Strange political parties march past in
B’da
News courtesy Cameroon Journal, Bamenda
Activities to commemorate May 20 in Bamenda,
capital of the NW Region have ended with a timid turn-out. The march past which
started with various military corps at the Commercial Avenue, kicked off at
about 9:30A.M. with the arrival of Northwest Governor, LeleL’afrique and other
top government officials.
The
march past (like in all other parts of the region) saw the absolute boycott of
the mainstream opposition party, the Social Democratic Front as well as two
other parties with deep roots in Anglophone Cameroon – the People’s Action
Party PAP and the Cameroon People’s Party CPP.
Our
reporter managed to get as close as he could to the Grand Stand at the
Commercial Avenue where dignitaries were seated, under heavy guard (see
pictures) and as the march past went on, it became increasingly clear that the
many sections passing for CPDM sections in Mezam, could in fact be persons
brought in from the West Region.
As
the march past went on, a French-speaking man in his 40s yelled “c’est le
theatre, meaning this is theatre”
He
said he was seeing some parties he has never heard of like “The Patriot” party, and “Union de
Bienvoiyance du Cameroun UBC” .
The
man quoted earlier, asked how come in Bamenda parties like the purported UBC
and “The Patriot” are marching, parties no one has ever heard of in this part
of the country.
Observers
suspected these were either university from Dcshang students or Francophone
students from the University of Bamenda masquerading under the umbrella of
these fictitious “parties”.
“Amour
Mezam” travel agency buses could be spotted transporting school children and
others to and from the Commercial Avenue in clear defiance of calls for ghost
towns. Only few months ago, an Amour Mezam bus was reduced to ashes around New
Road in Bamenda because it was seen moving around during ghost towns.
A
man in suit told soldiers to confiscate phones from anyone seen filming the
event or taking pictures, raising questions as to why this would be necessary
if in fact those marching were not brought in from Mbouda, Bafoussam and
Koutaba.
In
Kumbo, the second largest town in the NW after Bamenda, activities too were
low-keyed with just a few CPDM diehards and government authorities in the
Region like the SDO and DO among others, showing up at the nearly empty Tobin
Grandstand.
Children
less than 10 years of age were used in Nkambe to announce to the world that
20th May was very much on in the main town of Donga Mantung. In spite of these,
most people heeded to calls for massive ghost towns, shutting their businesses
and staying at home as well.
Meanwhile,
reports from the Southwest had it that a heavy downpour which started and
lasted for hours marred the commemorations all over the Region. In spite of
this, a few ardent supporters of the regime braved the torrential rains and
made it to Stands in Buea and Limbe, but for the most part, activities were at
zero with transport agencies grounded and shops closed.
To
better understand the controversy behind
this year’s massively boycotted 20th May, it would be good to mention that 20th
May 1972 is purported to be Cameroon’s National Day and has since then been
celebrated as such. However, Anglophone historians and other intellectuals
argue that it is the day Anglophone Cameroon’s culture and identity started
being eroded.
Pic
Yet another strange political party UWC
also took part in the march
past at the Commercial Avenue in Bamenda.
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