January 26, 2023

IAWRT Cameroon chapter held its first meeting in 2023 on January 16. Chapter head Tchonko Becky Bissong presided over the meeting. The chapter discussed its chapter activities from 2020-2022, financial reports and legal registration. Sidonie Pogmoni presented the resolutions of the IAWRT Biennial Conference 2022, held in November in Tanzania, and also discussed the possibility of pitching to host the next biennial conference.

The chapter also discussed conducting activities in view of 8th March 2023, World Press Freedom Day, Rural Women’s Day, and the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence among others. The group is looking to produce short documentaries on how lack of identification papers hinders the socio-economic evolution of girls and women fleeing conflicts in the North-West and South Region and on the life of internally displaced peoples from Cameroon living in Congo and Nigeria.

The IAWRT Cameroon chapter head thanked all who made time to attend the meeting both physically and virtually, especially Mandira Raut, IAWRT Board secretary and for active participation evident in the rich contributions and ideas to boost our activities.

The International Association of Women in Radio and Television – Philippines expressed concern over the recent decision of a Manila court that denied our colleague and detained community journalist Frenchie Mae Cumpio the right to present evidence and prove the utter falsehoods against her.

This terror financing charge against Cumpio and church worker Mariel Domequil stems from the P557,360 reportedly found in their possession when they were arrested and consequently charged back in 2020.

The Philippine government has since said this is being used to finance the revolutionary movement in the region, based on the supposed account of an eyewitness. Cumpio, for her part, has long said that the cash was intended for her radio program and her current collaborative humanitarian project called, “Stand with Samar.”

According to the decision, copies of court orders seeking Cumpio’s verified opposition to the allegations before her have been served to her through the Clerk of Court and Ex-Officio Sheriff of the regional trial court in Tacloban City. Per the Sheriff’s return dated Jan. 14, 2021, Cumpio and fellow political prisoner Domequil supposedly received copies of the court order.

In a petition filed last month, Cumpio’s lawyer, the National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers, said that it is excusable as the alternative journalist was immediately red-tagged upon her arrest, and had difficulties getting a lawyer. They noted that in 2021, the Philippine police even wrote to the Calbayog City Hall of Justice to get the names of lawyers representing political prisoners, creating what the lawyer’s group described as a chilling effect among their ranks.

It was also difficult to get evidence and prepare for their defense as they were detained and with added restrictions due to the pandemic.

Among the other grounds for allowing Cumpio to present evidence also include the fact that the seized cash was not subject to the search warrants being enforced against them, and that both the Communist Party of the Philippines nor the New People’s Army were neither designated nor proscribed as terrorist organizations at the time of their arrest.

All these, however, were dismissed by the Manila court.

As Cumpio’s lawyers are set to appeal the court decision today, we are urging the court to allow Frenchie Mae to present her evidence. We stand with her that there are meritorious and humanitarian reasons why she was not able to join the proceedings. We call on the Manila court to give Frenchie Mae the due process she rightfully deserves.

Most importantly, we pray and continue to work toward the dismissal of all charges against Frenchie Mae.

Free Frenchie Mae Cumpio.

Reference:

Executive Board

IAWRT Philippines

The International Association of Women in Radio and Television – Philippines held its General Assembly last December 22, 2022 at the University Hotel of the University of the Philippines – Diliman.

During the General Assembly, IAWRT Philippines members moved to adopt the Strategic Plan and the continuing implementation of the Digital Safe House and Collaboration Platform for Women Journalists in the Philippines.

A new set of officers were also elected.

IAWRT Philippines 2023-2025 Executive Board

  • Lynda Catindig-Garcia, Chapter Head
  • Janess Ann J. Ellao, Deputy Chapter Head
  • Therese San Diego Torres, Secretary
  • Grace Baldo San Pedro, Treasurer
  • Evelyn “Yanni” Roxas, Board Member for Luzon
  • Nona Lasaga, Board Member for Visayas
  • Mary Queenie Casio, Board Member for Mindanao
  • Jola Diones-Mamangun, Co-Opted Board Member
Women journalists’ situation in Afghanistan

The International Association of Women in Radio and Television (IAWRT) Afghanistan chapter launched at the 39th IAWRT Biennial Conference their report about the dangers, challenges and changes that female journalists have been facing in Afghanistan since August 2021. 

Called Lives, Jobs, Homeland: Afghan Women Lose it All, the report’s statistics are horrific for women journalists, who lost everything with the Taliban hardline Islamic regime. 

Every respondent to the survey reported threats and harassment since the takeover. One hundred percent — 100% of the respondents reported that they had received threats since the change of leadership.