Biya’s luring concessions to Anglophones
By Franklin Sone Bayen, (Journalist,
Political Analyst)
 |
| Franklin Sone Bayen |
How come we didn't notice that President
Biya bent over backwards and made concessions to Anglophone demands in his 2016
end of year speech, even amidst his tough talking, fist-banging and
protesters-bashing which, you guess right, were just a veil to pretend we
haven't arm-twisted him into submission?
Folks,
we are succeeding in this noble struggle, and pushing the frontiers of dialogue
and change. Missing these points mean we expected to see Biya practically on
his knees to know he was begging and conceding.
Follow my read:
1.) ANGLOPHONE
PROBLEM
Biya
admits there is an anglophone problem and thus shames Atanganji, Fame Ndongo,
Laurent Esso, IssaTchiroma and other Anglophone stooges.
Paragraph
20: "All the voices that spoke have been heard. They have, in many cases,
raised substantive issues that cannot be overlooked."
2.) FEDERALISM
Biya suggests federalism may be discussed
but not secession.
Paragraph
23 (c): "Like any human endeavour, our experience is not perfect. There
are aspects that can be improved. We should therefore listen to each other. We
should remain open to constructive ideas, to the exclusion, however, of those
that would affect the form of our State."
3.) FOUMBAN
II
Biya
says besides the teachers’ and lawyers’ specialized ad hoc committees, his
government is ready to concede even more to discuss the wider Southern
Cameroons concerns in yet another committee like prior to the Reunification
(Foumban II).
Paragraph
24: "Besides the bodies that I instructed the Government to set up and
which are already at work, we are ready to go an extra mile. We are willing to
move in the footsteps and spirit of the architects of Reunification, and put in
place a national entity which will be tasked with proposing solutions aimed at
maintaining peace, consolidating our country’s unity and strengthening our
resolve, and our day-to-day experiences of LIVING TOGETHER. And this should be
done in strict compliance with our Constitution and our Institutions."
If
these are not concessions, what are they? Go back and read your conflict
resolution notes. I'm checking mine. These are olive branch signals. They are
not made from a position of strength. Neither are they made lying down flat to
show total surrender.
If
we're in this thing to make gains (albeit step by step) and not just to conjure
outcomes like magicians or Alice In Wonderland, these are moments to seize. But
as concessions are not surrender, negotiating parties can rebound, capitalizing
on the weaknesses and blunders of the opponent.
Dear
Southern Cameroons sisters and brothers, this battle is ours to lose. We can
only spoil it for ourselves, that is if we make erreur.
This
is the people's struggle; no one should dare to own it. We must organize
ourselves, realistically sizing up the opponent.
Truth
that shows us the height of the mountain we face and arms us for the challenge
is greater than sweet dreams that may wake us to nightmares.
Pic
Franklin SoneBayen
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