Elections Campaigns:7 Wounded In CPDM, SDF, APF Clashes

By Walter Wilson Nana & Olive Ejang Tebug Ngoh

Seven militants of the CPDM and Alliance Patriotic Forces, APF, parties sustained injuries in clashes in Buea and Kumba at the weekend.

Battered APF militants waiting for treatment

The clashes came only a day into campaigns officially launched on July 7.In Buea, six militants of APF were admitted at the Provincial Hospital Annex on Sunday, July 8 after violent clashes with CPDM militants.

The APF militants clashed with sympathisers of Stephen nLuma, CPDM Sub-Section President for Buea Central I and alternate member for the CPDM parliamentary list for Buea Urban for the up-coming elections.

A certain Joseph Monyange, 27, who sustained an eye injury and bruises on his legs said, "We closed from a meeting we had at the residence of our quarter head in Buea Town, at about 6 pm, where we discussed APF issues and the up-coming elections. We decided to take a walk around the neighbourhood in our party uniforms. As we walked past the residence of the Treasurer of Buea Council, Luma Njoke, a red-coloured car suddenly overtook us and blocked the way."

According to Monyange, Luma told them that their "lives will end now!" "Suddenly, some people including one Eko Molua, who works at the Buea Council and some boys in his neighbourhood together with dogs attacked us. They used clubs and axes in battering us. We groaned in pains, asking them why they wanted to kill us."

Monyange said they managed to escape with wounds all over their bodies. He said even Luma used a club on one of them.According to Monyange, their APF meeting went on smoothly, with some policemen on guard.He said they did not provoke anybody in the course of their marching.

"It was peaceful marching. If not of Luma, not many people would have known that we had our meeting. It is Luma who attacked us," he disclosed.Monyange told The Post that Luma has vowed that there is no place for APF in Buea Town neighbourhood, and that he is in control.

One Mirabelle Njie, 42, who is the APF Organising Secretary for Babuti Quarters in Buea Town, said when she tried to stop Luma from squeezing the neck of her comrade, he (Luma) retorted by kicking her in the leg.

"I fell and went unconscious. I only found myself at the Buea Town Health Centre, receiving drips after I regained consciousness," she said.Buea APF Chairman, Primus Nomen, described the act on his militants as barbaric.

"This is not acceptable in this our peace-loving country. Politics is a matter of fair play and not war," Nome remarked.He said the necessary law enforcement instruments would be contacted for swift action to be taken on the issue.

The other four who were wounded are: Samuel Ekike, 30, Wolete Ngale, 35, Edmund Ekome, 29 and Paul Ndachi Nkeh.

Luma Reacts

Talking to The Post, Luma dismissed the allegations as false. "I was the victim of an attack from APF militants. At about 8 pm on Saturday while in my house, I heard some noise coming from the Chief's palace. I could not be indifferent. On stepping out, I saw a group of people, whom I identified some (Emmanuel Ekonde, Marcus Veseke Nagollo, Ngeka Luma, Samuel Ekeka, Evakise Ekonde, Wolete, Ngale and David Mwambo), they were almost hoisting an APF flag at my gate, which is not my political leaning."

Njoke Luma: "There is no place for APF in Buea

Luma said in a move to send them off, his militants, on hearing his cry, came out and helped him send away the boys."When they say I attacked them, I do not think it is real," Luma added.

He saw in the act "the machinations from hungry people who want to make a living". He described the CPDM as a party of peace and democracy, respecting all the rules of the game."The law stipulates that campaigns begin at 6 am and ends at 6 pm. These guys came to my residence at 8:30 pm. I do not call that campaign.

They came to provoke me, some were reeking of alcohol, holding bottles, how do you go to somebody's residence during campaigns, when he/she is not of your political side?" Luma questioned.He said he has lodged a complaint at the appropriate quarters for the case to be studied.

CPDM, SDF Clash

Meanwhile, some CPDM and SDF militants clashed on July 5 when one Sheriff Bailiff Etienne Zemenjuoh, CPDM aspiring councillor for Kumba III Council in Mambanda, began investigating whether aspirant councillors on the SDF list for Kumba III live in their areas.

This, he said, is according to the Cameroon Electoral Code Chapter 2, Section 8 (1), where aspirants shall be disqualified to stand for municipal elections if they actually do not reside within the area of the council concerned.

Consequently, Zemenjuoh is said to have solicited the service of another bailiff, Epie Alobwede, for his action, and also the Central Police Commissioner, Andre Fils Ela Menye.
The Commissioner is said to have asked one Police Officer, Ekwalla, to assist Zemenjuoh in his action.

The three set out to the house of SDF aspirant councillor for Kumba III, Valentine Chi Zih.
Zemenjuoh and his crew reportedly told him their mission and asked him to sign a convocation where he would have to explain why he lives in Kumba II but is an aspirant in Kumba III. Zih on his part reportedly argued that though he lives in Kosala, he has a house and farms in Kumba III Council area. But Zemenjuoh is said to have told him to make that statement at the Central Police Station.

From Zih's, Zemenjuoh's team went to the house of another SDF aspirant, Michael Atem Fobela where they equally issued him a convocation, asking him to report at the Central Police Station.

Fobela like Zih told them that he has a house in Mambanda Tancha (Kumba III) and only a farm in Kosala. His plea fell on deaf ears.When later the team met the third aspirant, Sylvester Asafor Ngala, around Farm Road Street, they equally handed him a convocation.

But Asafor, who is said to have seen no reason for the convocation, immediately phoned the Kumba SDF District Chairman, Ferdinand Asapngu, who arrived with other SDF militants.
It is in the course of this that a fighting erupted and Zemenjuoh was wounded with blood oozing from his nose.

He immediately rushed to the SDO for Meme, Magloire Abath Zangbwala, to complain and proceeded to the St. Francis Hospital where he was hospitalised.When The Post contacted Zemenjuoh, he said the SDF action was an aggravated act to eliminate him.

He said according to the law, it was criminal for people to aspire as councillors in areas where they don't reside.He stated that when this was discovered he launched a complaint to the SDO for Meme, Magloire Abath Zangbwala, head of the Divisional Supervisory Committee for the elections.

The bailiff said in order to procure documentary evidence, he solicited the support of Kumba administration and the Legal Department who gave him the go ahead.Zemenjuoh said he was surprised when Asapngu and four other SDF militants accosted while he was talking to Fobela and started violence. "Within minutes after their arrival, Asapngu burst out shouting 'what is the matter here and immediately wrenched the convocation I had issued to Fobela.

"Raphael Tanyi who was standing beside me, punched me, while Asapngu also hit me. Suddenly, so many people were on me and I started bleeding. I was only freed by the grace of God," Zemenjuoh narrated.

He said they must investigate the SDF Kumba III list to the last.During the launching of the CPDM campaign, the Parliamentary candidate, Charles Enaw Eseme, enjoined the militants to rally behind Zemenjuoh for a court action.

Commenting to the press, the CPDM Meme I spokesman, Gerald Otang, said Zemenjouh was right in his action as an aspirant. He said 12 out of 25 SDF aspirants in Kumba III stay out of the area, and it was on this platform that the bailiff started his investigation.He accused Asapngu of perpetrating the act, which he condemned as violence.

He said such acts of vandalism from Asapngu and his thugs caused the burning of their Section President's car, Prince Ekale Mukete in 2002.

Out Of Order

When The Post contacted Asapngu, he said Zemenjuoh had no right to investigate and harass his militants because he had no document from the Legal Department to serve the people.

He said Zemenjuoh deceived the Commissioner that he was acting as a bailiff and needed his assistance, reason why the police boss gave him one of his subordinates.Asapngu further stated that he was shocked to discover that the CPDM aspirant confronted his militants without his knowledge as the Chairman, and that of the DO for Kumba Central, David Kouam.

He, however, refuted claims that he punched the bailiff.Asapngu also cited the Cameroon Electoral Code Chapter 2, Section 8 (2), which states "persons not resident within the area of the council concerned, may stand for municipal elections in they have a place of abode therein."

He said all his aspirants have farms, residences and business centres in Kumba III. He said this was taken into consideration before his list was built.

Comments

[nshom]

can some one tell me why laws are always written so that they can have as many interpretations as are the numder of readers?

Here one says he does not qualify to run another says he qualifies.

[rexon]

These old stale rhetorics and red herring are still being said by unquestionable psychopaths and drug fuelled CPDM stalwarts?

Hear one of them:

"He described the CPDM as a party of peace and democracy, respecting all the rules of the game"

Such ramblings are enough evidence that these bandits dont have any respect even for the wisdom of Southern Cameroonians. As they continue their animation of rightminded Southern Cameroonians, we of the SCNC and all its sister organisations call on all rightminded Southern Cameroonians to stay peacefully at their respective homes for the sake of peace. La Republique elections and the elections of all French enclaves are dictated by hotel suits and presidencies in Europe. There is no need going to vote. Farmers should instead use that day to pray for heavy rains to pour down in the Southern Cameroons and water their crops, delmonte workers and others should consider that a day of rest, etc.

All those acting in the name of an upcoming elections should know that their leaders are just there to either continue the theft of our resources or colour Mr Biya's inexistant democracy in the form of an upcoming elections. If u want to fight, you should fight to drive away the illegal ballot boxes from the Southern Cameroons. The boxes are being brought by La Republique agents in the Southern Cameroons who have no interest of the future of Southern Cameroonians at heart. We need to shun them and drive all those bandits from the CPDM or the respective opposition colouring their inexistant democracy.

Long live the Southern Cameroons.

[M Nje]

All these fighting is about one issue: money. This is the most important time for these business organisations call political parties. The main organisation; the C.P.D.M. is ready to distribute dividend to its subsidaries; the S.D.F., A.D.F., etc. It is no surpress to see these groups fighting to get the most money. It is a shame, a big shame. These Southern Cameroonians who are on being paid by La Republique Du Cameroun to form and maintain political parties will one day confess their dealings.

The S.D.F., A.D.F....etc and their leadership are nothing but subsections of the C.P.D.M. They are being used to continue to confuse Southern Cameroonians as La Republique exploit our resources. But the illegal occupation will end no matter what it takes.

[M Nje]

corrections
'surprise' not 'surpress'

[samleyin]

Sam Lombi where are you now?
Please step foward and explain this political fighting in a bakweri soil before you start ranting excuses for ur miscalculated judgement. hope u get the point straight.

[nanoman]

Poverty and lack of adequate education is really a problem to Africans. I am sure if those warring militants are asked about the political ideologies of thier various political parties, they wont have a clue...and the same goes for most cameroonians. Yet they are prepared to tussle and hassle for things they dont even understand and dont even believe in. It is really sad indeed...

[rexon]

The New York Times Sells Cameroon for $250,000
by Sofia Jarrin Hurtado ( sofiajt [at] yahoo.com )
Tuesday Jul 10th, 2007 9:07 AM
On a silver platter this past Sunday, The New York Times magazine featured no less than eight pages towards the liberalization of the economy in Cameroon. Showing off its excellence in corporate media advertising, the NY Times magazine sold prominent space to Cameroon business traders so they can in turn sell their country’s resources to U.S. investors, no doubt to the demise of many of its citizens. “Cameroon ready for growth, ready for investment,” reads a headline on page 59 which goes on to explain the country’s “quest for sustainable growth...”

oil.jpg

“Cameroon is initiating an economic program to privatize public and semi-public corporations in all sectors of the economy, including agro-industry, transport, telecommunications, energy and water… Investors have more reasons than ever to invest in Cameroon, which boasts political stability [and] a flexible government.”

Such flexible government, under its benefactor and President for the past 22 years, Paul Biya, has pledged to preserve “peace and stability” in the country during his next four years in power. President Biya is Cameroon’s second president since the proclamation of its independence from France on January 1, 1960, and through consistent elections every seven years where he has ran mostly unopposed, Biya has proven that stability means single party rule.

Amnesty International, unfortunately, has not been able to partake in Cameroon’s historical political stability since they were banned from entering the country for releasing a scathing human rights report in the early 1990s. Amnesty has steadily included Cameroon in their yearly human rights reports, which boasts of many measures of imprisonment, torture, and gag modus operandi to contain the masses from destabilizing the country. In 2007, no less than two editors from main newspapers, L'Afrique and The Chronicle, and a journalist from Radio Equinoxe, were beaten and arrested for inciting freedom of speech.

Moreover, to ensure the trade of professional journalism is carried out with full authority, the Ministry of Communication instituted in 2004 an innovating system of issuing press cards to all exercising journalists, renewable every two years at the journalist’s expense. No doubt The New York Times would report, if time and space allowed, on such heavy-handed processes against fellow bloggers and venture journalists.

They did report in 2003, however, on the World Bank’s inauguration of “the” African oil pipeline that run between Chad and Cameroon, promising to “help prevent this project from leading to poverty and corruption.” The $3.7 billion private oil project was the World Bank’s single largest investment in sub-Saharan Africa. “An oil consortium including Exxon Mobil, ChevronTexaco and Petronas, the state oil company of Malaysia, built the 665-mile pipeline and oil facilities on the Atlantic Coast and will reap more than 60 percent of the estimated $13 billion revenues over 25 years, according to World Bank estimates,” reads the article.

There’s definitely money to made in Cameroon and from Cameroonians. Privatization has steadily grown in the country since the beginning of this century, as the World Bank’s Privatization Database shows, for example, with its $56 million investment in the telecommunications industry and the privatization of CAMTEL, Cameroon’s national provider. To quench Cameroon’s thirst for—water—the government-subsidized industries Societé Nationale des Eaux du Cameroun (SNEC) is also going privatization through the creation of the Cameroon Water Utilities Corporation (Camwater). “After all, water is life,” reads the water ad on the NY Times magazine on page 63.

President Biya himself is quoted on the magazine as Cameroon completes its move towards economic vibrancy and a “legal and judicial environment so that investors may settle in our country for as long as they wish.”

Cameroon has gone through a significant change of hands in its recent past, from a German colony to the confiscation of Nazi plantations by British and French fighters after the Second World War. Revolts and riots ensued as the colony came into being as a Republic and still struggles through 22 years of one long democratic election. So needless to say, it is time for it to throw itself into the arms of U.S. private investors, and we have The New York Times, among many, to thank for making this possible.

[s.akamembulle]

This is a blantant disgrace and disrespect to the democracy we fought for many years.In a democratic world,politics is like soccer. He who plays well wins.May our fellow parents, brothers and sisters watch and see how democracy is being practised in other countries of the world.Those over zealous so call politicians in our country whether being CPDM,SDF.APF,UNDP etc should understand that politics in a democratic country is merely differences in opinion and not creating enemities,fighting and destroying.If we knew we were not matured enough to practise democracy,then it will serve the public and a common man on the street a peaceful life if the government abolishes all other political parties and allow only one party to function.
We the sons and daughters of Cameroon residing out of the country are anciously watching how you are going to exercise your differences in opinion on the 22nd July 2007.

[rexon]

Paul Biya met à la disposition un avion militaire à la disposition des candidats aux prochaines élections
CAMEROUN - 11 juillet 2007 - XINHUA
Le chef de l'Etat camerounais Paul Biya a signé mercredi un décret qui demande au ministre de la Défense de mettre à la disposition des partis politiques ayant des candidats dans la partie septentrionale du pays, l'avion militaire C-130 en vue d'effectuer l'itinéraire Yaoundé, Douala, Garoua, Maroua, Ngaouandéré en aller et retour jusqu'à la fin de la campagne électorale, a-t-on appris de la présidence.

L'acte du chef de l'Etat camerounais vise à atténuer les souffrances qu'ont les membres des partis politiques ayant des candidats dans les circonscriptions électorales du Nord à trouver un moyen de transport du fait de la décadence de Cameroon Airline.

C'est la première fois qu'une telle mesure est prise en période électorale.

Le chef de l'Etat camerounais montre à travers cet acte sa volonté comme il l'a annoncé lors de son discours du 6 juillet dernier à la nation, à mettre tout en oeuvre pour que des élections législatives et municipales du 22 juillet au Cameroun se déroulent dans les meilleurs conditions et transparences possibles.

Quelque 45 partis sont en lice pour les législatives. L'Etat a déjà débloqué en leur faveur une enveloppe de 1,5 milliard de francs CFA (3,2 millions de dollars).

[rexon]

Biya is a very wise man. He knows how to fool those selfish politicians. Now, he has provided them with an aeroplane and an envelope is waiting for them as price money after they have helped him colour his inexistant democracy.

[M Nje]

Rexon,
He is reading from the old books of political science. In politics, PERCEPTION IS REALITY. He is making sure that the is no visible separation between his C.P.D.M. and his subsidaries: S.D.F., C.D.U, etc.

In that light, the people will not see any difference. They will all be seem as hungry dogs who claim to be opposing his C.P.D.M. just for a better life for themselves.

It is a matter of them before he places all of them openly into the public services as paid politician.

It is particulary shameful for Southern Cameroonians like Inoni, Fru Ndi, Agbor Tabi, etc etc. There are willing to settle for thses peanuts for their own selfish interest why 6 millions Southern Cameroonians are being called Nigerians and enermies.