Ahead, ahead and never to give up for the battle is not over yet. The servant will no longer wait to pick up crumbs from the master’s table. Southern Cameroonians will not sit and watch you continue to degrade us to slaves in our motherland. For 56 years we have been deprived of our basic human rights and the time has come now that we say enough is enough. The killing of innocent people, brutality, destruction of our lands and all forms of abuses will not make us give up. On the contrary, our freedom fighting spirits are very much alive and active for the day of jubilation is near.

Mr. Paul Biya, in fact, you are losing the plot, our people have been killed, unlawfully arrested and detained, our children not going to School for nearly a year now and yet nothing has been done.Our plight ignored and giving a deaf-ear to all the injustices as well as inequalities. But yet you go again wasting money sending a delegation of your croaks abroad to do your dirty jobs in the name of coming over to dialogue with the diaspora, what a shame. Scheming again, as usual, to give an impression to the world that ‘Cameroon is one and indivisible or better still that you are a peacemaker. This is meant to give a good impression to the international community and we will not let you fool the world that you are a democratic leader. We the Southern Cameroonians of UK and the whole diaspora did send a powerful message to you on Sunday 13th August 2017 at Holland Park (Cameroon high commission/Embassy). We must possess our possessions so no amount of your tricks will work.
No wonder a meeting was scheduled on a Sunday at the high commission with the hope that we will not attend but since we know you so well we planned 10 times ahead giving you no space to fake a story,

As you return to the La Republic, tell your master Biya that in the UK you were all so shocked to see the British humble police officers protecting the public as opposed to yours that brutalized people, rape women and unlawfully arrest them. Also, tell him that we will not compromise our struggle to anything and will not give up until we take back control.
Ahead not to turn back for “forward ever backward never”. We shall continue to fight until our independence is granted, Lord helps us.

CATHERINE MURING YOMBO ACTIVIST SCNC UK

 

After the defeat of the Germans during World War 1, Southern Cameroon was administered by the British administrative traditions, educational and legal system (mainly the Common Law), system of government and management of the local community – which were all done and government by the British by indirect rule.

This therefore goes without saying that the main language of administration, governance and instruction in these parts is English and rightly so – likewise as French traditions and administrative system dominate the French speaking part of Cameroon.

Therefore, judging from the above brief assessment of the way both Cameroons were been administered and governed traditionally, any form of social and economic unrest in an area where English is the main language suggests that there is an issue and only fair to conclude that it is an Anglophone problem within its own right – based on its roots and heritage! This however does not equally imply that, Anglophones have a problem because they are Anglophones but solely because the people feel abandoned, segregated, marginalised, ignored and been treated for long as “second class citizens” – for lack of a better expression! Some of the reasons for this Anglophone problem have been discussed below:

 

• Official name of the country

One of the most frustrating issues of the Anglophone problem is found in the official name of Cameroon. The name of this country: La République du Cameroun as subtle as it might seem is a potential source of the destruction of the country in its current state of affairs.

Going back to the beginning, it is worth-noting that prior to the British and French administration of the Cameroons in 1961, the part that was governed by the French was called La République du Cameroun. But when both parts came together and were united as one, the country was called the Federal Republic of Cameroon. Note the use of the word ‘Federal’ – as this denotes the recognition that at least two political entities had decided to federate.

Three years later, i.e. 1972, the name of the country was now changed to the United Republic of Cameroon albeit against the spirit of the Foumban accords that led to the 1961 federation, however, the term UNITED still was a reminder that there was more than one political structures, identities or entities were not in unity.

This now brings us to the current issue as the name of the country is La République du Cameroun – which clearly highlights if not project the fact that there is no remnant or reminder of Cameroon comprised of two political entities that came together. This is also the exact name of French Cameroon before the federation. I guess the question now remains: what became of the English speaking Cameroon or the Anglophones? Are we no longer part and parcel of this so called “marriage”?

It is for this reason that some Anglophones feel that they have been suppressed, occupied or simply erased from the country entirely.

 

 

• The language of the law

Another deliberate projection of institutional aberration from the spirit of the 1961 union is that the French mannerisms, language and culture significantly buttress the conception of laws in Cameroon. Inasmuch as the constitution evidently stipulates that Cameroon is a bilingual country, never in the history of Cameroon has a law been presented to the National Assembly in English first. In cases where laws are proposed in both English and French versions, the English version is a translation and as in the case of the revised Penal code tabled in 2016 – the legal implications and quality of the English version is a clear indication of the level of competence (or lack thereof) of the translator.

The undergirding problem here is that if laws are systematically conceived in French, it goes without saying that its application, interpretation and implementation will based on the traditions inherited from the French with no regard for the English traditions and culture. I guess the next question now is this: how is this legal system fair towards the Anglophones especially when the cultures and interpretation of the law is already biased from the unset!

• Administrative

This is the one that is really painful and embarrassing to say the least and makes the heart of every educated Anglophone to have their hearts sinking. A country with over 30 Ministries has the inscription of the various names of the ministries in French first, then followed by English underneath mostly with smaller characters, as if was an irrelevant footnote. These are some of the trivial issues that most people might not notice unless they are Anglophones or an activist of equality and human rights.

That notwithstanding, even the websites of the over 30 Ministries are in French and in most cases, the English version is either not updated, not available or Google translated. Information, when made available to Anglophones is therefore not news or is in such poor and inappropriate English that is tantamount to an insult as if there are no educated Anglophones who would have done a better job.

The final example is Cameroon’s relations with the Commonwealth, which could and should have been noticed by members of the Commonwealth of nations. The Head of State has never deemed it necessary, important or vital to attend a Commonwealth Summit but unfailingly attends Francophonie summits which seem to be more important to him than African Union Summits. The presence of the French president at Francophonie summits and the extent of French investment in Cameroon and the diplomatic cards that may be played at these summits may be a factor in the Head of State’s decision to attend. But then, his non-attendance of Commonwealth summits begs the question of why a similar economic rapprochement is not made with countries of the commonwealth or is English Cameroonians not that important for their plights to be heard or benefits to be shared with the rest of the commonwealth member states?

 

• Language of communication

Firstly, inasmuch as the current (Paul Biya) and former Heads of State (Late Hon. Ahmadow Ahidjo) have made numerous speeches lasting over 50+ years, inasmuch as the current Head of State has made some small parts of a handful of speeches in English, no Cameroonian Head of State HAS EVER made a full speech in English. As a matter of fact, Anglophone Cameroonians do not know what it feels like for citizens to hear their so-called Head of State make a full speech in their first official language which could be equated with “seeing a pig fly”

Secondly, no key decisions, appointments, laws or any legal procedures or any state matter has ever been published or announced in English first; nor are Anglophones aware of any such decision for which the French version is only a translation.

There’s a major radio newscast at 3pm in English and a major radio newscast at 5pm in French. There is also a major TV newscast at 7:30pm in English and a major TV newscast at 8:30pm in French all of which are either on the CRTV radio or Television. Critically looking at it and not being biased, could the government of La Republique honestly confirm to the public that for over 50 years, all major decisions have been made between 3:30pm (after the radio news in English) and 5pm (before the radio news in French) or between 8pm (after TV news in English) and 8:30pm (before TV news in French) and thus announced in the next available newscast which happens to be in French? This would be a coincidence that has never and will never happen on planet earth. How convenient!

Another critical element is the fact that the language used on Bank Notes in Cameroon does not a single word in English printed on any of them – could there ever be a scenario in human history where the term marginalisation could be better used? This remains a problem that Francophone Cameroonians cannot complain about except by solidarity –  this constitutes an Anglophone problems!

 

• Lack of economic development in English speaking Cameroon

Nothing of a major economic benefit to the people of West Cameroon have gained any interest from the government even when the resources are there to be developed. The Menchum fall comes to mind as an example. Research conducted has suggested that the Menchum fall, if harnessed could provide electricity to the whole of Central Africa. Any reasonable government, taking into account the frequent power failure in Cameroon would jump to this opportunity to make the lives of its citizens better and attract businesses, investments and economic growth. But because this is found in Southern Cameroon, no one cares.

• Economic headquarters of most if not all corporations and enterprises have been moved out of the area. A good example is the headquarters of the CDC from Buea to Yaounde. This is the definition of what marginalisation looks like for real

 

These injustices are real and they affect real people especially the Anglophones. They are so systematic that they seem obviously deliberate and ultimately criminal. It is true that Honourable WIRBA quoted Thomas Jefferson… but I want to quote Honourable WIRBA: When injustice becomes law, resistance becomes a duty”. It is the injustices above that Anglophones are RESISTING hence the cry of an Anglophone problem!

BY PRIDE MBI AGBOR  ASG SCNC UK

For those who may not know Commonwealth is a voluntary association of “52 independent sovereign countries” with the noble view of promoting democracy, peace, and development of member state. In fact, one of the condition to be member is to demonstrate commitment to: democracy and democratic processes, including free and fair elections and representative legislatures; the rule of law and independence of the judiciary; good governance, including a well-trained public service and transparent public accounts; and protection of human rights, freedom of expression, and equality of opportunity. One of the implicit condition to be a member is to speak English. It should be noticed that Mozambique becomes the first member with no colonial links to Britain. Base on all this we will try to take a look at the Cameroon membership; but before that let take a look at some historical fact. La Republic Du Cameroun which is the current official name of Cameroon had his independence on 1 January 1960 from France, sometime later on the 1st October 1961 the British Southern Cameroon had is “Independence By join in “La Republic Du Cameroun, a new form of independence created by the British Government at the time. Last time we were at the house of Common a fellow comrade asked an MP what is “independence by join in” and he was incapable of giving us an answer, let not get lost in this now. So British Southern Cameroon Join La Republic Du Cameroun on Ballot Paper and they Became one federal state with 2 officials language inherited from their formal tutor country (FRANCE and UNITED KINGDOM). Cameroon because of the Southern Cameroon becomes a member of the Commonwealth in 1995. In November 2016 Biya’s regime in Cameroon has once again shown it population how brutal, barbaric and inhuman they can be. The problem is nowadays it is difficult to hide such behaviors as more and more people get access to the internet and share images and video of what happened; as result, Biya’s regime had suspended the internet in Southern Cameroon for almost three months in order stop people sharing the truth of the reality they living in daily basis. Since the children in Southern Cameroon had not attended classes, economic is falling, even more, faster than before as the regime in the past has close down many industry and institution and relocate the most prolific one in French Cameroon. Since lawyer and teacher decide to say enough is enough in November 2016, Biya’s regime has silence or imprison those who spoke publicly about the issue, those who are not in prison are all in exile. In order to inflict more fear in population the even arrest one head judge in the name of JUSTICE AYAH PAUL without reason and by that breaking their own procedure and law just because he is from Southern Cameroon. Today MR AYAH PAUL don’t know when he will appear in form of another judge as there is no charge against him. Worst the regime has arrested roman catholic priest for not intervening to ask parents to send their children to school and are claiming the sum of 150 billion CFA francs in damages. Now that the world is looking with close eye what is happening, most trials are indefinitely adjourned to a different date and like that keeping those in prison indefinitely. Those arrested are charged with treason which is a death sentence if found guilty and according to the Cameroon penal code those outside the country who speak out about this will be charged with the same crime whit mean many of us cannot get back for saying or supporting publicly was is right. Amnesty International report 2016/2017 about Cameroun speak by himself. The list is much bigger than that so here are our questions. What those it takes to the Commonwealth to take a decision against one of his member? Which principle of the Commonwealth did Cameroon respect? Because base on what we read we can easily say very few if none Which Commonwealth principle is more important than other? On the 15th March 2017, the Secretary-General of the Commonwealth Patricia Scotland QC had tweeted an image of her and the Minister Delegate in the ministry of external relations in charge of Commonwealth Affairs, saying Biya’s regime was doing all possible to address concerns about human rights abuses in Cameroon. Four months now that that happens we will like to ask the Commonwealth’ Secretary-General if she had any update on the situation; because so far all the so call protestor (traitor of the nation) are all in exile or in jail waiting for a trial which may never happen as it is always adjourned. What does more Biya’s regime need to do to Southern Cameroon population in order to the Commonwealth to firmly react and show their interest in British Cameroon population?

By GUTENBERG N MBAKOP SCNC ACTIVIST UK