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

 

The sun may set, the road so rocky, rivers dry, Southern Cameroonians day in and out treated as second class citizens. The government is untouchable, not shakeable and the same names shuffle in the top ranking positions in government. From generation to generation, the answers to our history questions are same if lucky perhaps just change in port folio as long as you are loyal to the ‘king’.Southern Cameroonians are not to have a say in nation building and if you dare oppose the government, your life is at risk if not death. So too is the Constitution, it is amended and adjusted to suit any situation when need be. Many of us were brutalized, raped and detained in deplorable conditions in jails for no reason. But one thing remains which will never die, the spirit to fight for our independence. Total restoration of our statehood is what we want and it will be soon. No compromise, we are in tears and agony today but joy will come tomorrow whether la Republic wants it or not. This is our birth rights to be reminded one more time that we are not giving up. The fight continues and no amount of intimidations, threats and brutality will stop us from fighting to the end. Our fallen heroes in the struggle our watching from above and we promise not to let you down. Mr. Biya all we want is the Total restoration of our statehood, set us free.

 

 

BY; CATHERINE MURING  YOMBO,  SCNC ACTIVIST UK.

Southern Cameroon a United Nation territory ruled by Britain under Nigeria. After Nigeria independence on October 1^st, 1960, left Nigeria to join the French Cameroon. Today my people are suffering, arrested, murdered and marginalized because of their human right. Is it a crime to fight for your fatherland, culture, language, educational system, judiciary system, health system? Is it a crime to fight for your future and that of your future generation?

Since November 2016 till date, Southern Cameroonians demonstrated on the streets of various towns, Kumba, Bamenda, Limbe, Buea etc for the restoration of their independence statehood, the people are suffering. As a result of the strike action. Private teachers, lawyers, and traders have no money to look after their families, pay rents, bills and even food to for their families. Students, lawyers, teachers and a judge are arrested, raped, tortured then put to prison from their homes, streets and students hostel. For no reason at all, only for the sake that, they are Southern Cameroonians taking up their responsibility as loyal citizens as their right, some because they are in secessionist groups leaders. Families are crying calling on the government of La Republic du Cameroon for their release, no answer. A country where people are jail with no crime, is that fair in this modern society? Clergies are taken to court for not forcing the parents to sent their children to school. Must you force Southern Cameroonians to join French Cameroon? If we Southern Cameroonians are marginalized by La Republic du Cameroon, set us free. We are in need freedom. Europeans today are negotiating for the exit of other European countries, why not Southern Cameroon and La Republic du Cameroon.

HELP SOUTHERN CAMEROON

By Cecile Ebvangah Tarh

SCNC ACTIVIST UK

Saturday, 25 March 1995 19:00Border

Dispute “NO WIN WITHOUT

AMBAZONIA”Summary: Ambazonia the former

British Southern Cameroons, a buffer state located between

Nigeria’s South Eastern boundary and Cameroun Republic.

The final outcome of the case presently before the

International Court of Justice (ICJ), will be dependent upon

whether or not Ambazonia is acknowledged as a sovereign

state. Ned Nwoko gives a studied opinion on this rather

complicated matter.

INTERNATIONAL LAW ACKNOWLEDGES

Ambazonia as a state with internationally

recognized boundaries (fixed by the League of Nations,

inherited by the United Nations and which remains so today).

Cameroun has been forced to drop the politics of claiming

that Ambazonia is part of a single Cameroonian nation. In

its litigation it, in effect, claims that it is suing

Nigeria in exercise of a mandate given to it by the

Ambazonian people. According to Cameroon’s statement of

claim, the Ambazonian people gave it that mandate through

the United Nations plebiscite of February

1961.That has now put the said plebiscite in

issue and raised the question; had the UN legal authority to

conduct the said plebiscite in Ambazonia after trusteeship

had technically been terminated with the promulgation of the

territory’s independent constitution in October 1960?

The answer is that according to the UN Charter Article 76 B,

the UN trusteeship over territory ends once the territory

has achieved self-government or independence.In

1958 Ambazonia achieved self-government, then in 1959 the UN

Passed a resolution severing it fromNigeria, and

in October 1960, an independent Constitution was promulgated

For the territory. Therefore, the UN had no legal authority,

And therefore the plebiscite was invalid.Another

Question asked is; what then was the object of the

Plebiscite? The answer is that from the terms in the

Manifesto “The Two Alternatives”, the plebiscite

Was to give the UN a mandate to either “append”

Amazonia again with Nigeria if the people voted for joining

Nigeria or to unite Cameroun and Ambazonia in a confederacy

Of sovereign states, if they voted for joining Cameroon.

Therefore, Cameroons claim that Ambazonian people gave the

The Cameroon Republic a mandate to annex Ambazonia has no legal basis

at all.

TERENCE.NYANGA MANIHSCNC ACTIVIST UK

The United Nations was an organization with great values, will voice to the voiceless, stood up for against human right violations, a rescuer for the oppressed, will call member states to order a great overseer of the world.

After the Second World War II, the UN obliged colonial power to guide their colonies towards independence in Africa, Southern Cameroon was one of those countries

 

Southern Cameroon was under British rule has three options, independence as a sovereign state, and independence by joining French Cameroon or by joining Nigeria. The British put forward a case to the UN that southern Cameroon was not economically viable to be a sovereign state, the people of southern Cameroon appeal against the to the un who was quick to reject the appeal of the southern Cameroon given rise the plebiscite questions.

1. Do you wish to achieve independence by joining the independent Federation of Nigeria?
2. Do you wish to achieve independence by joining the independent Republic of Cameroun?

The United Nations documents defined the basis of integration as: “Integration with an independent State should be on the basis of complete equality between the peoples of the erstwhile Non-Self-Governing Territory and those of the independent country with which it is integrated. The peoples of both territories should have equal status and rights of citizenship… at all levels in the executive, legislative and judicial organs of government.” With all confidence, southern Cameroon voted to gain independence by joining French Cameroon according to the UN specifications above and trusting that they will always be there as a marriage counselor between the English and French Cameroon.

Since independence In 1961 French Cameroon have re-colonise Sothern Cameroon the people of southern Cameroon have been living in fear in their own homeland they can’t call the name of their own country without the fire of persecution. At the core of Anglophone grievances is the loss of the former West Cameroons as a “distinct community defined by differences in official language and inherited colonial traditions of education, law, and public administration,” which can be broken down to the following

1. The failure of successive governments of Cameroon, since 1961, to respect and implement the articles of the Constitution that uphold and safeguard what British Southern Cameroons brought along to the Union in 1961.
2. The flagrant disregard for the Constitution, demonstrated by the dissolution of political parties and the formation of one political party in 1966, the sacking ofJua and the appointment of Muna in 1968 as the Prime Minister of West Cameroon, and other such acts judged by West Cameroonians to be unconstitutional and undemocratic.
3. The cavalier management of the 1972 Referendum which took out the foundational element (Federalism) of the 1961 Constitution.
4. The 1984 Law amending the Constitution, which gave the country the original East Cameroon name (The Republic of Cameroon) and thereby erased the identity of the West Cameroonians from the original union. West Cameroon, which had entered the union as an equal partner, effectively ceased to exist.
5. The deliberate and systematic erosion of the West Cameroon cultural identity which the 1961 Constitution sought to preserve and protect by providing for a bi-cultural federation.

The SCNC raised these issues with the government but there was no solution, the SCNC started their campaign for impendence of southern Cameroon. The government’s first approach to this idea was to band the SCNC, persecute its members some were sent on exile or incarcerated. The lawyers and teachers joined in last November and they were brutalized by the law enforcement officers (Boko gendarme and haram police), this led to the birth of the coffin revolution in southern Cameroon. At least 10 people have died who went out to express their frustrations against the government in a peaceful way. The government called for dialog and when their terms were not met they arrested all southern Cameroonians who went in good faith to dialog with the French government and were imprison in addition to 100 southern Cameroonians who went out demonstrating against the government who were also arrested and are in jail till date, followed by internet blackout in southern Cameroon for 91 days.

The above is the product of the marriage between LRC and southern Cameroon after fifty years and where have the almighty UN been? The last UN residence coordinator for Cameroon was bribed and did not raise any of these concerns to the UN. The UN visited Cameroon early this year and only Boko haram was discussed not southern Cameroon. Thanks to the relentless questionS asked by inner city press at the UN daily briefings the UN was forced to go to Cameroon for the third time and asked for the realize of all detained and the restoration of the internet in southern Cameroon and dialog should resume. The government In Cameroon reluctantly restored the internet but did not realize all who are unjustly detained. The gangster regime in Yaoundé is now forcing children at gunpoint to take GCE both O and A level exams when these children had not been to school since last year November in an attempt to destroy or downgrade an English exam. When asked the above and the none compliance of the Cameroon government’s last request at the daily briefing by inner city press, all the Un can say was that they were closely monitoring the situation ( whatever that means).the UN is hoping that dialog will restart in Cameroon but how can that happen when gangster regime was to dialog while pointing a guns at the head of southern Cameroonians but we cannot continue to leave with LRC we had tried it two times it did not work first was the joined condominium from 1914 which collapsed in 1916 the British and the French could not jointly administer Cameroon, the independence by joining LRC in 1961 which has given rise to the marginalisation of southern Cameroonians. Two clear example that these people cannot stay together, why the UN still wants dialog and unity baffling to me, there is only one solution to this problem the total independence of southern Cameroon please Mr un wake up to this reality, your greatest achievement in Cameroon since 1961 is the restoration of the internet in southern Cameroon, at time I wonder if this is the same UN that forced colonial power to grant independence to their colonies or we have a shadow that UN now.

By  PRIDE MBI AGBOR

SCNC ACTIVIST UK

 

 

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 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.

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.

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

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

 

The struggle for the independence of Southern Cameroon is far from over.  Many battles have been lost but the war continues. La République du Cameroun has done its best to subdue the voices of Southern Cameroonians. Despite a strong case which southern Cameroon presents, La Republique has made it their mission to stop anyone who advocates for the independence of southern Cameroon. SCNC activists are either threatened, conveniently ruined, incarcerated or killed while the government of La Republique (the persecutors), profit from the natural resources located in Southern Cameroon.

Southern Cameroon is a very rich country in natural and mineral resources such as cocoa, coffee, tea, bananas, timber and crude oil in Limbe and Bakassi. This is well above the resources (both natural and mineral) found in La Republique du Cameroun which is almost “barren” due to its inadequate, insufficient or lack of a robust deposit of natural resources. These natural  resources from Southern Cameroon are being exploited by La Republique –  the revenue been generated from the natural resources ends in the private pockets of some government officials, e.g., the revenue from the sales of crude oil is not accounted for in the state budget. These facts show how deep La Republique has dug its claws into Southern Cameroon, trying their best to suck it dry. I ask myself how easy Southern Cameroon’s struggle for independence would have been had it not been but for the availability of large deposits of these resources. I am certain, beyond any reasonable doubt that, it wouldn’t have not been easier but smoother and quicker!

Another major issue with the whole La Republique saga is the constitution. The constitution of Cameroon clearly states French and English are the official languages. Both languages are constitutionally equal, yet laws are not translated from French to English, they are enacted in both languages but as known by most Cameroonians this doesn’t happen in practice. This gives rise to problems such as two different judicial systems and/or a mistranslated, misinterpreted and a weakened judicial system with a myriad of loopholes. The most shocking of which is the fact that the Penal Code expressly says in the event of any ambiguity between the French and English versions, the French one prevails, implying that the French judicial system prevails over the English. SCNC activists caught advocating for the struggle for Southern Cameroon are tried in the French judicial system for an English problem and sent to jail in the capital of La Republique. The new Penal Code states that members of the government will have automatic immunity from any crime. It goes on to say that if any court tries to prosecute them, the judge faces a period of 1 to 5 years in prison. This represents another win for La Republique over Southern Cameroon as government officials could get away with the embezzlement of public funds (http://www.cameroonpostline.com/should-jailed-corrupt-officials-be-given-vip-treatment/) and the murder of activists advocating for the struggle for independence of Southern Cameroon. This is a systematic way in which La Republique deals with its enemies, the greatest of which is Southern Cameroon.




La Republique has always cunningly brought to ruins any establishment that creates jobs, provide income and some sort of stability to Southern Cameroon. The closing of the Marketing Board, the Cameroon G.C.E Board and the University of Buea, and lately the annexation of the C.D.C headquarters (Cameroon Development Corporation) which was located in Limbe and is now almost facing relocation to La Republique (Yaoundé), does not only take away these jobs from Southern Cameroon but goes a long way to under-develop the region, especially as labour in this case is extremely immobile (http://www.cameroonjournal.com/national-news/cdc-head-office-leaving-southwest-for-yaounde-permanently/). This is just an apparent indication of the strategies been implemented by La Republique to cripple Southern Cameroon.

Guess the million dollar question now is this:  How can this big dream of independence for Southern Cameroonians become a reality? Naturally, Southern Cameroon has every advantage it will ever need. By the fact that various natural resources are found there, geographically this cannot be changed. The headquarters of the CDC can be moved but the plantation cannot, these plantations cannot do well in La Republique due to the absence of the rich volcanic soil and heavy rainfall that is found in Southern Cameroon. This is a major setback for La Republique simply because it has to maintain the annexation of Southern Cameroon in order to continue the exploitation of crude oil in Limbe and Bakassi in particular. What can we do to get rid of this virus and greed eating Southern Cameroon to death? All options are open. One option is to join with the people of the Biafran state to fight for the independence of both Southern Cameroonian and of the Biafra people. The Biafra’s our neighbours who are also struggling for independence on the other side of the border, have a lot in common with Southern Cameroon. We both were once colonised by the British with English language and broken English (pidgin English) widely spoken in these areas. Coming together brings new ideas and takes our struggle to the next level with new momentum been built which no government can ignore.

Nevertheless, peace is of the essence in such a time as these and I will always wish all of this can be done peacefully. We know that many lives have been lost and lives will still be lost but we can’t just give up. Coming together will send a strong message to the governments of La Republique, Nigeria and the world whilst highlighting to the lack of democracy in Africa. This will be a huge leap towards independence and might just be the breakthrough or freedom that the people most earnestly seek and crave for. Another very important tool that has not been fully exploited is the social media. I have been tweeting the President of La Republique, making my voice heard by writing to him on his Facebook page. This might seem very small but don’t underestimate Mr Biya’s  followers on Facebook and twitter who are other heads of states, heads of renowned international organisations and other prominent world figures. Just think for a moment what could be the reaction of Mr Biya if Mr Biya receives millions of tweets a day about Southern Cameroon that will be some serious pressure to bring about the long awaited change. As is the case with most if not all of the things concerning anyone who tries to lawfully question the government of La Republique, there are possibilities of huge consequences and jail time for anyone who would use social media in anyway to speak against the regime of Mr Biya (http://cameroon-concord.com/editorial/item/6377-cameroon-s-new-penal-code-could-drag-social-media-users-to-courts). However, this should not stop us nor make us to become complacent but join in such activities to rescue our beloved country from La Republique. As the saying goes, “resting on our laurels is a synonym for flirting with disaster”. Follow me on twitter to see my latest tweets to Mr Biya. Pride Mbi Agbor@pridoloko

 

By Pride Mbi Agbor.