Politics

In a letter addressed to Members of Parliament, Hon. Wirba Joseph has pleaded  Members of Parliament, Who Are The Representatives of The People of West Cameroon To Protest & Walk Out Of Parliament.

Hon. Wirba Joseph Mbiydzenyuy MP,
Bui South,
Jakiri Bui Division
28"' March 2017

Honourable Members of Parliament, The Representatives of The People of West Cameroon.

Right Honourable Members, Dear Colleagues

SUBJECT: HISTORICAL MOMENT TO STAND TOGETHER FOR THE PEOPLE OF WEST CAMEROON.
 
I have chosen this dark moment in our history to write to you from exile, following the vicious man-hunt to put me in chains and an attempt on my life, by a government that believes the people of West Cameroon are a lower cast of humans who must be kept in bondage and servitude.

This is your moment in history in which all of you. without exception, must stand together in the name of the suffering. oppressed and struggling people of West Cameroon! Our people have been mistreated, humiliated, tortured, jailed. exiled and others killed: merely for peacefully asking for their basic fundamental rights as a people with a distinct cultural heritage and a dignified way of life.

They have endured systematic and traumatic abuse for over half a century and we all can testify that they have had enough! As the representatives of the people that you are, you have witnessed in each of your constituencies, the collective will and the dogged determination of our people to resist oppression in order to have a voice and a place in their own land.

 Our children and their teachers have been out of school for months! Our lawyers have been out of court for much longer! The general masses from every village to every town have joined the struggle to take back our freedom! Our brothers and sisters in the diaspora have fought and struggled along with the people in every way imaginable! The world has taken notice that our people are in bondage. and in various ways expressed support for them. You their representatives, are the ONLY group left that has not supported the people in their desperate hour of need!

 YOU MUST STAND TOGETHER NOW AND JOIN YOUR PEOPLE IN THEIR STRUGGLE,OR FACE THE CONSEQUENCES OF INACTION AND SILENCE!

Honourable Members, this is the moment that you, representatives of the people of West Cameroon; from Boyo, Bui. Donga-Mantung, Fako. Kupe-Manenguba. Lebialem, Manyu. Merne. Mentchum. Mezam. Momo, Ndian and Ngokitunjia must stage a protest, in the name of our people, and walk out of the Cameroon National Assembly together!

This is your historic moment to stand in solidarity with the people and save them from 56 years of slavery! If you lose this chance, our people and history will never forgive you!
God is with us and He will bless and protect you all for standing up for His People!

Hon Joseph M. Wirba
MP Member Of Parliament
Cameroon National Assembly.

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Rita Akana

03.Apr.2017

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Southern Camerooonian activist, Mark Bareta who also doubles as a member of the Anglophone civil society consortium has made a call for citizens to boycott musical concerts and shows organized by Cameroonian musicians who distance themselves from the current crisis in the South West and North West regions of Cameroon.

 In a statement published on his Facebook wall, Mark wrote:

As a matter of fact, any musician from the Cameroons be it a Southern Cameroonian or Camerounese (Francophones) who have not stood up for our struggle to voice out concern should be boycotted. This is the time these musicians move around Europe and USA for concerts. I hear Mami Gueya will be in USA and guys are already advertising her. These musicians will expect you to come out, pay gate fees to watch them sing. Na new song? Those days are over. Southern Cameroonians should boycott these so called Cameroonian nonsense and put their money in the struggle. If you must have fun, there are hundreds other ways to get fun.

Please in this struggle it is an eye for an eye, you do me I do. Musicians should use music to inspire and speak out even in the most sarcastic ways. Musicians are by themselves activist. They should be bold to speak out. They should not say am not into politics. To say NO to human rights abuses is not politics.

Southern Cameroonians, we have come of age. We must begin severing the Cameroun link and free ourselves from mental slavery. If we can call out our people back home to boycott events of La Republique and we go to watch and clap for any musician who has failed to show concern for the struggle especially a Camerounese then we are hypocrite and are committing a capital SIN. On the other hand, those who have shown concern, those who stood with us in these trying times should be encouraged, promoted with all might in us.

That change and freedom begins with you. Southern Cameroonians in the diaspora must begin making these musicians or Cameroun events start seeing the impact of "Anglophone" boycott and the power of Southern Cameroons diaspora.

There were reactions on social media after the press statement.Prominent Southern Cameroonian blogger, Maybelle Boma had this to say:

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Rita Akana

03.Apr.2017

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The Common Law Lawyers Association has transformed itself to Southern Cameroons Bar Association according to Barrister Bobga. Barrister Bobga now speaking and posing as President of Southern Cameroons Bar Association(SCBA), and taking the position of restoring the independence and sovereignty of the Southern Cameroons (Ambazonia), aligns well with the mission of SCACUF to lead Southern Cameroonians through these last days into the restoration of the statehood of the the Republic of Southern Cameroons (Ambazonia).

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Rita Akana

02.Apr.2017

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Dear President Biya,
I take this opportunity to write this letter concerning the ongoing situation in Cameroon, which I am deeply convinced is unnecessary, disruptive, and, which I believe is an insult to progress.  I also believe it should be stopped and abandoned within a reasonable time under reasonable circumstances.

 First of all, I find it very difficult to believe that the people in West Cameroon are being alienated from the rest of the world because they are Anglophones, and that they do not have access to basic amenities such as mobile phone service, and the internet.  My question is: Are you discriminating against English speakers in Cameroon alone, or across the globe as well? This is not good!

I apologize if I am wrong, but, is it a crime to speak English in Africa, or Cameroon? Does the English-speaking citizens of Cameroon have to purchase a license to use the internet or mobile phones? If so, why, Mr. President? Are you aware that these current restrictions are antithetical?

Secondly, I speak on behalf of the millions who have no voice in matters of government in your country, because I think that since you have started your military campaign to debase and intimidate certain groups, you have literally silenced many in their ability to communicate with the rest of the world.
 
 In saying this, I think that many would agree that it is a sad thing when someone cannot communicate with his own people, Mr. President.  It becomes more critical when you cannot be heard by your own people, news media, and government, in the country of your birth and nationality! 

Thirdly, I am fearful for the lives of many, particularly of those who have become victims of rape, physical violence and blatant insults from members of the armed forces! I am also fearful for the peacemakers among you who strive to make this world a better place for everyone in their path.
 
The question remains as to why people who live in the greatest continent on planet Earth are being guided by hate, prejudice and ethnic bias and mistrust towards each other?  Are we seeing a new version of Apartheid on the African continent? Is this a transformation process toward progress, or, is it a regime of strife?

Mr. President, just recently, an English speaking representative of West Cameroon voiced his concerns in Parliament about the public wrongs he witnessed first-hand.  What public offence would a pregnant woman in Cameroon do that would subject her to such physical violence that she should have a miscarriage?  

This is a total disrespect of life and the perpetrators should be swiftly brought to justice. Why are elected public officials being threatened by armed forces for speaking out for their rights? Have you forgotten what government is all about in Cameroon?

Finally, Mr. President, if the people of Cameroon take to the streets to protest for their freedom, they have every right to do so without insult from their government. Are they not sons and daughters of the soil just like those who do so in other parts of Africa?
Mr. President, your people are the greatest and most important resource in your nation. They should not be ruled by fear, divisiveness, or political violence. Remember, a father or a mother should not discriminate between their children.

I hope and pray that you take my words to heart for the sake of many whose lives and livelihood are at stake.

--concerned US citizen

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Rita Akana

31.Mar.2017

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The Minister of Secondary Education, Jean Ernest Massena Ngale Bibehe has extended registration deadline for the fourth time the General Certificate of Education Examinations, GCE to April 15, 2017.

In an order signed today, the exam has been extended by two weeks in examination centers in Buea and Bamenda. In the meantime, there will be no Easter holiday for examination students in the Anglophone regions.

As they will use the period to catch up for lost time due to the ongoing crisis.

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Rita Akana

31.Mar.2017

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“The spokesman of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees pointed out, during a press conference granted on March 21, 2017 in Geneva, the concerns of the UNHCR relating to the alleged forceful repatriation by Cameroon of Nigerian refugees since the beginning of the year 2016. He notably described a situation “where some refugees who were arrested during a military attack against the Boko Haram insurgency, were transported in trucks to a camp of the displaced persons at Banki. Among those forcibly returned were found a one year old child and a woman who was nine months pregnant who latter put to birth a day after their arrival at Banki.”
The Government of Cameroon strongly refutes these ungrounded and particularly unjust allegations which are somehow intended to undermine the image of a country whose meritorious efforts to host refugees are unanimously lauded, including by the High Commissioner for Refugees. 
With regard to the facts on the ground, it is important to highlight that, on March 20, 2017, while fleeing the Nigerian army operations against the Boko Haram terrorist group, 841 Nigerian nationals, including 154 men, 288 women and 399 children, found themselves in Cameroon. They were welcomed by the elements of the Cameroonian army based in the Lafia locality, who, with the means at their disposal, gave them all the necessary assistance in terms of food and medical care.
Considering the general fatigue conditions of these refugees, in which some sustained injuries through bullets, coupled with the remote location of the Minawao camp, the Cameroonian authorities, under the effective supervision of the local HCR bureau and in collaboration with the relevant Nigerian authorities, undertook to organize their safe return in their country. For this purpose, civilian trucks were requisitioned in support of military vehicles. In all, 905 Nigerian nationals (over sixty new refugees who were added to the other 841), were regrouped and transported to Banki in Nigeria, and handed over to the Nigerian authorities, in the morning of March 21, 2017. None of them expressed the desire to stay in Cameroon.
These operations took place in strict compliance with the provisions contained in the Tripartite Agreement signed on March 2, 2017 as part of the voluntary return of Nigerian refugees living in Cameroon.
The Government of Cameroon would like to express its profound disapproval and to raise the strongest possible protest against the aforementioned allegations which are profoundly unjust and unacceptable. In matters of hospitality, Cameroon has no lesson to learn from anyone. The country has always hosted a good number of refugees who find asylum in our territory. The local Cameroonian authorities, known for their legendary hospitality and solidarity, have always spontaneously hosted these helpless persons. Notwithstanding the end of conflicts which justified their departure from their country of origin, many refugees have nevertheless chosen to stay in Cameroon.   
Today, Cameroon hosts over 550,000 refugees, mostly nationals of the Central African Republic and Nigeria. But there are also some former Chadian, Rwandan and Burundian refugees. With regard to Nigerian refugees, more than 87,000 persons are currently present in Cameroon. Over 60,000 of these Nigerian refugees are hosted in the Minawao camp, initially set up for 20, 000 people and whose hosting capacity is today far exceeded. Thousands of other Nigerian refugees are received by host families, yet with very limited resources. This influx of refugees is a particularly heavy burden for public authorities, as well as host communities who do not have enough resources but have to bear considerable pressure.
The paramount responsibility of the Cameroonian Government relates to its own populations, who are suffering a great deal as a result of the current security crisis and its consequences. To date, the Far-North Region of Cameroon records over 200,000 internally displaced persons who have been obliged to abandon their houses and activities in border areas due to Boko Haram atrocities. They have been relocated in other villages away from the border. Yet, in the same vein it has been established that only a small part of the Nigerian territory is affected by the atrocities of the Boko Haram terrorist group. It would therefore appear logical that Nigerian nationals who are running away from the areas that are wreaked by this sect be relocated in more secure parts of their country. This is also the substance of the Cameroon/Nigeria/UNHCR Tripartite Agreement of March 2, 2017. Cameroon, despite its generosity and sense of hospitality, does not intend to become a vast open-air refugee camp.
Cameroon has served – and continues to serve – as sanctuary for a number of helpless persons. Rather than being criticized, Cameroon needs an increased support from the international community to be able to bear the burden of this humanitarian crisis, in order to ensure decent living conditions and guarantee a promising future to refugees and displaced persons. The aforementioned ungrounded allegations can offend and frustrate the populations who have always showcased generosity towards refugees.
Cameroon reaffirms that it intends to continue keeping to its international commitments in matters of assistance and protection of refugees, and to remain faithful to the compassionate attitude that has always directed its actions in response to the distress of people seeking asylum on its territory.”

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Rita Akana

31.Mar.2017

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