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Alert

Publisher's imprisonment extended by five months; CPJ calls for release of jailed publication director

(CPJ/IFEX) - In a 21 January 2005 letter to President Paul Biya, CPJ expressed deep concern over the recent jailing of Jules Koum Koum, publication director of the private bimonthly "Le Jeune Observateur", on criminal defamation charges. Two journalists are now imprisoned in Cameroon for their work.

On 10 January, Koum was sentenced to six months in prison for allegedly defaming the CPA insurance company in an article published in February 2004. Local sources say the article was titled: "Are CPA and Satellite reliable insurance companies?" Koum has been imprisoned since the verdict in the New Bell jail, in the southwestern port city of Douala.

Eric Wirkwa Tayu, publisher of the small private newspaper "Nso Voice", which is based in the western town of Kumbo, has been languishing in prison since 28 July, when he was convicted of defaming Kumbo's mayor, Donatus Njong Fonyuy, in articles alleging corruption.

Tayu was sentenced to five months in prison, in addition to a fine of 500,000 CFA francs (about US$893). When he was unable to pay the fine, his imprisonment was extended by five months.