“These Programmes Are Incompatible With Our Culture, Law”

You have just signed a communique calling on the attention of media promoters to remove all programmes which promote the practice of homosexuality. How do you intend to ensure that appeal is taken into consideration?  
We are watching them carefully and we have a monitoring system which captures almost all programmes broadcast in the Republic of Cameroon. It is on this basis that the communique was issued. We happen to have notified some media promotors of such programmes. We are going to notify the others. We intend to move a step forward by carrying out repressive measures. These programmes contain things which are not authorised by our culture and most especially our laws through the Penal Code which punishes such practices. Based on reports we have on our monitoring machines, I felt we should first issue a communique reminding them of this practice. In the past, I visited some media channel promoters and the issue was raised. Some of them recognised the errors they were making. Some of them claimed some of such programmes were requested for by subscribers. I told them you cannot have such things in a country that does not authorise such practices even if it was requested. I told them someone cannot take permission from them to commit an offence. According to the law in the country, it is punishable. The current statement is to let media promoters know that we are going to move a step further in ending such practices.

What will happen to those who do not respect the appeal?  
We are going to suspend their broadcast in the national territory. It is about the law, not me. Even those whom by extension, pick up images from channels that broadcast things that are incompatible with our culture and the laws in place, they will also be closed down by the competent authority. We have given operators in the sector enough grace and the time for repressive measures is now. I cannot say exactly when we are going to begin closing such channels. We are determined to move straight into the repressive phrase.
What strategies have you put in place to control the passage of such homosexuality programmes on different media platform? 
We began by drawing the attention of the media promoters to such irregularities. We have notified some. Through our monitoring system we have come up with an empirical observation of what we consider not appropriate. It is not everything that is allowed in the western world that is allowed in Cameroon. A time might come when such practices may be criminalised in the country. But for now, we have to apply the laws as they are.&...