Politics
St. Joseph Catholic Church in Big Mankon, under the largest Anglophone Cameroon archdiocese in the opposition stronghold of Bamenda, has called for the unconditional promotion of justice and the rule of law in Cameroon, and hailed the peaceful protest of lawyers during a church sermon today.
Hundreds of Christians including top elites working for the regime were in attendance. Christians are reporting that the first mass focused on justice and the end of the war and end time.
Elsewhere in the North West region, the catholic church in Tatum also called for the regime to uphold the rule of law and justice for all citizens in Cameroon. The priest preached unity and equality as a necessity for national peace and prosperity.
In another development, during a sermon today the St. Joseph's Catholic church in Buffalo, New York, USA, the priest called on all citizens to be pro-voice and not pro-choice. By being pro-voice, Fr. Jacob Ledwon explained, citizens join as one to push leaders to unite all citizens irrespective of their different political, social, economic and religious views.
He suggested that pro-voice should be replicated across countries as a positive model for citizens and their leaders.
Yvette Mbu, Doreen Mbain and Tapang Ivo contributed to this report.
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- Rita Akana
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From the dawn of the Federation of Cameroon, the biggest challenge that hung over it like the “Damocles Sword”, was and has been the management of our diversity. Passionate Southern Cameroonians who had the vision of a United States of Africa, thought that maybe a United Cameroon was just the place to start. They felt the shackles that were constituted by a legacy of different colonial cultures could not be allowed to stand in the way of the reunification of peoples torn apart and dispersed by a War they did not start and had nothing to do with.
Under the seduction of a 100% increase and even more in salaries West Cameroonians made the chant “going federal” their mantra. Yes, salaries were doubled even tripled, and some people moved to Yaounde. Arrears were paid on the new salaries and people carted away ton loads of money. “Federalization” was indeed a misnomer, for what in fact was the path to a centralization that spelt the death of the Federation. Still in good faith, the new form of the Union was given a chance. Dealing with the legal framework meant the organization of the Bar had to be revisited. So a new Law was passed in 1972 creating a Cameroon Bar totally controlled by the Government in which the lawyers were appointed by a presidential decree. The decade that followed was one in which the Bar fought for its independence and that is another story.
The movement of the Common Law Lawyers today must bring us to admit that, diversity in our country has been mismanaged. This has produced, negative dynamics, ethnocentrism, stereotyping and cultural clashes. These negative dynamics over the years have combined with imbalanced structures to create an atmosphere of social injustice. While it is true that diversity might well create ambiguity complexity and even confusion, the danger of assimilation under the guise of harmonization now appears as a time bomb. In such an atmosphere polarization of social groups becomes easy and this ultimately will breed cynicism and resentment and even heighten friction and tension that could all lead to unfathomable consequences in terms of civil and political unrest.
It will be remiss of me to give the impression that there are no other diversities to be managed. Different groups have come up with memoranda about their regions, what is the response? These are the cries of people who feel that they have been left behind or in some cases left out totally. Many international reports have concluded that the economic predicament of the areas attacked in the Central African Region, indeed facilitated the penetration by the terrorists. Thus many regions do face discrimination in many subtle forms, which are slowly contributing to disappointment and anger. When conflict is the unfortunate outcome, the “majority” or the group controlling power will see and treat any incident as “isolated” when in fact the minority just count it as another event in the pattern of oppression and injustice that is imbedded in the system.
I must hasten to add that there have been times when I have personally been witness to the clear demonstration of political will to protect diversity and ensure the respect of our constitution. When the very first OHADA laws were promulgated, the then Minister of Justice, Mr. Laurent Esso, delayed the application of the OHADA laws throughout the territory until they were translated and duly gazetted. He did this regardless of the coming into force date as per the Treaty. He insisted to the dismay OHADA authorities that our nation is bilingual and bi-jural. Further the accommodation of customary law in our judicial system is clear evidence of the fact that diversity can be accommodated.
In the final analysis, we must avoid building a nation where dialogue is assimilated to weakness and the strength of nation demonstrated by the use of force against its own people. We must have a system that builds in horizontal and vertical communication in the management of our diversity. We must unlearn practices rooted in an old mind set, change the way we manage diversity in our nation, shift our culture, revamp our policies, redesign and create new structures and emphasize the fact the ultimate goal of any Government is a better life for it citizens. The Swiss, the Nigerians, the Belgians, the Canadians, the Tanzanians just to name a few have all learned this. It is urgent that a high level Dialogue be initiated. So heed to the cry of the Common Law Lawyers we must, otherwise in the words of Alan Paton in his revered book Cry the Beloved Country “I have one great fear in my heart, that one day, when they are turned to loving they will find that we are turned to hating”. Respecting diversity might well mean CRTV will have a channel or channels in English, Cameroon Tribune reverts to having an English Edition as it once did and the Supreme Court having Common Law Benches sitting as it once was.
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- Rita Akana
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Dear T B Joshua
You seem to be the Godfather of Spiritual Fathers in Africa. You are one of the people who has inspired the whole African continent to follow the Spiritual Papa movement. Personally, I believe you are one of the men in this world who is hurting the black race. You are accountable for brainwashing millions of vulnerable black people and keeping them in slavery, mental slavery.
The white man is no longer our enemy, men like you TB Joshua are the true enemies of the black race. You are accountable for keeping black people in chains when God released us from Egypt centuries ago. You train men like Walter Magaya to cause maximum damage to black people, and you do all this in the name of God.
You call yourself a Prophet who hears directly from above. But today I have the honor to call you a liar and a false prophet. I hold you accountable using the same bible you claim to follow.
“If the prophet speaks in the Lord’s name but his prediction does not happen or come true, you will know that the Lord did not give that message. That prophet has spoken without my authority and needs not be feared.” Deuteronomy 18:22, NLT
You issued a prophecy to the world via Facebook on 6 November 2016 at 4:16 pm where you claimed that you had been shown a woman winning the next American Presidential Election. Holding you accountable using the bible, your prophecy has failed to come to pass just 3 days after.
Today Donald Trump became the American President and I think it’s fair for us all to agree that he is definitely not a woman. According to the bible, you did not hear from God sir and you spoke without authority from above. People should no longer fear you. In other words, you are not a prophet and no one should hold you in that esteem.
Today soon after Donald Trump shocked the world by becoming the 45th US President, you quickly deleted your prophecy from Facebook. But we thank God for technology, smart black people had already screenshot your lies, and they will never be deleted from social media forever. Here is the evidence of your lies below.
TB Joshua, please do the honorable thing and apologize to God first. Then to us the black race. I think its also fair to apologize to the American people who truly believed your false prophecy and did not go to vote thinking God had already done it. It’s actually because of people like you why Trump has even won in the first place. You contributed to the media hype and campaign that caused people not to vote for your beloved Hillary Clinton thinking it was a done deal. The true God has really spoken, he favored Donald Trump over Clinton.
May I end this open letter by addressing all the black people who are under the spell of prophets and spiritual fathers. Just a few days ago I wrote about how men like you TB Joshua are a curse to the black people, especially black women. To my dear black folk across the whole world, may the winning of Donald Trump be a wake-up call to the entire black race.
Do not be afraid of anything or anyone. Donald Trump is not your enemy. Slavery was abolished in the 18th century. We are now in the 21st century. Colonialism is over. It is time to just move on from the chains of slavery. Stop mourning. Hillary Clinton was never going to do anything for you anyway. Even Barack Obama could not save you. The problem is not the world leaders or the white men. The problem is us.
As for you TB Joshua, instead of just deleting your fake prophecy from Facebook, please do issue a statement and explain to us why your god lied to you. I for one am waiting for that statement from you, and I know millions of black people who believed in you are waiting too. You are trending all over social media, even BBC and CNN are mentioning your failed prophecy, so please redeem yourself and speak out.
Yours sincerely
Jean Gasho
PS: I was not used by the devil when writing this letter and I definitely won’t be cursed or punished by God for it. And for the record I’m not mad, I’m just a woman
Read more on Jean Gasho Blog
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- Jean Gasho
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Can Cameroonians honestly say we have a Government that listens to the aspirations of its citizens on whose Wings their purported Authority resides?
There can't be anything called state authority when the supposed citizens are maimed,tortured,killed and incarcerated.
Whenever such things start happening state order has collapsed and harmony is broken. Its only in Cameroon that illegality has become legality.
The state cannot afford the luxury of allowing soldiers the latitude to infringe into the rights and freedoms of its citizens.
When brute force is applied aimed at cowing people because some tyrant feels that his dictatorship is threatened and his fiefdom at risk,trouble and disorder becomes inevitable. Where is the International community and can we interpret their silence as having been bought over?
This is a scandal and a huge disgrace for a nation that claims it respects International treaties and conventions.
Can our ill trained soldiers, Gendarmes and the Police honestly tell the world that they always respect the Geneva protocol on human rights and the protection of minorities. I have always abundantly made it clear that the English segment of the Cameroons are not a tribe like the Bassa, Ewondo, Bamilike,Bamoun etc.
Unfortunately the so called regional balance is a formula from the pit of hell aimed at incarcerating those whose cultural identity are those English values such as human dignity, liberty and freedom, sound and qualitative education aimed at liberating the intellectual mind and an equitable judicial system whereby there are no Lords and no servants.
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- Bernard Ngouche Ndim
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It is over one month now since Common Law Lawyers launched an indefinite strike action calling among others for the translation of the OHADA Uniform Act.
The strike action has already divided the Bar Association with Common Law Lawyers creating their own Bar Association known as the Common Law Lawyers Bar Association. Several others described as black legs among the Anglophone lawyers have attempted to digress discussion and manipulate public opinion by declaring that they are not in support of the strike but the Common Law lawyers despite the attempted bribery of the leaders by the regime have remained stable.
The lawyers have multiplied strategies with the latest being the peaceful match across the streets of Bamenda.
The heavy deployment of forces of law and order which is normal in every peaceful protest had a hidden agenda.
And that was quickly unraveled when police used tear gas and water cannons to disperse the striking lawyers, even though they will argue that bike riders entered the strike to cause chaos.
The peaceful transformed to chaotic protest wouldn’t have been witnessed if authorities had taken the plight of Common Law Lawyers serious,yes the ugly incident seen in Bamenda where people of the Third estate are treated like dogs wouldn’t have happened if the New Deal Government of Mr Biya had acted promptly since the warning bells.
But the Silence of Etoudi has plunged the entire system into total disorder giving the lawyers the impression that the President cares less about their demands. After all who are they; they could just be another SCNC in disguise, after all they cannot strike for long because they will soon be hungry, after all they can be easily bribed.
The Yaoundé regime has not even replied or send an acknowledge receipt or their 2015 Memorandum after the All Common Law Lawyers Conference in Bamenda.
The silence of the Head of state speaks volume and the inability of Justice minister to arrest the situation could plunge Cameroon into total chaos especially as teachers in North West and South West regions have announced they are joining the lawyers on November 21, 2016.
The Bamenda show down could have been fantastic for some young Gendarmes and Police men to train after school but the event itself is the turning point in the struggle. The struggle is not only to have the translation of the OHADA law into English, it goes beyond that, it is also a struggle to marginalization of Common Law practice in Cameroon, the hijacking of Common Law judicial systems by Civil Law Lawyers sent by the Yaoundé regime.
The figure are alarming and sends one mourning at the level at which the Anglophone has been marginalized in his own country. The lawyers are striking because in the South West region out of 148 Magistrates, 58 are francophone magistrates making 39.2 %. Out of 89 magistrates in legal department in the South West region, 54 of them are francophone, making 60.7%. Out of 50 magistrates working in Buea (Bench & Legal Department) 20 are francophone making 40 % of francophone.
From the 28 magistrates in the legal departments Buea, 20 of them are francophone making 71.4%. Out of the 30 new bailiffs appointed in January 2014, 28 of them are francophone, making 93.2%. In the North West region, there are 128 magistrates and 67 francophone magistrates making 52.3 % There are 97 Magistrates in the Legal Departments, 64 of them are francophone, making 65.9%.
Out of 45 Magistrates working in the Bamenda, 22 of them are francophone, making 48.9%. The Bamenda legal department has 27 magistrates and 21 of them are francophone, Making it 77.8 %. When 21 new bailiffs were appointed in January 2014 people were surprised that all of them were francophone making the it a 100% occupancy.
Comparing Major Regional Head Quarters:
Situation of Anglophone legal practitioners in Douala and Yaoundé Courts compared with situation of their Francophone counterparts in Bamenda and Buea. The list is long and not pleasing to read. We of Cameroon concord think that it is high time the Biya regime gives a listening ear to the plight of Common Law Lawyers, because neglect will only cause more problems.
The government should look at the protagonists of the French Revolution; Maximilien François Marie Isidore de Robespierre was a French lawyer and politician who was one of the leaders in French Revolution.What happened in Bamenda could be just the beginning of something big is coming.
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- Prince Nfor Hanson
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Addressing CPDM militants and sympathizers, Dr. Fuh Calistus Gentry, the Secretary of State for Mines, Industries and Technological Development said Misaje remains the bastion of the CPDM in Donga Mantung Division. To Dr. Fuh Calistus, the Joint Section Conference was timely given that it is holding on the eve of President Biya's 34th Anniversary as head of state. He continued if not because of President Paul Biya who saw the need to create Misaje sub Division, it won’t have existed. Misaje Sub Division he emphasized came into existence only after President Biy ascended to power. “Our relationship with the CPDM and the President of the Republic is like that of father and son”, he said.
Harping on the theme: Rallying Behind President Paul Biya to Consolidate Security, Peace and Development, the Secretary of State enumerated some major projects that have been realized in Misaje Sub Division. He called on militants to prepare ahead of the next political challenges in order to ensure Misaje continue to maintain its leading position as the bastion of the CPDM in Donga Mantung. H also recalled how in the early 90s Misaje and Balikumbat stood firm as the flag bearers of the CPDM in the North West Region. “It is timely because we will have to review the strength of the party at the base as well as assure our National President, H.E President Paul Biya, of our total commitment and steadfastness to the ideologies and policies of the party”. He concluded by calling on the CPDM militants to remain strong and ever growing.
Mgbata Sammy Nforkemba, Mayor of Misaje Council on his part was categorical that a Joint Section Conference is a special moment whereby the party showcases its numerical strength and readiness to win any elections, and ascertain their prowess to comfortably stay close to power. The mayor of Misaje council continued that his ultimate goal is to put in place his best so as to facilitate political strategies for the overwhelming victories. He reiterated the fact that at the level of the council he is leaving no stone unturned to make sure that all the campaign promises are fulfilled. He continued that Misaje can do better if they continue to rally behind President Paul Biya. “In this light, we need to lay emphasis on galvanizing our efforts and forces for greater result at elections; bury the hatchet if any may had risen after the renewal of the basic organs of the party. He called on militants of the CPDM to remain vigilant and collaborate with the forces of law and order against the barbaric sect Boko Haram; adding that that collaboration by the population should be their contribution towards consolidating security, peace and development in Cameroon.
Section President Shey Alfred Nyako was very optimistic that the CPDM in Misaje is on the right track and would never fail. He said the opposition in Misaje is like a barren tree that never produces fruits. He called militants especially the sub section Presidents to redouble their efforts in order to enable Misaje metamorphoses at the speed of light. He thanked President Biya for appointing Yang Philemon as Prime Minister and other Northwesteners including their own son Dr. Fuh Calistus Gentry as Secretary of State for Mines, Industries and Technological Development.
YCPDM Section President, Babayor Abubakar presented a vivid report of youth activities in the section. He used the occasion to call on youths to be more responsible and proactive in their actions which could move the entire sub Division towards emergence. On the other side, WCPDM Section President, Madame Nyanda said the WCPDM is waxing strong. Another high profile personality who spoke at the conference was Hon. Abe Michael, the MP for Ako/Miaje who pleaded that his absence in Misaje was not a sign of neglect but that he was working hard to bring Ako to the level of Misaje.
Resolution:
- That militants shall work together in unity, peace and the respect of each oether
- That the Section shall put in place a strategy ti gain all lost grounds and more militants
- That the Section Executive shall reinforce collaboration within the executives and the militants and also exhibit utmost transparency in the management of party funds
- That all militants shall abide by the party rules and shall respect party discipline
- That the party’s main goal for 2018 shall be to win elections at all levels (municipal, legislative, senatorial and Presidential)
- That resources shall be committed to the financing of party activities
The Eye Newspaper
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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.
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.# 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.
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