Solidarity with Common Law Lawyers:

Anglophone teachers announce start of indefinite strike

-They have written a memo to the Prime Minister notifying him of their strike action to begin on 21 November

Common Law Lawyers say they will resort to street

protests if gov’t continues to snub them

Queuing up behind common law lawyers, who are presently observing an indefinite strike in protest against efforts by government to erode the common law sub-system in Cameroon, Teachers' Unions and PTA's have, after reflecting on the cultural carnage visited on their children decided to also take the bold step. They have written to the PM notifying him that all schools will be shut down from Monday 21 November 2016, until proper attention is given to the problems that have beset the English sub-system of education.

                According to the memo addressed to the PM, the teachers say all teachers from nursery school up to university are part of the strike. And government, mission and private schools will all close down.

                The teachers’ memo to the PM notes further: “….in our time, we revered those who excelled in the GCE O and A' Levels. They were given priority in scholarships, and they chose the professional school they wanted to attend, that is if they did not wish to go abroad. That was what EXCELLENCE meant. The next year, other children worked equally hard to enter that exclusive league.  We hailed them and used them to proudly talk about our schools in Anglophone Cameroon. Families who had such children were treated kindly and with respect. That was Excellence! Even when the UB medical School started, the same principles applied - those with good results in the GCE were considered in the scoring of certificates so that the GCE was given its real value. But today, it is common to see a student with 25 points in the GCE failing the so-called ‘concours’ or selling sim cards and/or air-time at MTN while students with 4 points or less are sitting comfortably in the Medical School classroom.”

                The teachers question this paradox and the cultural onslaught the government has undertaken against Anglophones in Cameroon. They maintain that the planned strike will not be any trifling matter. They are inviting all Anglophone teachers to drop the chalk indefinitely if they must rescue the English sub-system of education from imminent destruction. Parents are also exhorted to educate their children on what is happening.  

                “This is not a child's play. Stand up and be counted. Educate your children; tell them what is happening and be sure that you give the teachers' action maximum support. 

 “Join your voice and let the Anglophone cry be heard. Keep your children safe at home; away from the claws of provocateurs. . Peace,” concludes the memo.

 No turning back:

C.L. lawyers reject gov’t’s fcfa 200,000 bribe, create own Bar

Government officials have however maintained sealed lips as regards the strike and bribery allegations

By MbomSixtus in Yaounde

It has emerged that the Cameroon government has resorted to bribing lawyers 200,000 FCFA (circa 670 USD) for them to abandon an on-going strike action and return to courtrooms in Anglophone regions of the country which have been deserted for about three weeks. The information was revealed in a release signed November 4, by leaders of the strike.

                The lawyers of the Common Law sub-system decided to down tools earlier on October 11, 2016, in protest of government’s neglect of their demands. They, later on, extended the strike indefinitely on grounds that government remained indifferent. In the November 4 release, they note that the government is rather trying to divide the lawyers and weaken their protest, instead of addressing the issues they raised.

                The release is signed by Philip AwutahAtubah, President of the Meme Lawyers’ Association, MELA, Harmony Bobga-Mbuton, President of the North West Lawyers’ Association, NOWELA, EmilienNgangjohSopseh, President of the Manyuawyers’ Association, MALA and AsohEpey, who signed on behalf of Felix NkonghoAgbor, President of the Fako Lawyers’ Association, FAKLA, who was out of the country on mission to Burundi, alongside other exco members of the African Bar.

                The lawyers state in the release: “…we have been served with hard proofs that the government that has all this while, been pretending that our strike action has zero impact and in that delusion been dreaming that Common Law Lawyers will soon run hungry and call off the strike, is desperately wooing some inconsequential Common Law lawyers and bribing them with 200,000 FCFA each in exchange of resumption of court activities and shamelessly so”

New Bar association created

                Common Law lawyers, whose associations hitherto existed under the banner of the Cameroon Bar Association, have decided to create a separate association. Named the Cameroon Common Law Bar Association, its constitution and other related rules will be published in a fortnight, as announced in the statement. The New association’s first general assembly is also expected to be held in a fortnight, while the strike continues.

                For recall, the  striking lawyers had filed a memo to government in May 2015 with several demands outlined. The memo contained the "Bamenda Resolutions" which were drawn on same year after a stormy meeting, prompted by what they termed government scheme to annihilate the Common Law sub-system. They requested among other things in the resolutions, that President Biya should facilitate Cameroon’s return to the federal system as obtained before 1972; protect the Common Law Sub-System; respect the bi-jural system of Cameroon’s judiciary and that he should also protect the Anglo-Saxon educational system in the South West and North West regions among others.