Politics
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- Cham Formoukum
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Harmony Bobga Mbuton, president of Cameroon’s North West Lawyers Association, returned to The Stream on Al Jazeera this week, just over two months since the show originally explored the protests among his country’s English-speaking communities, who claim French-speaking President Paul Biya’s government is treating them as second-class citizens.
The Stream host Femi Oke says that, since that show, “The government of Cameroon has pulled the plug on the internet and banned public gatherings in the regions fraught with tensions. What started as strikes for bilingualism in the Northwest and Southwest territories have revealed very deep political divides that spread beyond language, culture and geography.”
On The Stream in December, Issa Tchiroma Bakary, the Minister of Communications, promised negotiations but Mbuton says these broke down quickly. “In fact, I was part of the negotiations that ensued and took place in Yaounde on 27-28 December 2016. The government had constructed the questions that had to be dealt with in the negotiation to suit their own purpose. We walked out of the dialogue and the next thing we heard was that they started arresting us, which is what forced me to flee from Cameroon, through Nigeria to here [Washington DC] now.”
Mbuton’s wife and children are still in Cameroon, where he says, “The situation is bad,” comparing it to “what happened in Rwanda when the genocide began.”
He claims that people are being arrested and taken away, with their families unable to find out where. “It is tipping into the point where the population is saying that even with their empty hands and sticks, they are ready to start providing resistance to protect themselves.”
The media and internet blackout makes it difficult to verify claims like this; as Mbuton says, the internet ban has meant “that the government has operated behind the curtains because there is no easy access to information within the territory anymore.”
Mbuton says people are using smartphones to send images and information out to the world by traveling to the French-speaking parts of Cameroon where there is still internet, “but it’s not flowing as it was.“
Since the protests began nearly four months ago, Biya has signed a decree establishing a national commission to promote bilingualism and has addressed protesters several times in major speeches. At least several hundred protesters have been arrested. Some are being tried for terrorism for allegedly calling for secession of the Anglophone regions. They could face the death penalty if convicted.
Mbuton says the strike is ongoing and international protests are increasing. Even Cameroon’s recent victory at the African Cup of Nations was not enough to unite the country. “The provocative move to go and show off the African Cup that was won by Cameroon was welcomed by ghost towns,” says Mbuton. “People abandoned the streets. Only the entourage from Yaounde was parading the streets – in military vehicles.”
About The Stream
The Stream is a social media community with its own daily TV show on Al Jazeera English. For more information, visit http://stream.aljazeera.com/ or follow @ajstream on social media.
Kevin Kriedemann & Joy Sapieka
PR: Africa
Al Jazeera English
+27(0)83 556 2346 (Kevin)
+27 73 212 5492 (Joy)
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- Jazeera English
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A fight for freedom is never a programmed activity. Mistakes are going to be made and people will perish when they least expected. Tempers would flare even amongst those in the war chamber.
It can never be a perfectly executed dance with timed exits and entrances. Every sacrifice is important.The person jailed loses his freedom,the person on the run or in hiding lives in flight and wishes on some days he was already in jail.The person who loses his or her life is at peace but paid the ultimate price.The person actively fighting and receiving stab wounds is in active pain. The people on the ground burying the dead and caring for the wounded are drained of their humanity.
The rest of us watching helplessly on the sidelines carry the burden of the story which we must spread to the four corners of the earth. Please, let us do our part and stop this blame game while posturing with hindsight wisdom. It saps energy from those on the frontlines.
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- Rita Akana
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The Prime minister of Cameroon has allocated 10 billion fcfa to local councils across the country. Contained in a release signed Thursday in Yaounde, Philemon Yang says the money is to enable these decentralized structures carry out development projects for the 2017 financial year.
The text which falls in line with the decentralization process transferring resources and competences is coming amidst social tensions in the Anglophone regions at the heart of which is the governance system.
The head of state, president Paul Biya enacted a decree in 1996 making the country a unitary decentralized state but government is yet to fully apply the decree more than 20 years after.
Critics are questioning whether 10 billion will be enough to meet developmental needs when councils themselves can't raise finances.
5 billion will come from the ministry of finance for the day to day running of councils, while the rest will be provided by the Ministry of economy, planning and regional development.
The functional budget will take care of the salaries of Mayors announced since 2015 but still to be a reality.The 10 billion francs is a partial transfer of funds according to the 2004 decentralization laws.
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- Rita Akana
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It was a sunny day in Douala and people were going about their normal activities as I drove into Bepanda from shooting in Limbe. Suddenly there was commotion in the place, as I wound down to find out what was happening, I heard cries of indignation and before I could ask passersby what was happening, my eyes beheld what in other spheres would have been a sacrilege of the first order; a statue of one of the venerated architect of our statehood, John Ngu Foncha was being dragged along the streets by a policeman looking angry that someone dared to honour someone who ought to be placed on the "slaughter" of history.
That day, I understood what it meant to be regarded as an "enemy" in a house you believe to be your own. That incident did not make me a militant for for change or for Anglophone renaissance, it simply strengthened my resolve not to be on the wrong side of history. It made me understand the need not to be on the fence when it mattered most to be in the fray. I knew from that moment that even in God's Kingdom, the "Red Line" had been crossed.
I am sorry if I appear to be taking so much of your time, but it may be nice of you if you follow me through this journey. It is 4,30 am where I am battling with my health and I have been winning this battle against sickness because of hope; the joy to see that what only ten years ago seemed a forlorn dream is about to happen in my lifetime; that Anglophones are nearing the finishing line.
The events of the past two days, the unfortunate and astronomical rise of conspiracy theories meant to cast a shadow on that lofty dream sent me into tears all night, but at this moment, the tears are gone. The reality is here; that the hour just before dawn is the darkest! Darkness does mot give up to light without a fight; that is why Christians hang on the Biblical quote which says tears will last an entire night, but joy comes in the morning.
We are all Wrong
The stone throwing and insult trading going on right now should have have been expected. If Simon Peter could deny Jesus Christ his master whom he so loved three times in just one night, then we should be allowed to make our mistakes. And shamefully I also got caught in the fray, in fact we are all wrong. A lot of us may even be the true authors of what we are accused of, but we must remember that it took Jesus- God to rebuke the devil who had exploited Peter's weakness to tempt his master. Thus the famous phrase " get thee behind me Lucifer". Jesus rebuked the devil and not Peter.
No wonder, one-time US President, Theodore Roosevelt once said "He who makes mo mistakes, makes no progress". The mistakes we have all made these past few days have shaken the foundation of our unity so violently and all of us can now see that our house is still on sandy soil. This should be God's perfect plan to let us heal our land, takeaway our imperfections and drain off the bad blood so that we enter into the new country more united and more resolute to do good to one another than it would have been the case.
All of Us are Winners
When you see a man eat and drink and then tells you " God is a fool", do not hate him, do not chastise him, just seek to understand that he is undergoing a transformation. It has got right to the point where that which we hold sacred is in the market place and no one can tell for sure today with whom lies the truth; we shall all be winners in this if we put down our arms and think of the common good of all. Let the healing process begin now and end no more. We must he's ourselves first before calling on others to do same. Wherever you are and whatever you were planning to do to hit the "other" camp, put down your arms and try rather to contribute in making peace. That is how we shall all emerge as winners.
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- Rita Akana
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CATTU Executive Secretary, Consortium Leader, Tassang Wilfred releases video relieving Mark Bareta and Tapang Ivo of their duties as interim Consortium leaders.
He says the decision came about after a broad based consultations that was carried out amongst the consortium leadership on February 20th 2017.
The decision was published in a communique that was released on that same day,February 20th 2017.In the communique,the authority of the leadership of the Consortium was reaffirmed with, Mr Tassang Wilfred, and Barrister Eyambe, current President of Meme Lawyers
taking over the running of the affairs of the Consortium until when the arrested leaders who are currently under detention are liberated.
The second major decision that the leaders took,was a reschedule of the Ghost-town days.Mr Tassang said, the consortium is henceforth demanding the people of Southern Cameroon s to respect Ghost towns only on Mondays, beginning as from Monday, 27 February 2017.
Below is the communique from the Consotium:
Consortium Advisory Board Reconstitutes Exco, Hails Interim Team .
Members of the Advisory Board of the Consortium of Anglophone Civil Society Organizations, CACSC have completed a series of consultations and meetings aimed at stabilizing the organization once more to enable it attain its objective of taking the people of Southern Cameroons out of slavery and servitude.
At the end of the discussions that involved all the executive members and advisers not detained, with the exception of George Ngwane who never took his appointment and Barrister Bobga Harmony who resigned his position as shown on Release NO. 3 of the 13th of December, 2016, the Board Members evaluated the grounds covered by the interim team led by Tapang Ivo Tanku and Mark Bara since they were designated on the 17th of January, and congratulated the duo for a job well accomplished.
They particularly expressed satisfaction at the wonderful role played by the two officials, given that they served as an interface between the public and the Consortium leaders, most of whom were underground, with two others in detention.
On account of the brilliant record established by the two young men who showed proof of so much sacrifice for fatherland; the Members of the Advisory Board unanimously agreed to exceptionally appoint them into the Communication and Strategies Department, although the Consortium is run by heads of affiliated civil society organizations operating in Southern Cameroons. Board Members also decided on the creation of specialized departments and committees within the Consortium to facilitate the work of the executive body.
To render the Consortium stronger and bolder in carrying out its activities and in line with the standing orders of the organization, Board Members empowered the two executive members who are available; Barrister Eyambe Elias Ebai- Deputy Secretary General and Mr. Tassang Wilfred Fombang- Programs Coordinator to run the structure and foster the people's struggle, lobby for the release of our leaders, children and all other Southern Cameroonians abducted so that together we can guide Southern Cameroonians cross the finishing line.
They noted that henceforth it is the signatures of these two that shall engage the responsibility of the Consortium.
The Consortium reiterated its resolve to work towards unity with all other organizations seeking the liberation of Southern Cameroons by peaceful means; we do not stand for violence and armed confrontation, but shall push through with civil disobedience and other forms of peaceful protests internationally recognized.
The Consortium Board Members frowned at the revelation that some well known individuals hacked into the organization's newly created Facebook account; Consortium Southern Cameroons, changed the password and left a divisive and heinous message intended to embarrass the leadership. They directed the creation of a new page by name; Consortium Sucam.
Finally, the Members of the Advisory Board warmly congratulate all the people of Southern Cameroons who are sacrificing enormously week after week to keep the struggle alive. They promised not to let anyone down, but to go all the way until we achieve the restoration of the Southern Cameroons Statehood.
God is with us!
For the Consortium.
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- Rita Akana
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Subcategories
Biya Article Count: 73
# Paul Biya and his regime
Explore the political landscape of Cameroon under the rule of Paul Biya, the longest-serving president in Africa who has been in power since 1982. Our Paul Biya and his regime section examines the policies, actions, and controversies of his government, as well as the opposition movements, civil society groups, and international actors that challenge or support his leadership. You'll also find profiles, interviews, and opinions on the key figures and events that shape the political dynamics of Cameroon.
Southern Cameroons Article Count: 549
.# Southern Cameroons, Ambazonia
Learn more about the history, culture, and politics of Ambazonia, the Anglophone regions of Cameroon that have been seeking self-determination and independence from the Francophone-dominated central government. Our Southern Cameroons section covers the ongoing conflict, the humanitarian crisis, the human rights violations, and the peace efforts in the region. You'll also find stories that highlight the rich and diverse heritage, traditions, and aspirations of the Southern Cameroonian people.
Editorial Article Count: 885
# Opinion
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