Politics

My dear brothers and sisters,

I speak to you all today with a heavy heart and profound frustration resulting from both confirmed, and unconfirmed reports of several acts of vandalism and atrocities against some individuals as well as infrastructures in the West Cameroon. Setting up human beings in flames, attacking some with acids, and torching down infrastructures are not reflective of the admirable values in our culture and character as West Cameroonians. Such actions that lack respect for humanity are associated to the colonial government of La Republique du Cameroun.

I strongly condemn these horrific and inhuman acts. Beware that our oppressors in their desperation can do this to justify their brutalities on our people. Our struggle in reclaiming our rights and freedom is legitimate and we have no need for anything violent. The virtue in our character and culture as West Cameroonians will continue to be demonstrated through our peaceful resistance. 

Our brothers and sisters are continuously being unlawfully abducted and detained, tortured and abused beyond human imagination. That is what they do best. While they struggle to find legitimacy through oppression, we will maintain our pride by respecting humanity. We will reclaim our rights and freedom by resisting their oppression peacefully.

I hear you all. I see you all. We share the same pain and frustrations, but we will forge ahead holding each others' hands tighter than ever, wearing the batch of our unique culture with undeniable pride. We must never allow ourselves to act like them. We are different from them and will never imitate their violent ways. I encourage you all to verify any information concerning me or from me on my official Facebook page for authentication. Thank you all for the immense support and prayers. Please share to all you can.

Be strong
God bless
Hon. WIRBA

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Rita Akana

26.Mar.2017

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THE COFFIN REVOLUTION LEADERS SAYS:

They may take my freedom away from my people, they may keep me in the dark, they may deprive me of the right to express my emotions towards my father land, they may deny me the right to fight for the freedom of my people... But they can never take away my determination to fight for the liberation of my dear Southern Cameroon.  

No matter what they do to me or what they offer to me, my determination and zeal to free my people is stronger by the day. The road maybe rough but we shall get there.

I therefore call on all southern Cameroonians to stand firm and stronger towards our course for the struggle continues. I will not fail to communicate to you my brothers and sisters with every little chance i get.

Please God is watching at our struggle and will soon answer our prayers.

Pray harder for us all........ALL FOR ONE,AND ONE FOR ALL ..One love:

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Rita Akana

26.Mar.2017

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Dear President Paul Biya,

Everyone knows that the arrests of Barrister Balla and Supreme Court Lord Justice Ayah Paul were effected without due process of the law. In speaking out and leading, these lawyers did just what lawyers do best in their careers and for their communities.
Then came the summons and interrogation of Barrister Akere Muna for expressing his personal views about your end of year speech. For a country that prides itself with freedom of expression and association and respect for the rule of law, these arrests, detentions and trials have put a serious dent on national unity and national integration that you hold so near and dear to your heart.

Your Excellency, what these three men I have cited above have in common is that they all come from Southern Cameroon, they are all well respected national and international lawyers and have all expressed only views related to their profession that affect not only their lives but also the lives of millions of their English speaking communities. 

But today they are being charged and or threatened to be charged with terrorism and treason. Both charges come with a death penalty looming over their heads.

Sir, people are asking where have these three lawyers gone wrong? If extraordinary men of their magnitude could be treated like poppets would, what would this regime not do to thwart and hurt the ordinary Southern Cameroonian?

It was only a few days ago that Your Excellency stated in Italy that speaking of federalism is a taboo and definitely there will be no dialogue if federalism is what Anglophones want.

Sir. The problem with this statement I'm afraid is that, 90% of the people from Southern Cameroon no longer want to stay in the union, largely because of torture and marginalization.

Due to wanton human rights abuses and Internet blackout, over 90% Anglophones at home and abroad now want separation and outright independence, (if I'm lying to you try a referendum Sir in the two English speaking Regions). Now discussing federalism around some of our people is fast also becoming a taboo.

As a leader and the father of the nation, Mr. President, you have to be fed the truth. Yet i'm worried no one around you who has your ears is willing or courageous enough to tell you this. Not even foreign friendly nations. It's rather unfortunate!

Now we have a deadlock situation where no one side is willing to shake or shift their goal post for dialogue to genuinely begin and give our people the peace, prosperity and liberty every one of us deserves.

The regime appears to be placing it's bets on the army and the courts to silent all forms of expressions by Southern Cameroonians.

On the other hand, effective ghost towns and close down of schools have persisted despite numerous trips by the PM to the regions and continues arrests. But no one seems to face the truth as to why our people have still not given up and it is your right and place Mr. President to know.

Your excellency, order the courts to stop all these trials. Authorize the prisons to release everyone and all these leaders without conditions. Command the forces of law and order to stop the arrests. Instruct CRTV to hold off on all forms of media propaganda on this issue! In so doing you will diffuse tensions.

In the higest interest of peace, liberty and freedom, Your Excellency, permit me use this opportunity to respectfully request for audience aimed at telling you the whole truth and handing you a road map for genuine dialogue as my own modest contribution towards peace and finding lasting solutions to this problem.

Respectfully,

Dr. David Makongo. USA

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Rita Akana

25.Mar.2017

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Berlin — Transparency International, the global anti-corruption movement, expressed concern about the government's recent crackdown on civil society in Cameroon and the police summons received by its former vice-chair and current chair of the International Anti-Corruption Conference series, Akere Muna, who has been an outspoken critic of the government's actions. 

The Cameroon National Gendarmerie issued the summons on 20 March to question Muna, a barrister whose firm is representing more than 60 people detained following the recent protests.

Since November 2016, English speaking lawyers and teachers have criticised the government's move to make French the official language of the courts despite its commitment to a bilingual system. Twenty per cent of the population of Cameroon is English speaking.

The government has also cut internet connections in the English speaking regions of Cameroon, disrupting businesses and limiting freedom of expression.

In January Nkongho Felix Agbor-Balla, the president of the Cameroon Anglophone Civil Society Consortium, and Fontem Neba, the group's secretary general, were arrested and charged with inciting terrorism. Muna is representing Nkongho Felix Agbor-Balla.

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Rita Akana

25.Mar.2017

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Cameroon is One and Indivisible: Which Cameroon? BY AKERE MUNA Published 10 January 2017.

‘Cameroon is one and indivisible’ is a pronouncement that is supposed to have a solemn ring to it. However, there is so much happening in Cameroon today that such a statement now produces more questions than answers. Are we talking about a territory or a people?

As a Territory?
Cameroon as a country, or parts thereof, has been known as:
KAMERUN, SOUTHERN and NORTHERN CAMEROONS, “LA REPUBLIC DU CAMEROUN”, FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF CAMEROON, WEST CAMEROON, EAST CAMEROON, THE UNITED REPUBLIC OF CAMEROON and the second “LA REPUBLIQUE DU CAMEROUN”. Only the Constitution of the FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF CAMEROON of 1961 describes the territory of Cameroon. This constitution provides in Article 1 as follows:

1. (1) With effect from the 1st October 1961, the Federal Republic of Cameroon shall be constituted from the territory of the Republic of Cameroon, hereafter to be styled East Cameroon, and the territory of the Southern Cameroons, formerly under British trusteeship, hereafter to be styled West Cameroon.

Subsequent constitutions do not define the territories but proceed to change the name of the country. While the 1972 constitution attempts to maintain the notion of two territories getting together and forming a United Cameroon, the 1984 Constitution must be considered as the one that created the greatest confusion in the identification of the territory of the Cameroon. The 1984 Constitution states:

Article 1
1.
The United Republic of Cameroon shall, with effect from the date of entry into force of this law, be known as Republic of Cameroon (Law No 84-1 of February 4,1984).

By reverting to the name Republic of Cameroon, already defined by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Cameroon as being East Cameroon, the perennial question has always been: What happened to Southern Cameroons or West Cameroon? So, when one affirms that the Republic of Cameroon is One and Indivisible, does this also concern Southern Cameroons or West Cameroon?

If ever there was a need to change the name of the country, it would be to revert to the German appellation KAMERUN. All the main political parties of Southern Cameroons did, in fact, use the word Kamerun, namely: KNDP (Kamerun People’s Democratic Party), KNC (Kamerun National Party) KPP (Kamerun People’s Part) and OK (one Kamerun). It is clear from this that, while the affirmation of the Southern Cameroonians for a genuine reconstitution of the former colonial entity, based on the two inherited cultures in the form of a federation, the intention of the Republic of Cameroon has been opaque to say the least.

 The constant changing of the name is what has heightened suspicion. The “Anglophone problem”, as it is sadly described, is indeed a Cameroonian problem. We seem to be in denial of our history and our past. All the publications about the Independence of La Republique du Cameroon or East Cameroon commands us to face our history, once and for all, and make the necessary adjustments. Whether it is the book “KAMERUN”, or the recent publications “La Guerre du Cameroun” or “La France Afrique” in which East Cameroun is described as the laboratory of the “France-Afrique” policy, it is clear that there are issues that must be addressed.  

Some of us still have traumatizing memories of human heads on sticks in roundabouts, as one travelled through the Bamileke region during the years of the fight for independence. I cannot forget seeing the burning down of entire villages of people whose only desire was freedom. UPC, a historic party, struggled through suspicion, humiliation and persecution. A very well known French actor, during this process, actually affirmed that Independence was “given” to those who wanted it the least.

NGO’s in Namibia today are trying to sue Germany; the Kenyans sued the British for the repression in the era of the Mau Mau and obtained compensation. NGO’s in Cameroon are getting ready, in light of the release of the archives of the colonial and post-colonial period by the French government, to sue for compensation. The trusteeship agreements are being re-visited by different groups to see which clauses may have been violated. There is now the whole debate about payments by francophone colonies to France, and people are agitating about the political implications of the CFA franc.

If in the complex maze of this all we can gather is that this is an “Anglophone problem”, which we acknowledge half-heartedly and under pressure, then I am sad for my country. This continuous denial of facing our colonial history must stop. We must discuss it, understand it, and draw the conclusions that will help us chart a future. Simply rehabilitating people and calling them national heroes, without any concrete action to right the wrongs, talking of founding fathers without naming them, is at best a game of ruse. No street names, no national heroes day, no stamps, no monuments, just words of some anonymous folks, will take us nowhere. Furthermore, when a citizen of the country pays homage to a Father of Reunification in the form a statute in Douala, it is broken, pulled down and dragged through the streets of Douala under the nose of thousands of citizens who stare in total stupefaction and bewilderment. The so-called “Anglophone problem” is, in fact, a result of the state of denial we are in.

As a people?
As a people, are we then one and indivisible? It is interesting to read what a reporter for LE MONDE Afrique, Yann Gwet, says in commenting on the President’s 2017, New Year speech. He writes:

“Listening to President Biya, 82 years, talking about this jungle as a “democratic country and a “State of law” and positioning himself as the protector of “the foundations of our living together” solemnly referring to the Constitution, whereas he has been in power for thirty-three years, forcefully reaffirming the unity and indivisibility of Cameroon in reply to the “worries” of striking Teachers and Lawyers in the Anglophone part of the country who are described in the speech as “manipulated and guided extremists” I had the confirmation of what I already know. There are two Cameroons one official and one real.”

If we want to consolidate our unity, it is the real Cameroon we must face. We must talk to one another, frankly, truthfully, and transparently. If we continue to stay in denial, then we will never be united, the divisions will continue, and we will lose the peace we so dearly cherish.

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Rita Akana

25.Mar.2017

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Yaounde: Barrister Akere Muna has regained his residence in Yaounde after a 4 hours interrogation at the Judicial Investigation service of the Defence state secretariat (SED) today.

The towering legal figure, son of the famous West Cameroon political heavyweight ST Muna was accompanied to his summon by a college of 21 senior lawyers most of them past Battoniers. 

The current president of the Bar council, Barrister Ngnie Kamga told Camcord that Akere was interrogated for 4hours with charges similar to those of the outlawed Consortium. "He is being SUSPECTED of Secession, Terrorism, hostility against the nation, contempt against the head of state." Kamga revealed.

According to the investigating officer, the fearless critic had written two controversial articles which were published in the French daily, LE JOUR. The articles written on December 2016 and January 2017 contained "questionable" messages liable to incite rebellion and cause chaos in the country. In other words Muna is alleged to have backed Balla and co in the events in the North West an South West regions. But Kamga said his colleague gave ample explanations, clarifying his position in the articles and refuting all claims.

After the thorough grilling, Barrister Akere Muna was asked to return home. Before leaving the SED precincts, he also met with the Secretary of State for Defence incharge of the National Gendarmerie, Jean Baptiste Bokam with whom  he discussed the issue.

As it stands, Barrister Akere Muna remains a free man. But today's questioning  appears to be just the beginning of a new chapter in the ongoing Anglophone crisis. When Camcord asked the Batonier about the way forward, he said the investigating officer will make a report that will be sent to hierarchy. Only then will a definite decision be taken to either dig deeper into the matter or drop it once and for all.

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Rita Akana

24.Mar.2017

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