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GCI sues for Peace
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GCI sues for Peace
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Anti-Government Protests in Cameroon's Major Cities Nnoko Mbele Tribalises Strike to Trivialise Popular Frustration I am writing in reaction to the contribution of Mr. Caven Nnoko Mbele, Government Delegate of the Kumba Council, to Morning Safari of Tuesday, February 4, 2008, and the strike in Kumba that was characterized by violence and looting. As a human and civil rights activist resident in Kumba, and as one who monitored the demonstrations from start to the present moment, I think its only incumbent on me to make a statement on the on-goings and to react to opinions that appear to misrepresent the picture in Kumba. I must state that I did not follow Nnoko’s presentation from the beginning. I caught in when he was analyzing the native and non-native situation and relation in Kumba vis-à-vis the strike and violence in Kumba. One thing I drew from his analysis was that the non-native peoples of this very cosmopolitan city orchestrated the violence and carried anti Bafaw slogans. Mr. Nnoko stated categorically that the protesters carried placards stating: “Bafaws must go”. Nnoko’s declaration has struck many denizens of Kumba with awe. I have asked around about if any one saw such a message or any thing in the like, and I am yet to confirm from anyone that they saw such a placard. I ask my self where Nnoko saw this notice and fear to conclude that Nnoko was only presenting his imaginations, well calculated to make political gain for himself alone. I personally, carefully monitored the strike and almost lost a video camera in an attempt to shoot the demonstrators. I saw a few notices that read: “Biya is old and tired”, “No peace for the government till further notice”, “CPDM must go”, “(W)reckless government”, “Even Jesus don vex”, etc., but I did not notice any tribal or ethnic sentiments in the demonstration. Nnoko Mbele is held in high esteem by the population of Kumba and its worrying when he decides to trivialize the frustrations the population of Kumba. Violence was the main character of the strikes all over the national territory. Is it possible that only the non-natives orchestrated the burning and looting in all the major cities in Cameroon? Mr. Nnoko alone knows what is up his sleeves, but it will be wise if he faces the realities of Kumba, and sort out the problem between him and the local administration rather adding insult to injury.
Global Conscience appeals for restraint and dialogue Global Conscience Initiative is calling for restraint in the on going strikes that have resulted in the loss of many lives and billions worth of property, both private and public. The call is on political and civil society actors to get fully involved in a dialogue to find lasting solutions to the dilemma the country finds itself in at this juncture. Global Conscience Chief Executive said on February 28, that the lost lives and property are enormous enough so far for Cameroonians of good conscience to at macro and micro levels consider dialogue as the only solution to the crisis. “Cameroonians now know what their problems truly are, and this is very important in any decision making process”, Mr. Samba Churchill said, and added; “discussions at this juncture should focus on the sustainability of agreed options”. The human rights and peace activist is calling on the civil society and especially, religious organisations to concert their efforts and make proposals to government and other political actors, on the threshold of the identified grievances as demonstrated by protesters in the ongoing strikes. Mr. Samba said the lives lost thus far is too much a price to pay on the alter of dialogue, and that conscionable Cameroonians owe it to the fallen compatriots to negotiate concessions on all sides of the political table. He said also that, Cameroonians would by greedy even to their individual selves if they refuse to read the very legible writing on the wall, that this country would not recover from the current devastations in the next three decades. He lamented that in the face of the present imbroglio, it is human rights that are, and would continue to be sacrificed. “Cameroon is now in a catch-22 situation, and either way there is danger”, Mr. Samba said. “We must agree at this juncture to face a common destiny as one people. We must shelve our parochial interests and strive for the common good of our children and generations unborn. We should be able to learn from the lessons of Sierra Leone, Rwanda, Kenya and Chad. Cameroon is not ready for any onslaught today and not even tomorrow, and we can not afford to wait till tomorrow to take that decision we all know is right.” |
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