As Anglophone leaders prove headstrong:

Gov’t bans SCNC & Consortium

-Arrests the President and SG of Consortium in Buea

By Ojong Steven Ayukogem in Yaounde

Barrister Nkongho Felix AgborBalla

A decree of the minister of territorial administration and decentralization, Rene Emmanuel Sadi, has proscribed all activities of the SCNC and the Anglophone Civil Society Consortium throughout the national territory. According to the decree, any persons or groups of persons found perpetrating activities related to these associations will face the law. DOs, SDO and Governors have been empowered to enforce the decree in their respective areas of command. The ministerial decision was read on state-owned radio, CRTV, at exactly 5.30 PM on Tuesday, 17 January 2017.

                The government ban on the SCNC and Consortium was followed minutes later by the arrest in Buea of the President and Secretary General of the Consortium, Barrister Nkongho Felix AgborBalla and Dr. FontemAfontekahNeba respectively. Though the arrest was not immediately announced, The Median confirmed with sources in Buea that Balla and Fontem who were holding a meeting perhaps to officially react to the ban on their activities were waylaid by security operatives and bundled to an unknown destination.

                When the news of the arrest first got to our newsroom, it said the two men had been taken to the GMI headquarters in Buea. But a family source in Buea told us later that went he got to the GMI he was told to check with the Rapid Intervention Unit, ESIR. The source said even at the ESIR, Balla and Fontem could not be traced. It is now widely speculated that after their arrest, the two ‘Anglophone freedom fighters’ where immediately ferried to almighty Yaounde.

                By press time yesterday, we could not confirm whether other arrests had been made. But a source hinted us that security operatives in Bamenda also went to round up the president of the teachers’ trade union, Wilfred Tassang, but could not find him at his home. It is rumoured that Tassang had varnished into hiding following a tip-off.

                It should be mentioned that the arrest of AgborBalla and Fontem came barely minutes after this reporter talked with both protagonists on the phone. I called the two men in succession to get their reaction to the government ban on their activities.

                Responding to my question, Balla said: “I am a bit surprised but I had suspected it would get to this sooner than later giving the attitude of the government ever since this imbroglio took a new twist about a month ago. I knew the government was looking for a way out to arrest the leaders of the struggle and throw them in jail. With this ban I fear things may get even more complicated than before. We have since shown our willingness to dialogue but government preferred to remain arrogant and not showing any good faith.”

                He continued: “It is sad for the government to ban the Consortium which is just a moderate voice that is seeking true unity in Cameroon. It is unfortunate for a country that claims to be democratic. We advocate a society of justice and non-violence. All along we have tried to find a lasting solution to the logjam, but government did everything to block genuine dialogue….It is sad. It is a sad day for the moderate voices in this country; it is a sad day for unity and democracy in Cameroon…..I call on our people to stay calm in the face of this provocation……I know they are looking for a way they can get our people to come out in the streets so they will shoot and kill them in their numbers….But I pray this should not happen.”

                 As if he had foreseen their arrest, a discernibly calm and level-headed AgborBalla said: “This cannot be the end of the struggle. The government can ban the consortium but it cannot kill the will and spirit of the struggle; our struggle is legitimate; our force comes from the people; even if all the members of the consortium are arrested or killed it will still not kill the will of the people. The will of the people is stronger than the consortium.”

                Understandably, the ban on the SCNC and the consortium could be expected especially given the violence that the NW and SW regions have witnessed in the past recent months.

                The ban comes barely days after dialogue collapsed between government and teachers trade unions in Bamenda. The dialogue was expected to resume today Wednesday. But the ban comes just now.

                The consortium under which canopy striking Anglophone teachers and lawyers are acting, called for a continuation of ongoing strikes when the dialogue collapsed on Friday. It also called for two days of ghost towns on Monday and Tuesday. The ghost towns witnessed astonishing success throughout the NW and SW regions. Streets were completely deserted, while schools, markets and offices remained closed for most part of the two days. Violence erupted in some towns notably Limbe, Ekona in the SW, and Ndop in the NW. Several scores of youths were arrested when police clashed with violent youths in these towns.      

                It is worthy of mention that such administrative ban on public gatherings and associations is constitutional. Article 9(1) and 9(2) of the 18 January 1996 constitution gives the president of the republic exorbitant powers in exceptional circumstances. The president can declare a state of emergency or a state of siege when circumstances so warrant and when he deems it necessary. And only the president and he alone determines when the circumstances so warrant. These exceptional circumstances include notably when for instance the territorial integrity of the state is at jeopardy and/or when national peace, unity and/or state institutions are threatened.

                Thus by proscribing these two ‘recalcitrant’ associations and ordering the arrest of some ring leaders, the President of the republic has simply taken his constitutional responsibility as head of state.

                And the president’s urgent action comes barely a day after the Ghogomuadhoc committee declared its work closed and submitted its report to the PM on Monday, which report accused the leaders of the Consortium of un-republican behavior and stone-headedness.

                It is not however immediately known how the populations of “Southern Cameroons” will react to the new developments.

                Besides, it is expected that government will accompany the ban and arrest with other urgent measures to ensure that schools resume in the NW and SW regions sooner than later. This should happen if the current academic year must be saved. Schools in the NW and SW have remained closed since 21 November when teachers trade unions called a sit-in strike.