Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


Cameroon Journalists Say They Are Regularly Abused, Brutalized

Moki Edwin Kindzeka

   YAOUNDE - Cameroon's journalism association has called on authorities
   to immediately and unconditionally release journalists detained while
   covering anti-government protests this week.

   Police detained at least eight journalists covering Tuesday's protests,
   searched the homes of four of them, and seized or destroyed their
   equipment. At least one journalist was still in custody Thursday.

   Tah Javis Mai, a freelance journalist, returned Thursday to his office
   in the English-speaking southwestern Cameroon town of Buea. Mai said he
   was arrested by police in the French-speaking coastal city of Douala on
   Tuesday while reporting on protests against President Paul Biya.

   "The men in uniform asked that why am I using my phone to film them,"
   Mai said in a telephone call from Buea. "I said I am on a Skype call.
   They took us to that brigade in Bonaberi. One drinking alcohol poured
   the whiskey on me. He asked me to drink, and I refused. He poured it on
   my head. We were in an airtight cell. A cell for about two people, we
   were 15 in number with no food. Our phones were confiscated. They took
   everything from us."

.