By Bouddih Adams
The government of Cameroon, through its Communication Minister, Prof. Jacques Fame Ndongo, has reacted angrily to an interview granted Radio France Internationale, RFI, by the Archbishop of Douala, Christian Cardinal Wirghan Tumi, Wednesday morning. According to the Minister, RFI acted unprofessionally and unethically by broadcasting an interview with the Cardinal, in which he referred to the October 11 poll as a masquerade.
Fame Ndongo, reacting on CRTV newscasts, described RFI’s report as “flagrant violation of the universal laws of journalistic ethics.” RFI is said to have broadcast the observations of Cardinal Tumi, whom it presented as a great moral authority, Wednesday October 20, at 4.30am, 5.30am, 6.30am 7.30am and 8.30am.
Tumi said in the interview that the whole electoral process was mired in fraud. He said there were a lot of irregularities, which disenfranchised voters. Citing his example, the Cardinal had said, “I went round through four polling stations before finding my name.”
Asked whether it was not the many opposition candidates that made the election not worthy of one, Tumi said even if there were twenty candidates the outcome would be the same. “The problem is with the whole process which was flawed,” the man of God observed. Nevertheless, he reiterated his stance that he would never run for the Presidency of the Republic.
Fame Ndongo said the RFI was one-sided and thereby “obstinately refused to broadcast an interview from another great moral authority, the Rev. Pastor Joseph Forchive, President of the Federation of Evangelical Churches and Missions in Cameroon, who has a contrary opinion on the election.”
According to Fame Ndongo, the Rev. Pastor Forchive “duly granted an interview to the local correspondent of the RFI in Cameroon, David Ndache Tagne, Thursday October 14, 2004 at 5.00 pm.
Fame Ndongo also chastised the RFI for publishing interviews with leaders of some political who parties who “illegally announced what they considered as the results of the election…”
Fame Ndongo said RFI deliberately failed to present the opinions of other personalities and observer missions like the Christian election monitors, the ex-Congressmen from the USA, the Commonwealth and others that the election was free and transparent.
Fame Ndongo stated that the RFI failed in balancing its report and therefore, good journalism practice by not presenting the other opinions on the same subject happening at the same time and place. He cited the case of the French President Jacques Chirac who has congratulated Biya for winning an election which he described as peaceful, serene free and transparent.
The Communication Minister said, "anyone who describes the election as a sham is dreaming of a Cameroon at the antipot of peace."
This Minister is just an x-ray of the Biya regime. He has nothing to say.Nobody has anything to say when it comes to this elections. It was simply a waste of time because the Biya regime already won before polling started. it is a pity for Cameroon a country so rich in natural resources but yet has more than half of it´s population poor and needing help.God save us from this evil regime. thanks
Posted by: Francis | Saturday, 23 October 2004 at 09:00 AM
It was obvious for the minister of communication to say what ever momojombo he wished to say. It is also typical of the CPDM mentality that when the government opinion has discribed something as white, the ministers and other officials just have to echo it.
I don't even see any reason why people should waste their precious time talking about the results of the elections. 80% of Cameroonians knew the result before the registration process even started. This was while on the election day itself, everywhere looked like "ghost towns" as people were busy going about their businesses or simple stayed at home as f nothing was going on.
The cameroon case is a terminal case and any stupid politician who comes up today in cameroon to fool the people should be ready to lead Cameroonian in a popular uprising to overthrow the etundi junta. The electoral system has failed and no one should pretend it can ever work. If this is not the case, then i fear Cameroonians do not need any egoistic politics again.
WELL WE SHOULD FOLD OUR ARMS AND WAIT IT MIGHT JUST HAPPEN REALLY SOON.............
Posted by: the sheikh | Sunday, 24 October 2004 at 03:33 PM
"Famous Ndongo" will never be more famous than Cardinal Tumi. Read "Cardinal" ... You have to work really hard to earn something like that infront of your real name. You cannot claim a title to "Fame" without any "works". What is Ndongo's claim to "Fame"? Lies?
In natural law, Truth sets Free, Lies will keep you prisoner forever. There is no "Fame" in telling lies.
Blessed are those who tell the Truth ...
Posted by: Wanaku | Monday, 25 October 2004 at 12:21 PM