afrol News, 3 March - Cameroon's secret service has tortured two independent news journalists when they were detained in February, the country's press union, said in the statement.

The Cameroon National Journalists Union (SNJC) said journalists Simon Nko'o and Serge Sabouang were tied and beaten with metal bars nightly and deprived of sleep and food and held naked in icy cells during their 5-12 February detention.

Police reports said Mr Sabouang, head of La Nation newspaper, was re-arrested on Monday on forgery charges, along with other journalists.

The country’s secret service detained Mr Nko'o, from the weekly Bebela, and Mr Sabouang of the bi-monthly La Nation for allegedly possessing a document that threatens to reveal disturbing information on powerful people in the republic.

In July last year, the media watchdog, Committee to Protect Journalists, denounced the spate of threats and harassment carried out by government on journalists.

The organisation reported that media director and reporters in the country have received a number of death threats for publishing stories that highlight corrupt senior government officials.

It further requested the government to bring defamation laws in line with international standards by eliminating criminal penalties.

Since Cameroon gained independence in 1961, it has struggled from one-party rule to a multi-party system in which the freedom of expression has been severely limited.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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