suspend all legal proceedings against journalists and quickly launch an independent investigation about the death of Bibi Ngota and the detention conditions, for better relations between media and the government in Cameroon”.

Sources: International Federation of Journalists

Alysha Atma spends many hours working on projects that support and benefit the beleaguered people of African nations who spend way too much time off the western media's radar. This writer explains that she is a culmination of all her experiences, most importantly knowledge she says, and all that she still needs to learn; lessons of love, laughter and the extraordinary giving of both young and old. She says she has the enormous fortune of learning from the best; every person around her, and the amazing strength and fortitude of those she has never met but will always strive to listen to. "I continue to work and write because I believe in the power of community and the power of one, both contradictory to each other and yet can move together in a very powerful way. I feel a responsibility to use my place, freedoms and connections here in the US to stand up and yell for those who need my voice and actions. I have seen such strength in my fellow humans that I cannot even begin to comprehend, they have traveled distances, have gone without food, water, shelter and safety for days and weeks at a time. I have a responsibility as a fellow human to put our common humanity before anything else. Everyone deserves to look towards tomorrow, to dream of a safe future and to have a peaceful present." You can write to Alysha Atma at: alyshann78@comcast.net