Publisher/Editor: OJONG Steven AYUKOGEM. Tel: (+237) 77 07 27 79. E-mail: themedianpaper@yahoo.com
Wednesday, 22 February 2017
Optimizing revenue mobilization amid challenges:
Taxation officials upbeat about 2017
objective
 |
| Mopa Modeste Fatoing |
The monthly coordination meeting of central
and devolved services of the directorate general of taxation was held in Maroua
from 16 to 18 February 2017
Holding in a context marked by a sustained
drop in oil revenue, the entry into force of the Economic Partnership Accord
EPA with the EU and an ever threatening security challenge in some parts of the
country, taxation officials brainstormed and strategized on ways and means of
meeting their 2017 objective which encumbers the Directorate General of
Taxation to mobilize FCFA 1,843 billion that is, 1,719 billion of non-oil
revenue and 124 billion from oil companies, for the financing of the 2017 state
budget. It should be noted that in 2016 the DGT was tasked to mobilize a total
of 1719 billion including the 150 billion from oil revenue.
Admitting
the uphill challenge, giving that the 2017 objective has witnessed an increase
of 128 billion compared to that of 2016, taxation officials remained upbeat that
if the new orientations and innovations put in place by the Minister of
Finance, AlamineOusmaneMey and his colleagues of the CEMAC sub-region, are
implemented to the letter then there is no reason they should not attain the
2017 objective and even surpass it.
It
should be noted that in 2016 the taxation department mobilized some 1,585
billion of non-oil revenue, surpassing the set objective of 1,565 billion, a
net realization of 101.3%.
Also
worthy of note is the fact that while the 2016 performance was remarkable for
non-oil revenue, it was not the case for oil revenue, where just 109 billion
was mobilized of the 150 billion that was expected.
Taxation
officials attributed the exceptional realization of the non-oil tax
mobilization on the strict application of the modernization plan contained in
the 2016 finance law which highlights such measures as: broadening of the tax
base, improved working environments, more dialogue with taxpayers, better risk
management, team spirit, better securization of receipts, automation of
procedures among others.
Protecting Wildlife:
MINFOF burns 3 tones of Pangolin scales in
public
The ceremony on Friday 17 February 2017, of
the burning of Pangoling scales, was part of events to mark the World Pangolin
Day celebrated on Saturday 18 February.
By Rachel NtubeNgwese in Yaounde
 |
| Minister Ngole Philip setting tons of pangolin scales ablaze |
Some 3000kg of pangolin scales were on
Friday 17 February 2017 burnt publicly in Yaounde. The Minister of Forestry and
Wildlife, Ngole Philip Ngwese set fire on the sacks and cartons containing the
scales, under the watchful eyes of representatives of the diplomatic missions
in Yaounde and stakeholder ministries and NGOs.
Speaking
on the occasion, Minister NgoleNgwese said the objective of the public burning
is to discourage the hunting and trafficking of Pangolins and their scales. He
noted that Pangolins are today one of the most heavily trafficked mammals in
the world. And the craving for their meat and scales is driving them closer
towards extinction.
“Unless
we act now, we risk losing our Pangolins,” NgoleNgwese warned, noting that
after noticing the indiscriminate poaching of Pangolins and the unbridled
trafficking of their scales, the Cameroon government uplisted all species of
Pangolins in Appendix 1 of the convention of International Trade in Endangered
species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
“According
to Article 6 of the Ministerial Order No 0648/MINFOF of 18 December 2006, which
classifies wildlife in Cameroon in three categories (A,B,C) based on the level
of threats, all species in CITES Appendix 1 are automatically listed in class
A, meaning that they are fully protected,” the minister explained, noting that
the recent large seizures and confiscation of Pangolin scales by MINFOF agents
only seeks to enforce and emphasize this law in order to ensure survival of
Pangolins.
During
the ceremony at the esplanade of the Centre regional delegation of MINFOF,
Minister Ngole underscored Cameroon’s resolve to play a leading and exemplary
role in improving law enforcement efforts to better protect Pangolins.
Tribalism and social injustice:
Beti Minister picks only his kinsmen for
gov’t job
 |
| BasileAtanganaKouna: Minister of Energy and Water Resources |
Water and Energy Minister,
BasileAtanganaKouna, has come under scathing criticism after publishing a list
of some 135 recruits into the ministry with only eight Anglophones and
following it up after with another list of 30 names, most of them from his own
Beti tribe.
The
Minister, it was said, first released the list of 135 newly recruited
technicians and engineers with Anglophones numbering just eight in the list.
While the list of 135 recruits was still being criticized, AtanganaKouna
released an additional list of 30 names, with all 30 coming from his Beti
tribe.
The
recruited technicians and engineers according to a communiqué made public last
week, are expected to be trained on the installation of solar panels in some
166 localities across the country.
The
publication of the list of recruits has since attracted widespread condemnation
from Cameroonians. The sidelining of Anglophones in the recruitment comes
amidst ongoing protests by Anglophones against what they have described as
systematic discrimination and marginalization against them.
Observers
say AtanganaKouna’s action only shows how tribalism and social injustice has
since infested and taken a comfortable sit in the Biya system.
Foiled Elective General Assembly:
SDO bans SW Chiefs congress, as Fako Chiefs
wash dirty linen
 |
| Zang III, Fako SDO |
South West Chiefs are yet to come to terms
with the SDO for Fako following the latter’s decision banning the holding of
their elective general assembly in Limbe last weekend.
Zang
III in an order issued Thursday 16 February 2017 stopped the holding of the
general assembly of the Chiefs Conference in Limbe, citing security concerns
and internal wrangling within the association.
Reacting
to the ban, the Assistant Secretary General of SW Chiefs’ Conference SWECC,
Chief Nfaw Robinson Tanyi described it as “unfortunate”.
He
noted that the SWECC has persons of value and honour within its ranks including
Parliamentarians, senior administrators, Army Generals, General Managers, and
Judges amongst others, all of whom are not only peace loving allies of the
regime but have always supported and encouraged the President through motions
of support in the past.
“SWECC
has never breached the peace of the nation nor participated in public disorder
of the kind. Rather, it has served the role of a peace breaker and ally of the
government on every step of the way in difficulties, sometimes to the detriment
of its own image,” noted the chiefs in their release that was signed by the
deputy scribe of SWECC, on behalf of incumbent president Nfon V. E. Mukete.
“We
interpret your attitude to suspend our assembly as unfortunate, untimely and
regrettable as this sitting was meant to renew and reinvigorate our executive
bureau as well as show to the world that our people have no reason to fear
going about their day-to-day businesses.”
While
acknowledging the authority of the SDO in banning the meeting, the Chiefs at
once drew his attention to article 11 of their constitution which bars
non-members including public officials interfering in the internal affair of
their association.
The
Chiefs said the SDO only needed to have read their statutes between the lines
and with good will to understand that it hasn’t the interpretation he gave to
it. They as well reminded the SDO that the statutes of SWECC supersede that of
the Fako Chiefs Conference that inspired his banning order.
They
concluded: “We are indeed very ashamed of the position and interpretation you
have given to this article on our activity.”
To give peace a chance:
Nico Halle seeks unconditional release of
Anglophone activists
 |
| Barrister NtumforNico Halle, Bar General Assembly President |
International peace crusader and president
of the General Assembly of the Cameroon Bar Association, Ntumfor Barrister Nico
Halle, has urged President Paul Biya to unconditionally free leaders of the
outlawed Anglophone Civil Society Consortium and others in detention in
relation to the ongoing Anglophone crisis.
NtumforNico
Halle made the call on Sunday, during CRTV’s live talk show program press hour.
“Granting
reprieve to all those arrested in the course of the crisis will be one of the
surest ways of finding lasting solutions to the lingering crisis that has
crippled activities in courts and schools across the North West and South West
Regions,” said Ntumfor, who was one among three panelists on the program.
“If
I had my way, I would advise the Head of State, His Excellency President Paul
Biya to grant general amnesty to all those facing trial in connection with this
crisis. That is what is done elsewhere in situations like this,” Nico Halle
prayed, during the one-hour show that was exceptionally anchored from Douala.
8,500 km of tarred roads in Cameroon by 2018
Over the 2017-2018 period, the Cameroonian
government is planning to surface a total of 1,615 km of new roads, the
Minister of Public Works, Emmanuel NganouDjoumessi, announced during a press
conference organised on 14 February in the capital of the country.
To
reach this objective, approximately 1,000 km of roads will be asphalted this
year, the Prime Minister, Philémon Yang, revealed while presenting the
economic, political and cultural programme of the government for 2017 to the
parliamentarians. This was in November 2016 in Yaoundé.
In
this regard, a global envelope of FCfa 461 billion will be injected this year
in the road construction, renovation and maintenance works in the country. Some
works to be undertaken as part of the emergency plan launched by the government
will necessitate FCfa 100 billion,FCfa 12 billion will be transferred to local
governments, while the contribution from the budget of the Ministry of Public
Works will be FCfa 312 billion.
Anglophone Crisis:
NW MPs advocate a truly decentralized
unitary state
Over 10 members of Parliament and Senators
of the ruling party CPDM in the North West region have appealed to the Head of
State Paul Biya to release all arrested Anglophone activists and hasten the
implementation of the 18 January 1996 constitution that defines Cameroon as a
decentralized, unitary and one and indivisible country.
This was part of the 10-point resolutions
arrived at during a meeting on Wednesday 15 February 2017 held at the Ayaba
Hotel in Bamenda, North West region at the behest of elder statesman and former
PM, Senator Simon AchidiAchu.
The
MPs acknowledged the efforts already made by President Paul Biya in finding a
solution to the crisis, noting especially the putting in place of the
Inter-ministerial Ad Hoc Committees which according to them have proposed
solutions to some of the problems raised by Trade Union leaders.
Anglophone crisis:
UN
beckoned to step in before things get out of hand
 |
| Antonio Guterres, UN Secretary General |
An International Centre for Human Rights
based at the University of Pretoria, South Africa, has called on the Secretary
General of the United Nations to as a matter of urgency, appoint a mediator to
seek solutions to the ongoing crisis in Cameroon.
The
call was made Friday, February 17. The Centre also petitioned the UN Security
Council, African Union, as well as the government of the Republic of South
Africa that has mediated in many African conflicts to hasten up before things
get out of hand in Cameroon.
“The
Centre for Human Rights is deeply concerned about the deteriorating human
rights situation in the North West and South West regions of Cameroon,
including reported arbitrary arrests, abductions, extra-judicial killings,
involuntary disappearances, rape, torture and inhumane treatment of detainees,
trial of civilians by military tribunals,” the report reads.
The
report which is coming out exactly one month following the shutdown of internet
in Anglophone Cameroon by the government also highlights this aspect of human
right abuse. It blames the government of Cameroon for not respecting its own
constitution.
“By
its actions and omissions, the government of Cameroon has failed to protect its
citizens and as such stands in violation of the obligations imposed upon it by
the Preamble to the Constitution of Cameroon which among others guarantees the
right to life; freedom from torture; cruel and inhumane or degrading treatment
or punishment; right to liberty and security of person; right to fair hearing;
freedom of expression; and freedom of association and assembly.”
Memorandum to the PM:
Francophone teachers at UBa fear for their
lives and jobs
-In a 6-page memorandum addressed to the
Prime Minister, the lecturers are accusing their NW colleagues of sympathizing
with the extremists and of instigating students to rise up against thema
By N. Nestor N
Francophone lecturers of the University of Bamenda,
UBa have in a memorandum to Prime Minister, Head of government, Philemon Yang
said the ongoing strike that has paralyzed educational activities in the North
West and South West regions has a “secret agenda and that administrators of UBa
from the North West region are sympathizing with Extremists who are against the
policy of national unity and integration”.
In
the six page memorandum signed by seven of the lecturers titled “our precarious
security situation following the strike order by syndicates of the North West
and South West regions,” the French lecturers reveal that their “colleagues
have been physically threatened” and that “they are morally depressed when
students of English expression ridicule them.
“With
the threats and violence, we simply wish to let you know that our lives and our
jobs are in jeopardy” the lecturers revealed.
They
observe that the campus of UBa has been politicized regretting that the
“authority of UBa is not doing anything to reverse this stigmatization,
intimidation and threats levied on teachers of the eight regions”.
“…the
nature of the strike proves that they [the strikers] have ulterior motives that
the government cannot readily satisfy them. Which reasonable government can
accept such extremist demands?” the memorandum questions.
Worries on how UB and UBa got involved in
the strike
In
the memorandum, the French lecturers ‘wonder’ why the strike involved teachers
of higher education whom they claim were initially not signatories to the
strike order.
“We
wonder why the SYNES-UB created since 1993 could wait for 2016 for agitations
of secondary school teachers before calling for a massive strike against
marginalization. The case of the University of Bamenda that directly affects us
is equally ridiculous. We wonder why SYNES-UBa could adhere to a strike that
they were not an initial signatory to,” the memorandum maintains.
They
claim that the coordinator of SYNES-UBa chapter, Prof Tata Simon Ngenge, whom
they say has been taking decisions unilaterally, has been using the union to
search for personal gains.
“The
attitude of Prof Tata Simon Ngenge is revealing of the double game that some
teachers of North West origin are playing in the ongoing strike”, they
insinuate.
11th February:
When King and Queen quarrel on wedding
Anniversary
 |
| Sisiku Ayuk Tabe |
In 2017…people from the grassroots decided
to stick together to say “enough is enough”. They are asking for their freedom
from this modern day slavery in the grip of the government of the Republic of
Cameroon. This was triggered by the Teachers’ and Lawyers’ strikes at the close
of 2016… As this stalemate continues, popular opinion on the streets of
Southern Cameroons is tilting in favour of outright separation.
…A day of joy for one and a moment of pain
and regret for the other.
I. A King and his Queen had a quarrel on
their 56th wedding anniversary, on the 11th of February. Below is an excerpt of
what ensued:
King:
Happy anniversary.
Queen:
What is happy about this anniversary?
King:
Dress-up, let’s go and celebrate our wedding anniversary.
Queen:
You rejoice today because it is day that you discovered milk and honey in your
neighbour’s land, got it for free, claimed it and made it yours. This day
reminds me all of our biggest error. Henceforth on every 11th February,
starting from today, Saturday 11th February 2017, I will join my children, we
will dress in black, we will start the day in prayer, we will pray until noon,
have lunch and get back to prayer from 2:00pm until 6:00pm. My people and I
have declared this “the day of indoor mourning and prayer”. We mourn the death
of a romance which never was and we pray to God to get us out of this marriage.
I want a divorce. I have already filed for this divorce. Today, my people and I
will remain indoors because we do not want to get out of our houses and be
beaten, raped, tortured and killed.
King:
Shall we go and join the celebrations?
Queen:
What is there to celebrate?
King:
Why are you dressed in black and holding a prayer book?
Queen:
I am dressed in black because I am mourning.
King:
Why are you mourning?
Queen:
Because you are killing my people. You are raping our girls, maiming and
torturing us. Why are you committing these atrocities on our people?
King:
The people that are being tortured, killed, raped and maimed are not my people;
they are your people. Don’t you see how determined they are to force the school
year 2016/2017 to be cancelled by UNESCO? I cannot let that happen under my
watch.
Queen:
Is that why you got your CRTV to announce over the weekend that schools will
reopen on Monday? Look at how you are embarrassing yourself and those of my
people that you appointed. Most of them have not done anything for their people
for years. They watched your ill-treatment of their brothers and sisters but
they accepted it because you have transformed them into house-slaves. God is
watching. He will lead us out like He did the people of Israel out of Egypt.
King:
But they asked to be treated as such. I wonder why these young ones now refuse
to be cajoled to my side. They are resisting every attempt to bribe them, so
that they can bring this strike to an end. I need schools to resume. I cannot
have an academic year cancelled in this country, especially after winning AFCON
2017.
Queen:
Why don’t you release all the students who were arrested in Buea and Bamenda so
that the Consortium will come back to the negotiating table? By the way, why
did you outlaw the Consortium, days after failed negotiations with them? You
turned around and arrested its members, to the point where some are now hiding
in a Western embassy in Yaoundé? Do you think that anyone would believe your
sincerity when you call for negotiations again?
King:
I cannot release all the students because I do not have all of them to release.
Queen:
What do you mean by that? Where are my peoples’ children?
King:
Some have died.
Queen:
We hear that you approved of their murders and that they be buried in mass
graves.
King:
I did not kill your people. It was done by the police, gendarmes, and soldiers,
especially those called BIR. These my forces of repression have been ordered to
ensure that schools reopen and that the courts restart, at all cost. I guess
some of them would go beyond the call of duty to satisfy me.
Queen:
Why have you cut off the Internet to the people living in my land since the
17th of January 2017?
King:
So that anything I do there will not be seen by the rest of the world. I will
not have these Google-generation children dictate how I run my country.
Queen:
If I knew then what I know today, I surely will not have gone into this
marriage.
King:
Why would you not have gone into this marriage?
Queen:
Because over the years, you have changed the marriage from a “monogamy with
separate properties” into a “polygamy with all properties belonging to the
King”.
King:
Well, this is to show that we are all one and indivisible and you have never
complained about anything.
Queen:
When I complain, you pretend not to hear. When my people ask loudly, you term
them extremists. For years I have tried to make this work, pretending that
these things are not happening. However, the more I try to make it work, the
more you take advantage of me.
King:
But why are you complaining now after 56 years?
Queen:
Whenever I try to tell you that you are unfair, you come down on me and my
people with force. You have taken away our education system, you have imposed
the French civil law on my people, replacing our British common law. You have
brought your people to rule over my people in our land, and in your language.
You now treat us as second class citizens and increasingly we see ourselves as
your slaves.
King:
When did you notice this?
Queen:
Over the years. Each time I watched as you gradually but surely eroded all
signs of my peoples’ identity from the face of the earth. You have even placed
road signs in our land in your language. The police, gendarme and army speak
your language when they are sent to work in my land.
King:
Is that why you are grumbling? I have created a commission of bilingualism and
multi-culturalism to take care of that.
Queen:
You decreed decentralisation in 1996 and not much has happened on that front
since.
King:
I signed that to please your people and some of my people. I really did not
intend to implement it.
Queen:
I have been sad and sickened all these 56 years.
King:
But you have never complained.
Queen:
Whenever my people do, your forces of repression kill our children, rape our
girls, torture our people and declare some of them wanted. They have become
slaves in their own land. This is killing me but to you it is all a game. You
are playing with the future of my people and to you it is only a game. Let’s
look at this sector-by-sector:
II. On Resources
Queen:
About 90 percent of the oil of this nation comes from my land but all its
revenue are paid into your land. Almost all the workers at the refinery, from
those at the gate to the Managing Director, are people from your land. The
refinery is on my land but the depots are on your land.
King:
This is the life-wire of the nation’s economy, so I have to personally keep an
eye on it.
Queen:
What about the gold, bauxite, iron ore, coal and granites in my land?
King:
I am yet to access these and other resources of the land. When I do, I will
naturally manage them as I manage SONARA.
Queen:
What about the timber, as you are deforesting our land?
King:
The same thing, I am not answerable to anyone in this country.
Queen:
What about the agricultural produce that are mostly from my land?
King:
Are you seriously asking me to explain this?
Queen:
Why have you abandoned the natural waterfall in my land that can produce
electric power for the entire West Africa?
King:
Because I want you to remain in this marriage. That is also why I carried all
the thermal generators away from your region, so that I can decide to switch
you off.
Queen:
Is that why you have switched off Internet from my region?
King:
I do not want the world to see what atrocities I am doing to your people. If
your people do not get back subserviently into this union, I will charge them
with treason, judge them in a military tribunal and sentence them to death or
life imprisonment.
Queen:
I want a divorce.
King:
You cannot have a divorce. We are one and indivisible and this marriage will
remain for ever.
Queen:
What is happening to CDC and PAMOL?
King:
I am planning to move their HQs to my land.
III. On Education
Queen:
What have you done with the report from the Cameroon Education Forum (CEF) of
January 2016? It contained 17 recommendations to address the Anglophone
education sub-system.
King:
I have kept in where I always keep recommendations that challenge my thinking,
like the memorandum presented by the Bishops of the Ecclesiastical Province of
Bamenda in December 2016 – in the trash.
Queen:
Why are you sending your people to my land to teach children history,
geography, chemistry, physics, etc. in your language?
King:
Because you and your people accept it and because your people are not admitted
into the teachers’ training schools, so they are not qualified.
Queen:
Why don’t you admit them into those schools. My people are about eight million
of this country’s 28 million, yet you admit two students out of 132 into the School
of Sports, even though the school is situated in my land. Less than 30 of the
250 students in the School of Engineering in my land are my people.
King:
Because you and your people accept it.
Queen:
Why do the Vice Chancellors of Buea and Bamenda allow forces of repression to
enter their universities, rape girls, torture students and even kill some?
King:
I appointed them to follow in the footsteps of Dorothy because when a woman
decides to be mean, she forgets that every child is born of a woman like her.
The forces of repression were invited into each school by the individual VC. In
this case, they have to take their responsibility. You should ask them and not
even my minister of higher education, talk less of me.
Queen:
We hear that your people are bribing newly self-appointed leaders of the
teachers’ trade union to call of the strike. Do you realise that it is not
working?
King:
I now realise that the people are bent on waiting for the leaders of the
Consortium before they can listen to anyone, even to me. I tried to appease
them with the commission of bilingualism and multi-culturalism but no one seems
to be swayed by it. Your people are still bent on their strike and the ghost
towns. These ghost towns are making me sick.
IV. On Law
Queen:
Why do you place Magistrates and State Councils trained in the Civil Law in
courts in my land to judge my people. Our lawyers and people follow the Common
Law system. You should know that the Civil Law is diametrically different from
the Common Law in principle.
King:
Because the two legal systems are diametrically opposed, I have decided that
the entire country will apply the civil law system in all courts.
Queen: So you see nothing wrong in the
demands of the lawyers?
King:
The OHADA law code has been translated into your language.
Queen:
Why did your forces of repression arrest Justice Ayah Paul, a Chief Justice of
the Supreme Court, from his home without a warrant of arrest?
King:
Because he is stubborn and I want him and all of you to know that I dictate the
law in this country. I am the law in this land.
Queen:
Is that why they are taking Barrister NkonghoBala, Dr. FontemNeba, ManchoBibixy
and all our freedom fighters to your military tribunal?
King:
In this country, I decide which court tries whoever, regardless of what the
international human rights laws say.
Queen:
Is it true that you allowed the arrest of 90 year old MolaNjohLitumbe?
King:
I am yet to confirm where that old man is, at the moment, but he was trying to
reveal the truth of what happened in the beginning.
Queen:
And what is wrong in what he did or incorrect in what he said?
King:
Now woman! it is either my way or the high way to death.
V. On Governance
Queen:
This our marriage is actually “njomba marriage”. Are you taking advantage of us
because this our “come we stay marriage” in which the King refused or neglected
to do traditional, civil status or even church blessing is something that was
always going to fail?
King:
I have always prepared myself for the worst in this relationship.
Queen:
When we started you agreed that both our peoples will always be represented in
the first two positions in this nation. Today my person is the fourth authority
in this country.
King:
I understand this lame point of yours but you see, when I took the position of
prime minister from the North and gave your people, I had to compensate them
with the speaker of the Assembly. By the time I approved the Senate, the
Bamelikis were becoming restive and I decided to offer them that one. Things
just happened that way!
Queen:
While we are in parliament, where is Hon. Wirba Joseph? Rumour has it that you
have arrested him. Is it because of the speech that he made at the House of
Assembly last year? Are you saying that even with his parliamentary immunity
you still arrested him?
King:
He is at large. We will arrest him on sight. Do you know that he stubbornly
organised a rally in his place on Saturday January 14, 2017?
Queen:
When will you ever appoint an ambassador form my land to represent us at the
United Nations?
King:
Never. Your people will go and dig out our marriage files, if they exist, and
expose us.
Queen:
What about sending any of my people to represent us in the USA?
King: Never, that country is too big and
important.
Queen:
To France?
King:
I will not. On second thought, I might because when such a person gets to
France, s/he will know who my mentor is.
Queen:
To Nigeria?
King:
Never, too near and could let your people back in, then I might lose Bakassi.
Queen:
Since you mentioned it, what have you done to the people of Bakassi, since they
joined us from Nigeria?
King:
The treatment that is being given to you is the same which we are dishing out
to them: Bring them in, get authority over their oil and abandon them.
Queen:
Is that fair?
King:
The world is not fair. If you want something, you have to fight for it.
Queen:
When will you appoint a person from my land as minister of Finance?
King:
Never. I give you the director of customs and impose high targets so that he
can collect the money, which the minister then makes available to me.
Queen:
What about the armed forces?
King:
Never. Even the few of your people who I appoint as Generals, in return for
some huge service rendered, I am now watching very closely. If any of them is
sympathetic with this your peoples’ silly cry, I will lock him up.
Queen:
What happened to the Two State Federation that we agreed upon?
King:
I am now considering a Ten State Federation, just to please your people because
even I acknowledge that there is a problem in this country. Contrary to some of
my over-ambitious people, some from your land, I now agree that there is an
Anglophone problem.
Queen:
What is going to be different now compared to all the other times that you have
signed your degrees? Ten State Federation is worse than the situation we found
ourselves in 1961. That is why I am now filing for divorce.
The illegality of the law to which Consortium leaders are charged
By Barrister Jean AtabongFomeni
 |
| Barrister Jean AtabongFomeni |
The Consortium leaders (Barrister
AgborBalla Felix Nkongho, Dr. Fontem N. Neba and ManchoBibixy) are standing
trial before the Yaoundé Military Tribunal for having allegedly committed the
following offences—acts of terrorism, hostility to the fatherland, secession,
revolution, group rebellion, incitation of civil war, contempt on public bodies
and public servants, spreading of false information.
However,
it should be noted that competence of the Yaoundé Military Tribunal in trying
the matter rests within the ambit of Section 3(4) of the law organizing the
Military Justice in Cameroon (Law No. 2008/015 of 29 December 2008). Section
3(4) provides that, “the Yaoundé Military Tribunal may in the event of
exceptional circumstances …which constitute serious threat to public order,
state security or terrorism, exercise its powers throughout the national
territory.”
Sadly,
most of the above offences attract the death penalty. They are embedded in
Sections 102 (Hostility against the fatherland), 103 (Other felonies punishable
with death), 111 (Secession), 112 (incitement of Civil War) of the Cameroon
Penal Code, and Section 2 (Acts of terrorism) of the Law on the Suppression of Acts
of Terrorism. In summary, the above provisions condemn to death whoever commits
the above offences.
Conversely,
the Constitution of Cameroon is against the death penalty. Cameroon is one of
the countries with a Constitution that protects, promotes, and guarantees the
rights and freedoms of every citizen. It is not an exaggeration, therefore, to
say that this Constitution, uprooted from a sound moral background, meets with
the universally acceptable standards of Constitutions, particularly in the domain
of Human Rights.
In
fact, its preamble states that, “every person has the right to life, to
physical and moral integrity and to humane treatment in all circumstances.
Under no circumstances shall any person be subjected to torture, to cruel,
inhuman or degrading treatment”.
Inter-urban bus transport:
70-seater buses transformed into ‘highway
taxis’
 |
| Overloaded Vatican Bus 4365 of Sunday February 19-2017 |
It is now a common phenomenon in most
inter-urban travel agencies where drivers who ply the roads both by day and
night and in complicity with loaders commonly called ‘motorboys’ make several
stops along the highway to pick up extra passengers who will not be accounted
for in case of road accidents.
In
most of these vehicles some kitchen chairs are placed at the middle of the bus
to allow these extra passengers sit, some even sit on stairs of the vehicle no
matter the inconveniences caused by this practice.
Buses
with 70 places end up having 80 and even more. This reporter approached a ‘moto
boy’ who works for a travel agency whose name is withheld, he said what they
obtain from this practice is fully theirs.
As 7th edition ends:
Yaounde to host another PROMOTE in two
years
By Rachel NtubeNgwese in Yaounde
The sixth edition of the international
exhibition fair for enterprises and partnership dubbed PROMOTE ended on 19
February 2017 in Yaoundé with participants and visitors treated to several
innovations in business opportunities for young entrepreneurs. According to
Prime Minister Philemon Yang who officially opened the exhibition fair last
February 13, over 900 enterprises from more than 11 countries took part in the
fair.
Amongst
the foreign participants at the fair was the Italian deputy minister of foreign
affairs and international cooperation, Mario Gairo, who was guest speaker at
the opening.
In
his message, he noted that Italy’s participating in the fair went beyond just
classical assistance to Africa, to promoting economic partnership, favoring
exchanges and establishing joint ventures and transferring technology.
Acknowledging
Cameroon’s interesting business potentials, he underscored Italy’s intention to
create new businesses in Cameroon through joint ventures, with a view to
providing more employment and apprenticeship opportunities for Cameroonians.
I do not intend to leave Cameroon
-Hugo Broos
 |
| Hugo Broos |
Cameroon head coach, Hugo Broos has denied
allegations circulating in the social media that he will leave Cameroon for the
BafanaBafana of South African.
Broos
is one of the 60 candidates who applied for the top job the South African
Football Association, SAFA unveiled.
In
an exclusive interview with Radio France Internationale, RFI, Hugo Broos said,
a manager contacted him that the South coaching place was free and after asking
him if he could introduce him, he said he could go ahead.
“There
was only one contact with a manager. He said the South African team’s coaching
place was free. He indirectly asked me if I was interested. He asked if he
could introduce me. I said, well, go ahead, there’s no problem, but there’s
only that. I do not intend to leave Cameroon,” Hugo Broos stated.
According
to the Belgian coach, even if the South African offer is interesting, he will
still remain Cameroon’s coach.
“Even
if the South African offer is interesting, i will still remain Cameroon’s
coach. But there is not even an offer. There was no offer, but there is
interest. This is quite normal since we won the CAN 2017. So it’s quite normal,
it seems to me, that other countries or clubs think of me,” Broos noted.
He
added that, “that does not mean there are contacts or offers. There is nothing
at all for the moment; not even from South Africa! The only thing that happened
was that a manager introduced me to the South African Federation. And he is not
even my manager”.
CAF Presidency:
Zuma backs Hayatou against Cosafa
 |
| Caf President IssaHayatou with the President of South Africa, Jacob Zuma |
The Confederation of African Football (Caf)
announced that South Africa's President, Jacob Zuma, had pledged his full
support to Caf president IssaHayatou ahead of African football's upcoming
elections.
It followed a meeting on Saturday morning
when President Zuma received Hayatou at his residence in Pretoria. The meeting came just six days after
the Council of Southern Africa Football Associations (Cosafa) announced it was
endorsing Hayatou's rival Ahmad Ahmad as a Caf presidential candidate.
South
African Sports Minister FikileMbalula, South African Football Association
(Safa) President Danny Jordaan and MamelodiSundowns President Patrice Motsepe
were also present at Saturday's meeting with President Zuma.
South
Africa's MamelodiSundowns, winners of the African Champions League, were
scheduled to host the continent's Confederation Cup winners, TP Mazembe of the
Democratic Republic of Congo, later on Saturday.
Wednesday, 15 February 2017
Anglophone Crisis:
Biya descends from his pedestal, extends
olive branch to Anglophones
 |
| President Biya has pledged more concessions to Anglophones |
- The President has promised to make more
concessions to the striking teachers and lawyers, when negotiations reopen
anytime soon
- But the President also maintained that
because the right to education is inalienable, gov’t will take all measures to
ensure that children in NW and SW go to school
- Analysts say the President, in this
address, has presented Anglophones with a golden opportunity that history will
not forgive them if ever they missed out on it
By Ojong Steven Ayukogem in Yaounde
President Paul Biya has once again
reiterated his willingness to address the grievances raised by Anglophone
teachers and lawyers, if only to seduce them to call off their sit-in strike
that has already lasted 3 months and counting.
After
the president hammered on the very worrying Anglophone crisis, promising
government’s readiness to pursue frank and fruitful dialogue with the lawyers
and teachers trade unions, in his state-of-the-nation address on 31 December
2016, he has once again dwelled on it in his traditional address to the youth,
on the eve of 11 February, the day dedicated for the Youth in Cameroon.
President Biya used almost half the time of the speech to ruminate on the
Anglophone crisis.
Like
in his year-end address on 31st December 2016 when the president revealed that
he was very touched by the events in NW and SW to the extent that he could not
be indifferent to them, Biya again reiterated to the youths that: “As we
prepare to celebrate your Day, I cannot fail to mention the challenges faced by
your brothers and sisters in the North-West and South-West Regions…..Due to the
strike actions initiated by some trade unions, classes have been disrupted in
these regions for several weeks now. I ordered a constructive dialogue between
the Government and the trade unions concerned in order to find consensual
solutions to the problems raised. These negotiations, which took place within
the framework of the ad hoc committees set up to that end, helped to define the
issues and determine ways and means to address them…..The Government has
already taken some actions to implement the recommendations made by the
committees I have just mentioned. Other actions will follow soon.”
As
soon as the President ended his 15-minute speech on Friday, a keen listener
wasted no time to remark: “If these are not the words of someone who is ready
to make concessions, then what are they?”
The
listener noted that “President Paul Biya is not known to usually address acute
and burning issues in his public utterances. If anything the President will
stay mute and allow time to take its toll on the problem, believing in the
notion that every revolution withers with time.”
Our
interlocutor however noted that “this time around, perhaps in acknowledgement
of the seriousness and legitimacy of some of the grievances, and maybe given
the rapidly decaying nature of the crisis, the president has seen the
compelling need to come down from his pedestal and personally implicate himself
in finding a lasting solution to the crisis.”
In
his message to the youths, President Paul Biya also noted that it has not been
very easy to find lasting and consensual solutions to the crisis this, because,
what started as purely technical grievances gradually but surely metamorphosed
into purely political demands, rendering negotiations more complicated than was
expected and making efforts by government to look inadequate.
Trial of the year:
 |
| Agbor Balla |
AgborBalla and Co. to appear before
military court today
At least 100 lawyers including 5
Batonniers, have indicated their willingness to join the defense team of the
leaders of the now outlawed Consortium.
By Ojong Steven Ayukogem in Yaounde
The Military Tribunal in Yaounde will
witness an unusual crowd today, Monday 13 February 2017, when hearing opens on
the matter pitting the leaders of the defunct Consortium of Anglophone Civil
Societies against the state and people of Cameroon.
Barrister
Nkongho Felix AgborBalla, Dr. FontemNebaAforteka’a and ManchoBibixy, will be
brought to court today, from their cells in the Kondengui Prison, to answer to
charges of terrorism, rebellion against the state, breach of the constitution,
inciting the populations to rise up against the state and its institutions
among several other terrorism-related charges.
Balla
and Co. were supposed to have appeared before the Military Judge on 1st
February. But the matter was postponed to today.
Despite
the postponement, over 100 lawyers still stormed the premises of the Military
Court on that fateful Wednesday. Led by Former Bar Council President, Senior
Barrister Bernard AchoMuna, the lawyers said they came to ascertain that the
case had been postponed and if so to know the reason for the sudden
postponement.
– Paul Biya
Being part of the president’s message to
the Youths on the eve of 11 February 2017
My dear young compatriots,
In recent years, I have continually urged
you to spare no effort to overcome the obstacles that could stand in your way.
I
also encouraged you to use your resourcefulness, your creativity and your
courage, to secure your future.
I
think I have been understood by many of you, like our dear INDOMITABLE LIONS,
whose remarkable victory at the recent Africa Cup of Nations brought great
jubilation to our people.
The
new feat achieved by the Indomitable Lions barely a few weeks after the equally
remarkable performance of our Women’s National Football Team in a similar
competition, confirms the vitality of our youth and demonstrates to the world
that “impossible is un-Cameroonian”.
During
these two competitions, we all admired the talent, courage and patriotic
commitment of our young footballers, as well as their capacity to unite in
order to defend the national flag.
This
determination to serve the Republic is also celebrated day by day among our
defence and security forces, as well as vigilante groups which are fighting in
unison to protect our country from the Boko Haram terrorist sect.
My dear young compatriots,
Your
enthusiasm to join the defence and security forces at this moment bears
eloquent testimony to your attachment to the peace and stability of our
country, as well as your burning desire to serve your fatherland.
You
demonstrate similar commitment in your various activities which contribute to
our country’s inexorable march towards emergence.
I would like to congratulate you on that.
My dear young compatriots,
As
we prepare to celebrate your Day, I cannot fail to mention the challenges faced
by your brothers and sisters in the North-West and South-West Regions.
Due
to the strike actions initiated by some trade unions, classes have been
disrupted in these regions for several weeks now. I ordered a constructive
dialogue between the Government and the trade unions concerned in order to find
consensual solutions to the problems raised. These negotiations, which took
place within the framework of the ad hoc committees set up to that end, helped
to define the issues and determine ways and means to address them.
The Government has already taken some
actions to implement the recommendations made by the committees I have just
mentioned. Other actions will follow soon.
These
efforts notwithstanding, there have been lingering difficulties, especially
owing to the emergence of political demands by extremist and separatist
organizations. Preaching hate and violence, these organizations have committed
or caused serious atrocities against citizens and damaged their property, as
well as public buildings and utilities. They have embarked on a campaign of
intimidation, threats and violence to disrupt the normal conduct of business
and school activities.
Faced
with this situation, the Government had to take measures to maintain order,
protect citizens and their property and hand over to the judicial authorities
those who committed or were suspected of committing these criminal acts. This
necessary action will continue, in compliance with the laws and regulations of
the Republic.
Anglophone crisis:
IssaTchiroma’s ordeal with BBC radio
 |
| IssaTchiroma, Cameroon Minister of Communication and gov’t spokesman |
The Minister of Communication and spokesman
for the Biya regime, IssaTchiromaBakary has said that there are no taboo
subjects in Cameroon even as the strike action in Anglophone Cameroon is
on-going.
Tchiroma
made the statement in his response to questions from BBC radio, in their
program BBC World Service for Africa, recently.
Tchiroma
told the BBC that whatever demands Anglophones are presenting can be addressed
on the dialogue table, and nothing is forbidden.
“If
Anglophones want federalism, secession, there is no problem; let them come let
us dialogue.”
When
asked why the government is not listening to Anglophones, Tchiroma said, the
government is ready to dialogue but the Anglophone groups are not ready.
“We
are ready to listen, the government is there to solve problems for its people;
we are ready to entertain every problem. If Anglophones have a problem let them
come let us sit round the table and we are going to find a common solution
through dialogue and consultation,” Tchiroma said.
Expected denouement:
Consortium disintegrates, leaders go
separate ways
 |
| Tassang Wilfred in his video message on internet |
While Tassang Wilfred is now preaching
total separation from his hide out,
AgborBalla, in Kondengui, has kept to his
two-state Federation stance
The run-away President of the Cameroon
Anglophone Teachers Trade Union, CATTU, Tassang Wilfred, who was also one of
the leaders of the now outlawed Anglophone Cameroon Civil Society Consortium,
has said that the Consortium has moved from its initial stance that was
Federation, to a completely different position which is the independence of the
state of Southern Cameroons.
Tassang
made the statement in a video he posted on the internet, from his hide-out. The
video easily went viral on social media.
Tassang
says he is disappointed with the exaggerated force being used by the government
on Anglophones, stating that because of government’s refusal to dialogue and
its violent moves against Anglophones, it is clear that the two Cameroons can
no longer live together.
SOUTH WEST FORUM
2
February 2017-02-06 Mountain Hotel Buea
The Buea Declaration
We, the People of the South West Region,
comprising the traditional and political leaders of all shades of opinion; and
also comprising women, youth, trade union, educational and civil society
organisations; as well as members of the Bar Association and other professional
bodies, believers in the Almighty
God, who ordained our origins in this
promised land;
Assembled
in Buea in a representative Forum of the South West People, on the 2nd of
February 2017 under the guidance of our Almighty God;
-
Considering our republican and patriotic stand of a one and indivisible nation,
which has been the long-standing position of the Southwest People;
-
Jealous of its unity in diversity, and against the backdrop of disruptive and
unconstitutional attempts by negative forces, to blackmail the institutions of
the State, as well as the peace and stability reigning in our region and
throughout our country;
Crisis in NW and SW:
NW Fons reaffirm “Cameroon is one and
Indivisible Cameroon”
-Urge Biya to act fast in engaging frank
dialogue with Anglophone leaders
 |
| North Fons |
Members of the North West Fons’ Union,
NOWEFU have in a strongly worded Memorandum cabled to President Paul Biya, prescribed
honest and frank dialogue as the only way out of the lingering Anglophone
crisis.
In
the Memorandum issued Tuesday in Bamenda, NOWEFU members said they have been
very worried and disturbed about the ongoing crisis in the North West and South
West Regions of the country.
The
slow but sure destruction of the cultural identity of Anglophones as can be
seen in the Education and Legal systems, NOWEFU said, was preoccupying and that
the group could not be indifferent to such actions.
They
said they are confident that the birth of the All Anglophone Conference , AAC;
the Southern Cameroon National Council, SCNC
and other secessionist movements,
including the yearly 1stOctober Syndrome are all born out of the frustrations
Anglophones have been going through since joining French- Cameroon after a UN
organized plebiscite.
In
the Tuesday Memorandum signed by the President General, the SG and the
treasurer-general of NOWEFU, Senator FonTecheNjei, FonZofoaNdofoa III and
FonTekouh Simon respectively, the custodians of NW tradition recounted that:
“In an earlier Press Release signed by the Fons on November 2, 2016, we clearly
opted for dialogue as the only way to solve problems, while also condemning all
acts that undermine the unity of the State of Cameroon. We still believe, that
the only way forward is to sit down and discuss honestly.”
“Schools resumption depends on parents, not the church”
-Catholic Bishops
 |
| Bishops of Bamenda Ecclesiastical Province |
Leaders of the Cameroon Baptist Convention,
CBC and Presbyterian Church in Cameroon, PCC and Bishops of the Bamenda
Provincial Episcopal Conference (BAPEC) have jointly issued a statement on the
current socio-political atmosphere in the NW and SW Regions. The declaration
comes at a time many Anglophones were seeing church authorities as being
complacent with Government.
The
press release dated 9 February 2017, a copy of which got to our newsroom, opens
by explaining that the Executive President of the CBC and the Moderator of the
PCC went to meet the Archbishop of Bamenda and by Divine providence, found that
the Archbishop was in session with Bishops of the Bamenda Episcopal Conference
(BAPEC) and together, albeit without any intention of creating a permanent
structure or association, they came up with the following statement;
Reception at Unity Palace:
FruNdi urges Biya to personally resolve
Anglophone crisis
 |
| Fru Ndi |
Social Democratic Front, SDF National
Chieftain, John FruNdi has said that he didn’t mince words on how the ongoing
Anglophone crisis could be resolved when he held brief discussions with the
Head of State, Paul Biya on Wednesday, at the Unity Palace.
Speaking
to CRTV television, John FruNdi said he made his position known to President
Paul Biya that the current impasse in the Anglophone Regions of the country can
only be resolved through meaningful and sincere dialogue. He said he equally
urged the President to step in and personally handle the crisis.
Fielding
other questions during the interview, the SDF chairman said he was disturbed by
the current crisis in the North West and South West Regions that has led to the
killings of several individuals.
“I
came here to congratulate the Lions for their brilliant performance and to say
that all Cameroonians are proud of the achievement…..But i came here with mixed
feelings. I am rejoicing because the Lions have won and raised the flag of
Cameroon high. But at the same time in the North West and South West Regions,
the administration has pushed children to a point where that flag is not being
respected again…..I just talked to Minister IssaTchiroma over there and told
him that he should not dabble into things that he knows nothing about. He
cannot stand up to say that there is no Anglophone problem,” fired the SDF
Chairman.
Anglophone Crisis:
Franklin Bayen writes to Tapang Ivo Tanku
 |
| Franklin Bayen |
“Mind your glass house as you play with
stones”
Dear Tapang Ivo Tanku,
Listen to me carefully and read over this
many times:
1. Your
frequent calls for violence on the families of free citizens whose stance on
issues is different from yours may expose your innocent family in Cameroon to
retaliation. I’m thinking of your beautiful sisters and your mother. You have
just placed fresh calls this morning for the homes of people who hold views
contrary to yours to be located. You want their wives and children to be
targeted. That’s simply outrageous! That’s a call for extra-judicial mob
justice;
2. It
would be a crime against humanity for any institution (especially the
government) or groups of individuals to victimize your family because of your
political views, but equally:
a) It
would be a common law crime for anyone or group of individuals obeying your
HIGH COMMAND ORDERS to target any family because of the democratic choice of
their parent or sibling;
b) If
anyone is arrested or killed while executing the HIGH COMMAND ORDERS for
violence you are sending out daily with a relish, they are common law
criminals, not political victims;
3. If
for nothing else, listen to me for old times’ sake, listen to the one colleague
who always stands by you when others have gotten pissed off. Listen to the one
who gets scorned by other colleagues because I stick my neck for you,
glorifying your salutary professional and academic exploits as if I don’t have
mine nor can pursue more (yes many said so when I reported your departure for
the Fulbright fellowship on our journalism forum and others said so to me when
I recently profiled you and Mark Bareta). You have also stood by me in my hours
of distress. So, we have watched each other’s backs as comrades, beyond just
colleagues;
4. Take
note, I am not by this urging you to drop your guard in the line you’ve chosen
to follow in our noble struggle to redeem our people. We are in the same
struggle but are at variance over strategy. Fight on for our people. I am
fighting on. I won’t let up, whatever the attacks I face from standers-by
clapping for dance styles in a time of war;
5. It
is your democratic right as it is mine to dig our heels in the sand in our
different positions. I won’t infringe on yours, but if you believe I ever cared
one bit, please hid my call: do not endanger your family by endangering other
people’s families;
6. Those
families also have families and loved ones who can retaliate and plunge you and
yours into a cycle of violence. I’m not sure you dream for an Ambazonia of
death squads; (calls for the blood of “traitors of the divine cause” which
muslims call “fatwa”, may be easily pronounced but can never be completely
withdrawn. The fatwa called on British Indian
author of “satanic verses” salmondrushdi in the 1980s by Ayatollah
Komeni, still stands and any muslim who finds him even today (30 years on) may
kill him in the name of Allah though the Ayatollah is long dead);
7. I
also remind you that AgborBalla and NebaFontem who signed to authorize you to
speak on their behalf are probably under legal liability for your blood
utterances. Their families are also watching;
8. Brave
men like you and I defeat fear of repercussions including death when we engage
in battles like this for our people, yet we have no right to expose others – be
they our own families or rather, especially our own families – to danger;
9. Let’s
carry our ant-infested faggots on our head but let’s not carry them home so
that our families suffer ant bites they did not invite;
10. I
hereby call on comrades of our struggle to bear witness and to share
responsibility for their complacency and for encouraging my young friend and
colleague down a suicidal road, exposing his family to danger’
11. I
also call our journalism colleagues to witness;
12. I
make this call for no other reason than my outrage at the increasing dangerous
rhetoric in Tapang’s utterances against others because their actions on the
ground threaten his wishful stimulus response outcome;
13. I
make this call out of concern for a younger friend, colleague and comrade at
other fronts;
14. Now,
over to you facebook Lovers of Tapang Ivo. Show him some LOVE! But support him
here and provide protection for his family in Cameroon.
May God protect us all
Franklin Bayen
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