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.

                But Tchiroma was unable to justify why the members of the Anglophone Civil Society Consortium who were dialoguing with the government were suddenly arrested and thrown in jail.

                “All those jailed were caught red-handed in burning, looting, threatening and intimidating people. But they have a right to a fair trial, and lawyers are free to defend them,” he said.

                When asked why some human rights activists who were not involved in any acts of violence but were merely expressing their dissatisfaction with the government’s treatment of Anglophones, were also jailed, Tchiroma’s answer was again escapist and far from convincing. He suddenly became upset and harsh in his tone, arguing that the journalist’s assessment of the situation was completely wrong. 

                When the journalist also asked him why many people arrested are still languishing in jail even though they have not been charged in court, Tchiroma said the law has provision for that in Cameroon. He boasted that in Cameroon nothing is done in breach of the law.

                As to whether there is an Anglophone problem in Cameroon, Tchiroma, who had previously admitted publicly that there is an Anglophone problem, failed to admit it this time. Sounding rather escapist, he said if Anglophones have a problem they should present it to the government because the government is always ready to examine any kind of problem provided they fall within the ambit of the law and the constitution.

                Fielding another question as to whether the government would discuss with those who are preaching federalism and secession, Tchiroma responded: “Cameroon government is ready to discuss with everybody and there is no taboo subject. You want federalism, you want secession, no problem, the constitution has an answer to all that.”

                About the shutdown of internet in Anglophone Cameroon, Tchiroma refuted allegations that the shutdown was in a desperate bid to prevent activists posting graphic images of molested persons online. He claimed it was because some people were using it to fan the flames of disunity and violence.