Motion of support for HRH Sehm Mbinglo I of Nso,Cameroon

Considering that Cameroon signed and ratified the Charter of the United Nations which is based on the principles of the dignity and equality of all human beings and seeks, among other basic objectives, to achieve international co-operation in promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language or religion,

Considering that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights proclaims that all human beings, Nso people inclusive, are born free and equal in dignity and rights and that everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set out in the Declaration, without distinction of any kind, in particular as to race, colour or national origin,

Considering that the United Nations has condemned colonialism, and all practices of segregation and discrimination associated therewith,

Taking into account the failing top-bottom approach to governance in Cameroon, the misuse of public funds, the abuse of public institutions, and the irrational privatization of institutions that provide the basic rights such as access to safe water and sanitation,

Taking into account the fact that, the people of Nso are citizens of Cameroon and have the inalienable rights to cultural and community development activities that provide for their basic needs including safe water, health, sanitation, and food,

Alarmed by the manifestations of administrative blunders, secretive privatization and bypass of traditional authority still in evidence in Nso, as imposed by the 34-year ruining and ruling regime by means of legislative, administrative, judiciary or other measures, in the form, inter alia, of bad governance, segregation, and separation,

Convinced that the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights (ACHPR) clearly protects and promotes cultural rights in Africa and for all Africans and that culture is an integral bond that factors into effective growth and development strategies,

Convinced that all forms of discrimination against culture, still more so, governmental policies based on the prejudice of tribal superiority or on hatred, besides constituting a violation of fundamental human rights, tend to jeopardize friendly cultural relations among peoples, cooperation between tribes and national peace and security,

Convinced further that the building of a Cameroon society -- free from all forms of segregation and discrimination -- factors which create hatred and division among men, is one of the fundamental objectives of the United Nations and the Cameroon constitution,

1. I solemnly affirm the rights of the people of Nso to keep managing their community development project -- Kumbo Water Authority -- which they have been relying on to successfully supply safe water and sanitation to entire communities for more than 40 years;

2. I solemnly affirm the importance of adopting community-base approaches to governance, development, and growth, citing the case of Nso in particular. It is important that decentralization is seen in every stratum of the society and that culture should be promoted as a development strategy while recognizing the pivotal role played by traditional rulers and opinion leaders in their communities;

3. I solemnly support the Fon of Nso for standing for the rights of the people. I support every action to promote individual and collective rights. The Nso water project is a collective right and the people have a say in every decision taken by the regime;

4. I solemnly encourage open and inclusive dialogue, negotiations that bring together every relevant stakeholder identified in growth processes within the society. We cannot keep up with a top-bottom approach when it keeps failing us ever since we gained independence in 1961. We must learn to empower the local communities to manage their own affairs, support those communities and not rip them off with harsh and dubious policies;

3. Opinion leader and traditional rules in the African culture are pivotal in peace and security with any sovereign state. and for a fragile state like Cameroon, with increasing threats of terrorism, swelling grievances against the regime's loopholes, it is imperative that the HRH Fon Sehm Mbinglo must be seen as a citizen and a pivot seeking to promote unity and cohesion in his Fondom.

Fon Sehm Mbinglo, you have the motion of support from the youths who stand behind you. You have my support. Remain blessed and steadfast with your drive. You are a nation builder.