THE ANGLOPHONE PROBLEM: LESSON TO MY FRANCOPHONE BROTHERS

francoRecall that though both Nigeria and “La Repubique du Cameroun” promised a Federal Union with The Southern Cameroons, “La Republique du Cameroun”, being smaller than Nigeria, agreed on a FEDERAL union with The Southern Cameroons as two equal states of the Federation. “La Republique du Cameroun” pledged never to use its larger population and annex The Southern Cameroons.

Two things happened:

1) The whip-wielding French comrades of the Federation manifested domestic truancy which led to the total destruction and subsequent dissolution of the foundation on which the Union rested and a complete repudiation of the very idea of The Southern Cameroons and “La Republique du Cameroun”.

2) Following this, was colonial imperialism, the annexation and armed occupation of The Southern Cameroons.

These two moves (overthrow of The Federal Constitution Order and the revival of “La Repubique du Cameroun”) meant the status of The Southern Cameroons have been degraded from that of a self-government of an independent state to that of a dependent territory, thus The Southern Cameroonians have become a colonised people under alien subjugation.

The May 20, 1972 Referendum was firstly UNCONSTITUTIONAL in that, it violated Article 47 of the Federal Constitution which stipulated the method of amending it. It stated that:

Any proposal for the revision of the present constitution which impair the unity and integrity of the Federation shall be inadmissible” (Federal Constitution of 1961)

Ahidjo’s hidden agenda, which was the destruction of the Federation and the subsequent assimilation of The Southern Cameroonians was revealed in the Referendum of May 20, 1972.

Since the 1972 Referendum, relationship between the Francophone and the Anglophones have never been the same. Dr John Ngu Foncha in his letter of resignation from the ruling C.P.D.M. party stated that:

“The constitution that I have held and preached as the supreme law of the land is in many respect being ignored or manipulated. People are encouraged to support a flagrant violation of the constitution by going out on marches against the existence of multiple parties”
(Foncha 1990)




The rational behind the Referendum was to destroy the culture of The Southern Cameroons and dismantle its institutions especially in the spheres of legislative government, House of Chiefs, Judiciary, Police force, economic development etc, this was in a bit to accelerate the exploitation with impunity of The Southern Cameroons.

Mr Paul Biya, placed the last nail on The Southern Cameroons casket and being Ahidjo’s well groomed and hand-picked successor, finalised Ahidjo’s diabolic agenda by unilaterally and by a mere Presidential decree promulgated law No. 80.001 of February 4, 1984 abolishing The United Republic of Cameroon and resuscitating in its place “La Republique du Cameroun”.

This unconstitutional change of the country’s name was an ACT OF SECESSION by “La Republique du Cameroun” from the original Union. Remember that the name “La Republique du Cameroun” is the name French “Cameroun” assumed when it became independent on January 1, 1960, without The Southern Cameroons, and became admitted into membership of the United Nations. It equally gained international recognised boundaries.

If this be the case, where is the identity of The Southern Cameroons?

Fon Gordi Dinka, the first President of The United Republic of Cameroon Bar Association, in reaction to this unconstitutional behaviour and in a bit to salvage the situation, bearing in mind, other accumulated grievances, addressed a petition to President Paul Biya. In the protest letter entitled THE NEW SOCIAL ORDER, Dinka accused Biya SECESSION AND ANNEXATION. He argued that by reviving the old name “La Republique du Cameroun”, which was submerged at the Foumban Conference to create a Federation with The Southern Cameroon, this means “La Republique du Cameroun” has seceded from the Union and any claim by la Republique du Cameroun to govern The Southern Cameroons means pure annexation.

Mockery and stereotyping are unavoidable features that have dug rifts between Anglophones and Francophones. This include discrimination in public services, promotions, examinations, admission into schools, mockery references and even psycho-social issues. J.N. Foncha in his resignation letter from the C.P.D.M. emphasized that:

“…the Anglophone whom I brought into the Union have been ridiculed and referred to as ‘les ennemis dans la maison’, ‘les biafrans’, ‘les tritres’… ”

In recent times, what is prevalent is “les sécessionnistes”. Such appellations are derogatory and meant to dehumanise or disenfranchise Anglophones. When Ni John Fru Ndi, an Anglophone, forcefully launched the Social Democratic Fund (S.D.F.) on May 24, 1990, the Anglophones were referred to as ‘traitors’. Also, when continuous Anglophone pressure for democracy forced The National Assembly to adopt in November the Multipartism law and Biya promulgating it into law on December 19, 1990, the Anglophones were referred to as ‘les ennemis dans la maison”.

These derogatory words on Anglophones dismiss the fact that the Anglophone problem is elitist but an issue which has eaten deep into the fabrics of the country’s grassroots.

The UN Sponsored plebiscite of February 11, 1961, is the hardcore of The Southern Cameroon question today. The plebiscite mortgaged The Southern Cameroons’ independence and reunification with “La Republique du Cameroun” that is in violation of UN Resolution 1514 if 1960 on the granting of independence to all colonial and trust territories.

The plebiscite was based on two obnoxious clauses that denied The Southern Cameroons of its right to sovereign independence. The two alternatives were:

a) Do you wish to achieve independence by joining the independent “La Republique du Cameroun?”
or
b) Do you wish to achieve independence by joining The Federal Republic of Nigeria?

Reactions from The Southern Cameroons had advocated a third option which was that of total independence. Unfortunately, the UN rejected the third option.

The UN had pushed The Southern Cameroons into this mess by limiting her options for Independence and failing to respect its own UN Resolution 1514 of 1960. The funny UN proceedings and non-implementations of the UN Resolution 1608 approving a post plebiscite conference had frustrated The Southern Cameroons’ right to self-determination.

The said UN Resolution appointed a commission of three constitutional experts to be nominated one from “La Republique du Cameroun”, another from The Southern Cameroons, enabling then to form a Federal United Republique as contained in the UN Resolution 1608(XV) of 1961.

At this time, “La Republique du Cameroun” was already independent while The Southern Cameroons was enjoying regional status in Nigeria. Their reasons for this committee of experts on constitutional matters was to mediate between “La Republique du Cameroun” and The Southern Cameroons whose independence was to be assumed at the unification, thus the UN intervention was to assure the balance of power.

Unfortunately, the UN and Britain, the administering powers failed to attend the conference while the French supported and advised the Francophone Republic. The UN and British absence was a betrayal of The Southern Cameroonian.

The two questions were against the spirit of the Mamfe Conference which resolved that The Southern Cameroons should first be independent before thinking of re-unification. The resolution of The Mamfe Conference was effectively placed before the UN but was ignored. The plebiscite was therefore something that was forced down the throat of The Southern Cameroonians and is still hunting them today.

Dr J.N. Foncha, The Southern Cameroons Prime Minister who led The Southern Cameroons to independence in his letter to the British, the UN and member countries titled “Startling Revelation from British Declassified documents on The Southern Cameroons” revealed that:

“There is an increasing movement in The Southern Cameroons in favour of a third choice in plebiscite-total independence with United Kingdom Aid. We have not supported this proposition when I wrote my letter 1519/1/60 of June 7, about Cameroons, I had not seen Hell’s letter 1847/11230 of May 25 to Kale about the third question… The terms of the last sentence of that letter cause me concern…”(Declassified UK document).

There is no legal union of the Cameroons, Yaounde seceded since 1984. This means, the territory of the Southern Cameroons is occupied, its citizens annexed and its resources plundered. Only a return to the Pre-1972 status (Federation) can salvage this problem, failure of which will lead to Independence of the Southern Cameroons as Ambazonia Republic.

By Dr.Tee Ebogo-Ngwa
Yaounde

“The Penal Code of Oppression”

From let to right Pride Mbi Agbor,Alain Bougan SCNC activist demonstrating at the Cameroonian high commissioner in London on the 25 Nov 2016
From let to right Pride Mbi Agbor,Alain Bougan SCNC activist demonstrating at the Cameroonian high commissioner in London on the 25 Nov 2016

Cameroon, known by many as Africa in miniature, is a product of its colonial masters the English and the French country with a rich ethnic diversity of over 300 different ethnic languages and some of which are spoken and prevalent in other parts of the African continent. With such a diversity with living in close proximity with each other and only been separated by geographical boundaries, Cameroon lives up to its true identity as Africa in miniature. Apart from the myriad tribal languages, English and French remain the two official languages in Cameroon.  However, the contemporary challenge, difficulty, problem or in many ways the dilemma we (Cameroonians) face in Cameroon is not as a result of the 300 different tribes living in close proximity but a problem of marginalisation, suppression and oppression of English-speaking Cameroon especially being the minority.

 

The Cameroon judicial system also varies depending on the area or region where one finds him or herself – if you are in the English part of Cameroon, the Common Law is in practise whilst in French Cameroon, the civil or criminal law – this is a direct effect of both English and French Cameroon previously having two different colonial masters and as a result, these laws have been passed down to the people of Cameroon even after the many years of colonialization.

The Common Law which is practised in English Cameroon is generally uncodified. This means that there is no comprehensive compilation of legal rules and statutes. While Common Law does rely on some inefficient statutes, which are legislative decisions, it is largely dependent on precedence – meaning that the judicial decisions that have already been made in similar cases. These precedents are maintained over time through the records of the courts as well as historically documented case laws known as “yearbooks and reports”. The precedents to be applied in the decision of each new case are determined by the presiding judge. Common law functions as an adversarial system, a contest between two opposing parties before a judge who moderates, with a jury of ordinary people without legal training decides on the facts of the case. The judge then determines the appropriate sentence based on the jury’s verdict.




Civil Law, which is practised in French Cameroon in contrast, is codified. Countries with civil law systems have comprehensive, continuously updated legal codes that specify all matters capable of being brought before a court, the applicable procedure, and the appropriate punishment for each offence. Such codes presents a clear-cut dichotomy between different categories of law: substantive law establishes which acts are subject to criminal or civil prosecution, procedural law establishes how to determine whether a particular action constitutes a criminal act, and penal law establishes the appropriate penalty. In a civil law system, the judge’s role is to establish the facts of the case and to apply the provisions of the applicable code. Though the judge often brings the formal charges, investigates the matter, and decides on the case, he or she works within a framework established by a comprehensive, codified set of laws. The judge’s decision is consequently less crucial in shaping civil law than the decisions of legislators and legal scholars who draft and interpret the codes.

These two legal systems are not mixed in any court sessions and the system of education is set up for English Cameroon to study common law and the French civil law in their various schools of law found in the different parts of Cameroon.

In recent past, we have seen the French domination in English courts by French lawyers who are trained in civil law and have no idea little or no conceptualisation of the common law, sent to work or represent English people in English courts in Cameroon or English people transferred to a French Cameroon and tried for their actions (crime). Although these acts were committed in English Cameroon (i.e. Northwest and Southwest provinces of Cameroon) culprits were tried using civil law in their court proceedings, and on numerous occasions, these have been the case of SCNC activist who have been tried in French courts using civil law while their acts were committed in English Cameroon!

Finally, the penal code enacted on July12, 2016, completely eliminated, erase or better-still wiped out the common law in Cameroon, with section 1-1 stating “All persons shall be subject to criminal law ”, I can begin to describe the frustration of the English Cameroonians or the common law lawyers who have studied all their lives suddenly becoming jobless and having to go back to university to study civil law with a clear and succinct message that Common law has been scrapped out of the English educational system in Cameroon – this is text book definition of marginalisation, oppression, and discrimination.

That was just a section of the so-called Penal code. Other parts include:

Section 102: Hostilities against the Fatherland; any citizen taking part in hostilities against the state is committing treason punishable by death.

Yet hostility means unfriendliness or opposition. Being a member of SCNC will be classified as being hostile against “the fatherland” as they seek to secede from French Cameroon.

Section 111: Secession; whoever undertakes in whatever manner in infringe the territorial integrity shall be punish with imprisonment for life. The SCNC members again will fall prey to this too especially we also know that self-determination is a fundamental right for all.

Other sections include, Section 152: Contempt

Section 153: Contempt of President, Section 158: Collective resistance

Section 231: Unlawful public meetings and processions, the SCNC has been banned and all its meetings have been deemed unlawful, because SCNC is a secessionist activist group and sufficient enough to ban any of such groups from existing.

After several attempts by proponents of the common law to bring the government’s attention to these issues (jobless due to the potential eradication of the common law) to no avail, protagonist of the common law (i.e. lawyers) decided to take to the streets in a peaceful demonstration, that resulted in the government’s response that wasn’t that of dialogue but police harassment and brutality that left many lawyers injured and running for their lives. That notwithstanding, a general strike action was call by the lawyers to force the government to consider the common law of the English Cameroon, that took place on Monday 21 November 2016 and after two days at least 5 civilians were killed by the militia. This has caused not only Common Law lawyers to go on strike, but  English speaking Cameroonians worldwide to take to the streets to demonstrate and show their support and solidarity to these lawyers against police brutality vis-à-vis civilians.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-38078238




In the UK, English Cameroonians demonstrated at the Cameroon High Commissioner at Holland Park in London on the 25 of november 2016  and as usual, instead of a peaceful dialogue, a Cameroonian spy came out of the consulate taking pictures of those demonstrating without their permission: consequentially, all who were there for the demonstration have become potential targets of the Cameroon government but that will not stop us the English speaking Cameroonians! We will die trying to make our voices heard!

SPY IN BLACK LEATHER JACKET AND DROWN TROUSER AT THE DEMONSTRATION AT HOLLAND PARK LONDON
SPY IN BLACK LEATHER JACKET AND BROWN TROUSER AT THE DEMONSTRATION AT HOLLAND PARK LONDON TAKING PHOTOS WITHOUT PERMISSION
SPY IN BLACK LEATHER JACKET AND DROWN TROUSER AT THE DEMONSTRATION AT HOLLAND PARK LONDON
SPY IN BLACK LEATHER JACKET AND BROWN TROUSER AT THE DEMONSTRATION AT HOLLAND PARK LONDON

SPY COUGH IN CAMERA GOING INTO THE CAMEROON HIGH  BUILDING AFTER TAKING PHOTO OF ACTIVIST DEMONSTRATING AT CAMEROON HIGH COMMISSIONER IN LONDON

The demands of the English Cameroonians is simple: to be able to practice common law in English Cameroon and to have a two state federation as it was in the days of late President Ahmadou Ahidjo. But being an SCNC activist, the independence of English Cameroon is what I demand: for the right of self-determination is a fundamental right and I strongly believe Cameroon is a signatory of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights or maybe I am simply hallucinating! #just saying

Please see below a copy of the Penal Code

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-38078238

http://edition.cnn.com/2016/12/15/world/cameroon-protesters-deaths/

By Pride Mbi Agbor.

PRESS RELEASE DEMILITARISE BRITISH SOUTHERN CAMEROONS FOR PEACEFUL RESOLUTION OF POLITICAL CONFLICT

pic5-bdaWe hail and salute the nationalistic consciousness and patriotism demonstrated by all the people – men, women, youths and students – of British Southern Cameroons in solidarity with the Common Law Lawyers and the ongoing strike declared by the Teachers Trade Unions.

We whole heartedly salute the Common Law Lawyers and the Teachers who as custodians respectively of the Common Law heritage and the Anglo-Saxon Educational system have dutifully risen to combat assimilation and the annihilation of our core values and identity by the neo coloniser la Republique du Cameroun. But the problem is far larger than meets the bird’s eye view.

We must get rid of this tripod evil – ANNEXATION, ASSIMILATION and INSTITUTIONALISED VIOLENCE. These three evils are imposed on us by la Republique du Cameroun. To get rid of them we must first get rid of la Republique du Cameroun, the incarnation of the evil tripod.

The ongoing strike by the Common Law Lawyers and the Teachers Trade Unions is consequent upon the intransigence and the devil-inspired insensitivity of the Yaoundé dictatorship. Had President Paul Biya harkened and respected the Banjul Ruling on Communication 266/2003 endorsed by the AU Summit in July 2009, Libya, and had the approved Constructive Dialogue taken place and agreed terms implemented, things would not have degenerated to this painful point of anger and hatred.

One of the strong points in the Ruling is the call for an end to arrest, transfer, detention and trial of Southern Cameroonians for crimes allegedly committed in British Southern Cameroons by Civil Law judges in French in la Republique du Cameroun courts and military tribunals.

In addition to flouting the ruling with impunity, the worst has been visited on the people. Firstly, while arbitrary arrests, kidnapping to la Republique du Cameroun for kangaroo trials in French is still on, e.g. the Wum Saga, Southern Cameroons Courts and judiciary are now flooded with magistrates steeped in Napoleonic code, among other measures aimed at annihilating the Common Law completely. The Common Law Lawyers have thus seen silence as collaboration for self-destruction and extinction of British Southern Cameroons identity.




At the level of education harmonization was tailored to expedite assimilation and consolidate annexation for the prestige and grandeur of la Republique du Cameroun. Proud of the inherited Anglo Saxon educational system and core values which has given us self-esteem, community spirit, sense of commonweal as opposed to la Republique du Cameroun spirit of individualism, grabbing and corrupt culture, the Teachers Trade Unions and other stakeholders of the British Southern Cameroons educational system have out rightly rejected harmonisation, euphemism for assimilation and dehumanisation of the British Southern Cameroons.

The peaceful strike has swept across from north to south and east to west for Southern Cameroonians after more than half a century of la Republique du Cameroun barbaric domination and alien rule have come to the end of the road and can bear it no more. But why use of live bullets by occupation forces?

pic-1-bda pic2-bda pic3-bda pic4-bda pic5-bdapic6-bda

THE PEOPLE’S CALL OF HISTORY AND POSITION;

  1. No Southern Cameroonian should allow himself/herself to be used against his people. Enough of treachery by fortune seekers.
  2. No more dialogue with the coloniser and annexationist. The colonial occupier knows only the dialogue of the grave yard. The only acceptable thing and that which the people want is negotiation for peaceful separation under the UN as the umpire. Peaceful separation will enable the two nations and peoples live as good neighbours as before 1961.
  3. The official language of British Southern Cameroons, in addition to the languages of nationalities, is English. Not banning the teaching of other foreign languages, English is the language of instruction in school, the language of use in offices, churches and other official transactions.
  4. For peaceful resolution of the political conflict between British Southern Cameroons and la Republique du Cameroun;
  5. We call on all Southern Cameroonians in Parliament of la Republique du Cameroun to learn from the lessons of 1953 and as representatives of the people dutifully COME BACK HOME for necessary consultation and positive action in the supreme interest of their people. Makers of progressive history are not those who have never erred, they are people who learn from their mistakes and for the common good rise to the challenge of their time. History is watching!
  6. We call on all The Natural Rulers, the fathers of the original nations amalgamated to create British Southern Cameroons, the political leaders and Religious Authorities, to take judicious notice of the plight of our people and speak out in defense of TRUTH, FREEDOM and JUSTICE and inherent right to self-determination and SOVEREIGN INDEPENDENCE, for to pretentiously be indifferent is treachery.
  7. We call on Yaoundé to demilitarise the British Southern Cameroons to create an enabling environment for necessary negotiation for peaceful separation. The current military reinforcement with troops armed to the teeth, arbitrary arrests, torture, detentions, is provocation too much for a people subjected to a constant reign of terror.
  8. We call on the UN to learn from its past mistakes and not play the ostrich and allow la Republique du Cameroun “agents provocateurs” sent into this former UN Trust Territory ignite an unrest whose consequences will leave a dark scar on the conscience of the UN.

Done in Buea this 22nd Day of November, 2016

For the SCNC and in the name of the people of British Southern Cameroons.

 

 

 

 

NFOR, N. NFOR

National Chairman, (SCNC)

 

Cc;

Common Law Lawyers

Teachers Trade Unions

Religious Authorities

Diplomatic Missions in Yaoundé,

ACHPR, Banjul, The Gambia

Pan African Parliament, Midrand 1685, Gauteng Province, South Africa

Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, London

AU Commission Chairman, Addis Ababa

Commonwealth SG, London

UN SG, New York, USA

The Press

Archives

12 FACTS ABOUT THE TERRITORY OF THE SOUTHERN CAMEROONS

scn1. The Southern Cameroons has a surface area of 43,000 sq. km and a current population of about 6 million people. It is thus demographically bigger than at least 60 UN and 18 AU Member States, and spatially bigger than at least 30 UN and 12 AU Member States. Located in the ‘armpit’ of Africa, it is sandwiched between Nigeria and Republique du Cameroun like a wedge between West Africa and what in effect is still French Equatorial Africa. It has frontiers to the west and north with Nigeria, to the east with Republique du Cameroun, and to the south with the Equatoria Guinean Island of Bioko. The borders are well attested by international boundary treaties.

2. The natural resources of the Southern Cameroons include oil, gas, timber, coffee, cocoa, tea, bananas, oil palm, rubber, wildlife, fish, medicinal plants, waterfalls and a wide variety of fruit and agricultural produce.
3. The territory later identified as the Southern Cameroons was originally British from 1858-1887. It was ceded to Germany and subsequently incorporated into the contiguous German protectorate of Kamerun, which had been acquired earlier in 1884.

4. A 1913 Anglo-German Treaty respecting the settlement of the frontier between the British territory of Nigeria and the German territory of Kamerun from Lake Chad to the sea. That territorially grounded treaty has remained the instrument defining the international boundary between Nigeria and the Southern Cameroons. Moreover, a 1954 British Order in Council (Definition of Boundaries Proclamation) defined the boundary between the Eastern Region of Nigeria and the Southern Cameroons.

5. The same territory that had been ceded in 1887 by Britain to Germany was captured by British forces in September 1914 soon after the outbreak of World War I. It later became known as the British Cameroons, consisting of two separate parts, the Southern Cameroons and the Northern Cameroons.

6. Germany held on to its original Kamerun protectorate until 1916 when Anglo-French forces captured it. France took possession of the territory and it became known as French Cameroun. In 1916 therefore, Germany ceased to exercise any territorial authority (sovereignty) over Kamerun. The utter defeat of Germany entailed the loss of its colonial territory. Under Articles 118 and 119 of the 1919 Versailles Treaties Germany renounced and relinquished all rights in and title to all its overseas possessions, including her Kamerun territory.




7. An Anglo-French treaty of 1916 (the Milner-Simon Declaration) defined the international boundary between the British Cameroons and French Cameroun. This territorial delimitation was confirmed by the League of Nations in 1922 when the two territories were separately placed under the Mandates System. The territorial alignment was further confirmed by the Anglo-French Treaty of 9 January 1931, signed by the Governor-General of Nigeria and the Governor of French Cameroun.

8. The Southern Cameroons was thus under British rule from 1858 to 1887, and then from 1915 to 1961, a total period of nearly 80 years. That long British connection left an indelible mark on the territory, bequeathing to it an Anglo-Saxon heritage. The territory’s official language is English. Its educational, legal, administrative, political, governance and institutional culture and value systems are all English-derived.

9. The Southern Cameroons was under international tutelage with the status of a class ‘B’ territory, first as a British-Mandated Territory of the League of Nations from 1922-1945, and then as a British-administered United Nations Trust Territory from 1946 to 1961.

10. Under Article 22 of the Treaties of Versailles the Mandatory Power accepted and undertook to apply “the principle that the well-being and development of [the inhabitants of the territories concerned] form a sacred trust of civilization.” At the end of World War II the international mandates system was transmuted to the international trusteeship system under chapters XII and XIII of the UN Charter.

11. By Article 73 of that Charter the Administering Power “recognize the principle that the interests of the inhabitants of [territories whose peoples have not yet attained a measure of self-government] are paramount, and accept as a sacred trust the obligation to promote to the utmost, within the system of international peace and security established by the present Charter, the well-being of the inhabitants of those territories.” One of the basic objectives of the international trusteeship system, as stated in Article 76 b of the Charter, is “to promote the political, economic, social, and educational advancement of the inhabitants of the trust territories, and their progressive development towards self-government or independence as may be appropriate to the particular circumstances of each territory and its peoples and the freely expressed wishes of the peoples concerned, and as may be provided by the terms of each trusteeship agreement.”

12. Up to 1960, the Southern Cameroons though under international tutelage was administered by Britain as part of her contiguous colonial territory of Nigeria. But its distinct identity and personality, separate from Nigeria, remained unassailable. UN Resolution 224 (III) of 18 November 1948 protected the Trust Territory from annexation by any colonial-minded neighbour. While acknowledging that the Trusteeship Agreement makes allowance for ‘administrative union’, the Resolution provides that “Such a union must remain strictly administrative in its nature and scope, and its operation must not have the effect of creating any conditions which will obstruct the separate development of the Trust Territory, in the fields of political, economic, social and educational advancement, as a distinct entity.”

As published by the THE AFRICAN COMMISSION ON HUMAN AND PEOPLES’ RIGHTS- Banjul.

MR PAUL BIYA ENOUGH is Enough

Catherine Yomber SCNC activist UK
Catherine Yombo SCNC activist UK

For how long must we suffer from all forms of human rights violations, poverty,
underdevelopment not to mention the unmentionable which is the killing of innocent people day-in-day-out. Southern Cameroonians (SC) have been reduced to the level of slaves in their motherland. The uniform men (gendarmes) of La Republic take pleasure in inflicting pain and misery to Southern Cameroonians and in exchange receive promotions at work. I must say this again and again; there has never been a union between Southern Cameroon and La Republic du Cameroun (LR). LR was already an independent country in 1960 long before SC got its independent in 1961.
Our independence is as such inevitable and we want total restoration of our statehood. It is our fundamental human rights and nothing will stop us from fighting for our freedom. We have seen, heard and have undergone all forms of inhuman treatment and enough is enough?
Democracy is a big joke and amongst other theories in Cameroon with not the least in practice. No doubt SC are detained and beaten to death for expressing their political opinions. It is also no wander that the Anglo-Saxon System of Law- the Common Law which is the law common to us is being tampered with and gradual introduction of the Civil Law (Codified law/barbaric French System). This is taking things too far and above the law.




This has taken the Common Law lawyers on the streets of all main cities in Southern Cameroons. These lawyers have been on strike for nearly a month now which is for a just course but what has Mr Paul Biya done? As usual his humble servants the uniform men are spotted everywhere in SC doing what they are paid for and what they best know; agents of massive destruction. Enough is enough give peace a chance by doing the right thing for once in your lifetime which is all we want for over 30yrs.
The “Francophonisation” of our legal system is the highest degree of abuse to us and to anyone of good conscience. This cannot be accepted hands down, never in the history of mankind in addition to all the other injustices. We are all behind the Common Law Lawyers for as we all know “forward ever backward never”. We want our independence and take back control of our land. It is imperative to bring to lime light just the tip of the iceberg as to what necessitated this strike action.
Majority of judges and magistrates in our courts are Francophone passing judgment in French. How can there be a fair hearing when there is a language barrier? Moreover, why are our key jurisdictions dominated by Francophones? Assuming that it is for the purported blending of both systems; why are our Anglophone magistrates marginalized? We can go on and on to ask these questions which just go to show the extent to which fundamental human rights are being violated by LR.
We have shed enough blood and innocent souls loss, enough is enough Mr Paul Biya. The change we need at last, rise and shine fellow Southern Cameroonians.
CATHERINE MURING YOMBO Activists SCNCUK.

THE ANNEXATION AND ASSIMILATION OF ANGLOPHONE EDUCATION

Nursery, Primary, Secondary, and High School Teachers including the University of Buea and Bamenda lecturers have called for an industrial strike on November 21st for a number of reasons. They are joining the Common Law Lawyers who have been protesting now for over a month.

In a communiqué that was released on October 26th, 2016 by All Teachers Trade Unions and Associations of Anglophone Extraction, they listed a number of worries.

  • The withdrawal and re-posting of all French-speaking teachers from Anglophone classrooms with the exception of bilingual teachers.
  • The withdrawal of francophone lecturers and administrators from Anglo-Saxon universities of Bamenda and Buea and their colleges of education.
  • The recruitment of competent Anglophones to teach in various departments of colleges and faculties of the university of Bamenda.
  • The withdrawal and re-orientation of all francophones reading English modern letters in Higher Teachers training college Bambili and other schools of education in Cameroon to departments where they have an academic background.

on these grounds the teachers are demanding:

– The deployment of Anglophone teachers sent to francophone colleges

– The immediate halt of the practice of sending francophone student teachers to practice on Anglophone students.

–  The immediate stoppage of CAP, PROBATOIRE TECHNIQUE and BACCALAUREAT TECHNIQUE from the English sub-system.

– The creation of the Cameroon National council and Le ConseilNational de L’education du Cameroun (CNC/CNEC)
–  The institution of a mandatory one-year industrial attachment program for trainees of the Higher Technical Teacher’s Training College Bambili and Kumba.

It should be noted that these complaints have been submitted to government 10 months ago and none of their demands have been met, rather there is an overtly intensified devious machination to wreak havoc on Anglophones and their sub-system of education thereby pushing them to the fringes of social and educational advancement.




In light of this lamentable situation whereby Anglophones are continuously denigrated, subjugated and treated as a colonised people while children are groomed for slavery, these associations have together declared an indefinite strike action while urging the government NOT to use their machinery of force to provoke any stakeholder or carry out any action that might lead to loss of life and/or property.

“..Just take a look at the faculty of engineering, University of Buea. Anglophones have no place there. Over 85% of the first and second-year students are Francophones. Most Anglophones who did very well at the GCE did not succeed in getting into the school. I think we also have to talk to the VCs and Deans of all Anglophone Universities, to make sure Anglophone children are given priority. Francophones have engineering schools in Yaounde, Douala, yet want to deprive Anglophones from Buea. It is also necessary to take a look at the entrance exams into ENSET Kumba/Bambili and also ENS. Over 90% of the intakes are Francophones. This explains why Anglophone Universities are littered with the French language everywhere. It is indeed, not only outright marginalization but an educational genocide. It should be recalled that the moral standards in most of our mission schools have dropped because of the infiltration of francophone children…”

National Anthem Cameroun Fake Union

The Chairman of SCNC UK ANF
The Chairman of SCNC UK AND GUTENBERG NGADJEU

National Anthem is usually that song that reminds every person in the world who they are and which values they carry with them and service to their country; it is a song that when you sing, you feel united with the people of your country. In Africa it is usually the first song learnt in school as the government want them to incorporate a certain range of value, nationalism and patriotic attitude. Cameroon is a country in central Africa with its own problems like other countries. Officially, it is supposed to be a “unified” country; but it is hard to understand that a country is unified but has two different national anthems for French and English part of the country; we are not talking about the melody but about the message. Let us bear in mind that in Cameroon they sing only the first verse and the Chorus of their national anthem. Let us analyse both the French and English versions of it. Copy and translation of each version can be found on Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/O_Cameroon,_Cradle_of_Our_Forefathers ) Official English lyrics O Cameroon, Thou Cradle of our Fathers, Holy Shrine where in our midst they now repose, Their tears and blood and sweat thy soil did water, On thy hills and valleys once their tillage rose. Dear Fatherland, thy worth no tongue can tell! How can we ever pay thy due? Thy welfare we will win in toil and love and peace, Will be to thy name ever true! Chorus: Land of Promise, land of Glory! Thou, of life and joy, our only store! Thine be honour, thine devotion, And deep endearment, for evermore. English translation of official French lyrics from Wikipedia . O Cameroon cradle of our ancestors, Go, upright and jealous of your freedom. As the sun, let your flag be proud, A symbol of ardent faith and unity, May all your children, from North to South From East to West, live in love! May serving you be their sole purpose To fulfil their duty forever. Chorus: Dear Fatherland, dear land, You are our only true happiness. Our joy, our life To you, love and the greatest honor. Although both have the same melody, they both have a different message. In the first verse, the French one expresses their respect for their ancestor, acknowledges their freedom, that their flag should be a symbol of their faith and unity (please dear reader keep in mind that this song was adopted in 1957, which means 3 years before LA REPUBLIQUE DU CAMROUN independence), that their children should live in love and serve their country forever. This is the verse sang by LA REPUBLIQUE DU CAMEROUN (LRC) citizens, and yes most of them apply what it says in the national anthem’s first verse especially authorities, who had annexed Southern Cameroon. Remember LRC got their independence in 1960 with their National Anthem already; while the Southern Cameroon was still under British authority. And in 1961 Southern Cameroon freely joined LRC into a federation. After that several thing changed: The Flag, the Constitution (where the federation was protected by his article 47), the creation of the English national assembly, and some other things like the Name of the country. But the National Anthem remained the same no change what so ever, instead a new version was added to Southern Cameroonians anthem. After the so call referendum and unification what has changed, again the flag, the dissolution of the English assembly, the constitution (ignoring the protection of the article 47 from the previous one), and the name of the country get back to his old original name (LA REPUBLIQUE DU CAMEROUN), again the National Anthem did not change and Southern Cameroonians stayed with that version which was imposed on them during the federation. It sounds like since the beginning of that union LRC had planned to impose their authority to Southern Cameroon, as they were always in control of the army, the flag, and the currency. This can explain why in Southern Cameroon there is an oil refinery but the bill and all the accountability is done in LRC by citizens of LRC; and the benefits of that oil money is invested in LRC. This can explain why in Victoria (Limbe) the army, the BIR (Fast intervention brigade) is LRC french force while the language there is English, this explains why there are over 35 army generals in the country and not even 3 from Southern Cameroon. This can explain why in Buea (Capital of Southern Cameroon) in every government institute the primary language is French when the main population speak English; why they had to move the CDC (Cameroon Development Corporation) headquarter from Victoria (Limbe) to Yaounde (LRC capital), the CDC was one of the last institutes respecting the rights and the thought of Southern Cameroonians especially the farmers; it was one of the last institutes that gave the feeling to people of Southern Cameroon that they are someone; it was one of those last hope of recognitions of their hard work. Basically Southern Cameroon works and produces wealth, and LRC takes all the profits exactly like during colonisation. In fact, instead of them working hard like their ancestors to make their land prosperous they use violence and guns to make the southern Cameroonian population to work hard for them. Like it says in the first verse: “May serving you be their sole purpose to fulfil their duty forever” even if it means oppressing, stealing and killing innocent people. Their chorus is just as clear: “Dear Fatherland, dear land, You are our only true happiness. Our joy, our life To you, love and the greatest honor” which literally means we will make our best to take everything back to our Land and under our control



. On the other hand, the English version expresses in the first verse; their respect for their ancestor, acknowledges their sacrifices, their hard work, the fact that their land cannot be sold as any tongue can the worth of it; that the welfare of that land will be win through work love and peace (please reader keep in mind that this version came up after the Southern Cameroonians freely accepted to join LRC in a federation; and the land in this case is only about the Southern Cameroonian land). This is what is sang in the Southern Cameroons, basically they taught the Southern Cameroon population to love, to care and to protect their land. So there is no surprise when people who know the truth about our history, who grew up with that love of their fatherland, join the SCNC to fight for the freedom and the prosperity of that land; there is no surprise when those people are ready to die for what is right. As the chorus said it well: Land of Promise, land of Glory! Thou, of life and joy, our only store! Thine be honour, thine devotion, And deep endearment, for evermore. Southern Cameroon is a land of Glory, of life, of joy and a store where you can find fresh food in every season, a store of mineral resources and oil; where the population welcome everybody in love and peace. Southern Cameroonian must continue to fight and free their Land of Promise. We have two different educational systems from nursery school to high school, two different national anthems for each part of the country with two different messages for the same country but we are supposed to be unified. Nowadays the use of the new penal code is to keep us quiet as it is stipulate on it article 111 that can be found here https://www.prc.cm/en/multimedia/documents/4721-law-n-2016-007-of-12-july-2016- relating-to-the-penal-code-en . Can we really speak about “unity” in that country, or annexation of Southern Cameroon?

By Gutenberg Ngadjeu Mbakop

UNDERSTANDING THE COMMON LAW- THE DIFFERENCE

lawCitizens from former British Southern Cameroons have been wondering what is common law especially those who have not been privy to study law in the University. Cameroon has two types of legal system. The Common and Civil Law. In this article, Donatus Wan-Obi, former UB Student Union Chairman and a legal mind himself, gave the ABC of the common law in the most simple terms for our understanding. It is important that when we talk about Common Law and when we support our lawyers, we should be aware of what we are saying. These short questions and responses will help us gather.

Common law is law that is made by judges rather than the parliament. As judges consider both criminal and civil matters, they make decisions, deliver rulings and develop precedents. Taken together, these things constitute common law. A good deal of civil law, such as torts and negligence, began life as common law.  Common law takes some law-making pressure off parliament and allows for laws to respond to real life situations.

What is the difference between Common and Civil Law?

Common Law

– 2 rules, do no harm or threat of harm

– Freedom, responsibility, and Liability

– No need for permission for anything

– Considered responsible (Innocent)

Civil Law

– Thousands of Laws




– Limited Freedom, responsibility, liability

What are the various types of legal systems?

– Civil Law: Main source of law is statutes

– Common Law: Main source of law are statutes, case law and also equity

– Religious Law: Main source of law is religious in text

– Customary Law: Main source of law is established pattern of behavior

– Hybrid: Some mixture of the aforementioned systems

What are some examples of Common Law Protections?

– The privilege against self-incrimination

– Legal professional privilege

– Access to the courts

– Access to legal counsel when an indigent (poor) person is accused of a serious crime

– Immunity from interference with vested property rights including native title rights

– Immunity from deprivation of liberty except by law

– Freedom of speech and movement

– Procedural fairness when affected by exercise of public power

Some examples of countries practicing common and civil law system

Common Law

– UK, Canada, USA, Australia, New Zealand, India, Nigeria, South Africa, Southern Cameroons

Civil Law

– Russia, France, Mali, Niger, La Republique Du Cameroun

Main Differences between Common and Civil Law

Common Law Civil Law
Case Law Principle of legality
Based on customs/English Law Based on Roman Law
Trial dominated by lawyers with judge as referee Judge participates actively seeking for evidence and examining witnesses
Judge and Jury One or a panel of judges
Judge uses inductive reasoning about the facts Judge uses deductive reasoning
Court may fashion an equitable remedy-one that is “fair” Inappropriate for court to fashion a remedy not set forth in the code
Greater opportunity for false positive or false negative Greater opportunity for corruption

 

What are the systems based on?

Common Law

– Based on precedent, custom and interpretation

– Judge can interpret laws

– Ownership established by use

– Innocent until proven guilty

– Contracts tend to be longer, more detailed

– Contract performance except for Acts of God

– More adversarial/more Lawsuits

Civil Law

– Based on written codes and detailed laws

– Judge can apply laws

– Ownership established by registration

– Guilty until proven innocent

– Contracts tend to be shorter

– Contract performance has ” Acts of God’ which include unforeseable acts

– Less adversarial/less lawsuits

 

The struggle Continues and the Fight must go on!

Alain Bougan Scnc Activist UK
Alain Bougan Scnc Activist UK

Southern Cameroons was the southern part of the British mandate territory of Cameroons during the colonisation. In 1961, people of Southern Cameroons voted whether to join Nigeria or the Republic of Cameroun, which had already obtained independence from Britain and France one year earlier ( 1 January 1960). The vote resulted in Southern Cameroons becoming part of  Cameroon ( The  Republic of Cameroun).

The separatist Southern Cameroons National Council ( SCNC ) – which is demanding an independent Southern Cameroons made up of Cameroon’s  Northwest and Southwest Regions is a Self determination movement seeking the independence of the English speaking  from la Republique the French  speaking  Cameroun. Because the Southern Cameroons National Council (SCNC) advocates separation from the French  Cameroon, it has been declared an illegal organisation by the Cameroon Government. It is not worth mentioning the condition in which we the Southern Cameroonians live in. Our condition is deplorable, Southern Cameroonians live in abject poverty, where the basic need of children are not met. Prior to Cameroon independence in 1960, Southern Cameroons had some renowned companies that helped its inhabitant to work and care for their families. Nowadays, most of these companies where our people relied upon to survive, have been relocated to the French speaking Cameroon, leaving our people to suffer and to become street beggars. I will name you one or two prominent companies that have been removed:

National producing Marketing board, a subsidiary that produced Cocoa and Coffee and exported abroad.

Power cam dealt with electricity, it was removed from Muyuka to  Kribi a French City of Cameroon. Most recently, the last standing company that produces Palm Oil and Banana known as Cameroon Development Corporation (CDC) is being moved to Yaounde the Capital of French Cameroon.

Long desired by Western powers for its beauty and natural resources, Cameroon was first occupied by the Germans in 1884. After the First World War, the French and British carved it up between them as League of Nations mandates – four-fifths went to France, the rest to the United Kingdom.

A Federation was declared in 1961, followed by the Annexation of the English-Speaking  region into the United Republic of Cameroon, with its Capital in Yaounde in 1972. Dissension continues to seethe, however, in the English- speaking regions which recent the lack of control over their assets.

Over the years, Cameroon has downplayed its problem with the English-speaking regions, while making token placements of a few of their citizens in its administration. this relationship of inequality has let to impoverishment of the territory and its population and a diminishment of their education and cultural heritage, while feeding the flame of ethnic strife between the people of the Northwest and Southwest Regions.




Cameroon’s government under President Paul Biya ( The Dictator Biya) is bearing down on a separatist movement fighting for the rights of minority English -speaking  Regions, using as its weapon a sweeping new anti-terrorism law introduced in December 2014.

Whoever undertakes in whatever manner to infringe the territorial integrity of the Republic shall be punished with imprisonment for life.
In time of war, or in a state of emergency or siege, the penalty shall be death.

And the Separatist Southern Cameroons National Council (SCNC) has been targeted under the New Law , which forbids public meetings , street protest or any action that the government deems to be disturbing the peace. But we as Southern Cameroonians know that this law was put in place to hinder, obstruct, slow down and probably stop our activities ( the activities of the movement).  which is to get the independence of Southern Cameroons back.

Many Southern Cameroonians are on exile due to excessive force, torture, arrests, imprisonments and killings of SCNC members by La Republique du Cameroun’s evil force.  some are still in prisons, many have been arrested and inhumanly tortured while many have been killed.

We southern Cameroons are calling the international Community to intervene and put pressure on La Republique du Cameroun to  stop marginalising  us and grant us our freedom and independence as a matter of urgency.

 

Alain Bougan Scnc Activist UK

Cameroon:State of emergency decleared in Wum Southern Cameroon ,military helicopter spotted

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA
OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

There are reports of a civil unest in Wum following the killing of a motor cycle rider by a military man.The incident happened in the early hours of  this sunday morning of 24th January 2016, at 3:am,after an argument between the two men.

 The  okada driver was  stabbed and killed by the military man in a beer parlour following a brawl over a woman
in wum town, Menchum division NorthWest region. They were arguing over a woman they both befriended.
five people have so far  sustain   gunshot wounds.
 A source in Wum speeaking on telephone to alafnet.com, says the popultation  of Wum got angry and burnt down  two Toyota Landcruisers belonging to the Cameroonian army,part of the military camp and properties of the military man who is no where to be seen after the incident burnt down. Our source say the army officer is  an Ewondo man and we letter got his name as chef Alpha.
The administratioin  has decleared a state of emergency in Wum and  military helicopter continues to  hovers overhead.
Movements of persons have been restricted and more army  reinforcement have  arrive from Bamenda.wum-4 wum-6 wum5

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