Tuesday 13 December 2016

The ANGLOPHONE Question:

Olivier Bile, (PHD), President of the UFP
Who sows the wind, harvests the storm
UFP calls for a restoration of historical truths, Justice, political and institutional modernity as way forward
Strikes and demonstrations of lawyers and teachers of the Anglophone zone, strong involvement of the populations of Bamenda in the said street demonstrations, various demands of the students of the university of Buea, riots, mood movements and a general feeling of ostracism and especially assimilationism from our fellow citizens of the Anglo-Saxon culture, heavy and brutal interventions of the security forces in the various theaters of manifestations, Cameroonians dying because of intolerance, misunderstandings, obscurantism, lack of deep dialogue and concertation....
                Since November 21st 2016, the anglophone zone of our country is actually subjected to convulsions and uprisings of different social bodies, which attest of a deep malaise exhaling what is called the Anglophone problem in Cameroon.
                Considering the extreme gravity of the situation, the UFP, as a force of proposal, submits to the national community, in the form of a reflection in two points, its reading of the situation and its solution for a sustainable exit of crisis. The substance of the contribution can be summarized in one sentence: "The English-speaking zone will subside and the country will prosper in a sustainable way, thanks only to the restoration of historical Truth, Justice and political and institutional modernity".
  
THE ROOT CAUSES OF THE ANGLOPHONE PROBLEM
                After a separation of 45 years (1916-1961), ultimately burdened with politico-cultural consequences, Cameroonians on both shores of the Moungoriver, in a burst of real and profound brotherhood, manifested the ardent desire to find themselves within the same State. But in this new political dynamic, the intentions of the leaders on both sides were obviously not the same with regard to the form that the State should have. A popular saying goes: "Who sows the wind harvests the storm".
                Indeed, the recurrent agitations and upheavals on the former Southern Cameroons territory since at least the beginning of the 1990s are undoubtedly the consequence of the "original sin" and the rotten trick openly carried out by President AhmadouAhidjo on John N. Foncha, AugustinNgomJua, Solomon T. Muna, his Anglophone interlocutors at the time.
                In violation of the Foumban agreements and deferring, as agreed long ago with instructions from Paris which intended to have free access on certain local resources, AhmadouAhidjo, unilaterally, decides on the organization of the May 20th 1972 referendum, with a view of turning the State from federalism to unification.

                In addition, and obviously unacceptable, the ballot papers available in this rigged referendum were marked "oui" and "yes". Result: 99.97% for the yes. Without excessive emotion, one can simply talk of unprecedented political fraud. If the proponents of a policy which is only a lie and deceit can accommodate to this, the promoter of a theistic and upright democracy that I am, has the duty to remind everyone of the short, medium or long term consequences of such acts at the top of a State.
                Who sows the wind indeed harvests the storm; this is true for oneself or ones’ spiritual heirs. That is why we are still here today. First of all, I would like to make Cameroonians truly aware of this historical drag that we carry in the form of a political curse to imperiously exorcise.

PROPOSAL SKETCH TO PROBLEM
                 In a scientific approach, I would like to invite everyone to a collective reflection and examination of the international environment, particularly examining the model of institutional organization and States in the world which, like ours, have an objective and officially bi- or multi-cultural basis. In this respect, Switzerland (French, German, Italian, Romansh) Belgium (Francophones, Dutch speakers, German speakers), Canada (French and English) can undoubtedly serve as sources of inspiration.
                The fundamental point to make about these States is that they all benefit from an organization of federal or confederal type, which confers an important local autonomy (principle of subsidiarity) making it possible to emphasize the specificities of culturally distinct communities. Is Cameroon the exception that confirms a rule which seems universally established by political science and constitutional law? There is reason to doubt this.
                In any case, history and current events attest to a phenomenon of heavy incompatibility within the system we have tried to impose on forceps. Common law, Anglophone educational sub-system and many other socioprofessional determinants are the hallmark of a culture, a singularity and a community identity derived from the Anglo-Saxon cultural and identity tradition which refuses to be absorbed by The Voltairo-Napoleonic cultural tradition. This leveling and harmonization system cannot work. It is also likely to be a source of more recurrent and violent crises. Moreover, it is essential to reassure Cameroonians by specifying that federalism does not mean separatism or secessionism. Citizens of the said countries, irrespective of their States of origin, feel the same sense of belonging and solidarity, and are subject to the same duties and enjoy the same rights.
                Totally hostile to the ultramarginal idea of secession, I am convinced that the overwhelming majority of Anglophones are unreservedly willing to remain full citizens of the State of Cameroon, however, in a living-together system whose institutional contours must absolutely be rethought and established in a democratic and consensual manner, and not by brutality, tensions and constraint. If necessary, this 1972 referendum should be repeated in order to highlight the true aspirations of our Anglophone fellow citizens today. We should all agree with that. Cameroon would then remain positively and truly indivisible, which cannot be guaranteed by the contrary scenario whose exacerbation would ultimately lead to separatism. We need to be very clear about this and give the country a good chance of avoiding uncertainties, and re-launch into national harmony.
                Therefore, I think it is urgent to convene the General Forum of the nation (politicians, civil society, academics, friendly and sociologically friendly countries) in order to carry out a collective reflection on the shape of the State that best corresponds to the demands of the contemporary world (finally, a good opportunity to unravel the country's other political bottlenecks). Beyond the federal bi-culturalist and bi-communitarian model of 1961, this consensual reflection could also take into account the sharp insufficiencies of the present decentralization, as well as the sociological complexity resulting from the new post-1990 democratic context. The robustness, proximity and efficiency in the conduct of our public policies could certainly also depend on some substantial institutional reorganization.
                With respect to the UFP and without wanting to influence this discussion, the closer Canadian model of state organization could be a relevant source of inspiration. Concomitantly, smart strategies should be considered to deepen national consciousness and reduce the influence of colonial legacies in the long term.
                Let us end with the words of Francis LĂ©onard, a famous Swiss social scientist: "In order to really appreciate all the merits of federalism, foreigners must admit that it is the appropriate form of government for any multicultural country, since the principle of subsidiarity makes it possible to take the particularities of different parties into consideration. This is why the Swiss cultural mosaic is not only due to the fabric of underlying links, but also to the freedom left to the different local components to respond as closely as possible to their specificities ".
                Dear fellow citizens, let's go to structural solutions. Let us reflect together, without fear or tension, but well aware of the fact that "the English-speaking zone will calm down and the country will prosper" permanently " exclusively thanks to the restoration of historical Truth, Justice and constitutional modernity ".
                God bless Cameroon!!!



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