Editorial

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Victor Samkoh

30.Nov.2016

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Scholars have defined a military government as one which is generally any government that is administrated by military forces, whether this government is legal or not under the laws of the jurisdiction at issue, and whether this government is formed by natives or by an occupying power. A civilian dictatorship is a form of government different from military dictatorship and monarchies where the ruling dictator does not derive their power from the military. Among civilian dictatorships, dominant-party dictatorships tend to outlast personality dictatorships. These two instances can be applied to Cameroon.

Events in Cameroon since the re launch of multiparty politics in 1990 have proven beyond all reasonable doubts that Cameroon is ruled by a group of military oriented leaders wearing civilian clothes.  The New Deal government has always crushed any uprising among the population a majority being peacefully orchestrated.

The very military who have been recruited, trained to protect civilians have turned against them, sold their consciences. The military of Cameroon was used to kill at least six civilians according to government sources during the launch of SDF party in 1990, within this period several other persons were killed in disputed elections. Security forces have been used by the regime to suppress striking peaceful population who are just expressing themselves either demanding for political changes, social or economic. In 2005-2006 police fired live bullets killing striking students in the University of Buea, in February 2008 during the hunger strike, overzealous police killed over 100 in some big towns in Cameroon.

Recently Gendarmes, Army and Police forces descended on inhabitants on Bamenda using tear gas on them, they intimidated lawyers in the north west region, seized the wigs and gowns of lawyers in Buea, brutalized peaceful protesters.

Political party leaders have times without number been arrested in their quest for better working and living conditions. Police storm private premises of political parties, tear their dresses, vandalize their building, use tear gas and water cannons and go free.

It is only a military minister in sheep clothing that will scorn at lawyers for marching, ridicule president of Cameroon Bar Association and that of General Assembly and nothing happens, it is only a military minister who will defy boss to say that Anglophones are just being nuisance and crying for nothing.

The worst case is when authorities especially in Universities invite policemen on campus to intervene in a peaceful , an academic milieu where policemen can only intervene and not use force when there are acts of vandalism. In Cameroon today every situation is solved by force, by fist, by water cannon, by tear gas, by arrest and Etoudi says nothing.
The country is now ruled in an undeclared state of emergency.

In Buea Police have been stationed in all corners of the town, two after every 100meters.
A country where the ruler has spent 34 years in power can only be described as a military regime where the rule of the law is for the most powerful, alpha and Omega. Where striking population is killed and corrupt officials are promoted.

Aime Cesaire’s book La Tragedie du Roi Christophe explains all what can happen to a civilian regime when it is totally transformed into a military rule.

Prince Nfor Hanson NCHANJI

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Prince Nfor Hanson

28.Nov.2016

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The North West Region is Bamenda, it has been said and proven. Whether from Boyo, Mezam, Menchum, Donga Mantung, Bui, Ngoketunjia or Momo Division, we are all known as the Bamenda people. Bamenda is a place where “heroes come to die” says Wamey Julius. But I will contextualize this statement by adding that Bamenda like America is a place where every minute of the day gives birth to a new hero. Mancho Bibixy, is the latest of the Bamenda heroes who through a Coffin Stand up comedy at the city chemist aroundabout expressed the plight of the Bamenda people.

From the dawn of time, the Bamenda people have distinguished themselves as pictograms of hard work, vigor and dotted with the willpower that historians find difficulties to comprehend when it comes to popular uprising. This strong spirited and collective commitment of the Bamenda people has over the years tolled to have what they have often been seen to be and tagged by others. In other words, the Bamenda man lives the life of a Spartan soldier who would prefer to die than to surrender. When Bob Marley said that truth is something that must be spoken even it means "speaking to die for it", he was surely talking of the likes of Bamenda people. A type of life that can only be compared to toad in a heating tube that keep adapting to the changing temperature until it finally gives off the ghost.

This month some of us lived the melody of city that keep changing to adapting temperatures. Where life and death are matters of seconds. A Baghdad scenario or some sort of a Western movie setting of radical extremes, or a place of violent behavior. But above all the Bamenda man is a pack of dexterousness, persistence, and warmth even when people have suffered, and or ready to. Of this, there can be tiny debate. However, some people have often impolitely taken the humble nature and this strong spirited willpower of the “Bamenda man” for granted and with negativism. “Je ne suis pas ton Bamenda” and or “come no go” have often being the reward from some people who out of ignorance, and more often than not think being humble or full of determination to fight a cause to its logical end is a misdemeanor. This is rather unfortunate given that this nation owes a debt of appreciation to the Bamenda man not only for being hard working, but more importantly for the collective commitment and enormous contribution in nation building. Come to think of Nanga, Bernard Folon, Yang Philemon, Ni John Fru Ndi and million other Bamenda men of character and conscience, there is nothing than to be proud to be a Bamenda man.

Being forward looking and receptive to change has landed the Bamenda man in a position of power and to have an unquestioned advantage over others.( Quelle dites les Bamenda?). This is how the Bamenda man has been able to grasp the most essential in perspective with both hands to serve as a measuring rot for this nation. Unlike others, the Bamenda man would burn the midnight candle to obtain the desire results, takes the risk that could in a few seconds set historical records ablaze yet kept the traditional values intact in today’s world of globalization. Although others had historical and geographical head over them, they overcame their handicap with a lot of determination and dynamism.

For decades, Bamenda has had the good fortune to have produced individuals who on account of their peculiar gifts of values have contributed to the advancement of this country.

Ah! Bamenda! Home of all the heroes of yesteryears Albert Mukong, John Ngu Foncha, Jua, ST Muna, Bernard Folon, Ndeh Ntumazah, Prof Anomah Ngu, Nanga, just to name the few. In February 1983, President Paul Biya declared Bamenda as his second home. This is not a joking matter given that Paul Biya, John Fru Ndi, Francis Nkwain, SN Tamfu, JT Kangkolo, ST Muna, Foncha, Jua, Achidi Achu, Awudu Mbaya, JK Ntoi, Fuh Calistus Gentry, etc make up the Bamenda man. Oh my Bamenda, the second home of President Paul Biya.

Political Giants

Bamenda still remains a focal point of what takes place in the country politically. What, however, defines a Bamenda man, at least within the present political environment, would be that both the ruling party (CPDM) and the main opposition party (SDF) were created in Bamenda. Bamenda is the heart of politics in Cameroon; it is its people that have made Bamenda the city of versions, the Bagdad of Cameroon where in a moment of civil strike makes you live a life through a perpetual fish bowl, the outside world only being reachable only through the boots of a soldier. It is hard to imagine what this kind of life is like unless you have lived it or lived amongst it. There is a lesson to be learned from the people of Bamenda – not just of extraordinary resilience and steadfastness, but also humility and respect. And that is the real story of life in Bamenda, my Bamenda.

The Land of Noble Birth

“Bamenda, the place where heroes go to die.” That is how Julius Wamey, the famous CRTV anchor, in an article titled in the same words, described the headquarters of the Northwest Region some years back. Francis Wache in one of his articles titled: NW Region: The Caesarean Womb Of CMR’s Democracy wrote that “the name ‘Bamenda’, has, over the years, come to represent the whole Region. With a hint of pride in their voices, natives of the Region, living ‘abroad’, would say they are from ‘Bamenda’ when, in reality, they are referring to Din, Akweto, Essimbi…‘Bamenda’, has, therefore, become generic- a reference to the whole Region”.

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The Eye Newspaper

27.Nov.2016

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Cameroonian multimedia award-winning journalist journalist Tapang Ivo puts down 9 reasons why the English speaking region of Cameroon must rethink its decision o merging with its French speaking neighbours to form what is called today the Republic of Cameroon:

1. French is the main working language Cameroon's lone oil producing company, SONARA, located in the heart of the English-speaking region?

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Tapang Ivo

25.Nov.2016

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President Paul Biya  may want to begin to take a second look at the marginalization of anglophones .It seemed smart for him to have operated by divide and rule making the best of rivalries and enmities that existed amongst some Cameroonians from the North West and South West regions.
As a result there's a tendency for him to think that things can't get worse than a few uncoordinated protests here and there. But times are changing is what he may not be seeing.
Lawyers have taken to the streets.That's something that no right thinking government wants to brush under the carpet. English speaking Cameroonians  from all walks of life are beginning to catch the strike fire as well.

If a strong leader were to emerge and take the forefront of these cries of 'Enough' Our president may wake up to an 'it's too late' reality. 

English speaking Cameroonians  are the better half of Cameroon in every sense of the expression.Without Anglophone Cameroonians , Cameroon loses her English French bilingual identity she shares with only Canada in the entire world .
Without the English speaking part of Cameroon, La republique loses the oil rich bakassi, and SONARA refinery as much as SNH and CSPH become meaningless and Biya's princely life style could be terribly affected.

La republique loses the pride of the Chariot of gods /Mount Cameroon , one of the world's highest peaks which sits majestically in Buea, Capital of the SW-region.

A quality English sub system of education which is by far superior to the French sub system will also be lost as part of the identity of la republique.La republique won't be able to beat her chest and claim the glory for the beautiful regalia of the North West as well.

From more from her Facebook wall

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Angie Forbin

21.Nov.2016

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Member states of the International Criminal Court are beginning their annual meeting in The Hague. Three African states are leaving the court, but it is still needed writes Tanzanian analyst Anaclet Rwegayura.

Under the flag of the United Nations all member states believe in equality and justice. But inequality of nations persists. And, yet every nation is expected to play its fair role in this game of inequality!

I am raising these points in the wake of dissatisfaction expressed by some African countries with regard to the performance of the International Criminal Court (ICC). They charge that there has been no fair play with regard to Africa.

Last month Burundi, South Africa and Gambia, began the formal process to withdraw from the founding treaty of the ICC, the Rome Statute. Was their decision based on domestic politics or on international legal grounds?

In the view of other signatories to the statute, this is a disturbing signal which could open the way to withdrawal by other African states from an institution that has existed for just 14 years.  

Ratification and accession to the Rome Statute by many nations around the world showed they understood the need for global justice, within and outside their own boundaries. That affirmed their trust in this organization.

Can the same nations today afford to slacken the pace and the work of the ICC which is to ensure justice for lasting peace?  Of course not. All people need guarantee for survival and development in peace.

The ICC carries out its mandate on the principle that international justice can contribute to long-term peace, stability and equitable development in post-conflict societies.

'Putting its finger on miscreants'

African people don't need a heavenly voice to tell them what is necessary for building a future free of violence. Unfortunately, prejudiced groups of people who commit harmful actions against others still exist around the continent.

Africa needs peace in order to keep pace with the changing world, but without the ICC putting its finger on miscreants who wish that atrocities witnessed in recent years in a number of countries happen again, that cannot be a good recipe for peace.

Situations presently under investigation by the court in Africa include Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, Central African Republic, Darfur in Sudan, Kenya, Libya, Ivory Coast and Mali. This list does not mean situations in other African countries are like paradise. Not at all.

The decision taken by the three African countries to sever relations with the ICC may not draw much attention at the United Nations because the court is not part of the world body, but it should at the January 2017 summit of the African Union (AU) leaders.

AU member countries need to work together and, more so, with the international community in the fight against impunity, which often causes massive violations of human rights in Africa and other parts of the world.

While it still enjoys support from many African countries, the ICC should undertake a thorough examination of its administration of justice to ensure it does not undermine its own legitimacy and credibility, more importantly it must succeed in enforcing accountability at the highest levels in governments and society in general.

Africa's fears and concerns should not be ignored, especially the argument that the court is biased against Africans. They must be addressed and explained so that the ICC can bring a greater influence to the course of justice in the continent.

From its short experience, the ICC should have drawn a lesson that it requires a practical and well-timed strategy to prosecute a sitting head of state, because that's where its strained relations with Africa originated.

The most notable argument is that, while in power, heads of state have immunity from prosecution at the ICC.

Anaclet Rwegayura is a Tanzanian analyst

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Anaclet Rwegayura

16.Nov.2016

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