Press Freedom In Danger: Rainbow FM Mbengwi Under Threats From Unidentified Armed Men
Staff of Rainbow FM, a community radio station in Mbengwi, Momo Division in Cameroon’s North West Region are in hiding following threats of attack by unidentified individuals. The same people, the workers say, have called for a complete shutdown of the community radio for now. In a release signed by the president of Cameroon Journalists …
The staff of Rainbow FM, a community radio station in Mbengwi, Momo Division in Cameroon’s North West Region are in hiding following threats of attack by unidentified individuals. The same people, the workers say, have called for a complete shutdown of the community radio for now. In a release signed by the president of Cameroon Journalists Trade Union (CJTU) North-West Chapter Thursday 3rd September 2020, the union is calling on all those threatening the radio and its staff to stop. He stresses that the radio is there to inform, educate and entertain the public with all objectivity. The president of CJTU North West Chapter, Derick Bakah says ” The situation of staff of Rainbow Radio remains deplorable.
They have received all sorts of threats telling them to stop informing the population of community activities. This is unacceptable for a radio that is apolitical. The radio neither supports separatist fighters nor the government in the war that is going on.” Besides threats on Rainbow FM radio, Cameroon Journalists Trade Union North West Chapter says four community radio stations have been destroyed by unidentified men. These include Sky FM in Ndu, City Community Radio in Kumbo, Chamber FM in Balikumbat and Stone FM in Ndop. Since the beginning of the anglophone crisis in the North West and South-West regions of Cameroon in 2016, media organs and workers in the regions have been targeted. The threats, some victims say, come from military and separatist fighters.
