Politics
The Francophone Union joins their voices to the already echoed anglophones to call for a nation wide teachers strike.
Jean Pierre Ateba of SNIEB,Kouanang of SNUIPEN,Thobie Emmanuel Mbassi of FECASE,Roger Kaffo Fokou of SNAES,Maurice Angel Phouet Foe of SNAEF and Michel Serge Tamo of ONEEPS, members of the Francophone Teachers Union have called on their colleagues to join in a nation wide strike action from Monday December 5 - Wednesday December 7 2016.
The decison of this strike came during oneof their recent meetings, with threats of a more serious strike to hold in January 2017, if government doesn't bow to their requests.In a warning letter sent to Prime Minister Yang on November 17 2016, the Francophone Teachers Union threatened to call on all teachers to drop their chalks for the streets.
The teachers are frowning with what they say is craftiness on the part of the Prime Minister, who held an 'adhoc committee for the revendication of anglophone teachers', where as in 2012, a similar committee was created with seven members of government and seven representatives of the Teachers Union.
They are also asking the PM to immediately implement the resolutions taken during the 2012 meeting. Among other issues, the teachers are complaining about the integration of the Physical and Sports Education Teachers to the particular status of the National Education body, salary grade review, integration of part time teachers into the system and the revalorization of documentation and research allowances.
Cameroontoday
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- Rita Akana
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In the past few weeks the people of the North West and South West regions of Cameroon, in an unarmed and nonviolence protest against the trampling upon their rights, have been under fire and blood from the hands of the very forces that are supposed to protect them. Beating, looting, rape, killing and all forms of humiliation have been meted on these people. Merciless humiliation of both the children parents and the the very noble ones and mentors of our communities (Teachers and lawyers) atrocities of the highest order have been the main stay of these other citizens simply because they by their constitutional rights ask to be heard, seek to preserve their rights which are under threat. And because their cry is only a refrain of an age old recurrent chorus to which the powers that be refuse to pay attention, they seek another form of political existence that will challenge the current state of the union.
Interestingly, in the Cameroon that is said to be one and indivisible, the rest of the country the former East Cameroon are rather unsympathetically tranquil and unconcerned. Yes and that I guess is how Cameroon is one and indivisible. As the heat of fire mounts and the streams of blood flow in these areas, perfect calm and indifference reigns in the former East Cameroon with not even a single region, or group of people to raise a finger to overtly say "This is not Fair" No, folks this attitude is the very proof that Cameroon could be one now but very divisible. It is the very attitude that lays the fissures in the so much heralded national unity. This attitude clearly tells us that there are issues that are the businesses of those referred to as Anglophones and that do not concern the rest of the country. Otherwise I need our brothers East of the Mongo who claim that we are one to tell me what their take is on the current atrocities in the former Southern Cameroon and what they have done about it. they are quick to say no we should not fight to separate, we should rather fight to change the regime. Yet they sit as spectators and watch the former Southern Cameroonians humiliated and even applaud, because we are one and indivisible.
My Challenge to the Francophones:
I challenge our former East Cameroon brothers, if brothers they are, to prove to us that they mean it when they say Cameroon is one and indivisible or tell us what is wrong with the requests of the Common Law Lawyers and Anglophone Teachers syndicates.
I challenge all the leaders of political parties who claim that Cameroon is one and indivisible to to rise up to the challenge and demonstrate in condemnation of the atrocities meted on the other Cameroonians in the North West and the South West regions. I call on them before the start to crisscross the country to look for votes in the upcoming political consultations, to show it today that they deserve to go into the North west and South west to seek militancy and votes because Cameroon is one and indivisible. Please before you come seeking for votes, show us today how you deserve those votes.
I Challenge our francophone brothers all over the country, our brothers and sister of the Centre, the South, the West, the East, the North, the Adamaoua, the Far North, and the Littoral to rise and cry injustice to the government that would release troops on citizens like dogs on thieves and criminals. I challenge you to stand in solidarity with the other citizens of the same one Cameroon who are of the North West and South West Regions to request for justice, to request for restraint from the forces, to request for a fair hearing to the genuine cries of your brothers and sisters on the other side of the one and indivisible Cameroon. Otherwise, you really cannot tell me that we are one and indivisible, no you cannot tell me that we are brothers and sister. I challenge you!!
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- Victor Samkoh
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Scholars have defined a military government as one which is generally any government that is administrated by military forces, whether this government is legal or not under the laws of the jurisdiction at issue, and whether this government is formed by natives or by an occupying power. A civilian dictatorship is a form of government different from military dictatorship and monarchies where the ruling dictator does not derive their power from the military. Among civilian dictatorships, dominant-party dictatorships tend to outlast personality dictatorships. These two instances can be applied to Cameroon.
Events in Cameroon since the re launch of multiparty politics in 1990 have proven beyond all reasonable doubts that Cameroon is ruled by a group of military oriented leaders wearing civilian clothes. The New Deal government has always crushed any uprising among the population a majority being peacefully orchestrated.
The very military who have been recruited, trained to protect civilians have turned against them, sold their consciences. The military of Cameroon was used to kill at least six civilians according to government sources during the launch of SDF party in 1990, within this period several other persons were killed in disputed elections. Security forces have been used by the regime to suppress striking peaceful population who are just expressing themselves either demanding for political changes, social or economic. In 2005-2006 police fired live bullets killing striking students in the University of Buea, in February 2008 during the hunger strike, overzealous police killed over 100 in some big towns in Cameroon.
Recently Gendarmes, Army and Police forces descended on inhabitants on Bamenda using tear gas on them, they intimidated lawyers in the north west region, seized the wigs and gowns of lawyers in Buea, brutalized peaceful protesters.
Political party leaders have times without number been arrested in their quest for better working and living conditions. Police storm private premises of political parties, tear their dresses, vandalize their building, use tear gas and water cannons and go free.
It is only a military minister in sheep clothing that will scorn at lawyers for marching, ridicule president of Cameroon Bar Association and that of General Assembly and nothing happens, it is only a military minister who will defy boss to say that Anglophones are just being nuisance and crying for nothing.
The worst case is when authorities especially in Universities invite policemen on campus to intervene in a peaceful , an academic milieu where policemen can only intervene and not use force when there are acts of vandalism. In Cameroon today every situation is solved by force, by fist, by water cannon, by tear gas, by arrest and Etoudi says nothing.
The country is now ruled in an undeclared state of emergency.
In Buea Police have been stationed in all corners of the town, two after every 100meters.
A country where the ruler has spent 34 years in power can only be described as a military regime where the rule of the law is for the most powerful, alpha and Omega. Where striking population is killed and corrupt officials are promoted.
Aime Cesaire’s book La Tragedie du Roi Christophe explains all what can happen to a civilian regime when it is totally transformed into a military rule.
Prince Nfor Hanson NCHANJI
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- Prince Nfor Hanson
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When University students took to the streets to thank the Head of state for the laptops he promised them, CRTV trailed their every step, captured the emotions, amplified their voices and told the story for long. The youths even had police guarding them as they undertook their gratitude march. Some even received transport allowances on their way back.
Today same youths took to the streets for a peaceful march. They have been brutalised, their voices not prioritized.
The gov't blesses & curses in the same breath.
Follow thread on Commy Musa's FB page
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- Commy Musa
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The North West Region is Bamenda, it has been said and proven. Whether from Boyo, Mezam, Menchum, Donga Mantung, Bui, Ngoketunjia or Momo Division, we are all known as the Bamenda people. Bamenda is a place where “heroes come to die” says Wamey Julius. But I will contextualize this statement by adding that Bamenda like America is a place where every minute of the day gives birth to a new hero. Mancho Bibixy, is the latest of the Bamenda heroes who through a Coffin Stand up comedy at the city chemist aroundabout expressed the plight of the Bamenda people.
From the dawn of time, the Bamenda people have distinguished themselves as pictograms of hard work, vigor and dotted with the willpower that historians find difficulties to comprehend when it comes to popular uprising. This strong spirited and collective commitment of the Bamenda people has over the years tolled to have what they have often been seen to be and tagged by others. In other words, the Bamenda man lives the life of a Spartan soldier who would prefer to die than to surrender. When Bob Marley said that truth is something that must be spoken even it means "speaking to die for it", he was surely talking of the likes of Bamenda people. A type of life that can only be compared to toad in a heating tube that keep adapting to the changing temperature until it finally gives off the ghost.
This month some of us lived the melody of city that keep changing to adapting temperatures. Where life and death are matters of seconds. A Baghdad scenario or some sort of a Western movie setting of radical extremes, or a place of violent behavior. But above all the Bamenda man is a pack of dexterousness, persistence, and warmth even when people have suffered, and or ready to. Of this, there can be tiny debate. However, some people have often impolitely taken the humble nature and this strong spirited willpower of the “Bamenda man” for granted and with negativism. “Je ne suis pas ton Bamenda” and or “come no go” have often being the reward from some people who out of ignorance, and more often than not think being humble or full of determination to fight a cause to its logical end is a misdemeanor. This is rather unfortunate given that this nation owes a debt of appreciation to the Bamenda man not only for being hard working, but more importantly for the collective commitment and enormous contribution in nation building. Come to think of Nanga, Bernard Folon, Yang Philemon, Ni John Fru Ndi and million other Bamenda men of character and conscience, there is nothing than to be proud to be a Bamenda man.
Being forward looking and receptive to change has landed the Bamenda man in a position of power and to have an unquestioned advantage over others.( Quelle dites les Bamenda?). This is how the Bamenda man has been able to grasp the most essential in perspective with both hands to serve as a measuring rot for this nation. Unlike others, the Bamenda man would burn the midnight candle to obtain the desire results, takes the risk that could in a few seconds set historical records ablaze yet kept the traditional values intact in today’s world of globalization. Although others had historical and geographical head over them, they overcame their handicap with a lot of determination and dynamism.
For decades, Bamenda has had the good fortune to have produced individuals who on account of their peculiar gifts of values have contributed to the advancement of this country.
Ah! Bamenda! Home of all the heroes of yesteryears Albert Mukong, John Ngu Foncha, Jua, ST Muna, Bernard Folon, Ndeh Ntumazah, Prof Anomah Ngu, Nanga, just to name the few. In February 1983, President Paul Biya declared Bamenda as his second home. This is not a joking matter given that Paul Biya, John Fru Ndi, Francis Nkwain, SN Tamfu, JT Kangkolo, ST Muna, Foncha, Jua, Achidi Achu, Awudu Mbaya, JK Ntoi, Fuh Calistus Gentry, etc make up the Bamenda man. Oh my Bamenda, the second home of President Paul Biya.
Political Giants
Bamenda still remains a focal point of what takes place in the country politically. What, however, defines a Bamenda man, at least within the present political environment, would be that both the ruling party (CPDM) and the main opposition party (SDF) were created in Bamenda. Bamenda is the heart of politics in Cameroon; it is its people that have made Bamenda the city of versions, the Bagdad of Cameroon where in a moment of civil strike makes you live a life through a perpetual fish bowl, the outside world only being reachable only through the boots of a soldier. It is hard to imagine what this kind of life is like unless you have lived it or lived amongst it. There is a lesson to be learned from the people of Bamenda – not just of extraordinary resilience and steadfastness, but also humility and respect. And that is the real story of life in Bamenda, my Bamenda.
The Land of Noble Birth
“Bamenda, the place where heroes go to die.” That is how Julius Wamey, the famous CRTV anchor, in an article titled in the same words, described the headquarters of the Northwest Region some years back. Francis Wache in one of his articles titled: NW Region: The Caesarean Womb Of CMR’s Democracy wrote that “the name ‘Bamenda’, has, over the years, come to represent the whole Region. With a hint of pride in their voices, natives of the Region, living ‘abroad’, would say they are from ‘Bamenda’ when, in reality, they are referring to Din, Akweto, Essimbi…‘Bamenda’, has, therefore, become generic- a reference to the whole Region”.
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- The Eye Newspaper
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Kouam Wokam Paul, Divisional Officer for Buea who some media men described as “cunning” considering the manner he often uses to get things done has called on Presidents of Parents Teachers associations, PTA in primary and secondary schools in the municipality of Buea to ensure that come Monday November 28, 2016, students and pupils are all present in school come Monday.
The DO was speaking during two emergency meetings he chaired yesterday between PTA presidents, head teachers, administrative authorities and parents at the conference hall of his office. The first meeting between the DO and stakeholders of the primary education family started at about 8AM and was attended by the inspectorate of Basic Education for Buea and the Mayor of the Buea municipality, Ekema Patrick Esunge.
The second meeting between stakeholders of Secondary Education started at about 10:30AM and all geared at ensuring that school resumes come Monday. Speaking, Wokam questioned the legality of the association that started the strike action in the name of All Anglophone Teachers association. To him such an association does not exist and should not be used to tamper with the future of the children who are paying the price of the strike action.
To him, the best means of settling and misunderstanding is to dialogue rather than going on strike which so far is affecting the students and pupil. This, he complements is due to the fact that when the official exams will be set, the strike action will not be taken into consideration. In what seemed like a move to cajole the PTA representatives, Paul Wokam noted that the meeting convened by himself was focused only on ensuring that the students go back to school and another forum he added, will be established to negotiate the demands of those on strike.
The DO who sounded rather desperate urged the PTA presidents to organize meetings with their teachers and parents this Saturday and ensure that all students are present in class come Monday. He equally employed them to write and sign a radio communiqué before exiting the conference hall.
The announcement according to him will be send to all broadcast outlets in Buea calling on students and pupils to all answer present for classes. Speaking, Mayor Ekema Patrick pleaded on the PTA officials to ensure that schools resume as soon as possible noted that the strike had gravely affected him both as a parent and as an administrator.
To him isolationism and appeasement are not the best solutions to the problems and keeping students at home only help to swell the situation. Some of the PTA presidents whom this reporter approached at the end of the meeting for their comments and decisions refused to comment stating that they had nothing to say.
However one of them who accepted to be interviewed on the basis of anonymity noted that personally he did not know there was a strike since he did not receive any letter from any trade union or association. Quizzed on what he made of the DO’s demands the PTA president responded that he was the administrative head in the region and had given commands which they will respect.
The dual meeting however ended on a contradictory note as some PTA presidents refused to signed the radio communiqué calling on the DO to write it and sign with his name. But Wokam in his usual ways called on them to sign and give him to take to the broadcast outlets. He equally announced inspection visit to schools in Buea on Monday. This he explained was to take stuck of those schools who would have implemented his demands.
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- Amos Fofung in Buea
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# 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.
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