UBSU-MINESUP Sign Accord

Considering the tense atmosphere that characterised the crisis at the University of Buea; considering the status of UBSU to promote dialogue and non-violence as a means of resolving their problems and in a number of efforts to open dialogue with top government officials in a bid to end this strike action, we have resolved that:

UBSU President and Minister of Higher Education sign agreement while Mayor Mbella Moki (with tie) looks on

We can start classes because the following grievances have been looked into which constitute more than 65 percent of our demands on the memo:

1. A legal authorisation and recognition of the University of Buea Students' Union, UBSU, as the main body at the University to look into students' problems, and creating a strong link between the administration and the students as clearly enshrined in the University Reforms of 1993.

2. That all strike leaders have been granted total immunity as from the end of the strike action. This will clear doubts on victimisation and stigmatisation. In this light, the administration has assured us that the Minister of Higher of Education from time to time will follow up our personal records in school; for example our results in which case he will have the right to intervene in the correction of our scripts where need be.

Again, our names should not feature in the States' Black Record Book, for this will mean that the government will never grant us employment after our programmes at the University.

3. Get all police and gendarmes out of campus from the moment the strike is called off.

4. That the school fees of the University of Buea has been reduced to FCFA 50.000 flat, with all other additional payments like medical fees, Departmental & Faculty fees scraped; with the assurance that the students' caution fees should be refunded to them at the end of their programmes.

6. That all courses to come up in re-sit examinations have been increased and the number of credits to be taken during the re-sit examinations have been increased from 12-18 credits.

7. That the price of food at the University Restaurant has been to FCFA 100.

8. That students will not sign any undertaking before they resume classes.

9. That the school administration maintains the toilets and provide taps, and public address systems in some lecture halls.

10. That the joint Student-Administration Committee has been put in place to run the affairs of the University. It is with the putting in place of this joint committee that other sub-committees will be put in place to look into the other grievances on the memorandum and give the students the desired results within a time space of two months.
Buea the 24th Day of May 2005

For the Government of Cameroon
The Minister of Higher Education (Chancellor of The University)
Pro. Jacques Fame Ndongo

For the Students
1. Walters Onekon Angwere, President
2. Alain Martin Nako, Vice President
3. Mua Gilbert Ebua, Secretary General

Comments

[massamoyo]

Walters, Gilbert and Martin
That is a good job done there. In fact you have tried your best but one thing.....I mean the only thing that you will impress me here in Germany and my friends is to honour your lost colleagues as heros and to declare the day they were killed by this undisciplined policemen a UBSU holiday.
That means no classes every year on the day...I think its the 29th April every year and students shout wear on black dresses whether a black shirt or trouser or skirt.
How do you see it mola?
Bravo to you all

[massamoyo]

Walters, Gilbert and Martin
That is a good job done there. In fact you have tried your best but one thing.....I mean the only thing that you will impress me here in Germany and my friends is to honour your lost colleagues as heros and to declare the day they were killed by this undisciplined policemen a UBSU holiday.
That means no classes every year on the day...I think its the 29th April every year and students should wear on black dresses whether a black shirt or trouser or skirt.
How do you see it mola?
Bravo to you all

[Mola]

You are right massamoyo,The 29th April should be made a mourning day in all state universities.I think all the students in Cameroon should dedicate atleast one day a year for their fallen colleagues.They died like heroes at the war front.It was a difficult battle but you guys fought it to the end.
Kudos to Walters, Gilbert and Martin.I hope you guys can now bend down on your books now and make it in grand style

[NI]

Mola,
Please you and your friends answer the following questions:

1. What were the demands of the students?

2. Which of these demands were turned down by either the UB admin or the Ministry of Higher Education

3. On which of these demands did the students finally obtain "victory"?

When we answer these questions objectively, then we will realize that the "strike" was a waste of time, resources, and human life.

The real heroes are "not yet born"

[massamoyo]

NI
Ni please to be frank you are not current

[NI]

Well Massamoyo,

Since you are current, can you please answer the questions that I asked?. what was won and what was lost?

What were the original student demands, and how and why were they modified (if they were)? What were these modified demands and to which of these demands did the government respond favorably?

It is not enough to unleash an orgy of invectives or unwarranted praise on the Internet. We should be able to analyse situation and clearly articulate what the issue was and how it was resolved. Anything short of that is just playing to the gallery and following the mob.

[massamoyo]

Ni
Mr man look in any negotiation or dialogue each partner must give and take. A partner is not going there to obtain a 100% of his/her demands and the other 0%. That is not a negotiation.
Many demands were made by the students and they went into negotiation with the minister. Obviously some demands must be rejected by the minister and some accepted.
I hope this piece has answered your three questions and remember many prises to the students is because they are able to proof to their VC and the Gorvernor that intimidation and treats isnt the key in modern society.Period

[JB Samba]

Massamoyo. Don't mind him - I mean NI. He is a very narrow minded somebody and thus doesn't understand what has been going on (if he can be asking those baseless questions).

[ateba claude]

I think the students showed to the entire world that they could ask for something, stand their ground and moreso not intimidated by the forces of lawlessness and disorder we have in cameroon. Even if their demands were not met entirely, I think their show of solidarity and oneness means that some factions of Cameroonians can say "no" to the nonesense of some dictators like Njeuma.
I, as an individual, was thinking that the strike will not end without the head of Njeuma rolling. I mean she will be kicked out of the university and replaced with someone more abreast with solving problems. However, I hope my desire will be met.
I hope that there would be no victimization as the minister promised. I dont trust Njeuma, she can be up to many things.
I will end by saying bravo to the students and thanks again for your tenacity during the strike action.

[massamoyo]

Ateba CLaude,
Please my brain isnt like the computer memory.
Can you or someone recall my brain if it is not this very Njeuma who nearly destroyed our G.C.E exams in the early 80s and we striked back and said NO?

[Carpio de Carpio]

It is extremely exciting to hear that there is great Joy at the moment in the University of Buea. Thanks to the minister's effort to dailoque with students, not living behind the mayor's great deal to accomplish the mission of peace, unity and prosperity between UB students, and the entire Buea community. Moreover, may we all pray for the souls of our friends who were killed during this incident so that the good Lord grant them eternal rest. Besides, students should take their book work serious as they resume classes. God bless us all

[PAOLO ROSSI]

THE WHOLE ANGLOPHONE FAILURES STEM FOR THE FACT THERE ARE LESS UNITED INTO SPECIFICS AND FOCUS,
THERE HAVENT GOTTEN THE VISION AND THE PURPOSE OF LIFE, SOO AS TO SUM UP WHAT IT MEANT FOR THEIR BEEING HERE ON EARTH AND AS AFRICANS, AND WHAT AND HOW TOA CHIEVE HAPPINESS AND ALL IT PEACEFUL PURSUITS, IN LIBERTY, YOU CAN ONLY BE HAPPY , WHEN YOPU ARE A FREE
MAN, FREEDOM, CAMES WITH A PRICE TAG, IT ISNT FREE.
IT IS THE ABILITY OF ALL THE ANGLOPHONE PEOPLE TO
BOND TO TEGETHER AND KEEP AWAY THEIR TRIBAL IDENTITY
AND WORK HAND IN HAND AND HARD ENOUGH AS ONE PEOPLE TO
BUILD THEIR OWN CAPITAL, CITIES, UNIVERSITIES. FACTORIES, HIGHWAYS, AIRPORTS,HOSPITALS, SEAPORTS, FARMLAND, ETC, ALL THESE THINGS ARE WELL WITHIN REACH WHEN A PEOPLE PUT THE MINDS AND BELIEF IN IT.

[bishop shentu]

i don't believe Njuema trust God or even believe in Him
because i don't really understand how students who are part of her institution, were beaten, some were even shot by 'gendarmes' but she only wants student to go to school. isn't that abnormal? does she have a conscience or not to judge her each time she observes some silence.
why does she want them back to school? is it to hypnotise them and control them as she pleases? she has something behind her head.