Southern Cameroons

With the economic loses of the Ghost Town Operations currently observed every Monday and Tuesdays in the North West and South West Regions estimated at Billions of FCFA, the municipal commander of the Buea council, Mayor Ekema Patrick Esunge had outline his strategic plan aim at disrupting the planned Ghost Town Operations for today Monday and tomorrow Teusday, 31.January 2017.

Besides the holding of public meetings and media outings to dissuade the people of his Municipality from involving in this civil disobedience, Ekema Patrick had  sealed shops of business structures within the Municipal markets as well as structures within the Build Operate Transfer, BOT, scheme of the Buea Council that are closed during the Ghost Town days.

With intra and inter-city transport being an important asset that aids massively in fueling up the Ghost Town Operation and in a bid to further compound the moves of the protesters, the Mayor swung into action last Tuesday after authorization from his supervisory authority to purchase 100 township taxis, twelve of which have already been acquired.The taxi deal became a big failure as Buea denisends all stayed at home today.The Anglophone consortium as well sent out warnings for the public to distance themselves from the cabs which were suspected of being wiretaped to arrest those discussing the crisis while onboard

The original plans were for the Buea Council – owned taxis to function during subsequent ghost town operations, previous occasions of which have had the city of Buea like others in the Anglophone Regions totally grounded forces denizens of the town to go on foot.
During the shop sealing operation in the Buea Town market, at the peak of the ghost town on Tuesday 24th January 2017, Ekema Patrick and the Divisional Officer of Buea, Kouam Wokam Paul, accompanied by a crack team of the Municipal Police and agents of the national security, sealed every stall that was found closed.

The Municipal Administrator vouched to only open the shop when the ghost town is brought to a definitive end. He promised to extend the operation to all markets within the municipality including structures within the Build-Operate-Transfer scheme, which he said ought to ensure the economic boom of the Buea Municipality for which it was intended.

The Mayor frowned at the reluctance of such business operators despite the reassurance given by the state on the firm security measures taken to safeguard all persons and their property during this time of upheaval. He vowed that the Council is now taking its responsibility to ensure order and cause business persons to go about their day to day activities normally, already tagging future defiant individuals as accomplices in the civil disobedience.

For the 100 township taxis some of which have already been acquired, Mayor Ekema told the press Wednesday that the venture was in response to the fervent plea of a faction of the population of Buea has lodged to him, expressing their ardent desire to re-kick their day to day activities normally but are prevented from doing so by the absence of circulation during ghost towns and threats from some faceless hoodlums.

Concortium leader mark Bareta in regards to the Taxi deal posted this on his Facebook wall ON mONDAY; 30.01.2017;

Of Colonial Mayor Ekema.

We have given him enough attention already. Just so you know, his so called 20 taxis were circulating empty in Buea. Those driving it are becoming bored because our people in Buea are indoors. Buea Denizens say they will stay indoors and not board any taxis. I think we have given this nonentity enough attention. As far as we are concerned from today, he is a persona non grata. He is not a threat because no one can be a threat against the people. Let us allow Ekema to the forces and gods to deal with him. He is history to this struggle henceforth. Forget him.

Ekema revealed that all attempts he and higher authorities have taken to dialogue with township taxis syndicates for their activities to regain steam have failed woefully, reason for which the Council has resorted to acquiring 100 taxis. Besides the intent to handle the present crisis, Mayor Ekema also proffered as a rationale for the purchase of 100 taxis the need to boost the collection of revenue of the Buea Council as well as create employment opportunities for the denizens of Buea.

The Guardian Post learnt that the current moves of the Mayor of Buea have been saluted by the administration of Fako, that of the South West Region as well as Yaounde authorities who see this as a major step to ending the crisis.

Details

28.Jan.2017

Hits: 4043

Following recent reports from the interim leaders of Cameroon Anglophone Civil Society Consortium, 11th of February will be BLACK DAY in West Cameroon. This declaration was made public based on government’s continuous efforts to sabotage the struggle for a better West Cameroon. A recent assessment of the ongoing ghost towns operation reveals a hundred percent success all over West Cameroon. The people are winning bigly.

According to the interim leaders of the Consortium, threats will be pervasive from all angles in an attempt to ruin the efforts of the people. Sources confirmed agents of the government of La Republique have been devising various tactics to convince stakeholders, teachers, and priests to call off the strike action. In this regard, the Consortium assures every West Cameroonian that in struggles for freedom, threats will always come, friends may fail, relationships may fall apart but the struggle must continue because it is bigger than everyone else.

Also, the Consortium’s leaders encourage everyone to remain resolute, determined and steadfast towards the struggle. Emphasizing that the people shouldn’t allow detractors to divert their attention from the struggle. Affirming that there is no neutrality in the struggle. Either we are in or out. Based on sources from West Cameroon as well as updates from the leaders of the Consortium, the one month ghost town declared is going on as planned. In this light, they appreciated the efforts of all Southern Cameroonians for engaging in a positive change for the benefit of the common good.

Furthermore, they reiterated, the strike goes on, ghost towns every Mondays and Tuesdays will continue. Schools, businesses and other commercial activities will remain locked up during ghost towns. This will continue until the 23rd of February 2017 with 11th February being a day when one of the biggest boycotts will be made known to La Republique and the world at large.

Akame Gerald with contributions from Mark Bareta

Details

Mark Bareta

26.Jan.2017

Hits: 2685

Edward Snowden,the former  CIA employee who is on exile in Russia , took to Twitter to denounce the suspension of Internet in the  North and South West regions of Cameroon.On his Twitter page, he wrote this; "this is the future of repression, against which we must mobilize and fight, # keepItOn # BringBackOurInternet" .

The reaction of the famous American computer scientist, Edward Joseph Snowden, provoked an avalanche of comments on social media.

After this unexpected support from the American, many Anglophone Cameroonians and cyber activists, changed their profile with the hashtag, # BringBackOurInternet #.

Officially, the Cameroonian government claims the suspension of Internet  in the South West and North West regions was aimed at limiting the spread of false information about the ongoing Anglophone crisis.

For over a week now, mobile phone users have been receiving messages that warn them against the spread of false news, or wrong information especially on social networks.The government of Cameroon has threatened defaulters with heavy fines and imprisonment.

Details

Rita Akana

26.Jan.2017

Hits: 3294

Younde: Cameroon’s Minister of Communication who equally doubles as government’s spoke person, Issa Tchiroma Bakary has admitted that there exist an Anglophone problem in Cameroon.

Even though the Minister who is also the chairman of his National Salvation Front, an opposition political party whose agenda rotates behind securing votes for President Paul Biya’s CPDM party did not equivocally agree to the fact that Anglophones have been grossly marginalized in Cameroon, he timidly admitted the existence of an Anglophone problem.

Speaking recently in a press conference organized in the nation’s political capital, Yaounde, Issa Tchiroma who first served the regime as Minister of Transport before Biya sent him to the Kodengui maximum security prison apologized for earlier stating that “there isn’t an Anglophone Problem” in Cameroon.

Minister Tchiroma who hails from the Northern region of Cameroon together with some Ministers of the Biya government had earlier commented that the problems and claims of marginalization raised by Cameroonians of the South West and North West Regions is not real, stating that the rest of Cameroon’s eight regions all face the same problems.

While admitting that worries by Anglophones about the non-respect of English as one of the official languages in Cameroon remains genuine, he dismissed claims that English speaking Cameroonians have suffered marginalization since joining La Republic du Cameroon in a UN organized plebiscite.

“Allow me to let you know one thing; there is a problem of language especially when it comes to translating because we have many documents which are written in one language while the constitution makes it mandatory to have all official documents published in both languages.” He said adding that “Allow me to say that I am sorry I might have been wrong in my assessment of the situation.”

He said responding to question to pressmen of the broadcast and print media who bothered to attend the press conference.

Details

25.Jan.2017

Hits: 3793