Being the introductory statement of
IssaTchiromaBakary, Minister of Communication at a press conference in Yaounde
on 10 December 2016
Distinguished Journalists,
Whereas on December 08, 2016, CPDM
militants were preparing to attend a meeting organized by the Mezam 1 CPDM
section and presided over by the Secretary General of the said party, in the
presence of the Prime Minister, Head of Government, the Bamenda ceremonial
ground, precisely at the Commercial avenue, was stormed by a group of
protesters armed with projectiles, catapults and Molotov cocktails.
This
meeting fell within the framework of a concerted approach undertaken by
officials of this party to invite each and everyone for appeasement and to
bring back calm in the cities of Bamenda and Buea.
This
meeting is similar to the one which took place last December 06, 2016 in Buea
and which went on hitch free.
Everything was in place for the harmonious
conduct of the public meeting in Bamenda, duly authorized by the competent
authorities, when some highly motivated individuals, and acting by groups,
visibly prepared and perfectly organized, started to carry out acts of
protesterism and urban guerilla to clearly obstruct the holding of this public
meeting.
In
their destructive madness, these protesters, who had become real insurgents,
began to erect barricades on roads in order to hinder traffic, burn many
vehicles, burn tires on the roads, siege and then burning public buildings,
including schools and hospitals, taking hostage students, patients and medical
personnel as, and assaulting natural persons.
The
human balance sheet is as follows: two people dead, under circumstances which
are yet to be clarified, four gendarmes and four police officers, a young woman
also wounded and partially burned, a senior member of the CPDM party also
sustained a head injury.
With
regard to the material balance sheet, 9 vehicles were destroyed, including that
of the Commander of the Gendarmerie Legion, the Commander of the Second
Motorized Rapid Infantry Battalion (BRIM), that of the Bamenda 3 Divisional
Officer, la Camerounaise des Eaux, Campost, Special Rapid Intervention Units of
the Police (ESIR), the National Gendarmerie, as well as two private vehicles.
Several
businesses and other urban stands, two public buildings: the Third District
Police Station and several pavilions of the Bamenda Regional Hospital were also
burned.
In
addition, the protesters hoisted the flag of the Southern Cameroon National
Council at some crossroads and public buildings.
Faced
with this situation, the forces of order were deployed on the field to ensure
security in the city and its surroundings, leading to the arrest of 58 people,
34 of whom are kept in custody by the National Gendarmerie, and 24 detained by
the police.
In
order to avoid a confrontation between the militants of the CPDM and the
protesters, the political rally that was initially scheduled to take place the
Commercial Avenue finally took place in a hotel in Bamenda.
On
the spot, in order to sustainably restore order, emergency measures have been
taken by administrative authorities in order to arrest the breakers, identify
and search out their sponsors and accomplices.
It should be noted that in the management
of this situation, the Security Forces were effectively deployed with a
constant aim of restoring peace and order in the city of Bamenda and its
surroundings by preserving human lives - including those of troublemakers - and
by ensuring the safety and tranquility of populations.
To
these Forces of law and order who showcase courage, self-denial, patriotism and
the sense of sacrifice, the Head of State extends his encouragements for their
action in order to restore public order and security.
The
violent demonstrations in Bamenda took place on December 8, when the
Government, on the Highest Instructions of the Head of State, His Excellency
Paul BIYA, is pursuing his efforts to find adequate solutions to the problems
raised by teachers and lawyers, provided that these have been deemed legitimate
and compatible with the laws of the Republic.
The
persistence of these acts of violence has become incomprehensible and hide the
maneuvers of some people who are fun of shady dealings, refractory to dialogue
and consultation, and who cheerfully manipulate the populations and especially
the youths, in support of a hidden agenda.
Cameroon
being a rule of law, the perpetrators of such destruction of public and private
property as well as their accomplices, must be aware that while remaining open
to dialogue and consultation, the Government of the Republic intends to fully
fulfill its mission of protecting the populations and their property,
guaranteeing freedom of movement, and protecting our children's right to
education.
Therefore,
the perpetrators of the acts of protesterism on December 8 in Bamenda must know
that they will have to face the rigors of the law and will receive, if need be,
the rightly deserved punishment for the abuses for which their guilt will have
been established.
On
behalf of the Government, I am calling on our young compatriots, prey to the
illusions sold to them by the sponsors of this violence, to be more vigilant
and lucid enough in order to avoid being drawn into these paths which are
pathways to perdition and self destruction.
The
Government strongly warns those who undertake to use the communication
advantages of social media to misinform public opinion, misrepresent facts and
incite hatred, disorder and violence, that the State will do everything in its
power and with the support of friendly countries, to track them, search them
out, arrest them and take them to court.
The
Government will continue to leave no stone unturned, in keeping with the laws
of the Republic, to ensure public order and guarantee all citizens the
protection they are rightfully entitled to, and which should enable them carry
out their daily activities in all freedom.
To
the families of our compatriots whose lives were claimed during these sad
events, the President of the Republic, His Excellency Paul BIYA, hereby
addresses his most heartfelt condolences and wishes the wounded quick recovery.
Thank
you for your kind attention.
Pic
IssaTchiromaBakary, gov’t spokesman
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