Mr. Simon Lyonga La Molombe in a communiqué comforted all those who have been arrested and intimidated in the course of their duty, but went ahead to use the appellation, most government officials use on journalists who are very critical of the regime.

“In the meantime, a good number of us have not been responsible journalists and have kept down their cloaks of reporting objectively, putting on the apron of activists who decide what side of the tale to tell their audiences. To these few we say it's not yet late, get back to the house and stop being terrorist journalists. It brings shame to this celestial profession and negatively tags you and your kindred forever”, stated Simon in his rare address.

The journalism leader has been absent at the head of the association and reproached by many for being dormant and cold towards the sufferings of some colleagues who went through tough times in the course of the year. His message stirred the anger of some members dissatisfied with his rule at the helm of CAMASEJ.

“ This is the worst Press Freedom Day message I have ever read in my entire career, that a President of a Journalists Association will address some of his colleagues as Terrorists Journalists, shows how far we are still behind in terms of Press freedom. This is same language officials started using on trade union leaders before backpedaling. For Simon to have addressed some of his colleagues as Terrorist Journalists, he is simply saying that the appellation is correct, that those tried by state under terrorism law were right to have been to court”, said Nfor Hanson, an independent journalist.

Some journalists however agree with Simon that the press in Cameroon needs to sit up and win-back it's intergrity, but they disagree when he calls journalists 'terrorists'.

" I agree with the CAMASEJ National President, that journalists should practice responsibly. But to call colleagues as terrorists, is totally outrageous to me. Only the courts determine someone as a terrorist, thus for a journalist qualifying others as terrorists because they share different opinions, makes little sense to me", said another journalist, Deng Eric.

His speech however, appreciated the efforts made by some regional bureaus of the association, which have been buoyant, despite a dormant national office. He further urged colleagues to disseminate information that is verified and accurate, especially as 2019 is an electoral year.