His Excellency, Mister Paul Biya, president of the Republic, national president of the CPDM.
Since your accession to the highest office in the land, the Centre region in its entirety has supported you like none other. It is a political support which has been uncategorical support which was expressed during the events of April 6th, during the years of unrest and during all elections. The Central region (the Centre, South, East) is also the region where the CPDM, your party, our party, the engine of your electoral victories, has been the most entrenched. This political support has been resolute has also been extended to your person and to your family.
Unfortunately, we don’t get the impression that you have adequately weighted the complete measure this support. Several events have unfortunately pushed us to ask these grave questions.
The government delegate whom you have appointed, have undertaken renovation projects in our nation’s capital. If the goal is to modernize “our village” is praiseworthy, it is not clear that the methods being employed have benefitted your policies. There has been so much discontent that we are uncertain if we could convince our base to vote for us if elections ere held today. Patriarchs and the community as a whole have been distancing themselves from these actions; especially since Betis, men of hospitality and peace, beg to differ. We have sought to meet with you to warn you of grave consequences which could come from these excesses, but we found out that you won’t meet with us as you have done in the past.
Meanwhile, when your authority was seriously besieged during the years of great unrest, we had given you a spear and a drum. Whereas the spear symbolized authority and power, the tam-tam was meant for you to use to rally the troops in a time of war; or to call-out to us for consultations in times of peace. By the looks of things, you haven’t used the drums too much. As a result, not having heard the rallying call of the drums and in the face of the urgency of this situation, we found ourselves obligated to address you this letter thru ordinary channels. We are raking advantage of this letter to inform you about all the problems which have troubled us deeply.
Under cover of Operation Sparrowhawk, you have decided to arrest all those whom you have accused as embezzlers of public funds. It may just be a coincidence but it appears clearly to us it has only targeted our most illustrious sons including those who have the standing of statesmen.
Without having to challenge your authority, voices from the Center region have been asking one question: When you would no longer be in a position to defend our interests, whom from amongst us will take up the mantle if everyone is in prison?
Your own belated mother, whom we still miss dearly, was a Yetotan, in other words, an Etoudi. Amongst Betis, nephews have privileged ties with their uncles. So we do not understand all of these actions which appear so steadfast. You had been informed that some of our illustrious sons were organizing themselves into a group called the G11, preparing to take your place. All of that was nothing but machination. We have always condemned those who would want to take your place by force and we continue to oppose them including anyone who would want to threaten your life. The truth is, we had been told that the G11 was only a think-tank much like La’akam, Essingan, Sourga, Moinam etc. If on any occasion, there was any talk of politics, it was just to raise some legitimate concerns: After our father President Biya, what would become of us? Which of our native sons would be fit to compete against sons from other regions to succeed you?
In other regions, people who do now harbor the same unselfish interest towards you and who, in the past, have even tried to seize power from you and even threaten your life, have posed the same question without suffering the same abuse. Curiously, victims of Operation Sparrowhawk have been those our native sons who held strategic positions alongside you. Do these positions have any relation to their present downfall?
In our tradition, a “zomlo’o” is a wise man, an untouchable, a point-of-reference. He is the memory and the conscience of the community. These wise men deserve everyone’s respect. Unfortunately, Operation Sparrow hawks has not spared this cream-of-the-crop from our social hierarchy. The patriarchs from the Greater Center region did not kindly receive news of the death –in prison- of one of their peers; nor did they kindly look upon the subsequent arrest of several others, an emeritus diplomat who was already in retirement.
We have not lost hope that we would be received by you whenever your schedule, which we understand is full, would permit. We nonetheless stand in solidarity with you whatever the case may be. We only had to inform you that there has hardly been much peace in the relations between us.
Respectfully Excellence Mister President of the Republic.
The government delegate whom you have appointed, have undertaken renovation projects in our nation’s capital. If the goal is to modernize “our village” is praiseworthy, it is not clear that the methods being employed have benefitted your policies. There has been so much discontent that we are uncertain if we could convince our base to vote for us if elections ere held today. Patriarchs and the community as a whole have been distancing themselves from these actions; especially since Betis, men of hospitality and peace, beg to differ. We have sought to meet with you to warn you of grave consequences which could come from these excesses, but we found out that you won’t meet with us as you have done in the past.
Meanwhile, when your authority was seriously besieged during the years of great unrest, we had given you a spear and a drum. Whereas the spear symbolized authority and power, the tam-tam was meant for you to use to rally the troops in a time of war; or to call-out to us for consultations in times of peace. By the looks of things, you haven’t used the drums too much. As a result, not having heard the rallying call of the drums and in the face of the urgency of this situation, we found ourselves obligated to address you this letter thru ordinary channels. We are raking advantage of this letter to inform you about all the problems which have troubled us deeply.
Under cover of Operation Sparrowhawk, you have decided to arrest all those whom you have accused as embezzlers of public funds. It may just be a coincidence but it appears clearly to us it has only targeted our most illustrious sons including those who have the standing of statesmen.
Without having to challenge your authority, voices from the Center region have been asking one question: When you would no longer be in a position to defend our interests, whom from amongst us will take up the mantle if everyone is in prison?
Your own belated mother, whom we still miss dearly, was a Yetotan, in other words, an Etoudi. Amongst Betis, nephews have privileged ties with their uncles. So we do not understand all of these actions which appear so steadfast. You had been informed that some of our illustrious sons were organizing themselves into a group called the G11, preparing to take your place. All of that was nothing but machination. We have always condemned those who would want to take your place by force and we continue to oppose them including anyone who would want to threaten your life. The truth is, we had been told that the G11 was only a think-tank much like La’akam, Essingan, Sourga, Moinam etc. If on any occasion, there was any talk of politics, it was just to raise some legitimate concerns: After our father President Biya, what would become of us? Which of our native sons would be fit to compete against sons from other regions to succeed you?
In other regions, people who do now harbor the same unselfish interest towards you and who, in the past, have even tried to seize power from you and even threaten your life, have posed the same question without suffering the same abuse. Curiously, victims of Operation Sparrowhawk have been those our native sons who held strategic positions alongside you. Do these positions have any relation to their present downfall?
In our tradition, a “zomlo’o” is a wise man, an untouchable, a point-of-reference. He is the memory and the conscience of the community. These wise men deserve everyone’s respect. Unfortunately, Operation Sparrow hawks has not spared this cream-of-the-crop from our social hierarchy. The patriarchs from the Greater Center region did not kindly receive news of the death –in prison- of one of their peers; nor did they kindly look upon the subsequent arrest of several others, an emeritus diplomat who was already in retirement.
We have not lost hope that we would be received by you whenever your schedule, which we understand is full, would permit. We nonetheless stand in solidarity with you whatever the case may be. We only had to inform you that there has hardly been much peace in the relations between us.
Respectfully Excellence Mister President of the Republic.
Translated from French by Eyembe and originally posted on Camnet egroup.
Maybe now , the Elites from the North west and South west regions (Provinces) of La republique du Cameroun. The so-called Anglophones can learn from these people add start stepping up their Games to take over power just like all the others are doing right now. And not stay back and keeping on complaining like little children.
Posted by: john | Friday, 17 July 2009 at 03:42 PM
Oh, presidential seat has now become a one native show.
Well Anglophones you all heard it yourselves, now is the time to wake up and do something. They now know he too will soon be history like the president of Gabon. Now is the time for Anglophones to team up, and leave those uncultured and wicked people to be fighting among themselves.
Patrick, NJ.
Posted by: Patrick Mbong | Saturday, 18 July 2009 at 07:40 AM
If you had called them thieves, they wouldn't have acknowledged. Now, they come out in the numbers asking for exemptions for some public thieves just because they are Beti elites. God punish all of you. You think you invented the spear and drum? They were the same instruments of war used in the North West to fight the Germans. Don't think for one moment that in the death of Mr. Biya, you stand a chance in hell of giving this nation another chop broke pot. The hang man's rope is tightening around the neck of your patriach and Cameroon is not ready for Bongo, Eyandema-like transition. Keep hiding Frank in Switzerland and spare yourselves the agony of shame. What a bunch of idiots. Highway robbers.
Posted by: Che Sunday | Sunday, 19 July 2009 at 02:24 PM
Patrick, I am 100 per cent with you. From the look of things, these murky betis things believe every thing good in the nation belongs to them by right; who amongst you wd dare dream that an Anglophone would ever take power in this down-trodden, tribal-studded country. Believe me or not, water and parafin can never intermingle even if boiled at 1000°C. Thts how Anglophones and frogs are and iwll continue to be.
God Save Southern Cameroons
Posted by: slomo | Sunday, 19 July 2009 at 05:23 PM
When shall French cameroon be cursed of it leaders?.
Mr Paul Biy you can escape the arms of law but you shall not escape God's Justice
Posted by: Blaise Ndi | Monday, 20 July 2009 at 03:28 PM
Who gave them the rights to feel as if power belong to them?.
Its time for us all to galvanished and make a meaningful change for the betterment of the masses.
I'm sick and tired of the anglophones being underlook because of the greed of some few elites from the NW&SW Region. The divde &rule shouldn't be like we can't do better. Its clear that they've stated fighting between themselves. I think its time for honest Cameroonians to come make an impacful change or we'd go our separate ways!!
Posted by: Lumumba | Wednesday, 22 July 2009 at 08:37 AM