Politics

The Gendarmerie Brigade of Banga Bakundu a village along the Kumba road has been burnt down to ashes. The people of Banga Bakundu in the South west region precisely in the Meme Division on witnessed a raging fire in the early hours of Saturday morning. Anglophone protesters have described it as a ghost visit.

An inhabitant of this village whose name we got just as Samuel said “what we are witnessing is strange to this village because nobody was seen around here at the time the fire started and with the present situation in the country, fingers are pointing to the inhabitants which is exactly what our people have been trying to avoid”.

Upon receiving news of the incident, the Divisional Officer for Mbonge took off to expect the incident but did not reach destination for he was involved in an automobile accident on the way and was taken to the hospital somewhere in the South West Region. He is in a stable condition and is fast responding to treatment.

Until moment, the cause for the fire is still unknown and the forces that be are working on it to know what actually provoked the raging flames that caused so much damage.

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Rita Akana

22.May.2017

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Ntumfor Barrister Nico Halle has appealed to President Biya to use his office to free all Anglophones arrested in the wake of the crisis in the Northwest and Southwest Regions.

“Since January, I have been on my knees praying, appealing and actually begging that the detained Anglophones be released,” Ntumfor Halle told The Post when he was approached on the plight of the detainees.

Asked in what capacities was he making the appeal, he answered: “I have been doing this as a national and international peace crusader.”

Ntumfor Halle, who is the President of the General Assembly of the Cameroon Bar, added: “I am doing this impartially, objectively and I don’t have any interest in it. I am doing this using peace, dialogue and the Bible. I am not saying that I am perfect, but I will continue doing this, despite my human shortcomings. I will not rest. I will continue begging and praying that peace returns.” 

Told that international bodies have pleaded for same release but nothing has happened, he reacted: “Didn’t the international bodies know that these problems exist? They know the chequered history of Cameroon in 55 years. It is the accumulation of frustrations for over 55 years. I am not against the international bodies coming, but they are coming for their interests. They are merely echoing what I have been saying.”

He intimated: “However, I congratulate the British High Commissioner, Brian Olley, who said that the solution this problem lies with Cameroonians – that the problem can be solved by Cameroonians.”

On the measures taken by the Government, he said: They are salutary; restoration of the internet of the internet is salutary.  Without it, businesses were crumbling. But for any genuine, sustainable dialogue to happen, I have prescribed general amnesty to be granted to all the Anglophones; those detained, those who have gone underground and those in exile. It is enshrined in the Constitution. I am suggesting that either Parliament should ask the Head of State to take the measures to free them or the Head of State can do it otherwise, by exercising State authority of pardon. There can be no State authority without peace. Liberating these people is part of his job. The Head of State should be the happiest person to know that peace has returned to his country. Another way is by nolle prosequi. This does not mean the Head of State is intervening in judicial matters. It is because peace is even compromised. We will not know peace until this problem is resolved. You will agree with me that peace can never exist without justice and equity. . Because, when peace is threatened, there can be no meaningful development of the people. Peace is the most precious asset for each nation, people, society and community.”

Talking about the new projects in the Anglophone sector, he asserted: “You can tar the whole of Northwest and Southwest - without solving this problem, there will continue to be crisis.”

He lamented that: “Some people are making political and financial capital out of the situation. Politicians should not exploit this crisis for personal aggrandisement and benefit. I belong to no party, I am a neutral Cameroonian who has no political platform, but I have been serving my nation. I will continue to pray that peace returns to the Northwest, Southwest and, of course, to the Far North Region that has not known peace for long due to the Boko Haram.”

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Abeh Valery

22.May.2017

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This article is translated from the original that was published in The ‘Le Messager’ of Friday, May 22, 2015. It more than gives a chilling blow-by-blow historical account of how the Late President Ahmadou Ahidjo, with the manipulation of French interests, practically killed off the Southern Cameroons.

It is intriguing, the more so as it is researched and written by a Francophone Cameroonian of Mr. Biya’s ethnic background.

Introduction

Since 1973, Cameroonians have been celebrating ‘the 20th May Event’ year in year out, in tune with Government’s public addresses. During this event, round-table discussions are held, interviews carried out and programmes broadcasted, with the aim of explaining to the masses the relevance of these celebrations in the recent history of Cameroon, as the military, the police, gendarmes, firefighters and of course political parties, Government and private secondary school students, as well as those already in higher institution are involved in parades across the country.

In the meantime few are those Cameroonians who really ponder on the origin, most importantly the scope and relevance of this event, which became a national one, following Ahmadou Ahidjo’s Presidential decision, given that its coming put an end both to the Celebrations held in Commemoration of the 1st January 1960 Independence and of the 1st October 1961 Reunification.

I- The Origin of the 20th May Day

The 20th May Day – which is a commemoration of a Referendum organized on that day in 1972 can be traced back to two pre-existing factors; one of French origin and the other genuinely from Ahidjo.

The French Origin of May 20, 1972

Until 1971, President Ahmadou Ahidjo and the then Cameroon Government were extolling the ‘exemplary success of Cameroonian-made federalism’. They were even praised for it. Cameroon Radio equally took part in the game. The speech that was broadcasted that day read as follows: ‘We, Cameroonians, have achieved in the whole world something only the Canadians and the Swiss were able to accomplish before us’. Meanwhile, in doing so, two issues were kept in silence:

1) We had lost the Northern Part of our country which joined Nigeria on June 1st, 1961. This territory was snatched off Cameroon’s hands through the rigged Referendum of February 11 and 12, 1961.

2) We should not simply be contented with Cameroon’s Reunification. We had the opportunity to extend our territorial boundaries by integrating Equatorial Guinea.

At the time of her independence, Ondu Edu, the Leader of that Nation sought help from Cameroon, unfortunately to the complete lack of interest from authorities in Yaoundé. Regardless, federalism was not only thriving in Cameroon but there was also no apparent reason to end it.

It was even a Government model to emulate not only in neighbouring Nigeria, but in Africa as a whole. However, in the beginning of 1972, the Algerian Government back then, nationalized all French assets found within the oil sector of their country. The Government of Paris was under threat as this source of energy was about to be cut off.

What then was the next course of action? The Paris Government then recalled that since 1954, they had reserved an oil well discovered in Logbaba, in the Douala suburbs, Cameroon and on which Ahmadou Ahidjo had given them exclusive right on December 31, 1958, through the first Cooperation Agreements signed with the French Prime Minister, Michèle Debré.

Better still, the Paris Government also recalls that, from the time of the Reunification, large oil reserves by far incomparable in quantity to the oil wells in Douala had been discovered in Western Cameroon. From that moment, they took the decision to drill oil in Cameroon, adding to other sources of supply across the world in a bid to meet their crude oil needs. However, there was a huge problem with the oil found in Western Cameroon. Across Western Cameroon borders.

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Enoh Meyomesse

22.May.2017

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GUILTY PLEASURE

When I was a little boy, the anticipation that surrounded an upcoming 20th May celebration was eclectic, contagious, patriotic and transcended provincial and now regional boundaries. I must confess here that white converse shoes, white socks, well pressed khaki shorts, blue shirts and dresses for boys and girls respectively and of varied shades of blue depending on the school, reminds me of some of my best days - when
I didn't have to pay any rent, pay for my own food, buy my own books or pay tuition fees, neither did I have to understand the true meaning behind the 20th May celebrations or anything to do with politics. We just anticipated a day out when we could have as many Ice lollies aka "alaska", Ice creams, Yoghurt , "amiss girls", and bread and sardines sandwiches as possible. A day that those who were as talented as my friend Peter Ngam, would be part of the school gymnastic team competing against other schools in acrobatic jumps and synchronised gymnastic manoeuvres.

For someone like myself who was more into athletics and performance, it was the day that I would take the spotlight in my fancy outfit holding a staff painted in Green Red Yellow and a yellow star in the middle - as the conductor of the school band that would be leading the March and perform for the Divisional Officer and other dignitaries in front of the "Grand stand". I do miss being that little boy, so clearly these are still guilty pleasures, however, I have no remorse today to have been amongst many comrades who played an influential role in the campaign that saw 20th May 2017 boycotted by the youths of Southern Cameroons. I did that for two reasons:

1. ILLEGITIMATE: 20th May is illegitimate because it celebrates a day in 1972, that Southern Cameroons was militarised by soldiers from "La Republic" who directly and indirectly intimidated and forced our people to vote in a staged Referendum that saw the end of The Federal Republic of Cameroon.
2. MARGINALISATION: 20th May celebration is a tactic to enhance marginalisation and exploitation. It is a fabrication designed to conceal our true history from our people because our history clearly spells that "The People of Southern Cameroons are a People". NB. To fully understand all of this, please read my previous post on Facebook on why we should not celebrate 20th May.

SUCCESS

Our campaign to boycott the event this year in Southern Cameroons was absolutely reciprocated with positive reactions all over our territory, with the North West Regions demonstration of exceptional commitment as always. As we expected, the turnout was pathetic and a national disgrace, as our brave people who are now swimming in a sea dominated by waves of political consciousness once more sent a clear message to La Republic- that the truth behind their schematic moves has been unearthed, spread throughout Southern Cameroons, and internationlised via our numerous platforms and networks. The people of Southern Cameroons would no longer participate in a national day dominated by national division. We would no longer celebrate a day that saw an end to the advancement of democratic values, a day that clearly made official, the enslavement of our people and exploitation of our resources.

20th May was a day that both the young and old effortlessly took time off to indulge in celebrations, but this time around, "La Republic" had to militarise our counties, intimidate, bribe, blackmail and force our people to engage in the celebrations dressed in CPDM uniforms thereby embarrassingly turning a supposedly national day into a national CPDM parade day, led by the first lady herself as seen in her outfit at "Boulevard de 20 Mai " in Yaounde.

GLITCHES YET MORE SUCCESS

But for a few glitches here and there, following the participation of those who were intimidated to take part in the events, especially in Mamfe, our campaign recorded yet another milestone victory towards restoration. So long as we stay united and support Southern Cameroons Ambazonia Consortium United Front better known by it's acronym; SCACUF, so long as we stay committed to civil disobedience and continue to support our leaders who have been illegally detained, we would soon be celebrating our real national day which remains 1st October.

If you are angry that you have been celebrating a fake national day throughout your life, I am about to make you even upset by letting you know that Ahidjo's decision to adopt 20th May as our national day was also influenced by romantic impulses. It is known that one of the reasons he handpicked the day was because it was the birthday of his beloved wife Germaine Ahidjo. Thus, our national day was offered to her as one of the numerous gifts that Ahidjo often showered her with on her birthday. Fellow Southern Cameroonians, we are winning on many fronts and taking our own future into our hands. Please continue reading, sharing, and update yourself about our history. This is not a coincidence, so anyone who celebrated a former presidents wife birthday as their national day should ask themselves many questions including the one below. It is another perfect summation of the success of our "boycott 20th May" campaign which all Southern Cameroons based opposition parties including the Social Democratic Front (SDF) also respected.

1. Why is that for the first time in three and a half decades, Paul Biya didn't read the 20th May speech?

Adjani
Lower Manyu County
......................................................................
Freelance political analyst,

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Adjani, Lower Manyu County

21.May.2017

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After watching the coverage of the 20th May Celebrations on CRTV and listening to various counts from our people in various counties, it’s safe to say we the people of Southern Cameroons sent out a message that was LOUD and CLEAR to La Republique: WE ARE NOT CELEBRATING A FAKE UNION. OUR RESOLVE REMAINS UNSHAKEN. 20th MAY IS NOT THE NATIONAL DAY OF SOUTHERN CAMEROONS!
Our people respected the Ghost Towns to a large extent (Except for a few counties where LRC managed to influence and coerce people into marching). In general, the people made their voices heard by not showing up or sending their children into the streets to march in the rain or sun for a celebration that never was.

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Jerome Ngwa

21.May.2017

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Mr Atanga Nji, one of loyal and faithful slaves of the Biya military regime, was heard and seen live  telling journalists of the lone state broadcaster, the CRTV, that all Anglophones are today regretting for having allowed themselves to be manipulated by some terrorists, selfish and egoistic individuals from the diaspora, whose sole aim is to divide Cameroon and unsit president Biya.

The disowned son of the North West Region in order to please his master, cooked up lies that,  about five thousand militants of the ruling CPDM party marched in Bamenda to commemorate the so called National unity day and that this year's celebration can not be compared to previous editions due to the massive turn out.

After listening to him, many have  asked the question how can people refuse to send their children to school, declare ghost town days in the region and ask for total boycott of meetings organised by the party, suddenly change their minds to go and march?

To further demonstrate his ploy and evil plans to obscure the image of Southern Cameroonians before his occultic grand master of a president, Mr Atanga Nji said, most Anglophones have come to terms with him in his initial stance that there is nothing like an Anglophone problem in Cameroon.

Atanga Nji, who is incharge of special duties at the presidency, a position equal to that of an errand boy was talking to CRTV during post 20th May celebration feast at president Biya's residence in Etoudi, Yaounde.

Moreover, eye witness accounts that, 20th May celebration in Bamenda was a mere drama. The governor hired thugs from the West Region including the military and some few francophone students to stage the march pass drama at the Bamenda grand stand.

It should be noted that this same Atanga Nji was the first person to run to the media at the wake of the Anglophone crisis to debunk all allegations against Anglophone marginalisation in La République du Cameroun.

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Rita Akana

21.May.2017

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