Being a statement by the
Minister of Territorial Administration on the activities of Non-governmental
Organisations (NGOs), Civil Society Organisations and Human Rights Associations
in Cameroon.
Ladies and Gentlemen of the media,
 |
Paul Atanga Nji
|
Against a backdrop of promoting proximity development that
meets the aspirations of Cameroonians and which permits them to receive support
from of our partners, the Government of Cameroon, through the Ministry of
Territorial Administration (MINAT), gives authorisations to NGOs, Civil Society
Organisations and Human Rights Associations to legally carry out their
activities. These structures have offices or representatives in certain regions
of our country.
Generally,
we feel that NGOs and these associations are in Cameroon for the wellbeing of
the population. They give food items to vulnerable people, and give healthcare
to people in distress.
However,
it could be difficult to imagine that most of these NGOs based in Africa,
especially those operating in conflict zones, have hidden agendas which often
have the tendency to destabilize sovereign States and their institutions.
Ladies and Gentlemen of the media,
The
attention of the Minister of Territorial Administration has been drawn to the
recurrent manipulations of some NGOs and Human Rights Associations in
Cameroon.
Under
the enlightened leadership of H.E. Paul BIYA, President of the Republic, Head
of State, Cameroon is known to be a State of law, free, stable, democratic, one
and indivisible.
The
Head of State, does not spare any effort in consolidating peace, stability and
national unity as well as strengthening living together among all sociological
components of our beloved country.
By
1982, when H.E. Paul BIYA took office, barely (05) international NGOs, three
(03) national NGOs and two (02) Civil Society Organisations were operating in
Cameroon.
Thanks
to the law on the freedom of associations adopted by the National Assembly and
promulgated into law by the President of the Republic in 1990, Cameroon today
counts over 40 international NGOs, several national NGOs, Civil Society
Organisations and Human Rights Associations.
H.E.
Paul BIYA as you can see has opened Cameroon widely to the rest of the world.
The government of Cameroon supports NGOs, national and international
associations, on condition that they respect the legal provisions put in place.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Before
I continue, let me remind you of the legal instruments guiding the activities
of NGOs, Civil Society Organisations and Human Rights Associations in the
country.
According
to Section 4 of Law N°90/53 of 19 December 1990 on the Freedom of Association
and I quote:
Associations
built on something else or with an objective contrary to the Constitution, as
well as those that will jeopardise the security and territorial integrity,
national unity and the Republican form of the State are null and void. End of
quotes.
Concerning
NGOs, they are guided by Law N°99/014 of 22 December 1999. Authorisations of
NGOs likewise those of associations are issued by the Minister of Territorial
Administration who is also vested with the powers to ensure the follow up of
these structures.
In
accordance with Section 13 Paragraph 2 of Law N°90/53 of 19 December 1990 and
22 Paragraph 2 of Law N°99/014 of 22 December 1999, the Minister of Territorial
Administration can, through an executive order, dissolve all associations or
NGOs that derail from their original objectives and whose activities pose a
threat to public order and State security.
The law
equally provides for fines and prison terms to officials of associations and
NGOs who go off-track.
Ladies and Gentlemen of the media,
It is
regrettable that for the past three years of political upheavals in the North
West and South West Regions, some NGOs, Civil Society Organisations and Human
Rights Organisations have completely derailed from the objectives for which
they were authorised by the Minister of Territorial Administration.
I must
underline here that there are some NGOs and associations that have kept to
their objectives and respect the laws of the land. We encourage them to
continue to be law-abiding.
However,
we have noticed with dismay that many NGOs have clearly revealed themselves as
enemies of our country, regularly propagating information that is completely
false on the management of crisis by our government in the above-mentioned
Regions. Moreover, they have become laboratories of fake reports with the sole
objective to tarnish the image of the country’s defence and security forces.
The
Minister of Territorial Administration affirms here that these NGOs have
received over 05 billion CFA F from dubious networks within and out of the
country to:
1. Destabilise
State Institutions
2. Regularly
publish, through certain media and social media, fabricated information to
discredit the efficient management of the crisis in the North West and South
West Regions by the government;
3. Give the
impression that Cameroon is not managing internally-displaced persons properly;
4. Demonstrate
by all means that the crisis in the two regions is going from bad to worse;
5. Show
through fake reports that Cameroon army is carrying out acts against the
civilian population.
This is
simply unacceptable! These teleguided NGOs and Human Rights Associations must
readjust before it becomes too late.
The
government of Cameroon vehemently condemns this irresponsible behaviour of
teleguided NGOs, who deliberately minimise the numerous atrocities committed by
terrorists in the North West and South West Regions.
Amongst
the teleguided NGOs paid to tarnish the image of Cameroon, publish fake reports
against the National defence forces, the Minister of Territorial Administration
can cite « Human Rights Watch », « Amnesty International », International
Crisis Group, OCHA, REDHAC and others.
For
three years now, Cameroonians can bear testimony of many civilo-military
actions in the North West and South West Regions undertaken by our brave
defence and security forces. We have
seen defence and security forces giving healthcare to the population, victims
of barbaric actions of the terrorists, distributing food items to those in distress
and even cleaning the streets of huge garbage that Hysacam would have cleaned
if not of threats on their lives and equipment by the terrorists.
Cameroonians
have saluted the efforts of the military and gendarme officials who have gone
as far as teaching in some schools in localities where teachers have been
brutalised and killed by terrorists.
Curiously, these NGOs are not unaware of these humanitarian activities
of our defence and security forces; but because of their hidden agenda, they
have decided never to make mention of them in their reports.
Ladies and Gentlemen of the media,
Each
time Cameroon is wrongly accused by teleguided NGOs, the government has always
reacted by giving the true facts, either through Government’s Spokesperson, the
Minister of Communication or the Minister Delegate at the Presidency in charge
of Defence when it concerns issues under his competence.
At his
level, the Minister of Territorial Administration has received several heads of
diplomatic missions and officials of international NGOs to whom he gave reports
on actions carried out by government to resolve the upheavals in the North West
and South West Regions.
I
personally gave to Mr. Philippe Bolopion, Senior official of « Human Rights
Watch », a report detailing the atrocities of terrorists in the North West and
South West Regions.
This report, at the time, had the following details:
- Over 300
soldiers killed by terrorists;
- Over 280
young girls aged below 14 years raped by the terrorists in schools;
- Teachers
wounded and killed for teaching in violation of terrorists’ call for school
boycott;
- Schools,
houses, hospitals health centres and other public and private structures
vandalised and burnt by the terrorists;
- Inter-urban
transport buses burnt down by terrorists after depriving the passengers of
their valuable belongings;
- Supporters
of the ruling CPDM party burnt alive by the terrorists for attending a
political meetings and rallies.
Despite these atrocities
committed by terrorists in the North West and South West Regions, Human Rights
Watch and other deliberately decided to put this information into the dustbin
as it does not meet the aspirations of their hierarchy.
The
Ministry of Defence recently produced a detailed report with verified and verifiable
facts, with images on the atrocities committed by terrorists. It takes a lot of
courage to even watch the documentary produced by the Ministry of Defence.
Regrettably, these teleguided NGOs operating in Cameroon prefer to look
elsewhere and say nothing about this documentary.
I wish
to solemnly announce that the ploy against Cameroon by some NGOs has been
uncovered.
I
invite all NGOs, Human Rights Associations and others who are playing games
against Cameroon to toe the line before it is too late.
In the
humanitarian sector, MINAT through the Humanitarian Assistance Plan decided by
the Head of State, has already assisted over 170, 000 internally displaced
persons in the North West and South West Regions as well as those living in
other regions (West, Centre, Littoral).
Some
internally displaced persons have already gone back to their respective
localities thanks to the implementation of the Head of State’s recommendations
to Defence and Security forces who have succeeded in establishing state
authority in some divisions and subdivisions of the two regions.
Some
NGOs claim that more than 10,000 people have been killed in the North West and
South West Regions during the past three years. This is completely ridiculous!
Who gave them those statistics? Where is this malicious information coming
from?
I wish
to make it clear that the propagation of false information is an offence
punishable by Cameroon’s Penal Code. We have been very lenient on the fake news
propagated against Cameroon and the Defence Forces by some NGOs. This can no
longer continue.
In the
past, we have discovered humanitarian convoys of some NGOs carrying weapons
destined for terrorists in the North West and South West Regions. This is
irrefutable evidence of connivance.
The
resident representative of OCHA in the North West region who published a fake
report against the defence and security forces was received by administrative
authorities in the Region. He disclosed that he got instructions from his
hierarchy to fabricate the report to tarnish the image of Cameroon’s defence
and security forces.
This
official left Cameroon unceremoniously. If he wasn’t guilty, why did he leave
the country in that way?
It is
clear that NGOs with hidden agendas conspiring against Cameroon have received
huge sums of money. Today, we have uncovered this ploy.
I also
wish to remind officials of NGOs, Civil Society Organisations and Human Rights
Associations that they are obliged to submit annual reports to the Ministry of
Territorial Administration. It is a legal obligation.
These
annual reports, must contain details of the funds received each year, the
identities of donors and how the funds are used in Cameroon.
We need
to know the beneficiaries of their activities who must not, on any occasion, be
terrorists who have been disrupting public order.
The
Head of State is his fatherly attitude has repeatedly called on the terrorists
who are still in the bushes to drop their arms, come out and integrate the DDR
Centres. It is regrettable that our children have been fooled and manipulated
by impostors and adventurers to take up arms against their fatherland. By creating
the DDR centres, the Head of State has given them the opportunity to come back
like the prodigal son.
More
than 300 detainees linked with the social unrest in the North west and South
West Regions have been released by the Head of State.
So many
ex-fighters have dropped their weapons and are in the centres. They are not in
prison because Cameroon is a State of Law and the prescriptions of the Head of
State are respected to the letter. Instead of continuously supporting the
terrorists, the NGOs should rather encourage them to leave the bush and come
back to the Republic.
For two
years, MINAT has not received any report from NGOs, even those of the UN
System. Before making press declarations, NGOs have the obligation to submit
annual reports to MINAT. It is also important to note that these annual reports
must take into account information communicated to the public by government
through its spokesperson, the Minister of Communication or by the Minister of
Defence and MINAT’s reports on the humanitarian activities.
That
would be the best way to give out reliable information to their respective
countries and superiors. NGOs tell us that they have to be neutral in the
discharge of their duties; YES!! But as the Minister of Territorial
Administration, I must emphasize that neutrality does not exclude transparency.
In the
case of Cameroon, it is clear that some NGOs have never been neutral. They have
taken sides with terrorists. It is also evident today that some international
and national NGOs have exercised a lot of sympathy for terrorists, covering
most of their atrocities.
I wish
therefore to seize this opportunity to remind the media to stop being vectors
of malicious reports from teleguided NGOs against our defence and security
forces.
Equinoxe
TV, STV and Radio Balafon, Le Jour newspaper should take special note.
To make
myself very clear, I will quote this maxim, « He who sells eggs should never
engage in a fight ».
Cameroon
does not need a remake of Radio Mille Colline. It is not the role of the media
to add salt to an injury. In matters of law, he who buys or keeps stolen
objects is punishable in the same way as the thief. A word to a wise is
sufficient.
Before
broadcasting any information, a responsible journalist has the obligation to
verify its authenticity. Most of the time, the local media, for financial
incentives, air unverified information from NGOs intended to tarnish the image
of the country.
After
the twin elections of 9 February 2020, some NGOs, without any proofs, affirmed
on private radios and TV channels that the polls were not free and fair, and
were conducted in a manner to favour the ruling party to massively win seats at
the National Assembly and councils.
These
NGOs are far from the truth because any objective person will agree that the
elections were free, credible and transparent.
Some
NGOs even claimed that the government did everything to exclude some main
political stakeholders from the elections. Let me remind here, that many
members of the CPDM were in favour of holding Regional elections with the old
political map. The CPDM would have been sure to largely carrying the day with
their 305 councils from the 2013 elections. I don’t know if the situation is
different today:
But to
demonstrate that Cameroon does not operate the way some of these NGOs or
diplomats portray, the President of the Republic, who puts general interest
above partisan politics, opted for new legislative and municipal elections
before putting in place the regional councils.
After
the twin elections of 9 February 2020, we all saw the new political map of
Cameroon with new faces who will be present at the National Assembly and
Councils, notably: Cabral Libii, Paul Eric Kingué, Pierre Kwemo, Serge Espoir
Matomba, Pastor Afanwi, etc.
Paradoxically,
the political actor whose liberation was much clamoured for by diplomats
decided to boycott the electoral process.
Whose
fault? There is therefore no democracy of exclusion in Cameroon but rather
leaders of « small political parties » who exclude themselves from the
political arena.
On
Saturday 7th breaking Sunday 8th March 2020, terrorists attacked a Police
Station and a Gendarmerie Brigade in Galim, Bamboutos Division, West Region,
killing two policemen, two female gendarmes and four civilians.
On
March 8, 2020, seven of our brave security and defence forces assigned to
protect women during the International Women’s Day activities in Bamenda were
seriously injured in a planned terrorist attack targeting women.
Two
well-known terrorists, Ayaba Cho and Tapang Ivo living in total impunity abroad
and in friendly countries have claimed responsibility for these attacks.
Teleguided
NGOs saw the horrible images of the brutal assassination of a wardress, Mrs
Florence Ayafor, in her village of birth by terrorists as she went for a
burial. As usual, that did not attract any compassion or condemnation from
teleguided NGOs and the so-called Human Rights Associations.
Where
is OCHA? Where is Human Rights Watch? Where is International Crisis Group?
Where are the International Community lesson givers?
The
silence of these NGOs in the face of such atrocities committed against our
defence forces and citizens is suspicious and it is clear proof of connivance
with terrorists.
Divine
Justice will catch up with plotters, even after retirement. Their consciences
will live to judge them.
To
conclude, I call on all NGOs to be responsible, impartial, and objective.
I note
that all reports on our activities given to the Coordinator of the UN System in
Cameroon have never been published. On the contrary, our figures are contested
and false statistics published by NGOs. I think this is not fair.
I want
to believe that this statement constitutes a new beginning and that NGOs and
Human Rights Associations will henceforth work in the strict respect of their
declared objectives and not with hidden agendas.
I give
NGOs 60 days to submit to my services, notably the Department of Political
Affairs, their annual reports of 2017-2018 and 2018-2019.
Thanks
for your kind attention.
ATANGA NJI Paul
Minister of Territorial Administration.
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