BIYA CASTIGATES JOURNALISTS ON HOMOSEXUALITY SAGA

Source Kini Nsom - allAfrica.com

CAMEROON – 19 May 2009: One of the main issues President Paul Biya harped on while delivering his traditional Youth Day speech, February 10, concerned Cameroonian journalists violating professional ethics.

The President castigated journalists for what he called digging into people's private lives.

He called on journalists to exercise press freedom with limits so as to respect peoples' privacy and professional ethics.

Although President Biya made no direct reference to the homosexuality saga currently rocking the country, it was clear in the minds of many observers that he was talking about the publication of a list of presumed homosexuals in the country.

The French language tabloid, L'Anecdote, triggered the controversial saga recently, when it published a list of some highly placed government officials and some public figures allegedly practising homosexuality.

Many newspapers took turns in relaying the same story in their various editions. The story has put those whose names were published in the ignominy of stigmatisation.

It was within this context that Biya chided journalists for undermining the consequences of such a story, and making complete nonsense of social responsibility in the exercise of their profession.

Communication Minister Pierre Moukoko whose name appeared in the list of presumed homosexuals, was the first government official to react to the issue.

While receiving New Year wishes from his collaborators at the Yaounde conference centre recently, the Minister tried in vain to stem the tides of a saga that has adulterated the moral image of the government.

Genesis

The Post learnt that the homosexuality saga started when some women who were reportedly frustrated by their husbands' homosexual practices, complained to the Archbishop of Yaounde, His Grace Victor Tonye Bakot.

The women reportedly went to seek solace from the spiritual leader of their society. That is why last Christmas, the Archbishop hinged his sermon on homosexuality. For two hours he condemned homosexuality as one of the worst sins. Some highly placed government officials listened to the sermon at the Yaounde Metropolitan Cathedral.

The publication of the homosexual list has left many women and children stigmatised because their husbands and fathers have been portrayed as homosexuals.

The wife of a senior government official in Yaounde has reportedly stayed away from her office because of shame, since her husband's name was published as one of the homosexuals.