Citizens 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

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

Cameroon’s dictator, Paul Biya, finally promulgated into law the new penal code (Law No. 2016/007 of 12 July 2016).whose adoption by both houses of parliament received condemnation from most national stakeholders including civil society organizations, Bar Council,  and protest from lawyers

Recalled that the sections which sparked widespread condemnation included granting government ministers immunity from prosecution, along with other provisions punishing rent defaulters. The presidency finally did some words changing on the immunity section.

However, the penal code adoption did go without BaretaNews looking at some provisions which caught our attention. Section 111 on secession. It reads

Section 111: Secession

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

The Government has previously been cracking down on the arrest of Southern Cameroons leaders and activists. A host of them is under detention. We still holds the view that Secession does not hold in the Cameroons context because the union between both Cameroons is not legally bound. Cameroun cannot charge citizens of former British Southern Cameroons for secession and in no court of law when the facts are presented could Cameroun win.

On Monday 18th July, Cameroun forces cracked down on 16 Southern Cameroon’s leaders . They have been arrested and detained at the Central Police Station Buea. They include Mbua Richard, Matthias Besong, ABANG Njousi, Nke Valentine and others. Statements have been extracted from them . BaretaNews shall within the hours ahead provide details on their arrest. We of this platform condemns such an arrest of peaceful loving Southern Cameroonians whose only crime is to question the legality of this unholy union.

The National Executive Committee, (NECO) and National Council of the Southern Cameroons National Council, (The COUNCIL) met respectively on July, 15 and 16, 2016 in Bamenda. It examined and deliberated on the life of the movement at home and the Diaspora, state of the nation and international scene and took the following Resolutions.

THE LIFE OF THE MOVEMENT

From the County Chairpersons’ reports, The Council noted that due to crushing poverty and general hardship, Grassroots structures were no longer as viable as before.

Council also received Diaspora report from Mr Albert Zama, the representative from SCNC – USA Chapter who actively participated and made profound contributions to the debates.

Council received from the National Chairman fraternal warm greetings and brief report from Mr Cletus Fondo, representative from Canada who due to time constraint regretted his inevitable departure to catch his return flight.

Considering the challenging task at hand, The Council directs as follows;

1. That the redynamisation of Grassroots structures – the Precincts, the LGAs and the Counties should be completed and lists submitted at next National Council meeting.
2. That the Secretary General should finalise arrangements and organise fresh elections to replace the deceased County Chairperson of Ngoketunjia County and report at next Council meeting.
3. That County Chairpersons as a nationalistic duty should build bridges with all the vital forces within their respective areas of jurisdiction.
4. That Diaspora Chapters should be all inclusive, serving as the British Southern Cameroons sanctuary for national renaissance, be redynamised to effectively assume their ambassadorial role and intensify their lobbying roles as well as contribute materially, logistically and financially towards the realisation of the ultimate goal of the struggle, namely, national independence and sovereignty.
5. That Diaspora Chairpersons should communicate more frequently with the National Secretariat to keep abreast with authentic information to avoid being misled with distorted information.
6. That counting the odds all members should rededicate themselves to being the barefoot soldier and should carry out effective education of Southern Cameroonians to know the legal truth, their legal rights for once they are empowered they will become more assertive and properly defend their collective identity. To this effect Council lauded the efforts of the National Chairman and the staff of the National Secretariat in constantly producing sound educational materials. Council graciously received the 2^nd edition of National Renaissance which was launched by Mr. Albert Zama and called on all to read and spread the political gospel for national rebirth.

LIFE OF THE BRITISH SOUTHERN CAMEROONS NATION

COUNCIL PAINFULLY NOTES

1. That the annexationist ruling clan piloted by an ethnic oligarchy persists in its oppressive, exploitative determination to extinct British Southern Cameroons from the map of Africa for the prestige and grandeur of la Republique du Cameroun.
2. That the Yaounde regime is determined to annihilate all the Anglo-Saxon cultural heritage while paying lip service to “unification” to deceive and mislead the gullible Southern Cameroonians and those with weak spines.
3. That the annexation and assimilation agenda has no room for dialogue, negotiation and compromises for these are predicated on respect and equal standing of the partners concerned.
4. That Yaounde’s bold-attack on our inherited Anglo-Saxon educational system and the Common Law under the pretext of harmonisation and recent decree on the nationalisation of the CDC and transfer of its headquarters from Bota – Victoria in British Southern Cameroons to la Republique du Cameroun, must be seen as a sharp knife the annexationist regime wants to drive through our heart.

THE COUNCIL




-Takes judicious note of the growing nationalistic consciousness in Southern Cameroonians thanks to the educational materials issued by the SCNC, other patriots, and the good work of the print media and the audio and calls on all vital forces, the youths, the women and men to strengthen the patriotic bonds of unity and defend our inherent right to a sovereign homeland. He who fails to defend his self worth and identity but depends on and slavishly serves his slave master to attain a subordinate status will remain a serf forever.

-Congratulates the Common Law Lawyers, the various Teachers Trade Unions, the Education Forum on the Anglo-Saxon educational heritage for the good work courageously initiated. The drive from all angles should be towards the liberation and restoration of the sovereign statehood of British Southern Cameroons. Harmonisation is assimilation for the consolidation of annexation and colonial occupation, that’s total annihilation of the British Southern Cameroons nation.

-Salutes the Bamenda Market Women, the Buyam Sellam, the Petty traders for rising up to say “NO” to the intensification of exploitation, over taxation, economic genocide visited on Southern Cameroons, for the glory of the Yaounde oligarchy and its mentor Paris.

-Calls on the total mobilisation and organisation of all the vital forces for national liberation, the key to our collective dignity, progress and prosperity.

-Assures the Bamenda Market Women and all the petty traders that removing the current Government Delegate and replacing him with another, changes nothing. The problem is with the system which is anti-people, insensitive, nonchalant and inherently corrupt and irredeemably autocratic. Under Yaounde British Southern Cameroons will forever remain a farm and a mine for mindless exploitation and plunder.

-Reminds the dynamic mothers and youths of our beloved Fatherland, British Southern Cameroons, abundantly blessed by God, that British Southern Cameroons is not an integral part of la Republique du Cameroun. We are a separate nation and a distinct people under international law entitled to sovereign independence. This is our inherent right and in unity under the Lord of Justice, we will triumphantly restore our Government in Buea-the key to our political salvation, economic development and progress.

-Reiterates SCNC’s irrevocable commitment to national restoration and calls on all forces to jump on the SCNC liberation train for a holistic approach for a permanent solution of rebuilding the British Southern Cameroons nation on constitutional democracy, effective separation of powers, rule of law, participatory democracy, where those in authority rule by the consent of the governed and remain transparent and accountable to the ruled in whom resides popular sovereignty.

-Calls on all Southern Cameroons political and economic elites, the intelligentsia, Common Law Lawyers at home and abroad, Traditional Rulers, Religious Authorities to put an end to playing the ostrich game and understand that what took place in Wum was not against the victims nor is the plan to transfer the CDC Headquarters to a town in la Republique du Cameroun an affront or attack on the Bakweri or a matter for Fako County. What became of the CamBank and the Produce Marketing Board nationalised and transferred after the 1972 fraudulent referendum? While the Wum Saga demonstrates the impunity of the Yaounde regime against us, the planned transfer of the CDC Headquarters which confirms Dr. Endeley’s prediction, stands as the last straw to break the camel’s back which must be resisted energetically by all us. To pretend to be indifferent is to deny your roots and betray God’s will.

-Reaffirms that the CDC, its headquarters in Bota, Victoria is to British Southern Cameroons what Fako Mountain, Victoria natural deep seaport, Kupe Manenguba Mountain, Kilum Mountain is/are to British Southern Cameroonians; inseparable and in transferable. We have had enough of Yaoundé’s arm twisting aimed at the consolidation of annexation, annihilation and assimilation of our Fatherland, British Southern Cameroons. The will of the people through collective resistance for national rebirth must triumph for their dignity. Rebellion against foreign aggression in collective national self-defence is neither a crime nor a sin for as God created Mt Fako as part of this our heritage; the CDC was established by law in 1947 for the defined purpose of the development of British Southern Cameroons. It is our heritage!

ON THE INTERNATIONAL SCENE, THE COUNCIL;

1. Disturbed by grave sufferings of the innocent Africans within the Lake Chad Basin due to Boko Haram’s menaces, the growing waves of insurgencies on the African continent and in the world at large,
2. Grieved by the constant numerous deaths of Africans in the Sahara Desert and Mediterranean Sea in their desperate efforts to flee from oppression and economic misery perpetrated by the tyrants on the African continent,
3. Cognisant of the persistent depletion of the limited resources of African nations by their Presidential Monarchs and their cronies which are stored in safe havens in Europe, the Americas and West Indies,
4. Mindful of the holding of the 2016 AU Summit in Kigali, Rwanda,
5. Considering the referendum in the UK on Brexit and the appointment of a new Prime Minister,
6. Conscious of the UN’s founding mission to humanity and the prevention of wars that cause human suffering,

THE COUNCIL

1 (a)- Salutes the joint task force fighting the Boko Haram insurgents and appeal to the international community to intensify their support in the resettlement and rehabilitation of displaced people to enable the affected rebuild their lives.

(b)- In acknowledging and commending the efforts at fighting terrorism in Africa and the world at large, prays due attention should be given to finding out the root causes of terrorism – the growing threat to global security and human development.

2.(a)-Mourns with the affected families and calls on Africans in general to rise up and enthrone democracy and the rule of law the sure guarantor of peace and unity based on justice and enduring economic development and human progress.

(b) Calls on western nations to stop collaborating with African dictators at the detriment of Africa and cooperate with all Africans in their legitimate efforts to attain both political and economic freedom and independence.

3. a)- Makes a special appeal to western democratic nations to assist African nations in recovering looted funds by corrupt African leaders.

b)- Calls on western nations to adopt legislation making it a crime for any bank to assist in hiding looted funds for as corruption, embezzlement are responsible for  Africa’s underdevelopment, refugees will continue to invade the shores of Europe and America. Corruption and embezzlement of public funds in Africa is contagious. African democracy, the rule of law and development will enhance global development and stability.

4. a) -Congratulates the Government and people of Rwanda for playing host to the AU Summit of July 2016.

b)- Warmly salutes the AU Commission and the AU Summit for adopting an African Common Passport which will greatly facilitate trade, services and tourism within the African Continent and boost the drive towards African Unity.

1. c) – Reminds African leaders that till date the Constructive Dialogue approved by the AU Summit of 2009 under the Good Offices of the African Commission between Southern Cameroons leaders and the Government of President Paul Biya of la Republique du Cameroun has not taken place.
2. d) – Calls on the AU Summit to take all necessary disposition and ensure the holding of the Constructive Dialogue in the AU Headquarters, Addis Ababa, within a specified time frame. But should President Paul Biya continue to with impunity ignore the AU Summit approved Ruling and recommendation, the continental body through the Chairperson of the AU Commission should table the British Southern Cameroons Question at the UN under Article 35 of the UN Charter.
3. a)-Takes judicious note of the will of the British people expressed through the ballot box.
4. b) -Congratulates the British people in expressing their inherent and eternal right of self-determination and their decision to exit the European Union which is now subject of negotiation to determine the future relationship between the U.K. and E.U.

c)- Congratulates the new Prime Minister, The RT. HON. THERESA MAY on her deserved election to this prestigious post.

d)- In congratulating and welcoming Mrs. Theresa May to this prestigious post, Council draws her High attention to Britain’s unfinished task in the UN Trust Territory of Southern Cameroons under UK Mandate in that botched decolonisation facilitated annexation and colonial occupation for UK failed in her sacred responsibility- moral and legal- to ensure the implementation of UN Resolution 1608 of April 21,1961.

e)- Calls on PM Theresa May, that as a mother and Chief negotiator on Brexit and in view of the error of 1961, she should write her name in gold in the sands of history by leading her government place the British Southern Cameroons Question on the agenda of the UN for peaceful exit of British Southern Cameroons from annexation and colonial occupation of la Republique du Cameroun.

6.a)- Draws the attention of the UN to the fact that the UN Trust territory of the Southern Cameroons under UK Administration is the only Trust territory which unlike all others that graduated from trusteeship to sovereign independence; the Southern Cameroons, due to non- implementation of UNGA Resolution 1608 of April 21, 1961, descended into annexation and colonial occupation and assimilation under another former UN Trust territory, la Republique du Cameroun, which had its independence from France on January 1, 1960.

1. b) –Mindful of UN’s declaration of annexation as a crime against humanity and threat to world peace, calls on the UN to listen to the legitimate cry of the British Southern Cameroonian people and apply the very measures that were applied in similar circumstances such as in Namibia, East Timor, among others, to free the people from the consequences of UN’s failure to respect Art. 76(b) of UN Charter and UNGA Res. 1514 of 1960, and save Africa from genocide. One more genocide that the UN could have avoided, will be genocide too many for the African continent and an irremovable scar on the UN.

Done in Bamenda, this 16^th July, 2016.

NFOR, N. NFOR

National Chairman (SCNC)

HRH Fon Kum Achuo II
HRH Fon Kum Achuo II of Esu was aggressively apprehended without warning and interrogated by the Assistant Commander of the 25th Motorised Infantry Battalion in Wum,Menvhum Division in the NorthWest Region on the 15 th ofJuly 2016.
Accompanied by 8 soldiers all in uniforms,the company commander whisked off the Fon into a storage room of Mr Heison’s shop located at Total Roundabout.

According to our source,The soldiers of the Cameroonian army claimed that information has reached them that some Esu elites and the Fon have put in place a group in Nigeria to come into Cameroon and attack the army stationed in Esu.

Alafnet.com source says HRH Fon of Esu was in Wum to attend a political meeting and has stop at one Mr Joe Kum’s garage to repair his car when the soldiers suddenly arrested him.

This reporter is aware that during the interogations the Fon strongly denied knowing any such plans and wondered if at all they ever existed and he further debrunk it saying it made no sense because Nigeria, Cameroon like all countries in the sub-region closely watching their borders given the current threats of terrorism posed by Boko haram islamic sect.In another attempt to find a reason to arrest the Fon of Esu. On Monday 11th July 2016, in a desperate attempt to implicate the Fon of Esu, Sale Umaru, the manager of Elba Ranch, Esu, travelled to the Bamenda Central Prison where he presented a document to the 5 Esu youth leaders in detention to sign. The document stated that the Fon of Esu ordered them to burn down properties of Elba Ranch. The youth leaders refused to sign the fabricated accusation aimed at implicating their traditional leader for a crime he did not commit.

In a pure CPDM arranged plot,Sale Umaru the branch manager of visited the youths in prison with thier concent and in the absence of their lawyer to submit a false complaint that led to their arrest and detention.

This yet another attempt to find a reason to arrest the Fon of Esu and those opposed to the land grab so as to forcefully expropriate their land.This new allegstion comes in the same week after his failed attempt to implicate the Fon using the youth leaders.

Esuans in the diaspora and within Cameroon contacted by this publication have denied knowledge of any such plans to attack the milary base to.

The Esu diaspora futher calls on the administration and law enforcement to help protect the law abbiding people of Esu from all forms of harassment, insults, intimation and the corrupt practices that are being used to divide the land of Esu.

Mr. Chairman of Conference,

Distinguished Parliamentarians for Self- Determination,

Honourable Members of the House of Lords and House of Commons

Ladies and Gentlemen

Introduction

The SCNC leadership, on behalf of the people of the former UN Trust territory of Southern Cameroons under UK Administration, is grateful to be here once more to cry to the British Government and people and the international community at large for their rights to self-determination and national sovereign existence. To our friends Parliamentarians for Self-Determination who are working for justice and the rule of law for all peoples we heartily congratulate you for selfless service to humanity and pray that you remain steadfast and intensify your efforts for world peace based on justice.

The British Southern Cameroons Question will remain a recurrent issue until UK, as the Administering Authority or the trustee, and the UN, as the trustor, summon the necessary political will and from a legal frame of mind, as defined by the UN Charter, other international instruments and in respect of the will of the people of British Southern Cameroons, adopt a road map for a permanent solution.

On the strength of the incontrovertible facts before us all, it’s self evident that British Southern Cameroons is a victim of botched decolonisation in 1961. Both the UN Charter, as the supreme law of all humanity and the Trusteeship Agreement were disregarded. Through external manipulation and building of political hurdles the right to self-determination was denied the people of British Southern Cameroons. To this effect a plebiscite was imposed with two obnoxious questions denying the people their inherent right to sovereign independence.

Prime Minister J. N Foncha who won the 1959 general elections on the platform of secession from Nigeria wanted that Southern Cameroons should of right attain independence as prescribed by the UN Charter and the Trusteeship Agreement. In addressing the powerful 4^th Committee of the UNGA on September 24, 1959, he said “Any attempt to force us gain independence in a way that does not accord with our wishes would tantamount to a breach of the UN Charter and a violation of our fundamental human rights.” It is bewildering that HM Government failed to understand, respect and defend manifest will of the people of British Southern Cameroons as enshrined in the UN Charter.

But we all know that:

• The right to national self-determination is an inherent right of any people and dependent territory defined by colonial treaties.
• They are no preconditions attached.
• This right is not only inherent, it is equally permanent.
• This inherent right becomes more active when the people are subjected to foreign domination and alien rule and that when repression is intensified and prolonged it can ignite revolt in the oppressed. This is natural for each people are entitled to their rightful place within the family of the human race in order to make their just contribution for a better world and greater humanity.

As bad as the failure to respect the UN Charter and Trusteeship Agreement was/is, the situation was made worse by non-implementation of UNGA Resolution 1608 of April 21, 1961. This landmark resolution was adopted for the holding of a post plebiscite conference – a tripartite – between the Government of British Southern Cameroons, la Republique du Cameroun, and UK as the Administering Authority to finalise arrangements for the formation of the UN-envisioned FEDERAL UNITED CAMEROON REPUBLIC. The formation of this federal union of two states Equal in Status was to take place under international supervision with UK playing a key rule as the Trustee with the moral and legal duty of reporting to the UN. British Southern Cameroons was not to be abandoned at the mercy of la Republique du Cameroun nor was British Southern Cameroons to be handed to la Republique du Cameroun as a gift for annexation and military occupation.

Botched Decolonisation Facilitated Annexation

La Republique du Cameroun’s hidden plot to annex British Southern Cameroons was hatched when the plebiscite vote went in favour of “independence by joining” la Republique du Cameroun. This was clearly demonstrated before the UN as follows;

1. At the 4^th Committee of the UNGA on April 19, 1961 la Republique du Cameroun, France and all French-speaking Africa, except Mali, staged a walkout when they failed to block the vote for the independence of British Southern Cameroons. UK with 49 other nations, USA, USSR, Nigeria, inclusive, voted overwhelmingly “YES” and 1^st October, 1961 was declared Independence Day of British Southern Cameroons.
2. On April 21, 1961 on the floor of the UNGA, la Republique du Cameroun supported by France and all French-speaking Africa except Mali, voted against UNGA Resolution 1608. This certainly blocked implementation for the Tripartite Conference couldn’t hold without one of the key players, la Republique du Cameroun. By voting against this landmark resolution la Republique du Cameroun did not only reject forming a federal union of two states Equal in Status with British Southern Cameroons, it clearly exhibited its imperial annexationist fangs.

Unfortunately, la Republique du Cameroun’s display of annexationist tendency on the floor of the UN failed to attract appropriate action in defence of British Southern Cameroons right to national self-existence. This is what has led some authorities on the British Southern Cameroons decolonisation to conclude that, this UN Trust territory in which the Westminster Parliamentary system functioned so well (witnessed peaceful transfer of power in February 1959) for a long period in colonial Africa was simply betrayed.

Warnings Unheeded

It needs be recalled that prior to this imperialistic posturing exhibited by la Republique du Cameroun at the UN in 1961, other authorities had warned that British Southern Cameroons and la Republique du Cameroun were completely incompatible, consequently can’t coexist under one national polity. HRH Fon Achirimbi speaking for the Natural Rulers at the Mamfe Plebiscite Conference in 1959, opined that Nigeria is deep “Water” and French Cameroun is “FIRE” and declared, “Sir, I support secession without unification.” i.e. to say they favoured secession and sovereign independence for their nation.

On Oct. 6, 1959 the US Ambassador, H. E Clement J Zabloiski contributing to debate on the political future of British Southern Cameroons, congratulated the people for attaining self-government. Opposed to the idea of unification declared “The results of a hurried choice imposed on the population of the Trust territory would be catastrophic for their political future.”

And in the British House of Commons G.M Thomson (MP) (later Lord) on 1^st August 1961, said, “The problem of uniting these two territories would in any event be difficult. There are two territories of completely different cultures with different political systems… there are extremely complex problems in bringing these two countries together within one national state.” He concluded, “I therefore raise the matter because we in the House are concerned with the good name and reputation of the Government in administering this kind of trusteeship territory”.(emphasis, mine).

To justify “independence by joining “ either Nigeria or la Republique du Cameroun, UK as the Administering Authority argued that British Southern Cameroons was small and economically unviable. But interestingly while denying British Southern Cameroons with an area of 43,000 sq km, population of about a million and a variety of mineral and natural resources and wide variety of food and cash crops with the CDC at the head, Kuwait, a British colony, with an area of 17,818 sq km and then population of less than 300,000 inhabitants, a sandy barren territory though blessed with large deposits of oil, was granted independence on June 19, 1961. However on December 14, 1960 UN amplifying the right to self-determination of all peoples as enshrined in the Charter, adopted Resolution 1514 which makes independence the inherent right of all dependent territories: neither size, nor lack of economic or educational preparedness was/is to serve as condition for delaying the people’s right to sovereign independence for their enjoyment and exercise of complete freedom. This landmark resolution for universal application was adopted some three months before the ill-fated UN Plebiscite of 11 February 1961. British Southern Cameroons currently with population of more than five million is more populous than 60 UN Member Nations, 18 AU Member nations, and 30 Commonwealth Member nations. And with an area of 43,000 km² it is larger than 12 AU Member States and 30 UN Member Nations.

CONSEQUENCES OF ANNEXATION AND MILITARY OCCPATION

From the founding of the League of Nations in 1922 and the UN in 1945, this territory was firmly under international instruments and obligation. It was protected against annexation.

An annexed people live under despicable circumstances worse than a colonised people. A territory under annexation is under a constant reign of terror and with the policy of divide and rule the people are kept weak, decapitated and submissive. The imperial dream is to perpetually keep the people subjugated.  While colonised territories are recognised and enjoy some protection under international system, the annexed enjoy no such international visibility.

The consequences of annexation are not far to seek. They are political, economic, cultural, legal/judicial and psychological. The annexed are ruled by an evil mind to decapitate the territory and people – body, mind and soul perpetually for the glory, prestige and splendour of the annexationist state. It is for this reason that the UN declares annexation a crime against humanity and a threat to world peace.

What we have suffered since the 1961 botched decolonisation that facilitated annexation can be summarised as follows:

1. The Southern Cameroons, a UN Trust Territory under UK Administration lost its international standing and protection. The territory has been balkanised into two provinces and sunk into the territory of la Republique du Cameroun. While every other UN Trust territory and colony on the African continent emerged into sovereign independence with a seat at the UN, British Southern Cameroons is the only trust in recorded history annexed by another former UN Trust territory, namely, Cameroun under French Administration.
2. Under British Trusteeship Indirect Rule, in which the indigenous political system was respected and the Natural Rulers under the Native Authority system participated in governance, annexation has imposed direct rule in which the venerated Natural Rulers of yesteryear have become subjects of the Francophone proconsuls to be seen and instructed only. One painful consequence of this is direct interference and imposition for self interest and grabbing of choice lands by the proconsuls and their political elites thus depriving the poor large chunks of ancestral lands. This facilitates population dilution. The poor are weak and powerless.
3. Incredibly, British Southern Cameroons which attained self-government in 1954 three years before French Cameroun, adopted Westminster Parliamentary democracy, the rule of law, conducted free and fair elections, is today ruled by foreign proconsuls. By Presidential decree of the Yaounde state backed by crack down occupation force, the Buea Parliament and Government and all state institutions were abolished.
4. One of the immediate consequences of annexation was the loss of preferential treatment which British Southern Cameroons enjoyed with Britain and the Commonwealth. Britain and the Commonwealth nations used to be the main trading partners and consumed the highest portion of our banana, palm produce, tea, among others. Annexation dragged us, like a sacrificial lamb, into the Franc zone and French established trading partners without rights to market our produce but without a choice to accept their expensive goods which many described as inferior.
5. Intensified repression and persecution in different forms and across the territory is the constitution that rules this former British Trust territory that was a shining example of Westminster style parliamentary democracy in Africa.
6. To erase the British heritage which we cherish and are proud to preserve and promote cultural assimilation through Francophonisation and despoliation is tacitly sponsored by the Yaounde state. Bilingualism is a deceit. It is euphemism for Francophonisation.
7. The Anglo Saxon educational system and the Common Law heritage which emphasises the dignity of man are under serious attack and are being eroded. The Napoleonic civil code is being imposed to replace the Common law. To Yaounde Cameroun is one and indivisible.
8. As it is a crime to wear even a T-shirt with the map and inscription of British Southern Cameroons, so have we as a people lost our identity and inherent right to our natural resources and wealth which are being plundered for the development of la Republique du Cameroun and prestige and grandeur of the powers that be and France their master. Is it not heart breaking to learn that petrol tapped from British Southern Cameroons soil is more expensive in the territory than anywhere else in la Republique du Cameroun territory? Is it not revolting to hear that though SONARA (French acronym) is located in the sea port town of Victoria (changed by Yaounde to Limbe) management is in the hands of Francophone and royalty is paid but to Douala City Council? This is just a tip of the iceberg.
9. To reduce the well endowed British Southern Cameroons to an economic liability and wrongly paint it as dependent territory, all the sea ports, airports, river ports, economic and financial institutions and infrastructure which Southern Cameroons successive governments established, for example, National Produce Marketing Board, Santa Coffee Estate, Powercam, Cam Bank, were by decree closed down. Bereft of industries to employ the growing manpower, Southern Cameroonians suffer from mass unemployment and with repression this has encouraged mass exodus of the youths. Foreign investors are discouraged from investing in British Southern Cameroons which has no good roads. To move from the north to the south and vice versa, one is bound to traverse two provinces of la Republique du Cameroun territory.
10. With annexation by la Republique du Cameroun, the people of British Southern Cameroons have been disenfranchised. Though the Yaounde regime has some three hundred political parties on its register there is no democracy: Cameroun is a one-party dictatorship ruled by an ethnic oligarchy. The stark difference and our love of democracy is self-eloquent in the fact that between 1954 and 1960 British Southern Cameroons had two Prime Ministers, democratically elected. But since 1958 la Republique du Cameroun has had only two leaders who rule and reign. As an annexed people the few in President Biya’s government and parliament do not represent the will and supreme interest of the British Southern Cameroons nation and people. They have no voice. Freedom and sovereign independence under UN Charter and international instruments through external self-determination is what the people want. This is to correct the error of 1961.

JUSTIFICATION FOR RESTORATION

The warnings made against “independence by joining” la Republique du Cameroun have come to pass. As demonstrated on the floor of the UN twice in April 1961, la Republique du Cameroun’s determination of annexing British Southern Cameroons has been fulfilled. It has been reduced to two Provinces of its territory ruled by proconsuls. To decapitate the people and keep them perpetually weak and subservient, military repression and kale kales as happened recently in Wum are constant. In spite of these Machiavellian tactics, the annexationist regime is faced with stubborn resistance of a people who are proud of their identity and determined to maintain their cherished values, their belief in the dignity of man and their “English way of life”. If they are being repressed, maimed, imprisoned and tortured, murdered in cold blood for being proud of their inherent identity and resisting Francophonisation, should the British collaborate with their oppressor? The history of liberation struggle the world over, point to the fact that, the annexed and the oppressed, can never regain freedom and independence without foreign assistance and support.

The UN has declared annexation a crime against humanity and threat to world peace and for this reason UK and USA, for example, led the Gulf War against Iraqi annexation and occupation to restore Kuwaiti sovereignty. This was not intervention in Iraqi internal affairs. We believe, as was with Kuwait in 1990, that the UK owes a moral and legal responsibility to British Southern Cameroons and in this light should use its diplomatic influence and under preventive diplomacy place the British Southern Cameroons right to self-determination on the agenda of the UN. We believe you have a key role to play to bring about the change that is our right without bloodshed that will bring dishonour to the British Crown.

In conclusion, we state without fear of error or contradiction, that HM’s Government did not administer the UN Trust territory of British Southern Cameroons on behalf of France or the UN Trust territory of French Cameroun with a reversionary right. Bound by the UN Charter, the Trusteeship Agreement and good conscience, HM Government under the SACRED TRUST was duty bound to lead this trust territory to sovereign independence.

Thank you most sincerely for your kind attention.

By Nfor Ngala SCNC NATIONAL CHAIRMAN