Prior to the 1990 multi-party politics in Cameroon, the formation of political parties was a dream until Law No. 90/053 of December 19, 1990 legalised freedom of association.
John Fru Ndi fiercely launched the Social Democratic Front, SDF, on May 26, 1990, against threats from the centralist Government of Mr. Paul Biya that led to the death of six militants. Thereafter, other political parties were formed.
In March 1992, the first-ever multi-party legislative elections were held though highly boycotted by the main opposition parties on grounds that the rules did not guarantee free and fair elections, and that their militants needed time to register for the elections.
The creation of an independent electoral commission to supervise elections in Cameroon has remained the pre-occupation of the main opposition parties in the country.
The National Elections Observatory, NEO, set up by the regime has the status of observer only.
The above notwithstanding, Law No.2006/011 of 29 December 2006, has created ELECAM, which is supposedly an independent body responsible for the organisation, management and supervision of elections in Cameroon.
Just as the new Criminal Procedure Code, it has to become operational only after 18 months from December 29, 2006.
The Cameroon Peoples Democratic Movement, CPDM, headed by President Paul Biya, has remained in power for close to 22 years and has used its position to restrict political access and activities of the main opposition parties making the movement toward political liberalisation a nightmare.
If parliamentary and council elections were to be organised today, then the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Decentralisation, which is answerable to the chairperson of the CPDM, will organise the elections while NEO will continue its role of observer.
Unfortunately, the main opposition parties will continue to make noise but the offshoot is that they have to wait for 18 months for ELECAM to become operational.
After the parliamentary elections, the CPDM, as usual, will maintain the highest number of seats in Parliament, thereby giving them the opportunity to amend the constitution to permit the current Head of State to contest elections after his two terms.
Elections organised by the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Decentralisation are often marked by irregularities, fraud, rigging, intimidation and harassment.It is prudent and honourable for the postponement of the upcoming elections just as they did for the harmonised Criminal Procedure Code in order to put ELECAM to test prior to presidential elections.
The people are ignorant about their rights to freely choose their political representatives. Quite often, registration of voters is carried out in camera by the administrative authorities. Even those who regularly register do not have voting cards, a technique used by the administration to technically exclude some people from exercising their civic rights.
The regime in power constantly manipulates electoral results. Some people are arbitrarily arrested while journalists are subjected to inhuman treatment for expressing opinions contrary those of the ruling party.
Cameroon is a signatory to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights adopted and opened for signature, ratification and accession by the General Assembly resolution 2200A (XXI) of December 16, 1966 and entry into force on March 23, 1976.
Article I thereof states, "All people have the right to self determination. By virtue of the right, they freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic social and cultural development.''
Electoral participation is the most popular means of democracy. It enables people without distinction to play an active role in government by electing representatives to act as their agents. Electoral participation in Cameroon is still far from guaranteeing political equality and perfection at all levels.
Violence at polling stations and post election violence, official manipulation at the time of vote counting, rigging and the use of money to buy votes have disempowered the poor, women and minority in determining their political choice.Post electoral violence has been an aspect of political culture, limiting or excluding political participation.
Poverty is a social problem in Cameroon. Lack of farm-to-market roads, potable water, diseases and lack of jobs make it easy for the business class to commercialise votes. Embezzlers of State funds continue to maintain themselves in power against the wish of the people.
The commercialisation of votes is a human rights violation because it influences the objective assessment of the masses in choosing their political leaders.Any elections organised in Cameroon other than by ELECAM means the Government has a hidden agenda, which might push Cameroonians too far.
Barrister, Tanyi Joseph Mbi,
Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
Centre for Human Rights Education, Training & Research (CHETAR),
Email chetar_hr@yahoo.co.uk or (237) 5830339
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