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ov’t Accuses Nigeria Of Funding SCNC |
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Article posté par Arise1Always vu 361 fois.
[ Bamenda - Cameroun ] ( 25/09/2005) P. Manyong & C. Mbunwe
Anglophone members of government engaged in an intensive campaign to silence the SCNC have accused Nigeria of being the main sponsor of those spearheading the secession of the Northwest and Southwest Provinces.
One of the Anglophone Ministers on the Philemon Yang-led delegation to the Northwest Province accused the Nigerian government of harbouring and sponsoring SCNC leaders and their activities.
Joseph Dion Ngute, Minister Delegate at the Ministry of External Relations, In Charge of the Commonwealth said, "some of these SCNC people have made open declarations to Nigerian authorities, like "help us in our independence and we shall give you Bakassi."
He said SCNC activists are effectively sustained in Nigeria with food and money to fight Cameroon. He also wondered why the Nigerian government should assist an illegal group like the SCNC that has only destructive ideology to entertain a case against Cameroon in a Nigerian court.
"From Nigeria these individuals, led by Dr. Ngwang Gumne, carried the matter to the court of Banjul in The Gambia. Now they go around telling lies that the case has been admitted."
Ngute said what Dr. Ngwang sued the Cameroon government for, was on human rights abuses. "I even asked him to state clearly where these abuses took place, but he was unable to," he said.
Yang, Assistant Secretary General at the Presidency, led the delegation, which began its campaign in the Southwest Province.
Addressing an impressive crowd that turned out at the Bamenda Congress Hall on Tuesday, September 20, Yang said the purpose of the meeting was to "remind ourselves of who we are and where we are going to, so that, some individuals should not mislead us."
He reminded his audience that Cameroon was one under German rule, until it was divided between France and Britain after Germany's defeat in World War I. In 1961, the two parts reunited. This unity was reinforced by the referendum in 1972. They came together because it was only through such a means that they could realise their life dreams."
Those who question the union, he said, are challenging and acting against the wishes of a majority of the people whose forefathers took this wise decision and contrary to what prevails in the world. He said the tendency today is for nations to come together, citing cases like the European Union, the African Union and the reunification of the two Germanies.
"How can we, who assisted Nigeria against the secession of Biafra, support a similar action in our own country?" Yang asked rhetorically.He praised President Paul Biya, whom he said has instituted democracy, press freedom, legal reforms and has created a special Ministry for Youth Reforms.
He admitted, however, that Anglophones have problems but these are not unique because Francophones too, face them. Yang said there is respect for human rights and the rule of law in Cameroon; that if the SCNC is allowed to continue, there is risk of a civil war.
He called for vigilance to avoid what he called intoxication by the SCNC. Hinting at a possible ruthless crackdown, he said unity would be maintained at all costs. Only legal means or a referendum can interfere with sovereignty, he said.
Justice Egbe's Invectives
The style of Justice Hillman Achuo Egbe, Minister of Forest and Wild Life, was even harder than that of Yang. As proof that the secessionists have indications towards violence, he recalled that they had once struggled to smuggle arms from Australia. The Australian government unearthed the plot on its own, tried and imprisoned a certain Jeffrey Hughes.
Dion Ngute
Chief Dion Ngute, Minister Delegate at the Ministry of External Relations, said the SCNC is backed by an NGO, UNPO, which has an observer status at the UN. He said his Ministry could facilitate the creation of any NGO, capable of having an observer status at the UN.
Ngute said Britain is grappling with the Irish Republican Army, IRA, and so cannot back them. He was angry with the SCNC for invading all foreign embassies and damaging Cameroon's good image, thereby scaring away foreign investors.
He said the SCNC is a violent movement, accusing it of carrying out the 1997 "terrorist attacks" in the Northwest, which led to the killing of one Justin Mvondo, DO of Kumbo.
Two years later, Justice Frederick Alobwede Ebong seized CRTV Buea and declared the restoration of Southern Cameroons sovereignty. SCNC in short, is a terrorist organisation, Ngute concluded.
NOWEDEP Resolutions
If the speakers expected only acclamation for their anti-SCNC decelerations, then they certainly had a rude shock when the question and answer session followed. The first signal of trouble was the pandemonium when Fidelis Nji, NOWEDEP interim President, got up to speak.
But Yang had not come to dance to the tune of the majority and so still allowed Nji to speak. Nji repeated the same invectives against the SCNC, which have been heard several times over CRTV.
Hon. Jua Berates Minister
Real drama began when this Northwest SDF MP mounted the rostrum. Hon. Paulinus Jua criticised the organisers of the meeting for not inviting the SDF MPs. Even when they came on their own, they were not given seats. He mocked the Ministers for ignoring the majority represented by the MPs.
To Jua, the Ministers were only out to defend the regime through which they "chop" and worse still, try to appear more Cameroonian than others. "If we have to forge ahead with unity, it is only through dialogue," Jua stated. He recalled that during AAC1 and AACII, Anglophones gave government a reasonable time to initiate dialogue.
He reminded them that the SCNC motto is Force of Argument and not Argument of Force. "It is through dialogue that the issue can be resolved." He also advised that Cameroon's unity in diversity should be used to build a strong and vibrant nation.
But what jolted the members of government was Regina Mundi's speech.
A CPDM stalwart whose property was torched during the 1992 post election violence, she admitted that Anglophones do not have their own share of the national cake. She, however, advised Anglophones who have slaved for the unity of this country not to abandon what they worked for.
Mrs. Mundi reminded all present that Anglophones are hemmed between two giants: Nigeria and French Cameroon. As such, they would be a weak nation if they stand alone as their two powerful neighbours could easily submerge them. To come out of this situation, they need to harness their efforts and work hard so as to be represented when the national cake is being shared.
Enter, PC Fonso
The drama intensified when Hon. PC Fonso, MP for Mbengwi Central, took the floor. He expressed disappointment at hearing that it was Prime Minister Ephraim Inoni who had initiated on the meeting.
He said Biya was the be-all and end-all, when it comes to solving the Anglophone Problem. He praised Northwest Fons in the communiqué, which called for dialogue with the Head of State. He also recalled that Kofi Annan had recommended dialogue with the SCNC. Since Biya ignored this advice, the SCNC had been pushed to the wall.
Hon. Fonso then questioned why for over 40 years, no Anglophone had been appointed into key Ministries like Finance, Education, Defence, Foreign Affairs. He regretted that no Anglophone has ever been appointed Delegate of National Security. He, however, praised Hon. Simon Achidi Achu, for working towards the creation of the GCE Board.
He regretted that on the whole, Anglophones play second fiddle, citing even Chief Ngute and Yang as only assistants. He regretted that year after year, they come but they never go back and tell Biya the truth.
Tamfu Explodes
Hon. S.N Tamfu won plaudits when he challenged Hon. P.C Fonso in his capacity as one who was present in most of what happened. He said Donga Mantung was the only Division that voted against unification at the UN where he went and they were told to come back and work towards reunification.
Tamfu berated Fonso who was not present, but who was making noise. "This is not the National Assembly". He tongue-lashed SDF MPs saying they are in the Assembly only to "chop". Tamfu said SDF MPs walk out when any important decision is being taken. He warned that they should not repeat such behaviour at the November Parliamentary session.
Addressing Hon. Fonso directly, he said, "I am sure if you are made a Minister with the noise you make around it would be terrible".
Achidi Achu Recommends Arrest
Achidi Achu said the unity of Cameroon has come to stay. He admitted that Anglophones have a problem but said Northwesterners never voted Biya and so should not expect anything from him. He repeated his famous expression "politics na njangi". He called on the administration, forces of law and order to crush SCNC, describing its leaders as a handful of disgruntled people who should not be above the administration and security forces.
Why Government Can't Dialogue With SCNC
At a press briefing after the meeting, Yang said he and his colleagues came with one message; "Whatever problem we as Anglophones have, secession cannot be the solution." He said government was doing everything to see that decentralisation is feasible but cautioned that it is not a magic solution to all problems.
As for the idea of dialogue with the SCNC, he said, the "SCNC is fundamentally illegal, that is why we cannot dialogue with them." Yang argued that pursuing dialogue with the SCNC, would be setting precedence as other illegal groups may be tempted to follow the same illegal steps. He warned that government would act when necessary. "Biya's government is tolerant, but firm," Yang said.
On the arrest Of SCNC activists, he said it is part of government's policy to protect national unity. Explaining why Hitler Mbinglo was sent away from the hall, he first said he was not aware of it, but quickly added that government had the right to choose whom to attend such a meeting. His message to Mbinglo was that secession would not help him.
Fons, SDF And Pro-government SCNC React
Prior to the meeting, three communiqués had been issued by various groups in relation to the SCNC controversy. The first communiqué dated September 19, was issued by the Fons, following an exco meeting held at the Fon of Mankon's Palace. In it, the Fons condemned all revolutionary and secessionist ideas being propagated by "a few misguided Cameroonians."
They called on all sons and daughters of the Northwest Province "to denounce and guard against such adventurers whose acts they can only be described as deceitful, manipulative and destructive."
The Fons, while congratulating Biya for what they said was his brilliant performance at the UN General Assembly, also reminded him of his duties, which include protecting, safeguarding, stabilising and concretising the unity of Cameroon.
They, however, craved the indulgence of President Biya, not only to grant them audience where problems of the Northwest would be examined, but also to open up to dialogue with Anglophone political leaders.
Fon Chafah XI of Bangolan, Sehm Mbinglo of Nso, Martin Forbuzie of Chomba, S.A.N. Angwafor III of Mankon, Hans Anagho of Ngwo, Abumbi II, of Bafut and Ngufor III of Nkwen signed the communiqué.
The SDF expressed its disappointment at not being invited to the Tuesday meeting in an undated communiqué, signed by Bernard Tabali, Northwest SDF Chairman. The letter, addressed to the Northwest Governor, regretted that other political parties were invited, neglecting the SDF, which touches on national unity, peace and development.
This, the SDF viewed as an indirect way of marginalising, blackmailing and backstabbing it, in the face of issues that concern the national life of Cameroon.Samuel Tita Fon, Vice Chairman of the pro-government SCNC, signed another communiqué, circulated before the meeting. In it, Tita described his group as the authentic SCNC, led by Chief Isaac Oben and that it is opposed to any manifestations on October 1.
The communiqué calls on all Southern Cameroonians to stay calm and go about their normal duties. He concludes by saying, "arrangements for dialogue is (sic) already in place and room should not be given to some individuals to disrupt the peaceful atmosphere that is so necessary for such a big task for Cameroonians, to sit face-face and dialogue for peace, unity and progress."
Other dignitaries present, included Emmanuel Ngafeeson, Secretary of State at the Ministry of Justice In Charge of the Penitentiary, Stephen Jikong, Technical Adviser in the PM's office, Leke Tambo, Secretary in the Ministry of Secondary Education and Edward Ako, Adviser at the Presidency.
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