Death penalty, life imprisonment verdicts dangle over detained Anglophone Journalists

The Political Desk Editor of The Sun Newspaper, Tilarius Atia, who is one of the numerous Anglophone journalists languishing in pre-trial detention at the Kondengui Maximum Security Prison, has been charged with promoting terrorism.

Tilarius Atia was charged at the Yaounde Military Tribunal recently.

Atia, who was brought before the court in handcuffs, has been in detention since February 9.

It is difficult to say on what grounds the court is basing its charge on.

The Sun’s Political Desk Editor was arrested in Buea alongside Amos Fofung of The Guardian Post Newspaper and the Publisher of the Voice of the Voiceless, Mofor Ndong.

Even though Ndong was present at the Yaounde Military Tribunal, it is not clear if the same charge was slammed on him. Fofung was, however, not brought to court.

The three journalists are not the only media persons arrested in connection with the ongoing crisis in the North West and South West Regions.

The Publisher of the Bamenda-based Life Time Newspaper, Tim Finian Njua, journalist for the Jakari Community Radio, Hans Achumba, Publisher of the Aghem monthly Magazine, Thomas Awah Junior, are all gnashing their teeth in pre-trial detention in Kondengui Prison.

Those who have been charged are accused of violating the 2014 law on the suppression of acts of terrorism. If they are found guilty, they will face death penalties or life imprisonments.

Many peace crusaders and international organisations like the United Nations have called on Government to release all those detained in connection with the Anglophone Crisis as a first step to national dialogue and reconciliation. But Government is giving a deaf ear to these numerous calls.