Barrister Felix AgborNkonghoBalla and Dr.
FontemNeba of the Consortium told this reporter at the Kondengui prison that
they disown all releases calling for Independence of the Southern Cameroons
By SixtusMbom, Journal du Camerun
 |
The Cameroon Anglophone civil society
consortium has reiterated its demand for the return to federalism as a system
of government that would curb inequalities in the sharing of resources and
political power between the minorities English speaking Cameroonians and
French-speaking Cameroonians.
Barrister
AgborBalla and Dr. FontemNeba, president and SG of the Consortium spoke to this
reporter at the Kondengui principal prison in Yoaunde last Wednesday. The duo
currently charged with terrorism, rebellion and other offences have been in
detention ever since they were arrested in Buea, SW region on January 17.
AgborBalla
said the Consortium which is now legally registered in the United States is not
party to any organization calling for the independence of Anglophone regions.
“The
Consortium has never changed its stance. It is true that the people’s thinking
might be changing, but as leaders of the consortium, we maintain that we are
for a two-state federation. However, people who are in favour or craving for
independence have the right to do so, but not in the name of the consortium”,
Barrister Balla stressed.
It
should be noted that Tassang Wilfred, programs coordinator of the consortium
and executive secretary of Cameroon teacher’s trade union CATTU, has been
signing releases from his hideout in Nigeria on behalf of the Consortium. Some
of the releases advocate the independence of Southern Cameroon.
Tassang
also currently leads SCACUF which is a movement with one major objective – to
fight for the independence of Southern Cameroons. The detained president and SG
of the consortium both hold Tassang should not be mixing up his activities in
SCACUF with those of the Consortium.
“It’s
good to point out that we cannot be criticizing a system or certain leadership
styles and systematically building same. We have learned with disappointment
that Anglophones are victimizing and intimidating others on social media. A
silent majority that shared the ideologies of federalism apparently would no
longer speak their minds even on social media for fear of being tagged “black
legs”, sell outs or other bad names,” Dr. Fontem chipped in.
Both
leaders held books with their fingers between pages to mark where they left off
as they chatted on the courtyard of the prison. They expressed bitterness at
what they both described as “unacceptable levels of hate speech on social
media.”
“Anglophones
and Francophone need to stop the verbal attacks on each other. Separatists and
federalist equally need to stop attacking one another. Even people who believe
Cameroon should stay the way it is, have the right to their opinion. Anyone
supporting intimidation and violence against people who share contrary views,
should know he is grooming a monster whose existence he will regret later
pushing the North West – South West divide. This must stop immediately; said
AgborBalla.
The
internationally acclaimed lawyer also told the journal du Cameroun the Consortium
is against any group forcing or intimidating citizens to respect ghost towns or
forcing teachers and lawyers to respect the on-going strike.
“People
are supposed to be educated. When they understand the reasons for the strike
and find it important to be part of it, they will support it. The use of force
or violence is out of place; said he.
To
Dr. FontemNeba, it is possible that not all forms of violence recorded during
the on-going strike are carried out by over-excited youths or people pushing
the independence agenda.
“In
a situation like this, it is important to note that the government could stage
an attack on innocent citizens in order to justify its use of force on
protesters”, he said restating that the consortium is against all forms of
violence
“We
are leaders of a legal organization and we are not for disintegration of the
country.”
Besides
leading the consortium created to speak and negotiate with government on behalf
of English-speaking Cameroon, Barrister AgborBalla is also president of Fako
Lawyers Association, FAKLA, vice president of the African Bar incharge of
Central Africa and Promoter of the AgborNkongho Law Firm and the Centre for
Human Rights and Democracy in Africa, CHRD.
Several
international lawyers’ organizations have called for Balla’s unconditional
release, while others have requested the state of Cameroon to try him in a
civilian court.
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