Mass arrests in B’da after street protests

Teachers and residents joined in with the lawyers' protests

At least 100 people have been arrested following days of protests against the use of French in courts and schools in English-speaking parts of Cameroon.

By a Correspondence in Bamenda

At least 100 people have been arrested following days of violent street protests in Bamenda, The Median can state. The street protest by the populations, mainly traders and commercial motor-bike riders in Bamenda was the fallouts of separate strikes called by Anglophone Teachers Trade Unions and Common Law Lawyers Unions.

                The placards-carrying protesters complained about perennial bad roads in Bamenda and very high prices of market stalls, apart from water scarcity and incessant power outages. 

                Teachers and lawyers for their part were protesting against the slow but steady erosion of the English sub-systems of education and justice. They condemned the use of French in courts and schools in English-speaking parts of Cameroon.

                At least one person was shot dead on the first day of the protests, while at least 10 others were admitted to hospital with four in critical condition, the BBC reported.

                Several of the arrested persons were being treated with bullet wounds in hospital in the NW region's main city, Bamenda, the BBC report said.

                Common Law Lawyers are opposed to the employment of court workers who do not speak or understand English and the application of British common law.

                Following a referendum in 1961, British Southern Cameroons re-united with La Republique du Cameroun to form the Cameroonian federation. After a plebiscite in 1972, the country became a united republic, while a presidential decree in 1984 transformed Cameroon to La Republique du Cameroun.

                Anglophones have since contested both the 1972 plebiscite and the 1984 decree. Many also believe the 1961 reunification arrangement was a raw deal for Anglophones.

                Today, Cameroon has 10 administrative regions - eight are Francophone and use the French civil law.

                English-speakers have long complained that they face discrimination in their country. They often complain that they are excluded from top civil service jobs and that government documents are often only published in French, even though English is also an official language.

                The striking lawyers and teachers say government’s insensitivity to their unaddressed grievances is painful and provocative.

                Bamenda is the founding place of both the ruling CPDM party as well as the largest opposition political party, the Social Democratic Front.

              

Some English-speaking people complain of discrimination

  The BBC said there was tension in the city and businesses and schools remained closed for days.

                It is hoped that the strikes could be called-off any time soon, after the Prime Minister, Philemon Yang (an Anglophone) travelled to Bamenda a held talks with the respective interest groups on Friday 25 November 2016.

                Teachers and local residents joined the protests which started on Monday.

                Educators in the English-speaking regions have been opposed to the employment of teachers who only speak French in technical schools.

                Cameroon was colonised by Germany and then split into British and French areas after World War One.

                Following a referendum, British-run Southern Cameroons joined the French-speaking Republic of Cameroon in 1961, while Northern Cameroons voted to join English-speaking Nigeria.