Politics

 The Prime Minister, Philemon Yang, on the high instruction of President Biya, has dispatched some Government spin doctors to assuage Cameroonians in the Diaspora as the Anglophone Crisis surges on.

The Government emissaries to the United States of America are made up of the Director of Civil Cabinet at the Prime Minister’s Office, Prof. Paul Ghogomu Mingo, the former Minister of Forestry and Wildlife, Prof.  Elvis Ngolle Ngolle, and the Technical Adviser at the Prime Minister's Office, Fabien Nkot.

The mission of the trio is to tell Government own side of the story concerning the ongoing Anglophone Crisis to the United States’ Government and to assuage Cameroonians resident in America.

Ghogomu, Ngolle Ngolle and Nkot will be in the USA from August 3 to 9, 2017.Since the escalation of the Anglophone Crisis in November 2016, Cameroonian Diaspora in the United States has been singled out by the Yaoundé regime as the main sponsor of the uprising that has paralysed socio-economic and professional activities in the North West and South West Regions.Since then, the demonstrations have taken different twists and turns as one segment of the English-speaking Regions is asking for a return to Federalism, while another segment is demanding for complete secession from the French speaking section of the country and the creation of a new state.

But the majority of Cameroonians based in the United States think that Federalism is the only way out of the Anglophone Crisis. The Cameroonian Diaspora had seized the American authorities and alerted the international community of the atrocities perpetrated in Cameroon by the Biya regime.When the demonstrations broke out, Government rolled out its military arsenal to squash all the dissenting voices that rose in protest.

The octogenarian Biya repeatedly insisted that "Cameroon is one and indivisible and intends to remain so."Government determination to quell the uprising led to numerous human rights abuses such the slaying of protesters, the haphazard arrests of Anglophone leaders, political witch-hunting and scores settling among others.Many of the ring leaders, especially those of the Cameroon Anglophone Civil Society Consortium were all arrested and are being tried in the military court in Yaounde for acts of terrorism, secession rebellion and for putting the security of the State in jeopardy. If found guilty, they would be given a death penalty, according to the recently adopted Cameroon Penal Code.   

Details

Abeh Valery

03.Aug.2017

Hits: 3146

Following the recent developments in the struggle for independence the interim leader of the people of Southern Cameroons made an official speech addressing the state of the struggle. Below is the official speech in full.

Fellow Southern Cameroonians, fellow Ambazonians:

Accept war greetings from the Governing Council. This journey to the restoration of the independence of our nation is in full gear and we want to thank you all for your messages from all corners of the world. We have heard your voices from Australia, China, Europe, Americas and Africa. We are very encouraged by the enormous show of support and solidarity from our people back home. We want you all to be reassured that we are in this journey together until we get to Buea, in a country that we will call our own.

Let me start by addressing the three categories of Southern Cameroonians / Ambazonians in the face of what has become known as the Anglophone problem. There are three categories :- Unionist, Federalist and my camp the Nationalist.

• The Unionists (Statusquo in Government)
• Political groups part of the System: No allegiance to their people, No concern for the future.
• Civil Servants income from government Contractor and agents of these system: Their financial security is threatened; main income is grossly from their government jobs.
• No interest but migrated simply by fear: Mothers with children who have mastered Francophone.
• The Federalists
• They may be motivated by other motives but some are afraid of a war and the massacre of SCians
• The landscape here shows people for the most part of an older generation
• The Nationalists – Restoration of our glory land
• The future of SC does not lie in the hands of the older generation.
• They deserve to know a commitment that the younger generations have demonstrated in obtaining their freedom. This particular group of SC are clamouring for the restoration and they believe that the job must be completed

No matter your group

• You have the right to belong to your group and nobody should force you to belong to our group. The fight for freedom must be desired from within and cannot be imposed by everyone else. Consequently, if people want to give in the status quo, God bless them, they have the right to stay where they are. You make your choices and your choices will eventually make you

Federalists

• Free to make their choice
• What benefit have you derived in this union for the past 56 years?
• Have you not been told to speak in French
• Have you not been considered as Second-class citizen when you interact with people of CRC??
• Have your children not been passed over or discriminated in admission into National Institutions, jobs, pay, promotions.
• Is that what you want to continue to live under?
• What exactly do you benefit from the system other than your daily bread and something to cater for your children?
• Do you believe this system would ever change and if it does, will it not change for the worse?
• Why do you now believe that this bond and will is going to cure they terminal illness that the regime has inflicted for all these 56 years?

The definition of insanity is doing the same thing and expecting a different result. Our people should not be lured into insanity and our youths are clearly aware of that.

It should be known that we are tired and we have to set ourselves free.

FEDERALISM: Who believes and advocate that we can gain the restoration of our independence only through war- by implication, what groups are actually selling is that the Biya regime will continue to carry out the brutal restoration of our people who are claiming independence. If they are right and God forbid, what then does it say of a system that would estaminate people without arms because they are fighting for their rights? How can anyone believe that they can remain in such an oppressive system and enjoy their God-given right of freedom and Liberty?

On the other hand, others have said that we cannot achieve restoration of our independence by making our case to the outside world. These groups of SC elites believe that since they tried earlier and failed, we should fold our hands and not try again. It is surprising and shocking that these are the same people advocating dialogue with LRC as if there have not been dialogue in the past 56 years. What makes them believe therefore that another round of dialogue this time will yield any fruit, when the actors with whom you have to dialogue have been in power for over 35 years? If these SCian elites believe that they can dialogue with this regime that has subjugated usfor this long with that principal leader who has been in power for 35 years and counting, they are free to go ahead.

Why do they not believe that another try at the UN, AU, ICC, and ICJ could achieve results? The passage oftime, the evolution of the world’s human right election and influence, and the fire in our youths of today give me the confidence to say that this is the time for action.

The idea of Federalism, no matter the form it takes, will result in a centralized government that will continue to oppress the inalienable rights of the minority people of SC.

Now, let me talk about the case for the restoration and our independence.

This Struggle

• Our dreams of independence come with UN resolution 1608. At that point, we were independent.Let me take that again; after the passage of UN article 1608 our nation of British Southern Cameroons was independent. Later in 1961, we were given two options to complete our sovereignty by joining with another independent country (either Nigeria or the Republic of Cameroun). The third option which would have saved us the servitude of the last 56 years:- that of forming our nation on our own, building on the institutions that were already in the works from 1954, was selfishly ignored.
• Our fore fathers believed in the sincerity of the leaders of LRC and therefore believed that the union, which was based on two separate independent States, would be a stronger national union, a win-win for both nations. We have come to see that the course of events has proven them wrong. Different dates, promises and bad faith have been the order of business from the two successive governments of LRC.

Given that all of these things never materialized what non-revocable guarantees can this government give you to ensure that your children and your children’s children will be given their full rights as human beings?

Now please indulge me to address President Paul Biya at this point.

Mr. President, notwithstanding the above mentioned failures of your stewardship on the notion of the people of SC; you are once again given an opportunity to show your leadership as a father. This occurred when lawyers and teachers expressed their rights to be granted. This requests were made because of the way and inefficient government that you have led over all these years.

You failed to listen to the cries of the people. 8 months have passed and the situation festered and has degenerated to where we are today. Instead of attending to the demands of the civil society groups, your government banned them, incarcerated their leaders, jailed other advocates, imprisoned other people, raped our daughtersand militarized our towns and village. Your government’s lack of response led to the manifestations on the streets. Mr. President, it is only when there was successful ghost town on Monday 9^th January 2017 that your government agreed to dialogue. This has been and continues to be the people’s protest. The people of SC are speaking clearly and loudly by their actions. You better listen to them. No one can lead a people without their consent. The people of SC are making their voices heard by their actions (actions speaks louder than words)  

Mr. President, I almost certain that had you shown a depth of leadership at the start of this disruption in Oct/Nov2016 by coming out and addressing the people of SC with respect and genuine concern, you may have pulled off some groundwork from these people. However, you ignored them with disdain and sent your troops to betroth them, killing, torturing, raping, arresting leaders, abducting people to be tried in military courts. Abducting a justice of the Supreme Court.

If a justice of the supreme court can be treated like Justice Ayah Paul Abine has been treated, if a lawyer like Barrister Nkongho Agbor Balla has been treated, if a renown academic can be treated like Dr. Fontem Niba has been treated, if a journalist and a popular talk-show host can be treated like Mancho Bibixy has been treated, what treatment should we expect for the ordinary man/woman in SC?

A people whose backs have been pushed against the wall, have no other option than to push back with the last energy in their body and when they fight back, they will not be fighting to stay in the Satus quo, they will fight to go to a new place, saying that any place is better than here. Therefore Mr. President, you and your government have forced the people of SC to leave and go for good.

Mr. President, we are aware of all the manipulative plans that your government has been taking to manipulate and deceive and appease the people of SC. We know that there is currently a plan in the works by the Frenchgovernment to the LRC to invest $35 Billion in the NW region, in addition to the 18km of tarred roads in the city of Bamenda, as well as the ridiculous re-opening of the Bamenda airport. We are also aware of discussions in the pipeline for large investments in the SW region. Allow me to say, Mr. President that these ridiculous investments, coming at this time, are a disdain to our people. These investments, if they become real, are a right and should have come many years ago.

Mr. President, you can kill every SCian who wants to be free but you cannot kill the spirit of freedom in the Southern Cameroonian. In addition to all the intrigues, your government has repeatedly tried to divide the people of SC with the usual NW/SW slogans. People have been offered bribes, positions and large amounts of money. This time however, due to the spirit of Southern Cameroons that is sweeping our territory, your offer was turned down. You have failed to recognize a basic lesson of life; that no one can trade their freedom for 30 pieces of silver.

Now, let me address my people, People of SC, As I said earlier, our struggle for the restoration of the independence of SC is not imposed on anyone but derived from the determined spirit of each and every SCian who desires to be free.

What does it mean to be free?The people of Southern Cameroons / Ambazonia want tobe free to:-

• send their children to schools where they are taught in English, except when they are studying another language.
• Go to the courts and practice the Common Law to common law magistrates and counsel.
• Go to hospitals and be consulted by physicians who do not need interpreters.
• Go to the police and speak to their commissioners in English
• Talk to their administrators in English
• Know the allocation of resources to their respective Counties
• Hold their leaders accountable
• Elect their Governors and State legislators

Given the choices that I have outlined for the unionist, federalism and the nationalist (freedom fighter), it is important for all SCians to know that there is no need for infighting amongst our people in spite of their different opinions. It is equally important to know that there are traitors and spies among you, who come with the sole goal to disrupt and weaken our resolve. Do not be deceived by such infiltrators. However, we must fight our enemies of this struggle. They will use all kind of means and force of argument to splinter our freedom movement. Some of them would seek to discredit your leaders at every opportunity, to source for financial assistance and impose their leadership. Many things are happening that you may not be aware of. We have to be very watchful as we carry out our mission for our enemies will spend all the resources at their disposal, to sabotage our efforts. Therefore, we shall keep our plans confidentialuntil we find the moment appropriate for us to do so. We are fortunate that our heavy contributors are the silent majority.

The sac

Details

Rita Akana

02.Aug.2017

Hits: 6301

The Traditional Ruler of Bachou Ntai in Manyu Division of the South West Region, Senator Nfor George Tabetando Ndiepso, on Thursday, July 27, 2017, threatened to desecrate the sanctity of his tradition by kneeling and even prostrating before the population of Kumba to send their Children to school come September.

Nfor Tabetando was leading a delegation of CPDM Senators to Kumba to donate hospital equipment in the Division.

According to Tabetando, children should not be punished for sins they did not commit.  

To him, if those in positions of responsibility did not go to school, it would have been impossible for them to contribute to nation building.

He said one can only become a specialist in any field if he is educated.

The Senator parents at the occasion to be partners in the back- to- school campaign.

But many people who witnessed the traditional ruler’s action termed it as a desecration of the revered traditional institution which the Senator incarnates.

According to them, a Nfor, Nfon, Fon or Chief worth the salt, does not kneel in front of his subjects no matter the magnitude of the problem.

Among the items donated by the Senators were: simple delivery kits and hospital beds that will help to arrest the common challenge of acquired hospital infections. 

Trash cans and other hygiene and sanitation equipment were also donated.   

Details

Abeh Valery

01.Aug.2017

Hits: 2754

The Minister of Youth and Civic Education has reiterated the ban on the use of "Anglophone regions" to designate the two English-speaking regions of Cameroon.
Instead, he recommends the
'better' expression "North-West Region and South-West Region".
The ban was issued to the top officials of the ministry on July 28.  

In the order, Mounouna Foutsou noted that officials of his ministry continued to use the 'pejorative' expression in spite of instructions from the hierarchy.

He added that there was a prize for the strict respect of the order.

This is another desperate attempt by La Republique to curb the unrest in West Cameroon.
West Cameroon took to the street in November last year to denounce their marginalization by East Cameroon.

This move suggests that "Anglophone regions" is a discriminatory expression that makes the English-speaking part of the nation different from the French-speaking part.
"Anglophone regions" also gives  West Cameroon the same status as the eight French-speaking regions of Cameroon.
But "North-West and South-West regions" reduces West Cameroon to the status of two simple administrative units, like every other region of the nation.
Even if the ministry were to respect the order, would it stop the name calling on the street?
Most English-speaking Cameroonians are still being identified as "Les Bamenda" by their French-speaking compatriots.

Discrimination cannot be controlled by ministerial orders.
We fight discrimination like this with concrete actions.
The president and his ministers ought to speak fluent English and French so that everyone can feel home.
When the president continues to address his people in French after more than several decades of 'unity' , what else can we expect?
He may say he 'spoke English' in Bamenda a couple of years back.  

Details

Rita Akana

31.Jul.2017

Hits: 2901

Social Democratic Front (SDF) National Chairman, Ni John FruNdi, has lambasted the Biya Government for what he termed gross marginalisation of Anglophones, especially the aborigines of the North West Region in Cameroon’s military.

According to the SDF Chieftain, the population of the North West Region deserves more than one General in the elite force of Cameroon.

He was speaking in Bamenda recently, during the commissioning ceremony of General Agah Robinson into his function.

Fru Ndi saw the elevation of Agah Robinson to the rank of a General as Biya appeasement offering to the population of the North West Region to replace the late General Tumenta, who passed away in tragic circumstances.

“General Agha alone is insignificant because the North West by the strength of its population deserves more than four Generals.

 However, if you ask for many and you are given one, take and keep and ask for more because we deserve more than just one General,” Fru Ndi said.

Meanwhile, the Government of Cameroon through the Secretary of State in the Ministry of Defence in charge of the National Gendarmerie, Jean Baptiste Bokam, ordered General Agha Robinson to halt the manufacture of war arms in the North West Regional capital Bamenda.

 With the present violent state of affairs in the North West and South West Regions, Government is disturbed that the irate Anglophones may lay hands on locally fabricated fire arms and use them to further resist Government.

The proliferation of locally made weapons in the North West Region has further compounded Government fears.

In his installation address, Bokam said the war against terrorism and other forms of insecurity must be tackled vigorously, as such; no locally manufacture arms should be tolerated in the volatile North West Region.

Details

Abeh Valery

31.Jul.2017

Hits: 2932

An erstwhile Catholic Monk of the Mbengwi Monastery, Thomas Tangem Nganyu, who operates a metal transformation training centre in Buea, was arrested from his Bolifamba workshop and ferried into detention in Yaounde.

Nganyu was picked up without the knowledge of his trainees, relatives and friends.

For weeks his relatives, trainees and friends searched for his whereabouts in vain.

The former monk became so vocal in his criticisms on Government decision to drag Catholic prelates and other Anglophone Church leaders to court for supporting the ‘no school’ campaign in the two English-speaking Regions of Cameroon.

He is said to have been a member of a discussion group comprising lawyers, teachers, technicians, businessmen, drivers, commercial motorbike riders and others.

Nganyu reportedly got a hunch, but refused to heed advice to escape, when co-members of the discussion group were hounded with arrest warrants between the Southwest, Littoral and West Regions, since May 2017, having been betrayed by a Government agent who had infiltrated the group.

While some members like lawyers and teachers heeded the advice and went underground, others continued crusading for school boycott. One of the teachers, Abraham Lekengu, a member of Teachers Association of Cameroon, TAC, who claimed to be a victim of punitive transfer, spearheaded the ‘no school’ and civil disobedience campaign. According to Lekengu, he was trained in ENS to teach the English Language and Literature in English, but was sent to teach purely French-speaking children in Babou, Bangante, West Region, besides low pay.

Meanwhile, the authorities suspect that they are behind the burning of Government structures around.

Details

Abeh Valery

31.Jul.2017

Hits: 2107