Bali Warriors Burn Fon's Palace, 50 Other Houses

By Chris Mbunwe

An estimated crowd of about 500 youths from Bali Nyongha in Bali Subdivision of the Northwest Province on Saturday, March 3, invaded Bawock, a neighbouring village and burnt down over 50 houses.

With sharp machetes, hectares of crops like plantains and coffee along the Bali-Bawock highway were brought down with arrogant impunity.

Bawock Fon's wife, Henriette Nkwamo, told The Post that on the evening of Saturday, March 3, at about 5 pm, they were informed that some nine men of the Bali "Ngumba" that was heading to Mantum quarter decided to divert and enter the Bawock Palace without authorisation.

Since the Bawock Fon, Theodore Wanda, was not in the Palace, one retired policeman Peter Limen, whose residence is at the entrance of the Palace, decided to block the Ngumba.

But the Bali invaders pounced on him and alerted the other Ngumba people who were already arriving at Mantum to come back claiming that their Ngumba bag had been seized.

In the scuffle that ensued, a pastor of the Presbyterian Church Bawock, Rev. Ignatius Ngongeh, whose church and residence is also close to the Bawock Palace, rushed to the scene to preach peace and rescue his neighbour Limen.

"But as soon as I got there, I only succeeded in taking Limen who is my Parish Chairman. When they discovered that Pa Limen had escaped through the ceiling of my house, the mob fell on me and got me well beaten.

Thanks to some Christians who came to my rescue," Rev. Ngongeh narrated. He said the Bali warriors proceeded to the Palace, chanting war songs known as "Voma".

Extensive destruction started with the bamboo fence into the Palace and in the inner chambers the invaders looted and set ablaze the sitting room with TVs, chairs and other
artefacts that included the Fon's throne. 

The damage in the Palace was extended to where the Fon's wives and children live. The latter were chased away before the warriors set the houses ablaze.

Recounting her sorrows, another wife of Fon Wanda, Mirable Nkwano said: "We are refugees because all my dresses and those of the children were burnt. That same night they wanted to kill us and we escaped and slept at the church hall."

At about midnight, on Saturday, the youths of Mantum who are of Bali origin, began destroying houses on boundary with Bawock. The affected people fled into coffee farms and nearby bushes for safety.

The quarters most affected by massive destruction of property include Nitap where 12 houses were razed, Fomnjoh quarter and Douala quarter.

Victims

Limen, who was severely beaten and his car smashed is responding to treatment at the Bamenda Provincial Hospital. 
A provision store estimated at FCFA 10 million belonging to one Christopher Nono was burnt to ashes. Some FCFA 350,000 and two motorcycles were reportedly burnt in the store.

Another trader, Francis Biandas, was dragged out of his car and beaten, before his car was set ablaze.  Jacob Yimi lost 150 bags of Robusta coffee in the flames.

The headmaster of Government School Bawock, Philip Ngaso, was helpless as flames engulfed a two-apartment building. 

Others who suffered immeasurable damage of their property include, Ms. Cecilia Jam, Mrs. Genevieve Tanyi and Joseph Nyewa.

The Mezam SDO, Marcelin Jules Ndjaga, and the DO for Bali, Daniel Ngembane Ekolle, who went around Bawock, expressed indignation and described the act as barbaric and inhuman.

The administrators promised to track down all the criminals involved in the destruction.  At about 3 pm on Sunday, March 4, five Bali youths suspected to have been part of the 500-man crowd were arrested at Bawock in the presence of the SDO and were whisked off to Bamenda by gendarmes.

It would be recalled that last December 6, violence erupted in Bali Nyongha, following attempts by the Mezam administration to demarcate the boundary between Bawock in Bali Subdivision and Mbuh village and Pinyin in Santa Subdivision.

When the delegation from Bamenda Provincial Service of Lands led by the Mezam administration arrived at the disputed area in Bawock, they were surprised that tension was brewing among the Balis who were not invited to the locus.

Before the team from Bamenda could set to work, the irate Bali population who claim that they have a shrine in the disputed area, descended on the administrators and gendarmes with clubs, stones and sticks. 

The pillars and billboards meant to demarcate the land including two vehicles were all smashed.Contacted by phone, the Fon of Bali, Fon Ganyongha III, said he hadn't been to the scene yet but that his people were provoked.

He said he was informed that the Bawock people seized a juju called "Voma" and destroyed it, incurring the wrath of his people. Fon Ganyongha III said he has been appealing to his subjects to be reasonable.

Bali people say that they gave Bawock people a piece of land to settle before independence and that today the Bawocks cannot claim to be landlords in Bali.

Talking to The Post, the President General of the Northwest Fons Union, NOWEFU, Fon Chafah, condemned the use of force by any village to settle problems.

"This situation is unfortunate and the whole of this Sunday I tried in vain to get to my colleague of Bali Ganyongha. I succeeded only in getting across to the Fon of Bawock who told me he is in Bafoussam and that his palace has been burnt."

"I am travelling this Sunday night to Bamenda to be in Bawock and Bali so that I assess the situation myself," said Chafah.

The scenario in Bawock today is similar to what Balikumbat did to Bafanji village some eight years ago.

Stimulate the proven power of your mind to get results fast with Paraliminal Tapes. Click here to learn how.

Comments

[Ma Mary]

"Contacted by phone, the Fon of Bali, Fon Ganyongha III, said he hadn't been to the scene yet but that his people were provoked."

No kidding, Fon. This is recurrent and habitual barbarism. We must be in 1807 again, instead of 2007.

[Akoson]

Douala quarters in the Southern Cameroons territories? How did this name come about in the first place?

Warriors my foot! Warriors who've got the strength and 'courage' to fight their own blood brothers but can't stand up against the French colonial occupation. Nonsense people!

The worried son.

[Akoson]

If you truly are warriors use your strength and 'courage', go burn down all those 'gendarmerie bregade' in our territories. Form resistant groups and beat, maime, arrest all those who are in anyway promoting the illegal occupation of your territories.

[Watesih]

People are sick with these stories about states within a state that the Fons and their warriors have made a permanent,and yearly ficture now.In a country where people are barely scraping a living,the Fons have the luxury to order wild dogs into the streets to wreak havoc on innocent citizens ,and destroy their property.In other parts of the country,Traditional Rulers don`t enjoy the same reverence those of the Northwest are showered with,but from the look of things, this institution of the Fon will soon be put to question.The Fon is the custodian,and guardian of tradition.This implies that the zeal with which he safeguards the belief systems in his Fondom is the same zeal he will show to see to it that the belief systems of a neigbouring chiefdom,or Fondom are safeguarded.It is therefore inadmissible for a Fon to infringe on the beliefs of another entity,by unscrupulously allowing his subjects to carry their jujus and desecrate other lands.Jujus are supposed to be worshipped in shrines which most of the times are in Palaces,or in specific locations dtermined by the traditional authorities.Jujus cannot become Travelling Musicians,or fashion parades ,nor should they be used to frighten people.The Fons have completely misused all the authority,and the trust the people have often conferred on them. They seize land from disabled people,they even order their
supporters to beat life out of disabled people,they carry ballot boxes in their cars
and try an escape,who can have respect for such people? Fons can only be compared today to Arab Despots,who are all factional warloads who compete for ostentation.They keep standing armies,and unleash violence at will. It will not be long,we will like shaking their hands in beer parlours,and maybe put to question their ability to sustain 100 wives."When a hand continuously goes to the anus,it will comeback with feaces!"

[GilbertChina]

Wow too painful that our brothers are armed against their blood brothers. Yes, history shows that the Bawock people were slaves and with civilizatin things changed and the Bawock people were allocated that piece of land to live on. I was born in Bali, grew up in Bali and I know my brothers that well. Don't mess around when it comes to land with a Baliman. I think our Bawock brothers should have known this. I hope our wisdom fons will resolve this land problem and let it be buried forever. To make it clear, I'm not a Bali breed. Please let's not stand up against our armless brothers but let stand against any form of corruption in Cameroon. I know the Fon of Bali as one of those great minds in the Northwest and hope he can use his Solomon's wisdom to bring peace to that part of the globe.

[kenedy Epie]

This act is barbaric. It should be discouraged. We are all brothers with a common ancestrial lines so why violate others rights.Please Bali warriors, rather war against corruption and other ills. The world is moving forward but surely you guys are moving your society backwards.

[AngloCameroonian]

Well... backed by their leader!
If gendarmes and policemen exist in bali subdivision, what is their use?

[THELIBERATOR]

Fellow Southern Cameroonians we will not allow Hamas/Fatah law to oprate in our territory.If we think we are strong enough to fight,let us use the energy we've got to throw the occupier "La Republique du Cameroun" out of our territory.It is insane that in 2007,a village in Southern Cameroons should take the law into their own hands and attack another no matter what cause they might have.Sunnis and Shias in Iraq have only used their strength to fight each other and not the Americans.Who profits in the battle between Bali and Bawock?Let Fon Gayongha think over again the statement that his people were provoked.Is that the way to settle problems among brothers?I don't think so.Our strength should be reserved to fight our enemies.He should give us all those 500+ youths who are so war hungry so they can help us liberate our territory.Enough is enough!!!

[vally England]

The Fon of Bali is a culprit in this. Hear him, ''We were provoked'',so the law as been givn to the Balis to move around terrorising people in the name of provocation. What do they call Slaves?

The Balis escaped Northern cameroon in the 17th century after hundreds were murdered to day talk of Slaves. Why did they escape to their present settlement.

The law must take it full course and this must involved the arrest of Bali Fon.
Vally
England.

[rexon]

Choosing to study in the United States is exciting but a US
education
is very expensive.

Astute Student Loans can help!
http://www.fastweb.com/sp/109729a

As an international student, you may apply for an Astute Student
Loan
if you are attending a participating US school and have a
creditworthy
US citizen or permanent resident as a cosigner. The cosigner
must have
resided in the US for the previous two years and have a minimum
21
months of good credit history.

Click the link below to apply today!
http://www.fastweb.com/sp/109729a

Or call us at 1-800-758-7196 to apply by phone.

[rexon]

It is seemingly embarrassing reading through the headlines news in the past fours years in our homeland and the responses one gets from readers with a seemingly pompous commonsense that appeals to many and the enthralments under which a significant number of commentators here helps them define the boundaries of what is deemed “sayable” and what is not. While looking through all these headlines commentaries, I have come to the conclusion that even with the independence of the Southern Cameroons; we will still inherit more problems than we previously thought.

With the invention of feymenism and it seeming growth together with other vices, the question of morality in the Southern Cameroons has been redefined and reinvented and it seems to my view as a new theme with an entirely new definition.
I will give you guys a few examples:

Fon Ndoh, a convict and Murderer still fighting to be a member of parliament.

NJFN telling us that Baba Danpullo (a cheat by all standards) told him this or that!!!!!!!!!!!!

Inoni that Ndiori was not a cheat and did not have a house in yaounde!!!

Bla, bla, bla!!!!!!!!!!!

Additionally,

How comes that some commentators can sing praises to the SDF for criticising the importation of beignet/doughnut Chinese producers in the Southern Cameroons, while at the same time failing to question its chairman’s importation of a French gambling Company (PMUC) to the North West?

How comes that the SDF is busy talking about election malpractices while at the same time, it has always have more votes casted for the SDF alone than the number of registered voters in several pooling stations in and around Mutengene, Muea, etc.

When envelopes change hands between NJFN and a Inoni, nobody questions that, and we are told it was petrol money, when they say No Elecam No Elections, we are being told that ELECAM is an IEC.

When one tries to question certain actions of certain public figures, we are being told that we are delving into private prejudices. That makes it hard for us to evaluate and elevate what we see as political correctness on sensitive topics with much understanding. It has become no use observing that there is something wrong in NJFN coming out of a meeting with Inoni with an Envelope, or he renting his house to a French Gambling Company. We will be told that the envelope was for his petrol, also that there are many houses at Commercial avenue and PMUC would have rented any, bla bla, bla!!!!!!!!

It appears what I am trying to say here is, political institutions and their prophets should not exhort us to virtue in a way that it has not done in the past.

Morality of any individual and the state should be construed to “contribution” and “responsibility”.

We living abroad can seemingly judge our own contribution from sponsoring our young ones and families through frequent remittance back home. As far as our individual responsibilities is executed, I can say, I don’t know how to judge most of us. Because, we still bow to the corrupt practices and ideologies that we have inherited from our homeland. I say so because, my recollection suggests that in most cases we have failed to criticise them objectively.

As for the state, its morality should always be called into question. But our actions together makes up the actions of the state and we are seemingly at fault to all these even as Southern Cameroonians. On the one hand are those who don’t contribute and don’t want change and recommend the current status quo (Fonkams, Ricardo’s,). On the other hand are those who contribute and are responsible but tolerate irresponsible behaviour (Watesih, Fon, can be classed under these lines especially when it goes against their SDF policies and doctrines) and those who contribute and are responsible and does not tolerate irresponsible behaviour (these group includes almost all Sympathisers and supporters of the Southern Cameroons cause including myself, Tayong, Ma Mary, M. Nje, Rene Ndibi, Akoson, Anglo-Cameroonian, etc).

The clash between several groups of rational thinkers is what worries me most. I find it hard to believe that the human mind can be so fallible and discriminatory in such age. NJFN’s and his SDF cohort’s campaign for political change should start from themselves. They have seemingly dampened the political conciousness of our people in their colonial and other discriminatory antics with La Republiques corrupt henchmen for economic and resulting financial gain. The difference with them and other CPDM agents is that we know them and their views. So we are always ready to fight the Ngolle Ngolle’s, the Danpullo’s, the Oben Peter’s, etc. these groups of people together with the SDF and all its factions involved in fake politics with colonialist should be resisted by all means. They have failed to criminalise violence, rape, murder, torture, etc on the Southern Cameroons and we should resist them if we want any change. We should delve deeper into their prejudices and private behaviours and see how we can reform or send them on exile to a foreign land, otherwise, we would go nowhere.

As it stands, there is still a long way to go.

Wondering Like the worried son, Akoson.

[Brooks]

Bawock was never given land by the Bali nyonga people and it has never been and will never be a quarter in Bali as they claim. This peace loving Bamileke people originally from the Western province has never used violence to settle disputes or provoked the Bali people. Civilised Bawock people know that violence can never be a solution to disputes. Homes have been destroyed and people have taken refuge in bushes, some in the Pinyin Fon’s palace. Pregnant women and children spend the nights in bushes. We cannot allow such a thing to go on. Mr Saboh, one of the most outspoken elites of Bawock was kidnapped by a group of Bali thugs during the weekend in the name of warriors and he was threatened to be killed. His mobile phone saved his life. When they were taking him to a certain location in Bali, the brutes saw an innocent Bawock man and started chasing him leaving Mr Saboh behind with one of the bastards. When Mr Saboh’s phone rang the thug asked for the phone, so he threw it at him and fortunately the phone fell. It was during this time that the bastard bent down to pick the phone when he miraculously and narrowly escaped into thin air into the nearby bush. Meanwhile we tried to reach him to no avail. We finally got to one of the thugs on Mr Saboh’s phone who asked for a ransom for his release. They demanded 500,000frs CFA to be delivered at a certain location at Hospital roundabout in Bamenda. In that agony, arrangements were being made to pay this money when one of his relatives spotted him in Bamenda town in his car. He had escaped and ran back to where he was captured. Dry sticks and grass had been placed round his Mercedez ready to be put on fire. Miraculousely no fire was started and there were no persons around the car. With the help of some Bawock boys who rescued Mr Saboh in the bush, they removed the materials round his car and he was able to drive to town. Hopeless, jobless, illiterate, barbaric bali thugs continue to loot and burn properties in Bawock for no good reason. This is pure evidence of ethnic cleansing going on in our own eyes and unless drastic measures are taken against the perpetrators then the worse is still to come.
I hold the blood thirsty fon of bali solely responsible for this mess for he is the one instructing all this damage. He has successfully surrounded himself with armed hopeless good for nothing bali youths who take instructions from him. A man of his calibre should know that violence cannot be a solution to disputes. He continues to inflict terror on poor innocent neighbouring villagers. He should stand trial for this. I plead that the Government, the Fon’s Union in NW and Western Province intervene as soon as possible for despite the presence of gendarmes properties are still being burnt down in the village.

Augustine S
UK

[rexon]

I would be grateful if you could help me by bringing to the attention of any of your good Master students the information outlined below and in the attachments to this e-mail.

Bradford University School of Management have a number of research studentships in the area of Business and Management. We are particularly keen to receive applications for research studentships in the areas of International Business and Strategy.

Best wishes

Frank

Professor of International Business
Bradford University School of Management
Emm Lane
Bradford
BD9 4JL
tel: 01274 234389
e-mail: f.mcdonald@bradford.ac.uk

[rexon]

Bradford University School of Management
Research Studentships in Business and Management
Applications for full-time PhDs are invited in all areas of Business and Management research.
Bradford University School of Management is a research institution with ESRC recognition for its part-time and full-time Doctoral Programmes, and its Diploma and Masters in Research Methods. You will undertake extensive research training to prepare you for your own research project.
You will be based at the School of Management where you will join an active research community and be part of a committed group of Business and Management academics.
Details of research activity at the School of Management and of staff research and our research groups can be found on our web site: www.bradford.ac.uk/management
Studentships are available on a competitive basis, and on the same terms as ESRC studentships. The award covers fees and subsistence allowance, though successful applicants will be required to make a contribution to teaching within their subject area as part of their award.
To qualify, you will need a good master's degree and submit a convincing research proposal.
The Strategy, Economics and International Business Group with Bradford School of Management would welcome applications in the areas of Business Economics, International Business and Strategy. Please see attached information.
In addition, a specific opportunity exists to work with Professor Jeryl Whitelock on research into international branding. Candidates with an interest in international branding outside consumer goods e.g. in the arts or sport, would be particularly welcome.
If you would like further details and an application pack, please contact the Administrator of PhD Programme, Chris Barkby, + 44 01274 234356 or Email c.e.j.barkby@bradford.ac.uk
The closing date for completed applications is May, 1st 2007.

[rexon]

Bradford University School of Management
Research group - Strategy, Economics and International Business
Contact: Professor Frank McDonald - f.mcdonald@bradford.ac.uk
Key areas of research in International Business and Strategy
• Foreign direct investment (especially in developing and emerging economies)
• Strategies of multinational companies
• The strategic development of foreign owned subsidiaries
• Industrial clusters and international competitiveness
• International human resource management
• Comparative and cross-cultural management
• European Business issues
• Corporate social responsibility (including sustainable development)
• Government/business relationships
• Entrepreneurship and small businesses
Key areas of research in Business Economic
• Chief executives' remuneration
• Profit-sharing, employee participation and company performance
• The economics of the UK financial-services industry
See http://www.manag.brad.ac.uk/people/group.php?name=seib

[AngloCameroonian]

REXON,
What has SDF got to do here?
I do respect your opinion but I really wonder why you have such a bias with NJFN.
You always mention the fact that he "imported" and is hosting the PMUC in B'da. What about Buea, Limbe Tiko Kumba, Kumbo? B/c NJFN don't own the buildings?
You are asking us to unite and fight! How can that be achieved with such disdane for fellow brothers.
That building is for business and PMUC is a registered company in cameroon (la republique is you will like it). Without operating in His building they will still operate in B'da. Perhaps you're involved in the gambling also. Mind you, the SDF did not register the company. Is the SDF campagning that people should play the Tierce or whatever?
That man is a Hero whether you accept or not and you must tell your children.

[Aviche]

Rexon,
I admire your fierceness and apparent dedication. You may be making some good points but please try to stay focused. You digress a lot and make the discussion confusing. We can make this forum not just one for change but one for learning and entertainment. Regards.

[Danny Boy]

As a moghamoan, whose land the Bali people settled on, what is it the Balis want? Where they are is not their ancestral land.There have been wars over the years for this disputed territory and the Moghamoans, Mettas, Ngembas and all the surrounding tribes have in good faith allowed the Balis to settle here. Why must they re-open these old wounds?
Their Fon is responsible for much of these atrocities and it is high time he is made to pay.I will urge my friends from Bali to rein this war-monger in. We are living in the 21st century now, not 1952 when the last shot was fired in anger between the Balis and the Moghamoans.
Let us live and let live.

[Muki StoneHall]

This is a barbaric act of the worst order.I guess Vally is right in calling for the arrest of the bali Fon.These guys surely have but bile following through their veins. This same Bali people have fought all their neighbours.What the hell is the Fon talking about provocaion? How did the Metta people of Ngyen-mbo provoke them? How did the people of Bafanji provoke them? Its high time these guys go back to where they came from.

[Jimmy Stan]

what is happening with these Bali peolple, why do they behave like barbarians. All Bali acts i have read all these times are Barbaric. From their fon who killed somebody we now hear of warriors, why. please forget these traditions os the past, one can not be a refugee in his or her home

[rexon]

The question we all should ask our fons is why is all this happening in our backyard? Is it because we are warmongers or what? Why all these tribal wars, problems, terrorism in our backyard? I was born in the South West and have never heard of persistant tribal problems as it has been happening in the North West.

[Kumbaboy]

Well, there is a primitive vein in the Bali hierachy - their penchant for violence should not be accepted by a civilized society.

Don't blame the Fon alone. He himself set no one's property on fire. Bali youth did it and the Fon apologized for them. This level of backwardness is uncalled for and unacceptable in this Century.

[Fon]

This act of violence is strongly condemned.This could not have happened without the knowledge of the warmonger Fon of Bali. The statement that his people were provoked means he supported the act and is therefore an accomplice and should be arraigned.
There are many things that the Fon of Bali says that encourages his subjects to be violent when dealing with their neighbours. I remember in 1997 when I was teaching in CPC Bali,We as a staff decided to pay the Fon of Bali a courtesy call. During the visit, I was not congenial at all. It was obvious that he did not want to receive us. He claimed that the church has taken Bali land; that the land allocated for CPC was to much and that his people die and there is no place to bury them. He went futher to say that he has written several letters to the moderator of the Pressbyterian church on the matter; that if he does not act, he has no option but to use violence. Hear him "I don´t care if people say I am fighting a church institution or God. After all there are so many sinners who have died and I am certain that hell is full and there is space left only in Heaven, therefore when some of us will die, God will have no option than to allow us in Heaven"
I was sadden by his philosophy of Heaven and hell, worst of all from an educated person like him.
He went further to critize the Church and the Principal, Mr. Awantu Samuel who just took over from Nso Lawrence for failling to employ his subjects to teach in CPC.

It is a shame that we still have this Kind of behaviour. Hope the Fon of Bali will not be protected as is the case with all CPDM millitants who commit crimes.

[Ma Mary]

The Fon surely recognizes that the bulk of his subjects live outside of his little kingdom, even abroad, unmolested, with titles to landed property. It would be a disaster if everyone else adopts similar mob behavior. What do you tell your children about your neighbours? That is where it begins.

[Baliman]

It is a great pity that when incident like this happens, people are quick to passing death sentences without any fair judgement yet we preach democracy. Has anybody actually tried to investigate into the origins of this regretable act or we are using the past of the Bali People to judge the present act? That is a deductive and an illogical way of reasoning. I also want to condemn vehemently what we call the free press of today for their subjective/one sided journalism. Has any of them been to Bali, interviewed the Bali people to find out about the true story so as to correctly inform the public about what is going on as their own part of the solution to the problem. My columnist brothers, it makes no sense to sit and proclaim death sentences to the Bali People or their Fon. The story is simple and clear. The Bali people have never segregated the Bawock people. About 98% of the Bali People cannot distinguish between a Bawock man and a Bali man. They all live in the same area, share the same village, farm and market and are intermarried amongst themselves. Like a brother, the Bawock people must have known that even though the Bali People are very hospital, there are certain limits to hospitality "An attack on any of the institutions no matter how small that make up Bali Nyonga by another village,
Balis or non Bali people living in or out of Bali Nyonga is an attack to Bali Nyonga as a whole, as such shall never be taken lightly" and " anyone who claim to be a Bali-Nyonga shall identify with, protect and preserve the institutions, rivers, hills and
valleys that make up Bali-Nyonga subdivision Two things are equal only when they are equal. The Bali Nyonga Voma, Lela and Ngumba have nothing equal to them in the entire world" Let all those inducing the chief of Bawock and his villagers to error beware of this. They stand to loose everything no matter what the press will say.

They are few points I need to clearify here:
1. The Bawock people do not own any land in Bali subdivision and such cannot prevent neither the Ngumba, the Voma nor the Lela nor any traditional right from taking place in the village.
2. The bawock chief is either ignorant about his origin/past or he is badly influenced by his so called Bamilleke bid guns. " Never give your piece of land to a Bamileke man"

3. Can you wait and see an orphan you picked from the street, housed, cleaned and educated come tomorrow to fight for your property against your children? I am sure only idiots with not fight for what belongs to them. The Bali People will fight any attempts to divide the land until the last Bali Man standing.

4. For purpose of history for those who are ignorant about the course of the Bali People, the Bali People do not need permission from the Fon to fight for their rights and will even destroy any man even from Bali who prevents them from getting what belongs to them.

[Fritzane Kiki HK]

These barbaric uncivilised fellows who call themselves 'worriors' should learn not to take laws into their hands.At one point I turn to doubt the precise jobs of these CPDM bigwigs who mask themselves as Fons and Chiefs while inflicting pain and grief on their countrymen and indegenes.Many cases of how the Fon seized lands and properties have become common-place in the NorthWest and they go scot free since they are under the banner of the CPDM.We recently hear how a prisoner on bail called Fon Doh is preparing for a candidacy with the ruling CPDM!What a blasphemy!

Generally Bali people are too brutal and how could they seperate from the Bawock people when history holds them as one.It's ridiculous that innocent people suffer from civil disobedience with severe distructions as these 50 houses,shops and physical cash burnt down to no avail.

If Fon Gayongha was wise enough he could have let his Bali barbaric warriors to help Fru Ndi's insurgents against his friend Bi Mvondo, than to carry out acts of vandalism against innocent indigenous countrymen.It's a shame indeed...

Fritzane Kiki
Hong Kong

[wiseman]

It really sound strange to still find that even now that we are in the 21st century,there are still people who still remain babarians.I don't really know what is wrong with the so call Bali fon and his babarians.Enermies to peace and progress in the whole of the North West Province.You the so call mr. fon and your worrioirs keep on fighting with all your neighbours every where.What will you and this your bunch of illitrates do with land if you are given all the land in this world?.It's really a pitty for this unfortunate hard working and peaceful Bawok people who every day only sruggle to make their living through their hard work.Now you mr. fon and your babrians have frustrated their lives by destroying all their property.Imaginable basters who don't know how hard it takes some one to make his/her fortune will just get up in a day to go and destroy every in a day. I really wish the governement will intervane in this matter and to bring you and your so call worriors,a bunch of illitrates before the law.But remember that you never came into this world without any land and so the day you will be leaving this world you will also leave empty handed.And you and your people will one day be paid according to your work and coin too.Mr. fon are you not really ashame of all the thing you and your basters do to your neighbours?I beg the Almighty to send send down his holy spirit so that it can touch the heart of you and you subjects so that you can always treat others with some human feeling.I also pray for God to show this innocent people the way for them to make a new life for themselves.

[rexon]

Baliman,

What you have written above is pure nonsense. Every rightminded Cameroonian who grew up in the country will understand that the Bali people have a long history of intertribal wars, disputes and problems with all their neighbours not only the Bawock people. I grew up in the South West Province though from Mbatu and apart from a few holidays that i have customarily spents in the North West, i have never lived in that part of the Country. But from my recollection, the Cameroonian media is always filled with stories of Bali/Bafanji, Bali/Ngyen Mbo, etc Land disputes. To be honest, there was a time that i asked my father if we are neighbours to Bali simply because i had travelled to visit my younger siblings in PHS Batibo and had passed through Bali and realised that the journey wasn't long enough from my village to Bali. I felt threatened by their close proximity to my village and was only calmed down when my father reminded me that we are not neighbours and are seperated by Nchomba and Nsongwa. To be honest, the Bali people have to moderate some of their views and it is left on the Fon to educate his people on the need for peaceful coexistance. The constant trouble relating to intertribal and other wars emanating from the North West province is making that part of the country some kind of a nuisance.

I was born and raised in the South West province. I have tend to realise that, there is some kind of inherent greed in the minds of some tribes and elders of North West heritage. Why is the Bakweri/Bafaw/Bayangi man not consistently fighting with their neighbours or having land disputes as it is a recurring problem in several parts of the North West? Go to several parts of Manyu (for example the Awanchi Betieku clan) of the South West, they have given most of their fertile land to Bafanji people and others from Widikum sub division to farm thereby reducing starvation. This was an act of solidarity because they realised that the Bafanji people and others from Widikum Division were dying of starvation. That is also how the Bakweri and other Sawa people welcomed our parents several decades ago in the South West and gave us their land. But we turn around and instituted a tribal mentality on their land like in the CDC, delmonte, Pamol and when they are retaliating now with their Cam-No-Go, Graffi invention, instead of us handling the problem with much caution since our forefathers seemingly caused it, we spend time abusing them.

[Massa_talk_true]

Why don't u ask urself that people have been leaving together for century and of sudden thing likes this happen. There is no fire without smoke, something surely went wrong along the line that provoke this act of vandalism
One sided version of the story and u guys drawn conclusion, post before u post something of this nature carried out investigation, don't just sit in ur office and through " i hear say" or telephone u run and publish.
Wiseman
"But remember that you never came into this world without any land and so the day you will be leaving this world you will also leave empty hand" mr Wiseman if u don't defend the land from intruders what will ur offspring do in future??? Land nowadays are scarce each village or tribe need to prevent their land for their children tomorrow. Wiseman u sure neighbour trespass into ur father land will let it because one did not bring any land and will leave without land, Wiseman, then u must be very generous indeed and be a role model to follow but I doubt?????
Baliman i hope ur posting is resonable enough and the cousre of the problem can be drawn from ur posting than just drawn conclusion from one sided writeup of the Cameroon Post article.

[Massa_talk_true]

The problem goes like this. This Bawock people was given a piece of land by the fon of Bali And they all stayed together in peace and harmony. Until in the fifty when the French led forces gendarme was in searched of the makiza, they ran and seek for shelter in Bali and the Fon of Bali welcomed them as brother and ask them to join their brothers. Peace reigned between them and the Bali people until when this current Bawock chief came into the throne Big wig Bamelike and the politician started to manipulating him to seize part of Bali land and stop the voma from passing on the main road to Mantum.
Question:
Why is it that Bali voma had been passing on that strong B road to Mantum since the day of the Bawock forefather and they never stopped it? And its only now that they will stopped pedestrians from using the road, which was even dug by the Bali people to Mantum
Why did they seize the voma and destroy it? And knowing the reaction from Bali people.

The worst of all, the last stray that break the camel back. Bawock attempted to burned down Bali palace but failed because the palace is well fortify but succeeded in burning the house that host the Bali symbol which no amount of money can buy on Tuesday dawn about 4:00am. This let to the massive instant destruction of the Bawock village on Tuesday over 300 houses burned down
I strongly blamed their Bamelike brothers and politician for manipulating their Fon and putting them into this mess
I also blame the laxity of the administration to solved issues which they know can spark fire. Arresting Bali youths and putting them into jail is not worth the 300 houses destroy on Tuesday morning.

RICH PEOPLE AND POLITICIAN SHOULD STOP MANIPULATING PEOPLE AND LEADING THEM INTO PROBLEM. Bawock and Bali have been living as brother and sister and share almost every things for years upon years why only now that they will have problem, “Politicians Let the Sleeping Dog Lie”

[Riccardo]

SHAME, SHAME, SHAME ON AFRICANS!

BARBARISM, DIVISION, TRIBALISM, NEPOTISM ETC... IT IS JUST UNFORTUNATE TO SEE CITIZENS OF LA REPUBLIQUE DU CAMEROUN BEHAVE LIKE ANIMALS WHILE THEIR SONS AND DAUGHTERS (LEAVING ABROAD) ARE CALLING TO TEAR DOWN OUR COUNTRY INTO MANY BANANA REPUBLICS...

Riccardo
CAADIM

[vito]

The Balis have no right to attack a village in the west province;or anywhere else for that matter..This is what Fon Nana Wamba of Bawock says in 'le messager'.

"A contrario, le Fon Théodore Nana Wanda III des Bawock estime que sa tribu n’a jamais bénéficié d’une portion de terre des Balinyongha. “ En principe, c’est un faux problème, les autochtones peuvent en témoigner. Pour eux, c’est que nous sommes un peuple Bamiléké gênant, donc, il faut que nous rentrions dans notre province d’origine. Alors, je leur demande le plus souvent, eux qui sont partis du Nigeria, si on leur demande de rentrer est-ce qu’ils connaîtront la route qui mène chez eux ”, sérine le Fon des Bawock. Et d’ajouter : “ le gros problème, c’est celui de délimitation des frontières. Ils se sont introduits dans notre territoire et donnent des noms qu’ils veulent. Quand bien même l’administration prend des décisions contre ce qu’ils font, ils n’ont jamais respecté ces décisions administratives ”, conclut le Fon des Bawock..."
Now the question is ,are the Bawocks Southern Cameroonians?At any rate they seem to think the balis are nigerians.
The bamilekes are renowned for having chiefs wherever two or three of the are gathered,infact every village of the west provincein Cameroun has a chief in nearly every major town;then they start 'buying' land from gullible and greedy 'fons and chiefs'.In fact Dampullo's just copying their trick in many parts of the NW leading to the mlurder of said fons at times.If that's how they came about 'owning' Bawock then its high time they got lost back to whichever mud heap in the west province,they emanated from.On the other hand nothing justifies the actions of the Bali mob and their fon should be held responsible and accountable;the man should be prosecuted.
The Post isnt helping matters with uninvestigated 'reports'.Thanks

[Brooks]

Massa talk true.

Your name is the exact opposit of what you write. I read your article with a lot of dismay. It is all propanganda that the Bawock people attempted to burn down your palace while all of us even the Bali people know that they did it themselves. They set an empty old tattered building next to their palace on fire to create a false scenario of attack by the Bawock people so that they could go back and finish what they started and they succeeded. A Bawock man is too civilised and humble to do such a thing. They were busy running for their lives in the bushes. Before one gets to bali fon's palace from Bawock one has to pass through one or two Bali quaters, so do you think under such circumstance they could have made their way through those querters to set the bali fon's palace on fire without being confronted? I talked to a reverend father stationed at Bali and he confirmed to me that the fire was set by the Bali people themselves on a small, old unoccupied building. The Bawock people are struggling to put their lives together and now that the village has been deserted i emplore the Bali blood thirsty, violent, backward good for nothing people to go and occupy the land.

[Spako]

Whatever the situation, there were better ways for the Bali and Bawock people to settle their differences.
Destroying a village doesnot speak well for the Bali Nyongha people. Though I am not completely surprised. The last time I visited my childhood friend in Ntafoang, many years ago, I was surprised by the number of young aggresive, bad taste local heros threatening every other person around. Sad indeed.
I will appreciate if someone can post a map here showing the Bali Nyongha and Bawock.

Spako

[Akoson]

ALPHONSE SIYAM SIWE NAMES NAMES.

...Biya escapes the long arm of the law by the skin of the teeth.

...Vice Prime minister, Ahmadou Ali may find himself in Kongdengui including some world bank officials, if Cameroon is truly a land of the law.

...this information filtered out from an unquestionably reliable source.

Lawyers for Former Douala Ports Authority
General Manager, Alphonse Siyam Siwe and Board Chairman, Edouard Etonde Ekotto now standing trial for the embezzlement of 42 billion francs have raked up a list of some 100 personalities and institutions whom they claim are also involved in the scam and should mount the witness box.

The list released in two parts contains names of serving and former paliamentarians, ministers, and foreign firms. Even some World Bank officials have been cited in the very explosive document.Prominent among those cited are the Vice Prime Minister, Minister of Justice and keeper of the Seals, Amadou Ali, Minister of State incharge
of Territorial Administration, Marafat Amidou Yaya, Minister of Commerce , Luc Magloire Atangana and Former Communication Minister Pierre Moukoko Mbonjo.

At the time of printing some 100 personalities had been implicated. The matter which came up for hearing last Tuesday and Wednesday is being bogged
down over procedurial objections being raised by the defence and was adjourned to March 6. It should be noted that on Tuesday the Court Registrar collapsed when the matter was called up. Some top officials of the World Bank and foreign companies have been implicated in the financial scandal at the Douala Autonomous Port as a new list
of suspects has been established bringing the
number of suspects to 51. The head of the World Bank mission to Cameroon , Madam Florence Charlier and an expert with the Bank, Koyasse Faustin have been cited by judicial sources as potential suspects.

Five foreign companies have also been cited
for investigations. Among them is the notorious French company Group Boller? whose founder is highly blamed for provoking the civil war in Ivory Coast. He is accused of signing non-tenable contracts to clear the bed of the dockyard. A Dutch naional Renier Vanherel is also expected to answer questions
related to the role of his company, Damen Shipyard Rotterdam in the scandal.

Three Japanese companies, including the Japan
Bank of International Cooperation (JBIC), Mitsui and Co LTD, 2-1, OTHEMCHI 1-CHOME, CHIYODA, TOKYO , Ocean Consulting Japan (OJC). All these companies are suspected of trafficking money.The sources say
most of the new suspects (40) are likely to end up in jail giving the compelling incriminating evidence against them.

The list which The Sun got, also contained the names of former ministers, serving
parliamentarians, highly placed business persons, foreigners, and banking institutions as well individuals of high
standing, including the president of the Bar
Council Barrister Charles Tchoungang, who will bear testimony to a colleague's involvement in the scam.

A former minister likely to be jailed in the long run, is Pierre Moukoko Mbonjo who The Sun was told got his hands soiled while signing a contract, at the time he was Chief of Cabinet in the Prime Minister's office with a Japanese company, METSUI to clear the bed of the dockyard. It is alleged Pierre
Moukoko Mbonjo made kick backs and render the
contract fishy. Christopher Nsahlai, one time Minister for Transport, and currently board chair of the Douala autonomous port, is also suspected of shady deals with Siyam Siewe the detained former Managing Director of the port. Another outstanding revelation
was the involvement of one of the Deputy Speakers of the national assembly, Jacob Fosi who is CPDM Member of Parliament for the Menoua, in the west province. As manager of SAFRIC, a company involved in clearing
the bed of the dockyard, he is thought to have signed out unjustified sums of money. Another MP, Bernard Forju of the Lebialem constituency will also answer charges.
One of the suspects Zibi Frank Martin was
arrested recently with several millions of francs cfa on him. He is even said to have stocked some of the money in his pants. Officials of the World Bank are also being sited in the scandal. Sources close to the dossier did not say when the new suspects will be heard. But it is highly expected that
Cameroonian authorities would seek help from the international community to bring those of them who are abroad to answer the charges at the Wouri High Court.

We shall get you posted as development unfolds.

The worried Son!

[Akoson]

ALPHONSE SIYAM SIWE NAMES NAMES.

...Biya escapes the long arm of the law by the skin of the teeth.

...Vice Prime minister, Ahmadou Ali may find himself in Kongdengui including some world bank officials, if Cameroon is truly a land of the law.

...this information filtered out from an unquestionably reliable source.

Lawyers for Former Douala Ports Authority General Manager, Alphonse Siyam Siwe and Board Chairman, Edouard Etonde Ekotto now standing trial for the embezzlement of 42 billion francs have raked up a list of some 100 personalities and institutions whom they claim are also involved in the scam and should mount the witness box. The list released in two parts contains names of serving and former paliamentarians, ministers, and foreign firms. Even some World Bank officials have been cited in the very explosive document.Prominent among those cited are the Vice Prime Minister, Minister of Justice and keeper of the Seals, Amadou Ali, Minister of State incharge of Territorial Administration, Marafat Amidou Yaya, Minister of Commerce , Luc Magloire Atangana and Former Communication Minister Pierre Moukoko Mbonjo.

At the time of printing some 100 personalities had been implicated. The matter which came up for hearing last Tuesday and Wednesday is being bogged down over procedurial objections being raised by the defence and was adjourned to March 6. It should be noted that on Tuesday the Court Registrar collapsed when the matter was called up. Some top officials of the World Bank and foreign companies have been implicated in the financial scandal at the Douala Autonomous Port as a new list of suspects has been established bringing the number of suspects to 51. The head of the World Bank mission to Cameroon , Madam Florence Charlier and an expert with the Bank, Koyasse Faustin have been cited by judicial sources as potential suspects.

Five foreign companies have also been cited for investigations. Among them is the notorious French company Group Boller? whose founder is highly blamed for provoking the civil war in Ivory Coast. He is accused of signing non-tenable contracts to clear the bed of the dockyard. A Dutch naional Renier Vanherel is also expected to answer questions
related to the role of his company, Damen Shipyard Rotterdam in the scandal.

Three Japanese companies, including the Japan Bank of International Cooperation (JBIC), Mitsui and Co LTD, 2-1, OTHEMCHI 1-CHOME, CHIYODA, TOKYO , Ocean Consulting Japan (OJC). All these companies are suspected of trafficking money.The sources say most of the new suspects (40) are likely to end up in jail giving the compelling incriminating evidence against them.

The list which The Sun got, also contained the names of former ministers, serving
parliamentarians, highly placed business persons, foreigners, and banking institutions as well individuals of high standing, including the president of the Bar Council Barrister Charles Tchoungang, who will bear testimony to a colleague's involvement in the scam. A former minister likely to be jailed in the long run, is Pierre Moukoko Mbonjo who The Sun was told got his hands soiled while signing a contract, at the time he was Chief of Cabinet in the Prime Minister's office with a Japanese company, METSUI to clear the bed of the dockyard. It is alleged Pierre Moukoko Mbonjo made kick backs and render the contract fishy. Christopher Nsahlai, one time Minister for Transport, and currently board chair of the Douala autonomous port, is also suspected of shady deals with Siyam Siewe the detained former Managing Director of the port. Another outstanding revelation was the involvement of one of the Deputy Speakers of the national assembly, Jacob Fosi who is CPDM Member of Parliament for the Menoua, in the west province. As manager of SAFRIC, a company involved in clearing the bed of the dockyard, he is thought to have signed out unjustified sums of money. Another MP, Bernard Forju of the Lebialem constituency will also answer charges.

One of the suspects Zibi Frank Martin was arrested recently with several millions of francs cfa on him. He is even said to have stocked some of the money in his pants. Officials of the World Bank are also being sited in the scandal. Sources close to the dossier did not say when the new suspects will be heard. But it is highly expected that Cameroonian authorities would seek help from the international community to bring those of them who are abroad to answer the charges at the Wouri High Court.

We shall get you posted as development unfolds.

The worried Son!

[AngloCameroonian]

I think this is not a message board. Plz stop confusing me, and comment where it is appropriate.

I know an area in Bali where herders (fulanis) are seizing farmland for pastures. This resulted to farmer/grazer skirmishes. While the funalis are bribing the DO, gendarmes and perhaps the fon, these poor farmers are always in detention. The fulanis continue to increase their pasture fields.
Where are these warriors? Seeking to oppress only the weak! Shame.

[Massa_talk_true]

Mezam administration is the sole cost of all this wayala in the Bali subdivision. Bawock is sandwich inside Bali Nyonga, but now administration wants to create new boundary in Bali Nyonga, so that Bawock will shared boundary with Baforchu and Pinyin, which Bali will never accepted such deal.. This new map show that Mantum which is Bali quarter that shared boundary with Baforchu and Pinyin will automatically become Bawock. This is what spark fire on 6th Dec 2006 that let to the destruction of some vehicles. Just read this extract from the Post.
“When the delegation from Bamenda Provincial Service of Lands led by the Mezam administration arrived at the disputed area in Bawock, they were surprised that tension was brewing among the Balis who were not invited to the locus.
Before the team from Bamenda could set to work, the irate Bali population who claim that they have a shrine in the disputed area, descended on the administrators and gendarmes with clubs, stones and sticks.
The pillars and billboards meant to demarcate the land including two vehicles were all smashed."
Mezam administration came without the knowledged of Bali administration, but only the Bawock people were aware. This mean a lot people of Southern Cameroon. This is pure annexation of Southern Cameroon land and given it to Bamelike. Which Bali will never accepted.
Question;
How can an administration coming to settle land dispute and invited one party and left out another party?
Is there no administrative unit in Bali which can handle land dispute within its jurisdiction of subdivision? why from Bamenda?
What type of administrators are trained in ENAM? Administration which solved matters one sided.
Surely money must have changed hand as it is a tradition in administration in Cameroon. . And what is happening today is the outcome of poor administration. And the administration should be held responsible.

[wiseman]

REXON
Well Rexon,you seems reasonable in in some sense by saying that there can be no smoke any where when there is no fire.But on the contrary,the way you comment makes me think you maybe of such origins. Let me ask you one question " say even you were an illitrate will you ever respon to any situation in such a bad manner? Or will you consider the act of vandalism,force and destruction to be the only best way to resolve any issue in your life? You also made mentioned of the fact that i seems to be so generous.You are right in the sense that for some one like me,i consider most of the things in this world such as land to be vanity.And as i said before no one came into this world with any piece of land and on the day we will be leaving this our physical world,no one too will carry any piece of land along to where he/she will go .So i think you never really got my point clearly.For all i was saying was this every person in this world no matter what the cercumstance maybe should atleast try to treat others with some sypathy as well as having some feeling for one another.And no matter what,there are people who are incharge of exibiting the law in every situation and so it is not fair for others who don't even have an idea of what the law is all about to take the law into their own hand and to treat their fellow humans like animals.And for the so call mr.fon i think no matter what he was supposed to really feel sorry for what his worriors have done and to appologise rather than saying "his people were been provocked" you know.Well neither you nor i were the corprates and so we shouldn't be arguing with one another.But i hope you also will have some sypathy for the people as i does. Thanks for your understanding.

[Massa_talk_true]

Augustine S
UK
Brooks
“Bawock was never given land by the Bali nyonga people and it has never been and will never be a quarter in Bali as they claim”
That is what u claim
Question.
How did Bawock find themselves in the midst of Bali nyonga?
How did Bawock acquire that land, from who and when?
Bali obtain all the land they occupy from Meta and Moghamo as Danny boy rightly said in the 18 century, How did Bawock obtain its own? Because Bali don’t sell land in Bali subdivision, not to talk to sell to Bamelike.
Now they are claiming they shared boundary with Baforchu and Pinyin. Bali and Baforchu had boundary dispute and even fought some years ago, where were Bawock that they are claiming they have boundary with Baforchu.
Look mr Augustine S Brooks, politician are manipulating ur chief.u guys should open ur eyes, you well knows it that Bali loves Bawock. Why only now????????

U are calling the chief from Western province to come and do what in Southern Cameroon???????????
Just to show Bawock intension with le francaise Cameroon appointed administration in Mezam division.
Is Bali subdivision in the Western province?
U could had called only the attention of the NW Fon union where Bali Nyonga belong to look into the matters amicably not Western Province chief.
Look brooks, Bali Nyonga is in the Southern Cameroon and what u people are thinking will fail woefully. People of Southern Cameroon beware, le francaise Cameroon appointed administrator are out to destabilised Southern Cameroon.

Massa Talk True go continuous for di heap true talk. Bye for now ma people dem.

[rexon]

Baliman Aka Wiseman,

Nobody came into this world with any land and nobody owns this world. We have all immigrated and emigrated and we have in one way or the other found ourselves where we are because of circumstances. I know i am from Mbatu but my parents used to show me their cousins in Akum. When my father died, i had uncles coming from Akum and i cannot explain how they found themselves there. Besides, i see myself more or less a Bakweri or a Bayangi man and far from being traditional graffi man. While my younger brothers who schooled in that part of the country see themselves mentally like graffi people. What i am trying to say is everybody have immigrated or emigrated. So we should not treat people with contempt simply because we can trace their origins from different areas as our own origins can be traced from other parts of the world. Instead, we should welcome anyone in need and try to protect the person. That does not mean the stranger should be violent and try to steal our resources in the first instance. As i can understand from you, the Bawock people have lived and integrated in that area for several generations. There is no point fighting them and calling them names. We should instead treat land disputes as land disputes rather than using force to steal the resources of the Bawock people simply because we think they are originally Bamilikies. That is not fair. I wont be happy if a Bakweri man tries to take by force the numerous assets my family own in the South West. By the way, how did the Bali people found themselves place where they are? Did they carry lands on their heads to the present day Bali Nyongha? Why are they having land disputes with all their neighbours not only the Bali Bawock and why are they always using force, destroying properties, etc as a result? If you can answer these questions fairly, i will understand the problem very well and can have some respect for you and other bali people.

Cheers.

[rexon]

Vito,

Bawock people are Southern Cameroonians. Period. Just like the Bassas and douala's of Isokolo Mukindi in Limbe and Misaka and other areas of Tiko, Muyuka, Limbe etc are Southern Cameroonians. If the Bali people want to drive away the Bawock people simply because they are originally from the West, then should be packing their backs to Nigeria.

[nahjela]

For once I agree with Rexon, a first-timer! lol. Under no circumstances should this act of barbarism have taken place. Yes barbarism. Don't care if they were provoked. Anyone who thinks aggression against a much weaker opponent is the way then I consider he/she to be barbaric. No attempts at dialog was made, nothing. Are we progressing or regressing?
The land on which the Balinyongas are on was not initially their land as well. They also migrated to their present location. And yes, some of the Balinyongas were initially from Nigeria. So those trying to make this a SC issue should stop. Because if it has to boil down to that then some of the Balis don't even belong in Cameroon at all. The Bawocks are as Southern Cameroonian as the Balis, so all this bickering should stop. Stop trying to distort facts.

[Watesih]

Rexon,
You asked an important question in your previous writeup,and i have been pondering over it.I will try an answer,and maybe other grasslanders will come to my rescue if i`m out of the way.The question dealt on why others,especially in the Southwest do not have to face the gruesome lagacy of recurrent land disputes,and inter-tribal wars.I will start off by saying that in social science ,it is said that space speaks.Space does not necessarily entail physical space.Even when we invade other people`s privacy,either through gossips,psychological torture,manipulation,
we are reducing their space,and the expected
reaction has always been revolt.As far as physical space is concerned,we will not even want to go into examples because they abound.The Palestinian Question,the Cam-no-go witchhunting,the numerous inter-tribal wars in the Northwest,Bakassi,
you name them.
The case of the Northwest is peculiar,and our better understanding of it can only be got by comparing the situation in this province to that in the Southwest as you started off.The incessant tension in the NW
has little to do with a way of life,or the love to wreak hovoc on others.There are three factors we have to look at: Traditional setup,ungrateful mother nature,
and some inherent stubborness.The traditional disposition of things in the NW teaches us that the ownership of a piece of land goes with manhood,family heritage,and finally survival.The size of this piece of land adds more to the prestige,and the social clout of its owner.Selling land here entails selling your culture,and History.
Some families have large expanse of land inherited from their ancestors,and most of the times it has been difficult to protect this from unfriendly eyes.
As far as ungrateful mother nature is concerned,many people in the Southwest have even called the Northwest a barren land.This is not completely wrong,when we look at both provinces comparatively.In the NW farmers literally have to dig deepdown into the earth to unearth some little fertile soil in order to grow their crops,whereas in the SW
much effort is not needed.Land management in the NW is completely subsistent.People build
their houses on the same land where they grow crops.Imagine therefore the ferocity with which somebody will fightback if one were to snatch this piece from them,.With
large scale farming in the SW,brought about
by the new methods introduced by some of the big companies in place,local people can have a stable sources of income .When they are not trying out these methods themselves,they are absorbed by some of these companies.It is therefore no surprise that people from the NW have always inundated the SW in search of jobs.
Also ,much of the land in the SW is now being managed by the government through companies ,and parastatals.This has given most of the local people little say over their land.In the NW there are practically no government controlled companies,and land is in private hands.
Talking about stubborness,it runs through
all the veins of Northwesterners.This is a threat that has something to do with the puritan spirit of the Americans.It is not outrightly a negative trait here,because it tends to portray Northwesters as people who will reject that which they do not believe in without second thought.The political situation in the country is a good example.
People here stubbornly resist anything that will dispossess them of their land,even if that threat is coming from one of theirs,or from somebody they have been dinning with for centuries.
I will conclude by saying the hotair about lands in the NW shows the fear that grips people whenever they think of the possibility of somebody dispossessing them of their only source of income,and existence.In the SW province,you can sell your land,and still have tea leaves to pick.
You can sell your land and still have palm nuts ,and cheap oil around you,which is not the case up country.

[Massa_talk_true]

Watesih
U have said it all, I hope Rexon will know why there is always land conflict in NW. This year it is Oku and Mbessa, Bali and bawock. Houses, cash crop and food crops are destroyed.
In NW u need hectare of land to farm in order to plant cash crops and food crops that would enable u to feed ur household, even send ur children to school.
In the South West it is not the case, u just a need small portion of land, u cleared and plan without even tilled and u get a lot of food.
Money circulated in South West far more than in the NW. At times in NW a basin of sweet potato cost 750frs far less than as in the Sw which that same basin cost 3500frs, North westner have to harvest a large portion to have that basin, as compare to Sw which is just a small portion. In this case NWer can joke with an inch of land.
I will plead to the North Westerner to always seek for dialogue first violence does not solved any problem but instead inflict more suffering to the weaker party. I will continuous to say that administration are always the route cost of all this conflick.
Hope Rexon will be ok

[Big Joe]

I got this clarification on the Bali/Bawock conflict from a forum of which I am a member.

"There is a little twist to the story reported recently in Bali. The Bawocks like the Bassa were from East Cameroon, specifically from the Western Province. The Balis like the Bakweris welcomed them when they arrived. They settled and lived in Bali much like the Bassa did in Fako. The Balis have traditionally welcomed people from other villages in Bamenda. Other settlers integrated with the Balis to create what is today a strong and powerful Bali Nyonga Kingdom in the grass field of Southern Cameroon. The Bawock did not integrate. They maintained their language and culture even though they all spoke Bali very fluently. For a very long time, most considered them Balis.

During the 1952 Bali/Tazhwirikum (Widikum) War, they joined forces with the Bali Nyonga to fight the allied Tazhwirikum armies of Mankon, Pinyin, Akum, Mbei, Bafochu, Meta, Chomba, Mbatu, and Nso'ngwa. It is very ironical that today they are taking shelter in the same villages they fought against during the Big War in 1952. In my native language, this was war is referred to as "Ma Ntso" or "Ma felam" which means "The Big War or The Mother of Wars." A few more days, the allied forces could have taken over the Bali Palace. It took several regiments of the the Nigerian army to break up the war. A war endemnity of 152 Pounds sterling was levied against the allied forces for starting the war. The Balis used the money very wisely on a water project in their village.

Within the last 30 years, the Bawocks began agitating for separation from the Bali Kingdom. They wanted to create a kingdom of Bawock within the Kingdom of Bali. This is the root cause of the problem in Bali. Creating a kingdom within Bali meant taking away part of what is consired Bali land. The Balis naturally did not like this. If they wanted a sub chief within the confines of Bali Nyonga, that would not have been a problem. However, they wanted complete autonomy. If they do not integrate, they will be booted out of Bali, short and simple".

Please you can visit this link(simply copy and paste at google and enter search) http://www.benfondong.org and watch a video coverage of part of the proud Bali Nyongha culture the Bawock people thought they could messed with.

[rexon]

Big Joe,

I had always have respect for your opinions but in this scenario, permit me ask you why the Bali's are always having trouble with all their neighbours? It is not only Bawock, there is the bafanji's, the Ngyen Mbos and all the numerous tribes you have listed above.

Note that Chief Mbella Sone Dipoko is a renowned Southern Cameroonian writer and political activist and chief of the Douala people of the Tiko Sub Division. Why have'nt the Bakweri people on whose land they settled forced them to integrate by speaking the Bakweri dialect? The Bassa's of Isokolo Mukindi and the Beti Anglos of several villages in and around Fako have never been forced by peace loving Bakwerians to speak their language.

Big Joe, the issue here is not about culture or Bali Kingdom this or that. We should learn to settle disputes amicably without throwing stones from one place to the other except we are left with no other option. My impression is, the Bali's and other tribes of the North West province are a kind of a bit naive and selfish when it comes to dealing with material things like land. Burning 300 houses of poor and helpless people in such a short space of time simply because we are more powerful than our neighbour is an act of barbarism on the part of the powerful Bali people. I think what we see here and what has been happening with the Bali Nyonghas and their neighbours is mainly a show of force and war mongering attitude and has nothing to do with their culture. Today it is the Bawocks and tommorow it will be another tribe. Lets call a spade a spade and lets try to teach our subjects back home good values. I am not saying the bawocks were right as i am not trying to place myself as a judge here but burning and attacking these people in such a way amounts to acts of barbarism and terrorism. It is a one-off show of force that has nothing to do with all you are talking about there.

[vito]

Hi Rexon,thanks.Permit me to say you'd make a fine counsel for La Republique du Cameroun at the Banjul courts.Cheers

[Jimmy Stan]

Rexon,
I really enjoyed the point of how people settle peacefully in the souuth West and especially in fako division. What doubts me is why whenn there is 'war' in bali every body is involve from the fon to the educated youths.Balis have even their people a name 'warriors'.
When we start fighting amomgs ourself how can we come together?

[Fon]

"However, they wanted complete autonomy. If they do not integrate, they will be booted out of Bali, short and simple" (Big Joe)
You must be one of the warriors.
You write about SCNC? Then you must be two persons in one if the sentence in quote is also coming from you. That portrays vividly greed and lack of objective reasoning.

[Fritzane Kiki HK]

Aka! I thought it was only 50 houses and 500 people misplaced yet the international media has been reporting of numerous houses and thousands of casualties in the villages.one of them reads;

Villagers in northwestern Cameroon have burned down some 300 homes and forced thousands of people to flee a rival settlement in a dispute over farming land, a senior local official said on Wednesday.

The villages of Bawock and Bali Nyongha in the central African country's North-West Province have been locked in a leadership struggle and battle over land rights for decades but the scale of the latest attack took residents by surprise.

It came on the eve of the region's new planting season, when tensions over land rights are particularly acute.

"I have never seen arson perpetrated on such a large scale," said Jules Marcellin Ndjaga, the senior administrative officer for the area.

"It was a very sad situation. I met families - men, women and children - running in all directions," he said, adding the government had sent soldiers to reinforce the area.

'Retaliation attacks'

The clashes, which took place on Tuesday, were triggered when Bawock villagers reportedly tried to burn down Bali Nyongha's "fon" - the traditional chief's palace - in retaliation for a similar attack on their settlement.

The people of Bali Nyongha reacted, by burning down all the houses in Bawock and sending residents fleeing, witnesses said.

Their fury was heightened by the belief their rivals had stolen a traditional bag used in a ceremony meant to ensure fertility in the upcoming planting season.

"I don't know where my mother is and I don't know where my children are," one resident told state radio.

Ndjaga said about 8 000 displaced people had taken refuge in the main provincial town of Bamenda, although some locals said the number who had been forced to flee was twice that number.

Confrontations over land and natural resources, especially at the start of the agricultural season, are a regular feature of life in rural Cameroon, where many are subsistence farmers.

Last year, angry villagers in the North-West province beat their chief to death and burnt his corpse after they accused him of selling farmland to wealthy cattle breeders. They then stoned to death the policeman who came to arrest the main suspects.

This is really tarnishing Cameroon's image to the international community.The earlier these Fons and their warriors become civilised the better for the image of North-Westerners and Bali in particular.

Fritzane Kiki
Hong Kong

[kehbohng]

BALIMAN, I AM ASHAME TO SAY IT BUT I MUST SAY IT. YOU SOUND VERY LITERATE BUT UNEDUCATED. BE OBJECTIVE. HOW DEAR YOU IN THIS CIVILISED WORLD OF TODAY PRAISE GANSTERS IN BALI FOR HAVEN TAKEN THE LAWS INTO THEIR HANDS IN THE FORM OF BABARISM. BAWOCK IS NOT PART OF BALI NYONGHA, IT HAS BEEN KNOWN AS A VILLAGE WITH A FON. IF YOU CAN LIVE WITH THE VIEW THAT THE PEOPLE OF BAWOCK DO NOT HAVE ANY LAND IN BALI SUB DIVISION THEN IT ALSO BOILS TO THE FACT THAT THE BALI NYONGHA OWNS NO LAND IN THAT SUB DIVISION. THE BAWOCK PEOPLE OBTAINED THEIR PRESENT SETTLEMENT BY NEGOTIATION UNLIKE THE BALIS WHO DID THEIRS THROUGH THE CRUDE MEANS; VIOLENCE AND STILL REMAIN TO BE VOILENCE. BALIS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN LIKE THAT. UNLESS YOU TELL ME, I DON'T KNOW ANY BALI VILLAGE THAT IS IN GOOD TERMS WITH HER NEIGHBOURS.
SO PLEASE DON'T USE GOOD CHOICE OF WORDS GRAMMATICAL EXCELLENCE TO BETRAY YOUR IGNORANCE. ALL I CAN SAY IS THAT THE BALI WORRIORS MUST GO WITH THEIR CRIMES PEPERTRATED ON FELLOW BAWOCK. THE POWER THAT BE SHOULD DO SOME THING TO BRING THESE VANDALS TO OTHER BEFORE THE UNKNOWN EMERGES.

[kehbohng]

BALIMAN, I AM ASHAME TO SAY IT BUT I MUST SAY IT. YOU SOUND VERY LITERATE BUT UNEDUCATED. BE OBJECTIVE. HOW DEAR YOU IN THIS CIVILISED WORLD OF TODAY PRAISE GANSTERS IN BALI FOR HAVEN TAKEN THE LAWS INTO THEIR HANDS IN THE FORM OF BABARISM. BAWOCK IS NOT PART OF BALI NYONGHA, IT HAS BEEN KNOWN AS A VILLAGE WITH A FON. IF YOU CAN LIVE WITH THE VIEW THAT THE PEOPLE OF BAWOCK DO NOT HAVE ANY LAND IN BALI SUB DIVISION THEN IT ALSO BOILS TO THE FACT THAT THE BALI NYONGHA OWNS NO LAND IN THAT SUB DIVISION. THE BAWOCK PEOPLE OBTAINED THEIR PRESENT SETTLEMENT BY NEGOTIATION UNLIKE THE BALIS WHO DID THEIRS THROUGH THE CRUDE MEANS; VIOLENCE AND STILL REMAIN TO BE VOILENCE. BALIS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN LIKE THAT. UNLESS YOU TELL ME, I DON'T KNOW ANY BALI VILLAGE THAT IS IN GOOD TERMS WITH HER NEIGHBOURS.
SO PLEASE DON'T USE GOOD CHOICE OF WORDS GRAMMATICAL EXCELLENCE TO BETRAY YOUR IGNORANCE. ALL I CAN SAY IS THAT THE BALI WORRIORS MUST NOT GO WITH THEIR CRIMES PEPERTRATED ON FELLOW BAWOCK. THE POWER THAT BE SHOULD DO SOME THING TO BRING THESE VANDALS TO OTHER BEFORE THE UNKNOWN EMERGES.

[Tchouteu Janvier]

It is sad. if only we all knew our history. Plain sad when people engage in barbaric or monstrous acts over others they share a mutually supportive history with. We can not afford ethnic cleansining in Africa.

[HenryAlex]

I once admired the fon of Bali Nyonga-gentle,knowledgeable and above mentor of future teachers.Being a lecturer means an example for others to emulate but you have failed us your ex students.Teach your subject against the ills of barbarism plea-se.Too bad

[AngloCameroonian]

The fon is an intellectual, but the cpdm virus has affected his brains and he is confused like the others. He is afraid of losing support.
Politics of greed and selfishness will dethrone all the fons.
From Babanki,Balikumbat.....watch out!! You may be the next.

[Kumbaboy]

Thank you Rexon. Baliman's comments underscore the vein of primitivity reigning in the Kingdom. The Bali people actually implanted themselves in that location by ceasing land from neighbouring tribes - a primitive war-like characteristic.

Baliman fails to understand that all disputes should be settled through the courts. Taking the law into one's own hands is illegal. Those who do not give equity deserve no equity - this is a principle of law.

In Kumba, my ancestors gave land to the government for development, received Nigerians expelled from Bamenda at independence with open arms and welcome NWners to fertile farm lands. This is the spirit of co-existence in our small plant. Let peace and properity reign. The Balis and all those who believe in jungle justice should return to the forest and live with apes.

[vito]

Ha hahaha.Thanks fellow SCians!

[Kumbaboy]

AngloCameroonian is also making a mistake by describing the Fon of Bali Nyonga as an intellectual.

How can a tribal head who apologises for the wantom destruction of property, ochestration and execution of violence against fellow Cameroonians, be described as an intellectual?

This Fon should be arrested and charged on multiple counts, such as (a) abating arson,(b) misguiding youth to disturb the peace,(c) harbouring tribalistic feelings and hatred against a neighbouring people, (d) usurping legal process and (e) obstructing legal investigations, etc. His stipend (allowance given by SDOs to Fons) should be suspended.

[Kumbaboy]

Big Joe,

Your writings suggest there are tribes or perhaps some villages in the NW Province that consider themselves as "States". Strange eh? That is a very dangerous ideology.

As Cameroonians, we have one State authority and the civil rights of fellow citizens must be respected irrespective of where they live.

Unless the Bali and like-minded people embrace this commonwealth approach, there will be trouble ahead. This is 2007 and not 1887.

[vito]

Kumbaboy,is it true the fon of Bawock is a member of la'akam?

[Kumbaboy]

Vito,

What is La'akam got to do with arson? The Fon of Bawock has a constitutionally guaranteed right of association. Is La'akam banned in Cameroon?

[Big Joe]

I find this statement from the above article very misleading and I think that is where the Bawock people and some of us on this forum get it all wrong.

"Bawock Fon's wife, Henriette Nkwamo, told The Post that on the evening of Saturday, March 3, at about 5 pm, they were informed that some nine men of the Bali "Ngumba" that was heading to Mantum quarter decided to divert and enter the Bawock Palace without authorisation."

The question I keep asking myself is...how do you trespass one's village(in this case Bawock) to get to a quarter(Mantum) in your own village?. Is Bawock a village in Bali village? If Bawock is a village how comes Matum is a quarter of Bali?.

Bali and Bawock has lived side by side as brothers and sisters for decades and it would be wrong for us to take side when incident like this occur. I am totally against the use of force in resolving dispute and my heart goes out to these homeless Bawock people who are the products of the errors of their leader and some few elites.However, it is worth pointing out here that all attempts by the Bali people to settle this matter amicably failed.

The Bawock people together with their Santa/Pinyin agents and with the help of the administration were misled into beleiving that the Bali people will give in easily to their demands.

Some are quick to brandish the Bali Nyonga people as barbarians, illitrates, uncivilized etc. If the Bali people had such negative qualities Bawock could have been burying their love ones as well. While condemning the act of arson perpetrated against the Bawock people, we should equally give the Bali man credits here for having exercise enough restraint thereby avoiding human casualties. We all know what happened in Balikumbat and Babanki. We are all living witnesses to what the most civilized nations on earth are doing to the Iraqis.

Please don't give a dog a bad name because you want to hang it.

NB: The Bawock man has never constructed a befitting structure nor has any valuable investment in Bawock. They lived in mud bricks houses in Bawock while owning mansions and multi million investment ventures in Bafoussam, Douala, Yaounde etc. That is why it took the Bali people 30 minutes to ground-zeroed the entire Bawock.

[Kumbaboy]

Big Joe,

You and fellow Bali Nyonga are misled into thinking that the Bamileke people settled in Bawock are "aliens". Such is your conviction that prejudice has set in, leading to improper action and a wicked ideology.

Tell your elites to settle their matter in court. Arson is an intolerable crime. This could be one war too many for the Balis to initiate. You have to learn from your more civilized coastal natives.

[rexon]

Big Joe wrote:

"NB: The Bawock man has never constructed a befitting structure nor has any valuable investment in Bawock. They lived in mud bricks houses in Bawock while owning mansions and multi million investment ventures in Bafoussam, Douala, Yaounde etc. That is why it took the Bali people 30 minutes to ground-zeroed the entire Bawock."

This one statement from yours suggest that you are in support of those barbarians that did attacked the Bawock people. What is wrong if the Bawocks live in mud houses in their villages and own properties in other parts of the world? Bali indigenes own more properties and investments in other parts of the world than they own in Bali. Would you destroy the entire Bali because Bali people own properties in other parts of the world and have abandoned mud houses in Bali? My Parents owned properties and significant investments in the South West. The mansion we own in the Village is a wasteful investment in my view as we have never lived there.

You are insinuating that since they did not killed the Bawock people but destroyed their houses, then they did a good job. Let me remind you that the Bawock people could not run away with their houses, they were running for their lives and all the Barbarians from Bali could destroy is what they found behind which was the houses. So you cannot claim that the Balis were polite in anyway because there was no human casualities.

[rexon]

To mark the 200th anniversary of the abolition of the slave trade, Channel 4 have made a programme called The Last Slave which follows a young, black Londoner called David Monteith as he traces the story of his ancestor, Archibald Monteith. Archibald was one of the few slaves to leave an account of his life, giving his descendent an opportunity to understand his ancestry and his experience of slavery.

The programme follows David on a powerful and moving journey to Jamaica and then to Nigeria as he confronts the reality of Archibald's life.

The Last Slave will be broadcast on Channel 4 at 8pm on Sunday March 11th. You can really help us by emailing friends and contacts and spreading the word about this documentary. It's important to us that this programme , which is an inspiring and important story marking a major anniversary, reaches as many viewers as possible.

Rob Kay

Log in the ACN forum at: http://acn.myfastforum.org/forum2.php

[vito]

kumbaboy,if the 'fon' of Bawock is a member of laakamit means Bawock is in the west province of cameroun;or at least to him.That,kumbaboy ,WILL NEVER BE ACCEPTED.Period!!
What's your business if the Balis decide to burn down a few oises in their village?Maybe you dont get the point.This is war gentleman.Cameroun went to war with Nigeria over bakassi where the majority of the inhabitants felt they were nigerians and actually paid alegiance and taxes to the federal govt of nigeria.Cameroun took the matter to the ICJ,and i think you know the rest.Overstayin and abusing one's welcome doesnt imply your host forgoes his rights to his land.Fon Thedore Nana Wamba ;indeed.Rexon talks of the Bassa in the SW,i could even add the generations of Kakas and mettas in the mutengene also;but that's what they are guests in Bakweri land;rexon included.It will be inadmissible for them to 'buy' the land and conive with the administration to create kaka or metta villages in mutengene or muyuka.

[rexon]

Vito,

There are Bali quarters, Metta, Kaka, Ibo quarters in several parts of the South West as far as i can remember. Our parents have never been chased by peace loving Bakwerians and Southwesteners even at the peak of the Cam-No-Go rhetoric.

Misaka and other parts of Tiko has villages for people from Douala, Beti and Bassa heritage. Isokolo Mukindi, a small village close to Yoke are examples of villages of people whose heritage and language can be traced to the littoral province. Chief Mbella Sone Dipoko is the paramount chief of the entire Anglo-Douala's of Tiko and its sorrounding areas. I also know there is a chief for the Beti's. These people have never been chased out by peace loving Bakwerians, Bafaws, Balong, etc. Barbarians and Warmongers are Barbarians and Warmongers. We should admit that and try to change the very destructive values we are trying to support here. I have asked why are the Balis always fighting with their neighbours and not only the Bawocks and you have been unable to provide any answer.

Cheers.

[vito]

rexon,that's because our parents accept their status as guests and recognise the authority of their host,the bakweri.why cant the bamileke living in bawock quatetr of bali do same?Why cant they see themselves as guests in Bali and recognise the authority of the fon of bali?

[Kumbaboy]

Vito,

You are arrogant and have a dangerous jingoistic ideology. Yours is to disturb the peace as if you were born with property.

Don't underestimate the ferocity of the vexatious arm of the law to exact justice on your iniquities.

Keep attacking the Bawock. One day, they and the decent people of Cameroon will fight back with a mighty sword.

The authority of the Fon of Bali is limited to his clan. The People of Bawock, per custom should pay allegiance to their own traditions. The Balis and Bawocks should preserve their identities but respects the civil rights of Cameroonian citizens.

Bali does not BELONG to the Bali tribe alone. Tribalism has no place in the modern state of Cameroon.

[rexon]

Vito,

You are insinuating that the Bawocks and all the other tribes that are habitually attacked by the Bali's should abandon their customs and traditions and pay unquestionable loyalty to the Bali's? That would be funny indeed.

Vito, if i have to be honest with you. Our parents have been more or less the cause of all the tribalistic problems we find now in anglophone Cameroon. They have never accepted their status as guest. Instead, the have been trying to impose a very tribalistic mentality in all institutions they have been heading in and around the costal regions. Think of the CDC, Ombe College, Elders and Fife, Nangah Company, Chantier Naval, Amity Bank, etc. Think again before you make sweeping statements. Think of the contracts in the CDC and other corporations managed by Northwesteners. We should admit it, an average Northwestener is more tribalistic than a South Westener. That is true and they have never been attacked by their host. Instead, in most circumstances, they always try to attack, cheat or steal the resources of the peaceful loving South Westeners. That is the truth and we cannot deny it.

[Danny Boy]

Vito, Baliman and Big Joe, how shameful to hear foreigners like you try to dictate to others of your ilk how they should live in that enclave!! You are all foreigners in that territory you seem to appropriate as yours. That the surrounding tribes have allowed your folk to occupy this land, does not give you the right to tell the Bawocks "to take it or lump it". You are getting on a very slippery path there, because I, as a Widikum, might want my land back. The problem is that the Moghamoan is civilised and belongs to the 21st century.
Kumba boy, thank you for the posting above. I see or I would infer you speak with legal acumen. It is for the Bawocks to seek redress through the Courts, and yours was a pointer on how they can instruct their brief.
That much said, I would go for the jugular; the Fon of Bali. I hold him responsible for all these atrocities. Had he been a good ruler, we would not have such barbaric acts being committed in our society today.
If I am not mistaken, whatever happened to the cache of arms found in his fief in the 90?

[vito]

Must i be bali to have an opinion on the matter?
Not just peace,kumbaboy but peace and justice.
Rexon i'm sorry but then you lost me somewhere.Cant see where you're headed now.

[Watesih]

Rexon,
Lets stop this type of language here.
I thought you were inclusive enough,but each day you inch towards articulating the differences between the Northwesterners,and Southwesters.You have made everyone know you are Southwesterner in spirit,you have sought to know why there are recurrent land disputes in the Northwest,and not in the SW,and you have come down to articulate how the average Northwesterner is more tribalistic than the Southwester.This is not the debate here,but rom you approach,you seem to be out on mission.Soon you are going to say you are from Mbatu,and cannot think this way.This is you Rexon who make fuss here about Southern Cameroonians,but in times of crises like these,you come out whipping up sentiments.Do you even know that we are mourning our brothers who died last week,and you should have shied away from this type of language? Maybe you think people are blind,or afraid of you because you are Rexon!

[Kumbaboy]

Vito,

It is nice to now say you want "peace and justice" after having trampled in the most vile manner possible over the civil rights of the Bawocks. That is very rich and cannot be countenanced.

As previously stated "those who do not give equity to others cannot expect to gain equity from any court of law". We should be talking about heavy financial restitution, to pay for the crime of arson and attempted genocide committed by Bali Nyonga over the Bawocks.

The best way to curb crime is to make the perpertrators pay dearly for their actions.
Jingoism is a pursuit of illiterates. The civil rights of every Cameroonian are inviolate.

[AngloCameroonian]

Rexon,
Northwesterners are tribalistic so what?
You're "antisipating" for a southern cameroon state, later you will be "fighting" for a South west southern cameroon. Why did you not mention the SDF,SCNC & UB, in that your list?

You cannot fire a shot to the east but you can throw a bomb to the NW.
Your opinion counts but it falls short of a freedom fighter. Preach love, peace and reconcilliation.

Withdraw your words!!!

[vito]

Kumbaboy,i donot as a matter of principle condone violence in any form whatsoever;and to a lesser degree injustice.The latter,gentleman,breeds the former.today we're talking of houses burnt;i wouldnt want to hear of poeple murdered tomorrow because in our prejudice cum fear of the balis we refused to properly and equitably address the root causes of this issue.
To the best of my knowledge there's no bamileke village in the administrative entity called NW province.If the bawocks are bamilekes then the land they occupy should be considered as part of the west province but then if that land isn't part of the west province then the bawock ought to consider themselves guests of the balis.Let economic strength and the fact that they find favour in the present administration not tempt them into abusing the hospitality of their host.Why is this problem coming up only now?Why this hegemony and defiant arrogance?The bamilekes control parliamentary and municipal constituencies all over Cameroun,nobody's complainig so they want to move a step further and buy or seize villages in other provinces because they can buy the administration and the gendarmes.The answer to that is NO!
I donot condone the approach of the Bali youths and i thank God there was no loss of human life.like i earlier said,the fon of Bali should be held accountable for the violence,but the underlying causes of the problem should be addressed.Injustice breeds violence.

[rexon]

Watesih, Anglo-Cameroonian,

I dont believe in solving a problem by running away from it. You should have also addressed Vito's comments that led to my response. If he argued that the Northwestener accepted their status as guest and so should the Bawocks, then i have to tell him NO as their guest made significant sacrifice to led them in and they disrespected their guest by instituting a mentality that goes contrary to standard expectations.

I think one way of solving a problem is by discussing it, not by hiding it under the carpet. And that should not weep up sentiments. I have been abused here by you Watesih, but i have learnt to stay calm and focus on what i have to say, rather than sending counter comments. So weeping up sentiments have nothing to do here. When we write against the Chinese, we dont weep up sentiments because they are not Cameroonians, and when we write against Nigerians who are our brothers, we are not weeping up sentiments because we can trace their origins from a different country. Funny indeed.

Cheers.

[AngloCameroonian]

Brother rexon,
As we do condemn such acts of voilence within the house, so will we do if its pepertrated on a neighbour. Peace and dialogue must be given a chance. B/c it does not help the course. It's like drinking alcohol to feel in control of your worries.
These "Warriors' will shy away from an Invader.
Understanding that each us have weaknesses and far from angels we must learn to cohabit and accept others as they are.
We can debate facts, but there is a great gap between a fact and the truth, likewise accuracy and truth.
Look at Lebanon and their purported victory, Egypt did learnt their lesson from what they lost. Jordan accepted Israel. The Irony of muslims supporting Hamas, but with all their oil wealth could not fund Hamas. Voilence have its repercussions. I denounce it in the Mighty Name of JESUS!

[Watesih]

Rexon,
You did a goodthing to come out strong against Vito,and Big Joe.This showed you don`t support separatist tendencies,but you quickly contradicted yourself by showing you were just paying lipservice,by categorically saying,and not discussing that an ordinary Northwesterner is more tribalistic than a Southwesterner.By struggling to present yourself as a Southwesterner in spirit,and branding others as tribalists shows you are a tribalist yourself.Talking about being abused here you should know that i in particular take you the way you vibrate.When you compare us to your students,we compare you to ours.When you use this forum to assassinate the characters of other Cameroonians,we do everything to make you look like a fool.I for one always want you to present your counter arguments if you have.Don`t write thrash ,and vanish into thin air.Everybody here knows you are your best when you have to paint other Cameroonians black,but when you are straightjacketed you cry more than everyone.Finally,a so called freedom fighter will never make a mess of himself using this type of a sentence.Yes,this type of language is going to haunt you for a longtime,i hope you are going to stand it,and don`t treat it for abuse.Everybody is hailing the hero BB, because he served as a factor of unity,not because he wrote in his books somewhere that Southwesterners are heros,while Northwesterners were dwarfs.

[tayong]

I have been away only to signon to an allegory of bickerings which once reminds us all the 1000 dollars question. Does the Southern Cameroon struggle and if Victory assures a peaceful Southern Cameroon nation?

A crime has been committed and glaringly from a supposedly peacemaker(Fon). Instead of condemning the attrocities honourable men and women are reminding us that though they live in the West tribal instincts still clout their judgements.

How on earth can we isolate a chunk of people who have lived in the land for more than 50 yrs (if my knowledge is correct) to call them Bamilekes? Even if they came from there , do they still pay allegeance to the Bamilekes or the Southern Cameroon? Or worst still even if they were Bamilekes, so what? Arent they Bamilekes Southern Cameroonians?

Sometimes I wonder if we shall not go from Southern Cameroon struggle to Mezam struggle(or any) to Bali struggle(or any) to Ntarikon struggle(or any) or even Azire struggle.

Gentlemen, a henious and condemnable crime crime has been committed. This is where our maturity and uprightness upstairs is tested.Leave aside your tribal pride and call a spade by its rightful name, that is nation building, thats statesmanhood, thats patriotism and then we shall be one. Anything short of these is tantamount to chaos ,tribalism and "Rwandism" in the making.

Gentlemen it takes more than courage to overcome cynicism. Cheers
Tayong

[rexon]

Anglo Cameroonian,

If us Northwestener wants to lead the preaching of integration, then we should adopt policies that promotes the integration of people from different ethnic backgrounds. I started by telling you of the Awanchi Betieku people of Manyu division and how they gave parts of their fertile land to Bafanji and Widikum people when they were starving and dying. A crafty and self-centred person will not do so. That is why there is too much land disputes in the North West. We must address this very crude mentality of ours before it becomes too late. Danny boy says he is from Widikum and he can testify here that a significant number of Widikum/Bafanji people trek several kilometers to farm in Manyu division. Some of us living in Europe spend time complaining about racism, when we cannot even accomodate our own relatives who will marry others from different ethnic backgrounds.

If it was the Bakweri's who did attacked the Ngies for example in Ekona or other settlements in the South West, this forum would have been filled with condemnations. Failing to condemn and citing the tribalistic policies of the North West in itself is an act of tribalism. Now that 300 houses has been destroyed by the Balis (insinuating that they are destroying but the properties of the Bamilikies who dont want to integrate), we have refused to condemn and are instead giving but lip theories of why NorthWesteners are holding to their land. That in my view wont further our course.

Watesih cited BB, I have not read his works. But anyone who does not want to discuss the NW/SW problem and is a public figure in the Southern Cameroons is not doing us any service. There are lots of issues relating to this NW/SW problem that i will like us to address and suggest the way forward. In my view, our policies originating from our tradition both public and private are divisive rather than uniting and we must address them.

Cheers.

[Massa_talk_true]

Vito
Most people don’t want to see into the root of this problem but just condemning Bali. There is no Bamelike village in the NWP as u rightly put it and it will never be.
We all accepted that most of the major tribes in Cameroon today migrated from one region to another.
Before the coming of the European into Africa and partition of Africa among themselves in 1884, Bali Nyonga was already in this present day region as any other tribes in Cameroon and NWP in particular.
That is why the German recognized the Bali and even took Bali to be her allied, and drawn the map of Bali even.
When the German left British came and still recognized Bali as well. After independent the government of SC and East Cameroon stilled recognized Bali, Ahidjo even visited Bali Nyonga twice during his term of presidency
Neither the German, the British nor Ahidjo known that, there is no East Cameroon Village in Southern Cameroon known as Bawock,.
They knew that Bamelike villages are in the East Cameroon not in the West Cameroon. It beat my imagination if people are accepting in this forum that there is an autonomous Bamelike village in NWP.
The Bamelike think as they have money and controlled the economy of Cameroon, they can bribe the corrupted administration to changed what the colonial master did, but they had failed woefully and will continue to fail, and the money will lost.

Rexon,
Had there ever a case in SWP where the Bakweries secret society is disturbed by their guest from North West or from littoral that it is trespassing their land?? Why only the Bawock??
Are they super guest?? This corrupted administration is the root of all this problem.
I quite remember during the twine election campaign in 2002 in Douala, the doualas were asking the government to help them to take back their land from the Bamelike. This matter is not going to be only Bali Bamelike but nation wide if the Bamelike continuous in this fashion of bribing the administration.

[rexon]

Massa Talk True,

If the Germans did took the Balis as their allies, then there is a problem wrong with the Bali's. It is maybe because they wanted priviledges from the Germans and was serving them without questioning some of their policies. I have asked all of you why are the Bali's always having problems with their neighbours not only the Bawocks and none of you have been able to give any realistic answer. Now, you guys are hanging on the Bawocks wanting to create a Bamilikie village in the NWP. That is cheap rhetoric as far as i can comprehend.

Massa Talk True, the Bakweris are now disturbed by their guest and that is why they have taken the CDC and other institutions that was previously managed by NorthWesteners. Other extreme Bakwerians brought or fanned political doctrines that was seemingly geared towards driving their guest away. They include SEVERAL rhetoric that has become a singsong in the streets of the SW. While we are geared on moderating them, we should also try to address our own policies that has been influencing division in the Southern Cameroons.

My suggestion is that the NW should free some of its land to other ethnic minorities both in the North West and to civil servants from other parts of the country to promote culture integration amongst the different ethnic groups. The government (if there is any) should instead carry out land distribution to people from other ethnic groups in a bid to encourage them to settle in the North West.

[vito]

The Che of the cyber front of the liberation of the Southern Cameroons has spoken."The government (if there is any) should instead carry out land distribution to people from other ethnic groups in a bid to encourage them to settle in the North West. "
Yesterday it was"The Southern cameroons must be freed by any means"
Today its regional/national intergration;the goverenment should give out SC lands to the highest bidder.i earler told you you'd make agreat counsel for La republique at the Banjul courts.Be consistent, gentleman.

[rexon]

Massa Talk True,

If all these people who hated Southern Cameroonians (The Germans, the British and Ahidjo) singled out the Bali's and took them for Allies, then there is really something wrong with the Bali's. It is either because the Bali's were the ones selling us as slaves to the Germans or were accepting whatever these hypocrites told them for unexplained priviledges.

There were many tribes in Anglophone Cameroon. Why did they coperate only with the Bali's? It is like the government of La Republique has seemingly singled out the Endeley family (directly or extended) and other pockets of people from Fako Division and other parts of the SW, (the Nwalipenja of Ndian, the Mukete's of Kumba, the Tabetando of Manyu) to use in the colonisation of the Southern Cameroons. When colonialist and even slave merchants arrive in an area, they look for the weak link. They include the yes men. I think the Bali's were the yes men of the time and we cannot applaud them for that.

[rexon]

Vito,

"the goverenment should give out SC lands to the highest bidder"

You are the one who have made the above statement and not me.

Cheers.

[Danny Boy]

Rexon, it is true what you said above, with regards to this co-operation between the neighbouring villages of the Widikum tribe and those of Manyu division. I am from Moghamo, and what you say above still holds true. Our women go to Mbeme, Nyene-Bah, kendem, to name but a few, to grow crops. No money or chicken are exchanged! All is done in the name of friendship. How altruistic of these Bayang people.
This is the lesson the Bali-man and Woman need to learn. Love your neighbour as thyself.

[tayong]

Rexon
This is where we dont sometimes see eye to eye. Your rampant calls for a so called discussion on a pseudo NW/SW is backtracking.
For your information, the so called NW/SW divide is a non existent pseudo weapon carved to keep the two peoples weak,down trodden and conquered. Im taken aback by your seemingly unawareness of this.There's nothing , absolutely nothing to discuss Rexon.

The present day brouhaha stems from greedy CPDM politicians of the likes of Ndion Ngute, Ebong Ngole ,Oben Ashu etc all who dont have the least support even among the very indegenes then resort to create tension between loving brothers in order to win elections. What do they preach? Foncha took us where we are ,Graffi man is the cause of Southwest problems and all sorts of rubbish. Is this what you want us to be talking about? Of course not. So man,quit asking for a discussion on a non existent problem.

Let me remind you that while Ahidjo was in office , it's rumored he told Ayissi Mvondo the then presumed successor " The day you allow a NW and SW man to agree then your regime will tomble", and true to this saying here we're today.

The following analysis is based on a detailed study (Chem-Langhëë 1976) of the petitions which Southern Cameroonians addressed to the United Nations (UN) between 1959 and 1961; speeches of the Southern Cameroonian politicians to the UN Visiting Missions, and at the various conferences in Britain and Southern Cameroons; and the speeches of the various delegates at the Mamfe Plebiscite Conference of 1959.

Majority of the indigenous inhabitants of Mamfe, Bamenda, Wum and Nkambe Divisions opted for Secession. Reunification was supported by the overwhelming majority of students and graduates and some activists in Kumba and Bamenda Towns. Broadly, aside from Unification which seemed to have had no opponent, Secession seemed the most popular option, closely followed by Integration. Reunification was the least popular option.

There wasn't any talk of a SW/NW divide then . Where then did this come from?
Your answer is a good as mine Rexon, so gentleman lets stick by the issues that befall us .
Have a nice week ahead.
Tayong

[Muki StoneHall]

It is really appalling what some of you guys write here.
Big Joe, Vito, No matter what you guys say or argue, the truth is that Bali people are primitive and heartless barbarians.In 1997 Bali people caught a Ngyen-mbo man on a disputed piece of land and cut off his testis and let him go.He ran just half the distance back,collapsed and died.Was it because Ngyen-mbo was a quarter in Bali? Barbarians are barbarians and will always remain barbarians.

[Fon]

Vito,
"Injustice breeds violence."
Where is the injustice? What do you call the root cause of the problem?
I already see a mixed up of issues here. Those who want to twist things to satisfy their selfish interest like "Massa talk true" want to address Bawock a Bamilike village inside the NW province.
To begin with, we should find out the definition of a village; it has nothing to do with the origin of the people. The fact that the Bawock people originated from the western province does not stop them from establishing as an autonomous village in the NW province. Instead I think that the fact that they have a culture different from that of the Bali man should give them the right to an autonomous village.

To say there is a Bamilike village in the NW province is absolute nonsense. Bawock is within the jurisdiction of the NW and not the West Province. They study in English and the Fon of Bawock is a member of the NW Fon´s union. Therefore, what do we mean by a Bamilike village in Southern Cameroon?

[Danny Boy]

Mr. Rexon,
I am afraid I am bound to support Mr. Tayong above. This question of a NW/SW divide is a detraction created by the Francophone to facilitate his rule over us. I tell you where he borrowed this idea from, South Africa, during the days of apartheid. The creation of Bantustans pitted Africans against Africans. That is what Ahidjo hoped to achieve by dividing the State of West Cameroon into the N.W and S.W Provinces. Before, we presented a united front in asking for anything, a real thorn in his Government's backside! Look at what has happened since this geo-political demarcation! We are now "fighting" amongst ourselves whilst the Francophone is sitting pretty in Etoudi! All he needs to do is give a little to the Southwesterner and when the Northwesterner waits in vain for similar crumbs, what I shall term sibling rivalry begins. That is the problem we face, not a north West/South West divide.
Look at your earlier posting. You asked me to attest to the co-operation between the Manyu villages sharing boundaries with the Widikum. Now if there was to be any divide, these villages would have been at the fore of any conflicts, is it not?
My Dear Rexon, those talking of this divide have a vested interest in the matter. We should be careful, for there are unscrupulous politicians out there who will sell even their mothers to get to the top.
Stay blessed.

[vito]

hi Fon i like your approach.Let's reason together please and gentleman to begin with i'm not a from bali;not even from mezam,i'm just trying to be objective.
When an article is published here it may or may not address or answer all he issues at stake.As intellectuals we have a duty to inquire,visit other web sites carrying the same story etc.
from what the leader of the bawocks said in an interview granted 'le messager the bawocks are bamilekes alright but their bone of contention is that they've been on bali soil long enough and want some kind of autonomy.Now the Bamilekes are the only tribe in Cameroun who have an entire province to themselves;isnt that enough?How did they get to Bali?It seems they were fleeing genocide rom la republique du Cameroun.The Balis welcomed them and gave them land to live ,farm and survive for the past 5O years as someone just said.Is this how to thank the balis?You go behind and bribe the administration and gendarmes to come plant boundary stones on a land where you're guests.Is that the price the balis have to pay for their 5O+ years of hospitality?Somebody else said the bamilekes are southern cameroonians.Jeeze!!If we have to go by the arguments some folks present here;a town like mutegene would have to be divided into four villages and shared amongst the mettas ,the bakweri,the kakas and a cocktail of other ethnic groups that have been existing there for generations.How would that look like?Who wxould welcome astranger on his soil again for more than ten years?
I dont think the balis have any particular problems with the Bawocks save for the fact that the bawocks think its high time they abused the hospitality of their hosts.Muki even babarians have just causes at times;this in my opinion is one of those rare times they've got it.Well fon i dont think i have to go into the fact that NOBODY;and i mean NOBODY can try this rubish these bamileke poeple are trying to do in their own province.Its nice to say Nana is a memebr iof the fon union,what you forget is he just may b the scribe i laakam.How do you reconcile that?Where was he when those thugs attacked ?He'd gone home to Bamengou!!Granted the Bawocks hae gain of cause and the Southern Cameroons liberation struggle also;where would they belong?You see bro its all about abuse!That's as far as i know.Thanks

[rexon]

Tayong and Danny boy,

I think some kind of an ethnic tension is existant between these two cultures. Even if it was the creation of politicians headed by Oben Peter Ashu and co, the truth is, it is now a problem that has been dividing rather than uniting Southern Cameroonians. If the politicians succesfully created it and it gained popularity, then it is a problem that merits our intervention. I am not saying that in the course, we should promote it. Secondly, i am of the opinion that in the future SC's, we should encourage people from different ethnic backgrounds to settle and integrate in different parts of the NW. A lot of people from other provinces who have worked in the NW have argued that they could not progress and build houses in that part of the country because they were not given opportunities. They were not sold lands, allowed to open business in strategic areas, etc. That is what i have been told by even the father of one of my best friends here and others and i think there are some hidden truth in all these complains.

Tayong, i remember, you brought this NW/SW issue up a while ago for discussion. I was one of the first to post a counter comment accusing you of fanning a NW/SW divide and you advised me that there is no point trying to hide it under the carpet. Now it is the other way round. You are reminding me of how politicians are the ones who framed this up. hahaha.

Vito,

You started by acknowledging the very interesting reflections brought forward by Fon, then you turn around by contracdicting yourself by arguing that the Bawocks are better off emigrating to the Western Province.

I have asked u and will repeat one more time. Why are the Bali's always having trouble with their neighbours not only the Bawocks?

[vito]

hi rexon,fon asked a question and i gave him answer and my point of view.It all lies in the fact that injustice truly breeds violence.I dont contradict myself ;i simply wont be drawn in the lil mind games of yours.As to whether or why the balis have problems with their neighbours,i dont know.It might also help to realise with that kind of prejudice and stereotyping you'll find it difficult to be objective about anything in life.Thanks

[tayong]

Rexon
Im afraid you got it wrong on my earlier issue on this pseudo NW/SW divide. At first you didnt know I come from the North West and when I made a self critique of my own people you mistook me for Southwesterner at that point. I cant stoop that low Rexon, you know that of course.

I come from the North West and have lived almost all my life in the South West . I have lived and learnt the antics of these political adventurers all my life. They live on mischief and has eroded the average man's mentality with all what you mentioned above.

The issues of farmland and stuff you mentioned above are all tactics framed by enthno-political bigwigs used to weep up sentiments and support. Step back to preplebiscite era and you wont find such language anywhere in Southern Cameroon vocabulary Rexon. I repeat these are antics!

Lets stay focused!
Cheers
Tayong

[Big Joe]

Kumbaboy,

You quoted some interesting legal maxims in your last write up and I will equally want to remind you that he who comes to equity must come with clean hands. The Bawock people together with their allies(some corrupt members of the administration) are aware of this and will never initiate any legal action. They could have succeeded had the Bali people not been wise enough.

Some have suggested that the Bali people could have seek legal remedy may I ask on what ground?.

[Watesih]

Rexon,
In life we leave out that which is negative,and go after that which is positive.The Cameroonian society is a heterogeneous,and loose amalgame held together by a very thin thread,ethnic pride.Each entity takes pride in their ethnicity,and the days go by.If you try to dig deep into this patched union,what comes out is always chaotic.The most foresighted Anglophone leaders have pondered over this ,and come to the conclusion that what God brought together cannot be put asunder.We cannot reduce the serious problem of tribalism to ownership of farms,appointments
and national intergration does not come about through the seizure ,or distribution of freeland by the government to people.
National intergration comes when people live in peace,inter-marry,go to school wherever they want,elect the officials that are representive,respect the intergrity of others,and most of all accept that others are different.
Rexon,all those who have pretended to discuss the divide between the NW,and SW have always given as examples,the same examples you gave above:contracts in the CDC
and other corporations managed by Northweterners,trying to impose a very tribalistic mentality in all the institutions they have been heading in and around the coastal regions,always try to attack,cheat or steal the resources of the peace-loving Southwesterners.This is called belly politics,and only meant to keep emotions rife.
Many readers are also surely taken aback by your new outfit these days Rexon.You seem
to be tilting towards Agbormbai`s direction now.Last week you saw no problem in allowing the French in ,especially as they are using force to find heir way in,and you thought we should rather cheat them out of their resources.You have now jumped on the bandwagon of National intergration that the CPDM has been preaching,by calling on the government to distribute land to people from other ethnic groups in order for them to settle in the Northwest.Which government are you talking about? The one you want to leave the Southern Cameroons alone? Now you are insisting on discussing the NW/SW divide,but
you castigate one part ,and shower praises on the other.Cameroonians are beginning to make a complete picture now of your hatred of some leaders of Northwest extraction.I
hope your followers are going to heed to your call to abandon the Southern Cameroon
course for a moment,and dicuss the NW/SW divide.

[AngloCameroonian]

The voilence of the balis cannot be justified. Don't try to draw intersecting lines here.

The CPDM "new deal" govt has brain washed mostly anglophones and they can only lash back at their fellow brothers.
But it will fail all of you. The fons and chiefs have lost their vision of leadership. We don't respect them no longer.

We complain of integration on the basis of where you come from, but people like Rexon confuse this with merit and skills.
Did the NWesterners you mentioned bribed before getting to those top positions? Your types even go further to complain about the number of NWesterners in UB.

In any society or country they are people who a capable of leadership. Can you dream of a SC or Cameroon without the NW.
Go ahead and say we a proud to be tribalistic, you are proud as what?