Governor fears new riots in Douala; cautions media

The governor of the Littoral region has called on journalists to be more vigilant and responsible for in broadcasting social information in the wake of the recent fuel increments.

In a speech yesterday, Joseph Beti Assomo said: “I am surprised at what takes place on radio channels and television stations who open the airwaves to those who cause the uprisings and damages.

“We do not play with social peace. I call for moderation and balance in the treatment of social affairs. It is far from the desire to gag you. We need people in the coastal region to work in the effort of social peace."

According to the Governor, who claims to be unpleasantly surprised the media is reserved lately for information on rising fuel prices in the various media of the economic capital of Cameroon, the columns of the newspapers, radio and TV shows are loaned to those who want to cast a dark cloud over the country.

He added: "This is an opportunity for me to address what is read, what is heard and what is seen in the columns of the press, radio and TV in the Littoral region and especially the city of Douala. I hear people calling for uprisings. Media executives hide behind the interactive programs to open their antennas to people who call for uprising. We cannot play with social peace".

Speaking of this responsibility, the governor said had no desire to “gag” the media, but rather have more vigilance in its communication. He spread the same message to parents and asked them to monitor what their children see and hear during the holidays to prevent them from joining certain movements or being recruited by malicious and rebellious individuals.

Speaking of rising fuel prices that has led to the noticeable social tension in the economic capital of Cameroon, he recalled the remedial measures taken by the government. Namely, the reduction of certain taxes, the rising price of taxi, the re-evaluation of 5 per cent of the salaries of civil servants, the establishment by the government of a cell of social dialogue managed by the Minister of Social Affairs and negotiations around the revaluation of the guaranteed minimum wage (Smig).

February 2008 riots According to information from sources, although some perceive the Governors message as a threat against the press, it rather aims to calm the spirits and prevent further riots in the city of Douala.

The aftermath of the riots in February 2008 is still very much visible. "Those who launched the strike in 2008 have still not settled and did nothing to fix the damage they have caused to their citizens, nothing,” expresses the Governor firmly.

“Do not allow this to happen again. The people of Douala, the lungs of economics in the Central African sub-region, need peace to go about their daily business as normal.

The riots of 2008 began on February 25 and lasted four days. The violent protest movement began in the city of Douala following discontent orchestrated by rising fuel prices. Following these riots, an unofficial source says more than one hundred deaths were recorded and material losses were estimated at several billion FCFA.