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PRESS RELEASE

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL

13 October 2017

Inmates ‘packed like sardines’ in overcrowded prisons following Anglophone protests

 • More than 500 people detained in towns including Bamenda and Buea

• Wounded protestors flee hospitals for fear of arrest

• Arrested protestors forced to pay 60 USD bribe to be released

At least 500 people remain detained in overcrowded detention facilities following mass arbitrary arrests in the Anglophone regions of Cameroon, and many wounded protestors fled hospitals to avoid arrest, Amnesty International said today.

            Those detained were arrested following protests in dozens of towns in North-West and South-West Cameroon on 1 October, in which more than 20 people were unlawfully shot dead by security forces.

            “This mass arrest of protestors, most of whom were acting peacefully, is not only a violation of human rights, but is also likely to be counter-productive,” said Ilaria Allegrozzi, Amnesty International’s Lake Chad researcher. 

            “The Cameroonian authorities should release anyone detained only for exercising their right to peaceful protest.”

            The arrests took place in towns across the regions. In Bamenda, the capital of the North-West Region, at least 200 people were arrested and the majority transferred to the prison in Bafoussam.

            In Buea, the capital of the South-West region, at least 300 people have been arrested since the 1st October protests, including a series of mass arbitrary arrests between 6 and 8 October.

Abandoned by his own brothers:

Mayor Patrick Ekema gets support from Beti & Sawa elite

-Reiterate support for a one and Indivisible Cameroon

By Boris Esono & *Kehdinga Fabris in Buea

Delegation of MPS, Mayors, Gov’t Delegates and Chiefs from the South region pose for a shot with Buea Mayor, Patrick Ekema, in Buea. They came few days after their colleagues of the Littoral

A delegation of elites from the South Region have echoed their support for a Cameroon that is one and indivisible. They made the declaration in Buea during a solidarity visit they paid to the mayor of Buea, Patrick Ekema Esunge, on 12 October 2017.

            Whilst at the Buea Council Chambers, the Chiefs, Gov’t Delegates, Mayors, MPs, and Senators from the South region told the Buea Mayor that they came to comfort, encourage and show concern for him and all their brothers and sisters of the SWR who were victims of the 22 September and 1 October protests. The visitors added that their message was that of peace, love, unity and solidarity with one another.

            The head of the delegation from the South region, Senator Zang Oyono Calvin, said the aim of their visit was also to assist the victims of the violent protests in the SW region.

             “We make no difference between the victims because every Cameroonian is important. So when one Cameroonian is suffering, we cannot stay indifferent,” said Hon. Zang, affirming that “Cameroon is a land of peace and this peace is what we need if we must attain President Biya’s 2035 vision. Cameroon is one and indivisible and so shall it remain.”

            Welcoming his guests, Mayor Ekema Patrick, on behalf of the people of Buea and the Southwest region, expressed his ‘heartfelt gratitude’ to them.

            “It is a wonderful initiative that demonstrates the oneness and uniqueness which Cameroonians should uphold. It is a lesson we are learning about the oneness and indivisibility of our country. It demonstrates solidarity, peace and love,” Mayor Ekema said.

            The high-powered delegation also visited some three victims at the Buea Regional Hospital and handed them envelops to assist in their treatment.

            They also later inspected the mayor’s 3 cars that were vandalized in his compound on 22 September, before handing an undisclosed amount of money to the Mayor to help him repair the cars and rehabilitate his residence.

            Then delegation would later have an in camera working session with the Mayor, and this not before they had paid a courtesy call on the SW Governor to announce their presence in town.

VIOLENT PROTESTS IN NW AND SW REGIONS:

Sisikou Ayuk, Tassang & Akere Muna hatched the plot

– Issa Tchiroma

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Since the incidents in the North-west and South-west regions on last October 1, voices have been raised here and there to advance misleading and ungrounded allegations, with an imaginary report of victims intended to involve the Government and the Defense and Security forces in the violence that took place on that occasion.

            I have therefore invited you to this press conference to present to you Government’s clarification on these allegations.

            I thank you for responding so quickly to my invitation, and would like, before going further, to reiterate the satisfaction of the Government for the unequivocal condemnation of acts of terrorism, vandalism, intimidation, harassment and blackmail committed by secessionists, by the entire political class, the civil society, the international community, the national media which has proposed itself as a watchdog and guardian over the intangibility of our borders.

            The events suffered by our fellow compatriots in certain North-west and South-west communities on October 1st are the result of violent extremists, some of whom had already predicted and planned a bloodshed, and worse still, I quote “an Anglophone genocide”, end of quote.

            In fact, the strategy put in place by these dangerous troublemakers consisted of letters to the Secretary General of the United Nations by Julius SISIKU AYUK TABE, Wilfried TASSANG and AKERE MUNA, to prepare minds for the occurrence of I quote, «a genocide planned by the Cameroonian Government against compatriots of English-speaking origin”.

            For this purpose, hundreds of mercenaries were recruited and trained abroad, shipments of offensive weapons, such as over 500 well-sharpened machetes, large quantities of firearms and explosive devices were supplied and safely kept by the secessionists.

            This arsenal was to be used for mass killings perpetrated by these mercenaries recruited for the cause by the secessionists.

            On this occasion, armed attacks were to be launched against the Defense and Security Forces, public services, public and private buildings and property. At the same time, groups of armed, fanatic, drug addicts, who had been armed and clothed in amulets to convince the populations of their invulnerability, were to be thrown at the Law Enforcement Forces to provoke a vigorous reaction of the Security Forces, to cause bloodshed and to provoke an imaginary international intervention.

            Fortunately, the information gathered by our Defense and Security Forces allowed for a timely prevention, of the accomplishment of this diabolic plan and to frustrate the consequences of this ploy.

            On the field, the Law Enforcement Units showcased a remarkable sense of duty and restraint in the operations acting only in legitimate self-defense.

            It was this moderation in the retaliation of the Law Enforcement Forces that helped to limit the loss of lives even though the Regular troops were constantly harassed by armed assailants.

            Let it be crystal clear, once and for all, that no protest on this occasion was repressed through the use of live bullets by the Law Enforcement Units.

As earlier stated on October 2nd, five people - inmates - died as a result of an attempt to escape from the Kumbo Prison.

            Two of these persons suffered from a stampede while trying to escape and three others were neutralized by prison guards in accordance with the protocol of the regulations in force governing such situations.

            Apart from the five persons who died during their attempted escape, the others were struck as a result of retaliatory fire, while the Defense and Security Forces were the target of snipers who opened fire on them from the ambush, using weapons of all calibres.

            As you are already aware, when a police officer, a gendarme or a soldier is faced with an armed attack, the retaliation is done on the grounds of legitimate self-defence.

            However, the death toll report stands at, over ten victims on the part of the assailants.

            During these clashes, a dozen members of the Defense and Security Forces were seriously wounded. As of date, they are still admitted in intensive care at the military health services.

            To these brave soldiers of the Republic, the Head of State wishes a speedy recovery and brings all his comfort to their bereaved families.

            The Head of State expresses the most heartfelt condolences to the affected families. These innocent victims were sacrificed on the altar of the diabolical aims of a handful of power-hungry extremists driven by violence and terror.

            Manipulated, drugged and placed under unscrupulous propaganda, these compatriots who have lost their lives by the stupidity of others, deserve the compassion and solidarity of the entire Nation.

            For the only enemies who are worth fighting in this crisis are those who, stranded abroad, expose innocent lives to the danger of a confrontation whose victims are unaware of the cause.

            That notwithstanding, the death toll of these unfortunate events is far, I say very far from the whimsical and false reports advanced with fantasy and irresponsibility by some organizations, such as REDHAC, which does not hesitate to report the massacre of civilian populations in the regions concerned.

            The Government strongly refutes and condemns such unfounded allegations, which in reality is a concrete translation of the desire of the secessionists and their relays to carry out their evil intention to destabilize Cameroon.

            In all likelihood, far from digesting the failure of their project, to impose an amputation of the country by violence and terror, the separatists who had already planned their statement after October 1, have continued in the same way to implement their strategy through relays such as REDHAC and some news media.

            To speak of this famous REDHAC report,             allow me to indicate the deception and the lightness of the report announcing a hundred dead in its headlines, and to further reveal that it mainly concerns those who are reported missing.

            With regard to the statement made by the Bishops of the Bamenda ecclesiastical province and in which they seem to endorse the dangerous and wild imaginations of the secessionists, it is surprising, and unconceivable that the moral authorities who are supposed to be above the quarrel, find themselves in the arena championing those who deliberately chose to breach the Constitution and the laws of the Republic to incite people to question their citizenship and their sacred duty of respect for the law and the authority of the State.

To shore up his Presidential bid:

Barrister Akere Muna has announced his intention to run for President

Akere Muna seduces Diasporans with dual nationality & visa concessions 

After announcing last week, his ambition to challenge President Biya in the 2018 presidential election, Barrister Akere Muna is presently on a European tour, to sensitize the diaspora about his candidature, and has already made his first promise on 'Dual Nationality", something which the entire diaspora has requested for years from the present regime.

            The former Bar President was in Paris on Wednesday 1 October 2017, to meet with fellow Cameroonians, where he promised 'dual nationality', once he ascends the Etoudi throne. 

            "There will be 'dual nationality', on condition that you have a tax base. If you are paying taxes in Cameroon, there will be no reason why you won't have a dual nationality. All Cameroonians wishing to retain their acquired nationality will have some sort of special resident permit that will enable them and their families enter into the Cameroonian territory without having visa issues," he promised.

Trouble in the House:

K’ba lawyers victimize president who suspended strike 

-But Barrister Mpako Jacob fires back at “zealots” who want to highjack the struggle

By Doh Bertrand Nua in Kumba

Barr. Mpako Jacob Njume, MELA VP

This reporter has it on good authority that close to 100 common law lawyers of the Meme Lawyers Association, MELA are planning to slam a no confidence vote on MELA vice President, Barr Mpako Jacob Njume.

            We gathered that the ‘no confidence’ vote might be slammed on Barr Mpako during a stormy MELA meeting scheduled for Monday 16 October 2017 to address burning issues concerning the association, especially the decision to call-off the strike by the MELA Vice President.

            Our sources told us that the lawyers are angry Mpacko who unilaterally called off the strike in utter violation of procedure and laid down rules.

            To this group of angry lawyers, Barrister Mpako acted on his own accord to suspend the common law lawyers strike in Meme. They say the fact that the release suspending the strike action was signed by Barrister Mpako Jacob alone, makes it suspect. They also hold that the release neither carried the letter-headed paper of MELA nor any MELA stamp.

            According our source, it is very wrong for an association with more than 100 members to have less than 20 lawyers in court for the strike call off. They say such acts demonstrated by the Vice President shows he acted solo and for that reason they are thinking of slamming him a no confidence vote on their Monday meeting.  Our sources also revealed that there are allegations a total of FCFA 200 000 exchanged hands between those who called off the strike headed by the Barr Mpako and some politicians in Kumba. 

As activists evoke provocation:

What fate awaits Biya’s appeasement emissaries to NW & SW?

By Njodzefe Nestor in B’da

Prime Minister Philemon Yang

In what looks like a response to national and international calls for the government of Cameroon to initiate frank, sincere and sustainable dialogue following the September 22 and Oct 1 demonstrations in the ongoing Anglophone crisis, the Head of State President Paul Biya has ordered Prime Minister Philemon Yunji Yang to constitute and dispatch delegations to the North West and South West Regions for appeasement and dialogue.

            According to a release from the Prime Minister’s Cabinet dated Friday 13 October 2017 and signed by the DICAB PM’s Office, Prof. Ghogomu Paul Mingo, “the teams will set out to work from Sunday 15 October to Tuesday 24 October 2017”.

            Through this mission, President Paul Biya seeks to play the appeasement card, after several fruitless efforts made in this direction.

            “The delegations are expected to commune with the population, bring the President’s good will message of peace and encourage the return to normalcy. The delegation will dialogue constructively with the population,” the release reads.

            As the delegations begin their work this Sunday, conspiracy theorists have starting speculating the fate that awaits the emissaries who will be combing the length and breadth of the North West and South West regions with their appeasement project, with many speculating that they might meet stiff resistance from the population .

Boko Haram fighters surrender in northern Cameroon

Nearly 60 men who said they were captured by the Boko Haram Islamist group and forced to fight for them in Nigeria have surrendered to authorities in northern Cameroon. After spending two years with Boko Haram, the men decided to flee with their families and hand themselves in, according to several men who had surrendered and spoke to journalists at a ceremony in the town of Mozogo on Friday.

            A total of nearly 400 people originally from Cameroon — 58 men, 86 women and 244 children — said they had been taken hostage by Boko Haram fighters during attacks on their villages and taken to Nigeria, where they were forced to join the jihadist group. The men told reporters they had fought for Boko Haram and were laying down their arms of their own will.

            They surrendered at the border with Nigeria to a village vigilante group formed to combat the jihadists. The vigilantes then handed them over to the authorities. Ousmane Kouila, head of the group, said they had been out on patrol in the border area when they met the fleeing Boko Haram fighters. “They said they were returning, and that they were surrendering,” he said.

Biya gov’t unfit to resolve Anglophone crisis

- Dr. Chemuta Banda

Dr. Chemuta Banda

The Chairman of the National Commission for Human Rights and Freedoms, Chemuta Divine Banda has said in a statement issued on 9 October 2017 that the siiting government headed by Philemon Yang is unfit to resolve the Southern Cameroons crisis.  Chemuta observed that the government should be disqualified from the negotiating table-a similar position held by the President of the Movement for the Rebirth of Cameroon (MRC), Prof Maurice Kamto.

            He revealed in a press release that the NCHRF was currently in search of a credible mediator to end the Anglophone crisis that started since November 2016. During an outing on October 10, 2017, Chemuta Divine said that if the crisis has taken a dramatic turn, it is because the Government thinks only they can provide solutions to the conflict.

CPDM MP for Buea Urban:

Hon. Arthur Lysinge votes his last bill

By Boris Esono in Buea

Hon. Arthur Lysinge, CPDM MP for Buea

Hon. Arthur Lysinge, CPDM MP for the Buea Urban constituency is no more. He died in Buea on 10 October, from a prolonged but undisclosed illness.

            The late MP has reportedly been ill for several months. He recently travelled to Pretoria in South Africa, where he underwent surgery and it was hoped he would recover.

            He had a crisis on Tuesday and was rushed to the Mount Mary Hospital in Buea where he gave up.

            Hon. Lysinge is the third CPDM MP to bow out definitively during the current legislature. On Sunday, 14 May 2017, Honorable Madjele, from the Mayo-Kani in the Far North Region and member of the Foreign Affairs Committee died. A little earlier, Honorable Joseph Mboui of Sanaga-Maritime traveled to the land of his ancestors on 28 February 2017

Too soon to die:

Nfon V.E Mukete cheats death at 99

Nfon V.E Mukete

The Traditional leader and veteran politician (Senator) suffered a malaise whilst participating at a workshop in a Limbe Hotel, on Thursday 14 October 2017. It took the prompt intervention of a seasoned medic to resuscitate the Patriarch.

By Doh Bertrand Nua in Kumba

Senator Nfon Victor Esseminsongo Mukete, Paramount Ruler of the Bafaws will certainly live to celebrate his 100th birthday before quitting the stage. This seems to be what God has planned for the senior statesman and patriarch.

            This was the conclusion drawn by eyewitnesses of the scene that occurred at a popular Hotel in Limbe on Thursday, when they watched how Nfon Mukete slowly but surely regained his consciousness, after suffering an otherwise fatal malaise.

            The Patriarch was participating at a seminar-workshop on Land Use Management, jointly organized by SWELA and the Limbe Urban Council, when suddenly he slumped and started bleeding profusely. It took the prompt and masterly intervention of Veteran Medic, Chief Dr. Godson Oben, to save the life of the Nfon.

            Eyewitnesses said Dr. Oben performed with success, mouth-to-mouth cardio-vascular resuscitation on Pa Mukete, whom some bystanders at the scene had already written off, at least in their minds.

            Pa Mukete was later moved to the reanimation unit of the Limbe regional Hospital, we learned.

            It was not immediately clear what caused the malaise, but observers suspected it might have been due to a vain rupture, giving the profuse bleeding.

            Pa Mukete returned from the USA only recently, where he had gone for routine medical check.

MTN Business and APME launch MTN PME PACK and Masterclasses

Pr. Laurent Serge Etoundi NGOA- Minpmeesa

Under this partnership, MTN shall provide its technologies and know-how to thousands of Small and Medium Enterprises that have been operating in Cameroon since 2012.

Douala, 12 October 2017. MTN, telecoms leader in Cameroon and APME (Small and Medium Enterprises Promotion Agency), announce the launch of MTN PME Pack and Masterclasses, specially designed for SMEs/SMIs. The ceremony organised for the occasion was presided by the Minister of Small and Medium Enterprises, Social Economy and Handicrafts (Minpmeesa), Pr. Laurent Serge Etoundi NGOA, in the presence of Mr. Georges MPOUDI, General Manager Enterprise Business Unit of MTN Cameroon and Mr. Jean Marie Louis BADGA, General Manager of APME.

            MTN PME PACK is the special integrated package that enables eligible SMEs/SMIs to benefit mobile solutions (Voice, Mobile data and SMS), hosting services (domain name, professional email address, and building of a website), mobile equipment and financial services. MTN PME PACK is subsidized at 70% by APME. The price of the pack varies between XAF140,000 all tax/year for MTN STARTER PACK BASIC, and XAF 248,000 all tax/year for MTN STARTER PACK STANDARD.

Back to school still timid in Meme rural

By Doh Bertrand Nua in Kumba

“Parents in rural areas have refused to send their children to school because of the fear of the unknown and great ignorance”. These were the words of the Divisional Delegate of Basic Education for Meme, Atem Sabas. He was speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the 21st World Teachers Day Celebrated on Thursday October 4, 2017 in Kumba.

            Atem Sabas told reporters that their greatest problem so far in the basic education family in Meme is to actually see how they can convince parents of rural areas to send their children to school.

            “To be honest to you, the kickoff of the academic year took off timidly because of the prevailing situation in the northwest and southwest regions of the country but as the days go by, momentum is gathered and the children are turning out massively on a daily basis except for the rural areas” Atem Sabas revealed.

            He added that it is against such backdrop that his delegation has embarked on a serious sensitization mission in the rural areas to see into it that awareness is been created to the population to see the need to send their children to school. 

24th Int’l Teacher’s Day:

Kumba teachers told to stop being booksellers

By Doh Bertrand Nua in Kumba

Meme education delegates march on teacher's day

Meme SDO, Chamberlin Ntou’ou Ndong has asked all teachers in Kumba in particular and Meme Division in general to stop all illegal businesses on school campuses that end up turning schools into bookshops.

            He dished out the warning on Thursday October 5, 2017 while addressing teachers on commemorative activities to mark the 24th edition of the international Teacher’s Day under the theme “Teaching in freedom, empowering teachers”.

            He advised the teachers not only to use the teacher’s day to reflect on their role as teachers but also take stock of the state policy vis a vis education.  To him based on the theme of this year’s celebration, teachers should be allowed to exercise their duties wherever and whenever in freedom with lot of professionalism. He called on teachers to fight against violence in the school milieu, drug trafficking, corruption, absenteeism, amongst sundry other ills.

            Addressing the teachers on the occasion, the Divisional Delegate of secondary Education for Meme, Abunaw Aghim Obase congratulated all the teachers for their bravery and steadfastness during the present moments in the country.

            Harping on the theme, the Divisional delegate revealed it falls in line with the world global education 2030 agenda adopted by the world community two years ago. He noted that it highlights the need to support teachers as reflected in the agenda’s sustainable development goals to imagine how society will look like without teachers.

Ivory Traffickers arrested in Yaounde

Ivory trafficker at police station

Two people suspected of trafficking in ivory were arrested at the Bastos neighbourhood in Yaounde on October 9, by wildlife officials who were backed up by a team of police officers during a crackdown operation.

            The two traffickers who arrived on board a taxi, packed the car in front of a popular bar at the junction popularly known as Carrefour Bastos and one them went into the bar and remerged minutes later. He then went into the taxi and collected a plastic bag which he grasped nervously and dashed straight into the bar while the rain thundered outside. As he headed into the bar, he was tracked by wildlife officials who would arrest him inside the bar while the second who waited impatiently in the taxi was also arrested   Two ivory tusks were found in the plastic bag. The two traffickers were then driven to the 10th District Police Station where their interrogation began and they would be locked up after this initial proceeding ended. The operation was carried out by the Centre Regional Delegation of Forestry and Wildlife with the technical assistance of a wildlife law enforcement support body called LAGA.

            According to sources close to the case and speaking on condition of anonymity, one of the traffickers, a 45-year old man, had  been tracked for close to 6 months for his involvement in the illegal ivory trade. He is suspected to have a ring of poachers who supply him with raw ivory while he deals directly with Chinese traffickers. Shortly before his arrest, he had driven his taxi carin from Bafia where it is suspected he went to collect wildlife products. He equally made a brief tour of the Carrefour Bastos area to ensure all was well with doing an ivory transaction without risk of getting arrest there. His cautiousness, wildlife law enforcement experts say, is a measure of his professionalism and expertise in the trade.

            The traffickers are presently behind bars and are expected to answer to charges of illegal possession, circulation and commercialization of parts of protected wildlife species according to the 1994 wildlife law. The law stipulates that they could face up to 3 years imprisonment and or a fine of up to 10 million CFA Francs.

Two arrested with bags of pangolin scales in Ebolowa

 Pangolin scales in Ebolowa

Two suspected pangolin scales traffickers have been arrested in Ebolowa following a sting operation carried out by wildlife officials and the judicial police on October 10.

            The two, aged 39 and 37, who were found attempting to sell over 70kg of pangolin scales at the Mekalat neighbourhood in Ebolowa. They carefully concealed the pangolin bags when they arrived at the area but were uncovered by wildlife officials. The operation was carried out by the South Regional Delegation of Forestry and Wildlife, with the technical assistance of The Last Great Ape Organisation (LAGA).

            According to sources close to the matter that spoke on condition of anonymity, the two have been doing business for a very long time with a Nigerian national who regularly bought and exported pangolin scales. They equally had a collection of small scale traffickers scattered around villages near Djoum and Mvangan. They would go around collecting the scales and when the quantities were significant, they would sell on to a bigger trafficker. Their activity span across Gabon and Congo and had been going on for a number of years.

Beyond the storm and emotions:

Atangana Mebara ruminates on Anglophone Crisis

Atangana Mebara

For one year now, there is trouble in the English-speaking Regions of Cameroon.

From my prison exile, I have been following the evolution of what is now called the “Anglophone crisis”.

I have had the opportunity of receiving, on their demand, some Anglophone leaders of the Consortium, jailed in the Kondengui prison, for a few months for some of them. They gave me the opportunity to better know and understand the grievances of our Anglophone brothers and sisters, and to appreciate their state of mind.

After our conversations, I realised that the crisis would never had reached the present stage, if otherwise managed.

What is going on in the Anglophone regions and what I have heard from certain Francophone persons, cannot leave any patriot of this nation indifferent. In spite of my situation as prisoner, I consider myself a patriot;  a responsible patriot. No court decision prohibits me from taking part in any debate that is important in nation building.

The crisis can no longer be the problem of the government alone or that of the Head of State, President BIYA, although his constitutional responsibility is obvious, because he has taken an oath of office to defend and preserve the territorial integrity of the Nation.

It is thus imperative for each Cameroonian and all persons who love Cameroon to feel concerned.

Writing this article, is my own way of contributing to the debate on the Anglophone crisis.

I seize this opportunity to express my love and my loyalty to this Nation, our beloved country as dreamt by our forefathers who decided years back, freely, to constitute a bilingual nation, with an Anglophone entity and a Francophone section.

I plead that, tomorrow, when I am out of this prison, God willing, I could take my children to Bamenda, Buea, Mamfe, Bachuo-Akagbe, Kumba,  Kumbo,  Mbengwi,  Limbe,  Bali-Nyonga, Bakingili, Idenau, without asking for a visa, without any fear, with the feeling that we could stay there, as long as we want, quietly and peacefully.

This my modest contribution will consist, first of all, in asking a few questions; secondly, there will be some proposals, submitted for debate.

But I  plead the readers to be indulgent with me if my insight is not whole. For, in my situation, I might not be in possession of all the elements and facts for a detailed and deep analysis.

ISSUES OF CONCERN

WHAT DO WE HEAR GENERALLY?

Through some private media outlets, I realised that some Francophone Cameroonians vehemently asserted that there is no Anglophone problem.

I also heard an Anglophone top ranking State official saying that Anglophones do not have any problem.

I heard some other individuals, Francophones in the majority, claiming that the problems and grievances raised by Anglophones are the same other Cameroonians in the Francophone regions are facing.

There are also people, generally Anglophone elite and some of the Intelligence Services of the State, who argue that those who want secession are the minority within the Anglophone population. I am not that sure. However, if this were to be the case, wouldn't it be important and timely to address the problem seriously in order to avoid the secessionists to become the majority?

I also heard a few Francophones saying that they support the Anglophone movement , because, as they put it, the movement can be a prelude to the Big Night, the Revolution Night…Fortunately such support is only in thoughts, words and, for some, in prayers. The first question to such opportunist supporters is : if Francophones are exhausted by President BIYA’s regime, why don’t they organise themselves?  Why would they try to hide behind their Anglophone brothers to reach their political objectives? 

In effect, whatever we feel about President BIYA, is it right for some of us to deliberately destroy all what our parents and ourselves have been building for so many years, with its failures and successes, just because of one person?

In my humble opinion, nothing can justify a decision to jeopardise the unity of our Nation.

Cameroon, as it is today, is an edifice built by many generations and cultures. It is not the heritage of a single individual. The nation does not belong to Mr. BIYA or to anybody else. It is the common property of all Cameroonians; born Cameroonians or those who acquired nationality by virtue of naturalization.

We cannot forget all what has been built since October 1961, by Anglophones and Francophones. I can vividly recall that in the early nineties, while Francophones were opposed to what they called “precipitated democracy”, it is our Anglophone brothers and sisters, mainly Mr John FRU NDI, with the young people around him, that clamoured for democracy, sometimes unfortunately by giving their lives, to implement and improve State governance in our beloved country.

Nothing can, thus, justify the destruction of our Nation, a Nation that we have been constructing. It is our common heritage… Let us not allow our feelings and emotions to take over our judgement or our brain.

AND WHAT DID I HEAR FROM OUR ANGLOPHONE BROTHERS AND SISTERS?

Most of the Anglophones express a feeling of not being at ease within this Republic, in its present way of functioning. We have also seen them, on the streets of many towns, in the North-West as well as the South-West Regions, youths and adults, even elderly men and women, marching, sometimes going into violence (unfortunately), to denounce their treatment by the State and its servants. They say “we are suffering in this Republic”. Others say they do not want to continue to be part of this Cameroon. Actually, we can see tears in the eyes of some. We can hear their shouts of distress, the echoes of disillusion are overwhelming. We saw victims of bullet wounds, some shot to dead...All these notwithstanding, how some people still say there is no Anglophone problem?

When our Anglophone brothers and sisters are asking why one of theirs have never been appointed to certain State functions, can Francophones also say that there are functions that they have never occupied in this Nation? Functions such as : the Secretary General at the Presidency of the Republic, the Minister of Defence, the Minister of Economy and Finance, the Minister of Territorial Administration and Decentralisation, the Minister of Public Service and Administrative Reforms, the Minister of External Relations, the Delegate General for National Security...   Who can therefore say the problems of Anglophones are the same as those of Francophones? Who can say all the issues raised concern both Francophones and Anglophones?

To these functions, let us add, without being exhaustive,  the management of parastatals such as the National Hydrocarbons Corporation (SNH), the National Oil Refinery  Corporation (SONARA), the National Social Insurance Fund (CNPS), the Cameroon Telecommunications (CAMTEL), the Cameroon Radio and Television (CRTV), the Douala Ports Authority, the National Directorate of the Central Bank (BEAC).  The present dispensation of the topmost functions of the State definitely leaves a sour taste in the mouths of Anglophones. The first four personalities are all Francophones: the Head of State, the President of the Senate, the President of the National Assembly, the President of the Economic and Social Council. And Anglophone, the Prime Minister and Head of Government arrives at the fifth position.

Should anybody blame our Anglophone brothers and sisters when they ask, loudly, about this strange and harmful predestination that condemns them and their children to be, always, the second best in the service of the State, although they have, sometimes, better qualifications than their Francophone bosses?

Who can explain why, in certain Francophone regions, more often (sometimes in Anglophones regions), one will find, in front of public buildings or services, signboards in one language, and where there is a translation, the writings in French are bigger than the ones in English? Is there any law or government directive prescribing such discrepancies?

When our Anglophone brothers and sisters complain that in the public services in Francophone regions, the Anglophone citizens are almost obliged to speak in French and at times insulted when they speak in English, who can say it is not true? Can anybody  also refute the fact that Anglophone civil servants in Francophone regions, are obliged to address Francophone users in French?

My last question is rather theoretical : what would have been the analysis and opinions if status were to be swapped; meaning, if Francophones were the minority and Anglophones the majority of the population ? How would the Francophones have reacted if they had to systematically face discrimination in State services and poorly considered in State matters? Would it not be their right to know why they are treated like that?

IDEAS  FOR A DEBATE

I feel that Francophones should, first of all, admit, with humility,  that their Anglophone brothers and sisters have specific problems, because of their specificity. Our brother, Professeur Achille MBEMBE, rightly said a few months back that “there is a specificity of the Anglophone question; and recognizing it, is the first step to a lasting solution of the conflict that is taking place” 27/01/2017 Facebook).

Francophones must remember that their Anglophone brothers  were not submitted to the same type of colonial rule ( Mandate or Trusteeship). With their Traditional Rulers, they used to manage their local affairs, without waiting for instructions from the capital city. They have not been educated in the Francophone-submission culture where, submission to any authority designated by the State, is almost a religion. One can therefore understand that our Anglophone brothers and sisters are not at their ease in a very centralised State management, as their Francophone brothers could be.  

Recognising this specificity does not mean that I am not aware of the governance issues affecting the other regions of the country, with their negative impact on the lives of the citizens.

The second idea I dare share is related to the dialogue that President BIYA and other Cameroonians want protagonists to engage into. First of all, I want to add my voice to those of  other Anglophones and Francophones, who have called for this dialogue.

Now that each party has shown its determination, strength and capacity to stick to its position, unfortunately with victims, it is time to give up pride and arrogance for genuine dialogue to have a chance.

There is a Chinese proverb that says: all the wars end where they should have started, around a table.

The history of the world is rich in examples of dialogue between former enemies. There is the case of North Ireland; very recently, we have the case of Colombia. We can also put the shattered pieces together through dialogue.

Later or sooner, Cameroonians from both sides of the Mungo river have to go into a sincere and brotherly dialogue, that would take into consideration all opinions.

If Francophones want to know more about the sufferings of their Anglophone brothers and sisters, the only way, in my humble opinion, is to talk with them, to organize that dialogue. And I am certain that among Anglophones there are many who want to go into dialogue.

I pray the extremists of both sides to abstain from destroying the so-much-longed-for dialogue.

The questions now are : What type of dialogue? Between who? To talk about what? And what could be the anticipated results.