Cameroonian Soldiers killed in Bakassi

By Orock Eta

Some 21 Cameroonian soldiers have been killed, wounding many others  in the Bakassi peninsula, Tuesday, November 13, by suspected Nigerian rebels. According to sources, the gunmen attacked a Cameroonian military boat carrying food destined for soldiers on the peninsula. They then killed the Cameroonian soldiers on board, put on their uniforms, proceeded to the peninsula, shot and wounded soldiers before carrying away some military equipment.

The assailants who were on board seven boats were later attacked by other Cameroonian soldiers. One of them was shot and investigations have been opened.

UPDATE: Up to 21 Cameroon troops killed in Bakassi

Tue Nov 13, 2007 11:23am EST
By Estelle Shirbon

LAGOS, Nov 13 (Reuters) - Suspected Nigerian gunmen killed up to 21 Cameroonian soldiers in Bakassi, a border region that was handed back to Cameroon by Nigeria last year, Nigerian and Cameroonian sources said on Tuesday.

A senior Nigerian government source said no Nigerian armed forces were involved in the incident on Monday and Nigerian troops had also been attacked by gunmen in the same area within the last week.

"The Cameroonian gendarmes in Bakassi were attacked by an unknown armed group which killed 19, wounded six and made away with some arms and ammunitions," said the source, who did not wish to be named because the Nigerian Defence Headquarters were due to issue a statement later.

A Cameroonian military source in Yaounde, who asked not to be named, told Reuters the clash involved "a suspected militant group from Nigeria" and that 21 Cameroonian soldiers were reported killed in the fighting.

He added the attackers seized weapons and that eight Cameroonian soldiers were evacuated to Douala for treatment.

Local mayors in the towns of Kombo Itindi and Kombo Abedimo also reported recent fighting on the peninsula, but had no precise information about casualties.

The Nigerian government source said he had received reports of an attack on Nigerian naval troops in the coastal town of Ibeka in the same area within the last week. No lives were lost in that incident, he said.

Nigerian defence spokesman Solomon Giwa-Amu said the Cameroonian gendarmes could have been attacked by Nigerian criminals but details of the clash were unclear. He was certain no member of the Nigerian armed forces was involved.

"It's very unfortunate," he said.

"We are willing to cooperate with Cameroon to investigate this incident. All our resources are at their disposal to ensure that the criminals are brought to justice."

The disputed Bakassi peninsula, which includes offshore oil deposits, was a source of tension between the two countries for years until former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo handed it over to Cameroon in 2006.

On the Nigerian side of the border, the oil-producing Niger Delta has been plagued by crime and militancy, with numerous gangs carrying out attacks on the oil industry, kidnappings and armed robberies.

Rebels demanding local control over oil revenues have blown up production facilities and kidnapped oil workers, while ransom seekers and extortion gangs have used the political struggle as cover to carry out crimes.

The Bakassi issue was separate from the Niger Delta crisis and since the handover of Bakassi, there has been no known case of an attack by Niger Delta criminals on Cameroonian troops. (Additional reporting by Tom Ashby in Lagos and Tansa Musa in Yaounde; Editing by Giles Elgood)

Comments

[Ngumbaman]

Nigeria pls keep attacking these bastards and never cede Bakassi to La République.Come and save the Southern Cameroons.

[londoner]

Ha Ha Cameroon forces of law(lessness) and (dis)order.

When it comes to terrorising the population, shooting at school pupils, raping young girls, brutalising and torturing people, looting and stealing you come out with top marks.

Now you've met your match and are being finished off like flies. Show proof of your bravery now before the real enemies.

Hopeless drunkards. Am sure the assailants attacked when all you Class 7 leavers were drunk and on top of prostitutes or raping young girls in the vicinity. At least in that sense you died in "active service".

You guys have not seen anything yet.

[Ngumbaman]

Hahahahahaha,londoner you really know about these idiots from La république

[Abesong John]

The fact that our leaders have shown gross irresponsibility in every aspect of the country's management does not mean that we have to be irresponsible too. Our comments even in the face of a disaster like this show how irresponsible we can equally be. The solution to this decaying nation seems far fetched if this forum can be taken a true representation of the Cameroonian people. May God come to our rescue.

[londoner]

"Abesong John"

Stop being a fool. If you want to weep for those killed then go ahead but I'll not join you because I would be shedding crocodile tears. I reserved my real tears for the victims of Biya's regime; the ones killed in violence and the ones killed through long suffering and frustrations.

What do you expect from the population when you have a heartless and thieving regime in place, maintained in power by a brutal and blood-thirsty military. Whatever misfortunes befall them outside or inside the country, we rejoice because we have no other way to strike at them.

Why do you think the Kumba rioters were so quick to vandalise state buildings and symbols and but leave out the gov't buildings housed in rennted property?

Do you think those boys were protecting Cameroonian interests in Bakassi? Not at all. They are there to ensure that their master Biya and his French and American cronies can exploit their oil peacefully for their private interests.

My brother, forget about it. There's no Cameroon; just a band of thieves, fraudsters, con-men, homosexuals who have banded together with foreign interests to milk the country dry.

Next time the journalist should specify that:

"Paul Biya's Private Militia Attacked in Bakassi"

[simplice]

Mr Londoner and Abesong John, what if your own blood brother was among the victims?. Any human conscience that prides over the dead of innocent armies, if too blind to see the real enemy. BIYA is the real enemy, not these 21 death in the service of a nation.
Londoner, your first comment only portrays, you maybe intellectually mature but still need some wisdom to complete your egocentrity of "Know How".
Some agents of your like need to be discarded from this forum.NONSENSE

[donald nji]

i know we cameroonians are very patriotic but when it cames to times like this when every one is frustrated and tired of the Biya's regim we just have to say congratulation to the so called rebels OR NIGERIAN ARMY.it's not enough the day southern cameroon will attack those la republic forces put in our territory,then they will go for good.
DONALD PRETORIA SOUTH AFRICA

[DECKY]

I WISH TO EXTEND MY SYMPATHY TO THE BERIEVED FAMILIES AND TO THE ENTIRE MILITARY POPULATION OF CAMEROON.IT HURTS SO MUCH WHEN YOU SEE IRRESPONSIBLE CAMEROONIANS CALLING THEIR FELLOW BROTHERS NAMES WHEN SUCH AN INCIDENT HAPPENS.I JUST WISH TO ADVICE THEM TO BE MORE CAREFUL NEXT TIME AND BE MORE PREPARED FOR INCIDENTS LIKE THIS.
ARREY DECLAN-THE HAGUE

[rexon]

According to the French language daily Mutations, the clash was apparently the result of an illegal arms deal gone bad between Cameroonian soldiers and rebels from the Niger Delta. The article also talks about the "demotivated" Cameroonian troops living in very bad conditions and who are more interested in business...

Excerpt:

Selon des sources concordantes dans les milieux de l'armée à Bakassi, Yaoundé et Douala où les victimes ont été conduites, tout serait parti d'un trafic de munitions entre ce groupe de militaires camerounais et les rebelles nigérians du Delta du Niger. Ce commerce illicite des militaires camerounais de l'avis de diverses sources militaires, a fait l'objet d'une mission du général René Claude Meka au cours du mois d'octobre. Tous les commandants militaires ayant plaidé non coupable, ils ont voulu, à travers l'arrestation de sept rebelles, le week-end dernier témoigner de leur bonne foi. C'était sans compter avec la témérité des rebelles qui ont, grâce à l'effet de surprise, frappé au cœur du poste de commandement N°3 et fait 21 morts et une quinzaine de blessés.

A en croire les mêmes sources, l'attaque des rebelles nigérians aurait trouvé, côté camerounais, des hommes démotivés, plus portés vers les affaires qui ont cours dans l'île depuis le début de la démarcation des frontières en 2003. Dans les rangs de l'armée, les langues se délient pour déplorer les mauvaises conditions dans lesquelles exercent les militaires camerounais à Bakassi.

Complete article at: http://www.quotidie nmutations. info/

[Ngumbaman]

Abesong John and Decky,did u offer a word of condolence to the family of the innocent 14 year old who was cruelly murdered and the other young Southern Cameroonian victims of the butchery in Kumba? Did u offer condolences to the families of the bendskin drivers in Bamenda who were simply demanding that their rights be respected and what they got in return was the brutal murder of two of their colleagues?Did u offer condolences to the slain students at UB during the last strike action in which some students were brutally murdered for standing up for justice? Yet u find it just to offer condolences to thugs who were alledgedly dealing in arms and raping women as usual when death took them of guard.
did paul biya ur "King" ever offer a word of condolences to the families of the above crimes against humanity?People like,were it not for the anonymity of that this site offers would have been in our "red books".I shall drink to my fill today and celebrate for this blow to La République's army and keep praying that such incidents should continue till we become strong enough to launch our own attack.Let the bastards in La république perish,even if there are Southern Cameroonians in that army let them also perish or join us to kick out the enemy.

[Kumbaboy]

My sympathies go to the bereaved families, including victims of Camerounese security forces in Cameroon.

The "Mutations" piece is very telling: Camerounese troops selling weapons to Niger delta rebels. These rebels destablize Nigeria - a fact well known to Yaounde. How long has this been going on and who knew what and when?

What became of the alleged investigation by René Claude Meka? Was the investigation an alibi? France Afrique is yet proving to be very dangerous to Africa as some leaders in the region seek an exclusively French speaking zone in contradiction of the aspirations of their peoples.

[Zero Tolerance]

Londoner and Ngumbaman,

You have spoken well.
May your days be long, in the name of.................................... Amen.

Our soldiers/gendarmes were selling weapons to 'rebels/criminals'?
To be used against who?
Those of us sending messages of sympathy, can we explain how the sold weapons were to be used?
What is the casuality rate (deaths per month per urban centre in the country) arising from armed robbery?

Let the government (if at all there is anything called government in that rotten place) put all the 21 corpses on trial and if found guilty, they should be re-executed by firing squad for high treason.
As for the wounded idiots, they should be tried and if found guilty the 'government should hand them over to the civilian populace for mob action.

We are for Zero Telorance.

[bobspinser]

May their souls rest in PEACE.My brothers, how can gun me kill 21 soldiers on service.I think this guys kept eating money and never thought there will be at war one day.This is just a lesson to the others.They should better be prepared for enemies rather than been trained to attack and kill students during peaceful demonstration.Mr. BIYA send your boys and girls back to the training ground before it is too late.

[DECKY]

ngunbaman,as a father i so much feel for the innocent souls we have lost due to mal functioning of polical and judicial setups of our belove country but i dont think we are going to amend the situation by being irresponsible our selves.we should try to see situations from a possitive angle in other to give fair judgements to situations.most of us cameroonians care so much of leaves on neighbours roofs while our door steps are unclean.ARREY DECLAN

[Ndode]

I am surprised that some of our Southern Cameroon brothers are congratulating the behavior of these Nigerian gunmen who are by the way, not military officers, but rebels from militant groups!!
I am even more surprised because the brothers congratulating them, are the same ones who have been spoiling for a fight lately. I thought they would be picking up their arms by now and rushing to the rescue! after all is Bakassi not in Southern Cameroon territory?
I think some of these revolutionary-types who have been calling for violence and carnage lately should go down there and try their hands against the Nigerian rebels in order to convince the rest of us that they really have what it takes to confront the forces of La Republique, or "Biya's private militia".
Once again you have succeeded in convincing us that you have no true agenda!!

[Ngumbaman]

Ndode,firstly when it is said that the gunmen aren't military officers,that's just an allegation.Until true evidences are proven to the contrary.And even if they are thugs from miltant Nigerian groups,many Southern Cameroonians are still going to drink beer for that especially me.You know when u are oppressed and desperate,ur arms are opened to anybody that can hit a deadly blow at ur oppressor.Did Mother Theresa of Calcutta not receive money which was claimed to be blood money from drug barons?
Ndode,when the time shall come we shall do what is necessary for our Fatherland,the Southern Cameroons.Everything cannot be said on this forum.And let me ask u this,what proves that they are "Nigerian rebels"?Is it bc u read it from the various news media,that u have come to that conclusion?Let me tell u,there's more to it than the eye can see.How can La République's army engage in arms deals with Nigerian thugs without the Nigerian military having knowledge of this?Has anybody given any thought to this question?sooner or later,the truth will out.
To Pa Decky,what "positive angle" are u talking about and when u talk about "fair judgments to situations",I don't see how relevant that is to me.haven't u realised that am a full_blown secessionists and any deadly attack on my enemy is welcome?

[Ngumbaman]

Ndode,firstly when it is said that the gunmen aren't military officers,that's just an allegation.Until true evidences are proven to the contrary.And even if they are thugs from miltant Nigerian groups,many Southern Cameroonians are still going to drink beer for that especially me.You know when u are oppressed and desperate,ur arms are opened to anybody that can hit a deadly blow at ur oppressor.Did Mother Theresa of Calcutta not receive money which was claimed to be blood money from drug barons?
Ndode,when the time shall come we shall do what is necessary for our Fatherland,the Southern Cameroons.Everything cannot be said on this forum.And let me ask u this,what proves that they are "Nigerian rebels"?Is it bc u read it from the various news media,that u have come to that conclusion?Let me tell u,there's more to it than the eye can see.How can La République's army engage in arms deals with Nigerian thugs without the Nigerian military having knowledge of this?Has anybody given any thought to this question?sooner or later,the truth will out.
To Pa Decky,what "positive angle" are u talking about and when u talk about "fair judgments to situations",I don't see how relevant that is to me.haven't u realised that am a full_blown secessionists and any deadly attack on my enemy is welcome?

[priso enoka]

There is more to this that meets the eye. I think we might be seeing an anglophone uprising in Cameroon already. I think it is high time people got ready for the worst because Southern Cameroons Independent is at hand. This is how troops sent by La Republique will die. One anglophone student killed is equal to 21 La Repuplique's armed men.

[Ndode]

Ngumbaman if your strategy is to sit back and watch the Nigerians soften up the forces of La Republique, then that is actually a wise strategy. Most dissidents would like to sit back in a neutral position and watch as their common rivals slaughter one another.
But the real issue here, I guess, is at what cost are Southern Cameroonians willing to sit back and watch? Because although it is not certain who the Nigerian attackers really are, one thing is certain, they are fighting to keep this territory for themselves, and not to hand it over to us!
So are you saying Southern Cameroonians are now so desperate for their independence that they are willing to secure it even if it means sacrificing Bakassi, which might just hold 10% of the world's oil and natural gas reserves?
Help me out here, I am just trying to understand the real price we have to pay for our independence. As of right now I understand that it is ok for students to burn down public buildings--so we are ready to sacrifice infrastructure. Are we willing to give up our natural resources as well? I just want to know.

[Ma Mary]

Thanks to those who have given information about the Kumba Crisis. Please, continue to provide information, documents and pictures, as completely as possible about the people responsible for killing our children.

The way forward network will use this information to pursue justice, no matter how long it takes. Every detail you provide is important.

THIS IS THE WEBSITE

DO NOT LET THIS BE FORGOTTEN. DO NOT BE HELPLESS

[Paa Ngembus]

Ndode,

Who are you trying to fool here you CPDM stooge?

You are not a supporter of Southern Cameroons Independence, so stop pretending.

You ass lickers of La Republique jsut make me wanna vomit.

You have not seen anything yet.

Your CPDM soldiers were arms merchants. Arms bought by the tax payer's money.

You have not seen anything yet.

The colonizer's thugs shall all be wiped out. The more Southern Cameroonians they kill the more of their heads shall be blown off.

Southern Cameroonians do not even need to do the dirty job. Their own partners in the illegal cocaine (arms) trade shall blow their brains off.

Paa Ngembus
THE SOUTHERN CAMEROONS SHALL BE DECOLONIZED BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY.

[Che Sunday]

The danger we all easily fall into!!!
At the height of disenfranchisement, the tendency to jump for joy at any sign of the opressor's misfortune can be very tempting. I have read through all the posts on this matter and no one seems to sit back and ask, what if this was a smoke screen? Biya will not like to have his troops being shot from in front and behind if he were to be retreating in case of a fight.Those dancing in the streets have given him the ammunition to be more exacting than ever before. You are seen with guarded sincerity, and known as the enemy from within in high circles. If the perpetrators of this masacre are not found within Nigerian circles, whom do you think will be the scape goats? Your brothers and sisters whom might also be giggling with their mouths under their ampits back home. If the posts on this website are indicative of the reaction back home, then you have all dug your own graves. You have placed the SCNC on a silver platter and offered as the sacrificial lamb to be slaughtered at the alter of brutality.
So, lets stop the rejoicing and monitor activities with a sense of guarded maturity.
If the allegations are true that the Cameroon army has been secretly selling arms to civilians in this disputed region, then nothing will stop them from killing any number of civilians and planting arms in their handsa to make them look like the culprits. Such a scenario leaves very little room for descretion, it will also clean the military's image of "urban cowboys." Fellow countrymen and women, this is a very serious matter, lets not give the devil further reason to kill more anglophones.His hatred for us is reason enough to be very savagery.

[Ma Mary]

Che Sunday. Good thinking. The enemy is very crafty.

But, if he should go after the SCNC, and wantonly brutalize Southern Cameroonians, then all avenues for peaceful resolution would evaporate, and we would be in for a very dark period.

[Ndode]

Paa Ngembus I had prepared an elaborate rebuttal to the baseless claim you made when you called me a "CPDM stooge", just because I asked you a simple question, for which you had no credible answer--of course! But after reading the last two postings, this conversation seems to have regained some intellectual credit, so I will ignore you for now, especially since everyone else seems to be doing so.
But before I go, may I remind you that just because some of us may not agree with the SCNC, that does not mean we are not sympathetic to, or understanding of the Southern Cameroons agenda. Indeed if the SCNC is a democratic movement, the first thing they should expect is other groups who share their ideology but oppose their basic philosophy and execution. This, after all, is what democracy is all about.
What you do not understand is that there is now a younger, and more dynamic generation of Cameroonians who put the CPDM, the SDF, the SCNC, and the two hundred other odd political parties in Cameroon in the same general category--OLD NEWS! A generation which looks beyond one nation at the bigger picture, and understands that Africa as a whole is suffering from the remnants of Cold War politics. A situation which the West is desperately trying to rescue today, but only succeeding in producing flawed democracies on the continent. A generation which understands that a more radical shake-up, with true intellectualism at its core is the only remedy left for the continent, and not the same old struggles that our grandparents labored for and still did not achieve much in their lifetime!
If I do not agree completely with the SCNC agenda it is because I understand that at its core there is a fundamental crisis in leadership, which at the end of the day boils down to a disagreement on the balance of power between the Northwest and Southwest in the ranks of the movement. The movement is trying to pose a "united" front without doing anything to address the fact that when all is said and done, age-old disputes between the Northwest and Southwest persist, and unless common ground is found the movement can only go so far.
Some of us were present on the day when Justice Ebong was picked up and detained in Cameroon, because the same Northwestern members who had only reluctantly accepted his leadership were quick to point him out when they realized that trouble was just around the corner. Ever since then, the power base of the movement in Cameroon has shifted from the Southwest to the Northwest, whereas here in the US they try to assume a united position which is indeed not united.
If the SCNC wants universal support they need to put all the cards on the table and come clean on all issues. We are tired of fakes, counterfeits and cheap reproductions. We are tired of old timers who failed to succeed in Cameroon due to their own tactical errors and are now coming here to infiltrate the minds of young progressive Cameroonians.
It is time to separate the grain from the chaff. Let the true SCNC militants speak on behalf of the movement, not the disgruntled stage hands who are embittered by their failures back home, not the the ones who acquired phony asylum papers through the movement and now feel compelled to speak on its behalf, rather than just sit quietly and earn the dollars that brought them here in the first place!
Let the ones who really understand the history of the Southern Cameroons speak, with facts, and viable answers to our questions, and we shall follow suit.

[Paa Ngembus]

Ndode,

Thanks for the civility. Well appreciated. It will be reciprocated.

BTW, I am too brash to ignore so keep reading.

I still get from your post that you are against Southern Cameroons independence because you are still talking of "Camerounian This and Camerounian that".

You are knowingly propagating a falsehood and by so doing brandishing yourself as an opponent of Southern Cameroons Self Determination.

You cannot call yourself an intellectual and pretend to agree with the Southern Cameroons cause but dissavow the SCNC because of its leadership. It is intellectually dishonest because you have hidden motives for this pretence

In your veiled argument you are intelligently propagating NW/SW hatred, a tactic of La Republique's regime to weaken the Southern Cameroons resolve.

We have read into it, acknowledge that there are issues in that arena that the enemy can exploit and are addressing the issues headon.

You may not agree with what is being done to address the NW/SW issue within the SCNC, but one thing is clear; Southern Cameroonians are slowly being exposed to the enemy's shenanigans and divide and rule tactics, and are now a lot wiser about this. Especially when demagogues pretending to be Southern Cameroonians come singing the same song.

The following advice from you is however very well taken:

"...
If the SCNC wants universal support they need to put all the cards on the table and come clean on all issues
..."

Thanks and take care my favorite CPDM combi.

Paa Ngembus
THE SOUTHERN CAMEROONS SHALL BE DECOLONIZED BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY.

[Muki StoneHall]

A small gang of rebels massacres up to 21 "trained" and "equipped" troops in just one incident.What would have happened if it were a full-scale assault by a platoon of the Nigerian army? This is what happens when illiterates are hand-picked along tribal lines and given guns to defend a nation.
I do not rejoice in the death of any individual. I just wish the rebels could draw up a weekly schedule for such massacres.

[mk the southerner]

Thank God He is fighting for us.

The same stray bullets that have been killing southern Cameroonians, is the same bulet killing the frogs too. So no mercy.
May this happen every day and the number of soldiers involved grow geometrically Amen

God bless Southern Cameroons

[Danny Boy]

Mr.StoneHall,
how ironic! You do not rejoice in the death of any individual but would wish for an orchestrated schedule for the murder of our "brave soldiers"? I suppose you will go and dance on their graves as well?
Never mind the rhetorical questions above Pal, given the slaying of that little boy in Kumba, I do not care whether he or she wearing that tarnished uniform is kith or kin. Let those who live by the sword die by it, and this is with particular reference to Cameroon. In civilised societies, all the forces of law and order are there to fight for country, not to abuse the very citizens they are there to protect!
I am not going to shed a tear for this miserable lot who met their comeuppance at the hands of Nigerian revolutionists (or bandits), I would instead pray that the father of the murdered boy in Kumba had not given his service pistol back on retiring!
Think what you may, folks.
May God bless and save our children.

[UnitedStatesofAfrica]

Ndode,
that was a more than excellent response to Paa Ngembus. Brilliant, ablsolutely brilliant. You tackled these SCNC critics with class, facts and dignity. Let me quote my best part of your write-up.

"What you do not understand is that there is now a younger, and more dynamic generation of Cameroonians who put the CPDM, the SDF, the SCNC, and the two hundred other odd political parties in Cameroon in the same general category--OLD NEWS! A generation which looks beyond one nation at the bigger picture, and understands that Africa as a whole is suffering from the remnants of Cold War politics. A situation which the West is desperately trying to rescue today, but only succeeding in producing flawed democracies on the continent."- Ndode

This is brilliant. You have shown these SCNC people that just because you do not support their ideological platform, does not mean that you are a CPDM stooge. Paa Ngembus and his friends see everybody who is not SCNC as a worshiper of Biya's regime. They forget that there is an increasing number of Cameroonians who are tired of the rhetorics in the Cameroonian political scene and are fighting for change. They forget that there are a lot Cameroonians who are non-SCNC who are fighting for the betterment of Cameroon. They forget that a new wave of Cameroonians are looking into change for the greater picture: AFRICA. To equate non-SCNC members to CPDM stooges is not only naive but shallow, stupid and utter nonsense- quality traits I have come to expect from the SCNC cohorts on this forum.
Well done Ndode, I hope to see more of you on this forum. I hope to see more of people like you who use wisdom to shatter all those propaganda SCNC tactics masterminded by the rexonists a.k.a rexon, legima Doh, Ma Mary, Paa Ngembus, red flag, Mk the southerner and the pathetic list goes on....
Thank you!!!!

[Tekum Mbeng]

Che Sunday writes "If the allegations are true that the Cameroon army has been secretly selling arms to civilians in this disputed region, then nothing will stop them from killing any number of civilians (southern Cameroons] and planting arms in their hands to make them look like the culprits".

Arms have serial numbers. It is very easy to identify standard army issued weapons, when they were imported and which factory made them.

Yes, there is no need gloating over human life losses but these were soldiers who normally kill anyway. They died at the war front and have themselves to blame for being unable to mount a defence per training. The deplorable living conditions of Cameroonian troops in Bakassi as reported by Mutations is a bigger issue of concern.

[Ndode]

Paa Ngembus I appreciate the fact that we are finding common ground on this issue, and you are now getting a better understanding of my position, even though you still insist on calling me your "CPDM combi". The "combi" part I like, but the CPDM I am not so sure of. I have never cast a single ballot in any party in Cameroon in my life, and I have no clue what the CPDM membership card looks like. My only interest is in the truth, and I am deeply worried about the fact that every body else always feels everybody else is telling lies--this is when the "facts" come in to save the day.
I think alluding to NW/SW "hatred" is too strong. The word "hatred" is particularly an overstatement here in the US where we all meet frequently and get along--most of the time. What I want is a basic "clearing the air" situation. It is no secret that South westerners have always blamed Foncha for marching us into La Republique, it is also no secret that South Westerners believe our North western compatriots are always looking to take advantage of our land and resources, especially since they generally believe that we are too lazy ourselves to use them properly. It is no secret that North westerners believe they are often regarded as being less educated, less civilized and of a lower crop than their coastal brothers. We need to clear the air on these issues, put them behind us, and give ourselves a better chance of establishing a united front. The French man is aware of this weakness that we share, and he knows how to push our buttons too!
United States of Africa, thank you for your warm remarks. I would like to add that no one on this forum is stupid. It is true that some members like Red Flag are more radical, but that does not make them ignorant. The very fact that we all take off the time from our busy schedules to put these postings(which can be tricky to do as we all know), demonstrates that at the end of the day we love our country, and our people.
So if we could just hold back on the name calling, and let out better sides come through, we might actually make something positive out of this exercise. Have a good day everyone.

Sincerely,

Ndode.

[Ma Mary]

It is a falsehood propagated by the occupier that the SCNC or the Southern Cameroonian/Ambazonian cause is a "Northwest" cause. The history, membership and leadership belies this assertion. The SCNC is the ideal spae for discussing solving the issues of the socalled "NW-SW Divide" because it is a brotherly/sisterly forum uncontaminated by the divide and rule tactics of the occupier. Furthermore it is motivated by goodwill and populated by progressive and determined idealistic people.

Complaints about leadership are a monumental cop out, that betrays laziness and cowardice in the hearts of those who make that pathetic excuse. Everyone is a potential leader of part or of whole. Bring your skills to the table. If it the good and just cause, join it!

[consciouspower]

A few thoughts and other contemplations…on Cameroon.

In the life a nation many ups and downs are expected, but the nation survives. This nation needs a new breed of honest men and women who will stand up for change. Real change that works. Not the same old neo colonialist elitist bickering from Yaoundé. Be not afraid to answer the call of your time. Be bold!

This nation cries for an inspired progressive majority convinced beyond doubt that their time has come. A majority that offers genuine principled and values oriented leadership. People centered governance!

The stalemate that we now face is between two eternal forces in the life of all men and societies: The forces of convention and the forces of conviction.

The people of this country are ready for change. This nation aches for leaders that are ready to provide the solutions…that are ready to lead the way and not just talk about them.

There is no way today. The future looks bleak in the eyes of the majority of Cameroonians. We hear of almost daily occurrences of civil unrests. We see the young and old dying unwarranted deaths. We hear of threats and rumors of war in our lands amidst grinding poverty and social malaise. There is no way today!

This nation cries for a new way. A vision pioneered out of the failures of incumbency. A vision far removed from the premises of convention and powered by the progressive forces of our convictions.

This nation aches for a new dynamic relationship between the government and the governed. Is it possible? Absolutely! We can bridge the ever widening gap between the government and its people.

The dream of The Republic of Cameroon is real. That is why people are yearning for change. Real change that works!

This country aches for her children who are aware of the challenges she is facing and have seen the possibilities she incarnates.

She appeals to the courage within our hearts and asks us not to give up in despair to the forces of conventional politics and the power of incumbency.

True leadership is an act of courage. Courage in the pursuit of an ideal. Courage to live the life of one’s aspiration…even in the face of the ultimate sacrifice.

There are certainly the forces of inertia, sloth and networks of political tradition to put out the fire in your heart. But a true agent for change does not only look at the task at hand but drinks from the well springs of possibility that surges within him. Well springs of infinite power and the possibility to be of service to the common lot of his peoples.

Here today is an opportunity to ventilate our socio political mansions. Let in fresh perspectives. Suspend the rule of hypocrisy and offer the people of this country a genuine transformational opportunity.

This nation aches for a new moral majority. A majority inspired by hope and conviction and not the flawed practices of yesteryears

There is civil unrest in our midst, genuine despair in our national matters, failed policies of governance and an oligarchic regime in power.

It is my humble opinion that war mongering and violence will not solve these issues. No matter how passionate the calls for these and are no matter where they are is coming from.

From the estuarine beauties of the littoral through the majestic slopes of the mount Cameroon, from the rolling meadows of the western grass fields, through the ancient sands of the north and far north, from the mythical forests of the south and center provinces of this great land let us recreate a country worthy of the potential in us.

We are possible in the great scheme of life.

So be it!

More later

[consciouspower]

A few thoughts and other contemplations…on Cameroon.

In the life a nation many ups and downs are expected, but the nation survives. This nation needs a new breed of honest men and women who will stand up for change. Real change that works. Not the same old neo colonialist elitist bickering from Yaoundé. Be not afraid to answer the call of your time. Be bold!

This nation cries for an inspired progressive majority convinced beyond doubt that their time has come. A majority that offers genuine principled and values oriented leadership. People centered governance!

The stalemate that we now face is between two eternal forces in the life of all men and societies: The forces of convention and the forces of conviction.

The people of this country are ready for change. This nation aches for leaders that are ready to provide the solutions…that are ready to lead the way and not just talk about them.

There is no way today. The future looks bleak in the eyes of the majority of Cameroonians. We hear of almost daily occurrences of civil unrests. We see the young and old dying unwarranted deaths. We hear of threats and rumors of war in our lands amidst grinding poverty and social malaise. There is no way today!

This nation cries for a new way. A vision pioneered out of the failures of incumbency. A vision far removed from the premises of convention and powered by the progressive forces of our convictions.

This nation aches for a new dynamic relationship between the government and the governed. Is it possible? Absolutely! We can bridge the ever widening gap between the government and its people.

The dream of The Republic of Cameroon is real. That is why people are yearning for change. Real change that works!

This country aches for her children who are aware of the challenges she is facing and have seen the possibilities she incarnates.

She appeals to the courage within our hearts and asks us not to give up in despair to the forces of conventional politics and the power of incumbency.

True leadership is an act of courage. Courage in the pursuit of an ideal. Courage to live the life of one’s aspiration…even in the face of the ultimate sacrifice.

There are certainly the forces of inertia, sloth and networks of political tradition to put out the fire in your heart. But a true agent for change does not only look at the task at hand but drinks from the well springs of possibility that surges within him. Well springs of infinite power and the possibility to be of service to the common lot of his peoples.

Here today is an opportunity to ventilate our socio political mansions. Let in fresh perspectives. Suspend the rule of hypocrisy and offer the people of this country a genuine transformational opportunity.

This nation aches for a new moral majority. A majority inspired by hope and conviction and not the flawed practices of yesteryears

There is civil unrest in our midst, genuine despair in our national matters, failed policies of governance and an oligarchic regime in power.

It is my humble opinion that war mongering and violence will not solve these issues. No matter how passionate the calls for these and are no matter where they are is coming from.

From the estuarine beauties of the littoral through the majestic slopes of the mount Cameroon, from the rolling meadows of the western grass fields, through the ancient sands of the north and far north, from the mythical forests of the south and center provinces of this great land let us recreate a country worthy of the potential in us.

We are possible in the great scheme of life.

So be it!

More later

[LePatriot]

Dear fellow brothers and sisters Patriots,

My condoleances to the families who lost their nlove ones serving our beloved Nation "LA REPUBLIQUE DU CAMEROUN, THE REPUBLIC OF CAMEROON".
I personslly commend my fellow citizens who have the sense of "patriotism" in this forum. I want to remind you that these soldiers are Patriots who fell in the line of their duties. Rumors will say otherwise but it still has to be proven.
Bakassi is our land. The land of our Nation "LA REPUBLIQUE DU CAMEROUN, THE REPUBLIC OF CAMEROON" "RIO DOS CAMERONES" The land of our fathers. Our soldiers brothers and sisters in the "ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC OF CAMEROON" brought forth to join us our Dear Republic after it was stolen from us by our brothers from "NIGERIA".
We, citizens of the "Republic of Cameroon" "La Republique du Cameroun" here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain, that Cameroon, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom - and that our government shall be a government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from Africa.
These terrorists shall be dealt with appropriately.
CAMEROON IS A PROUD NATION THAT WILL STAND PROUD AND STRONG FOR EVER!
Vive la Republique du Cameroun!
May God bless a strong and united Republic of Cameroon!

LePatriote.
member of CAADIM

[rexon]

Ndode,

I am product of the NW/SW divide because of my parental heritage. I lived the divide with my siblings and survived it. My own family has mixed Mbatu, Bayangi, Bakweri, Bamilikie heritage. Where would my children go or where do they belong? They are mainly Southern Cameroonians. I remember i used to advise my younger sibling not to think of themselves as whatever but as human beings. In my opinion, those problems exist everywhere. Black/white, English/Scottish, Swedish/Finnish, Bamilikies/Doualas, etc. I wont want to dwell onto it but it was a very sad experience when growing up. If there is anything positive, i have learnt that it is better to bridge the divide rather than to promote it. Judge someone from the content of his character and not from where he is coming from. It is a problem that politicians employ to satisfy their selfish desires. It has nothing to do with the SCNC course though i must admit that we must work to neutralise it. It is part of the problem of every society that should not be the basis of us surrendering our land to La Republique. La Republique too have its own problems in this regards. It even filters into religious organisations where people of Yaounde would not want a Bamilikie bishop or priest. We can be as evil as them to promote it, we can only help them neutralise it as we have been doing.

We shall have three problems of integration to solve. The three groups are, those whose tribal heritage is from the South West (Bakweri, Bayangi, Bakossi), North West (Metta, Mankon, Santa, etc) and those from La Republique who are Southern Cameroonians (Beti Anglo, Bassi Anglo, Mbami anglos, Mbo's sometimes called the 11th province). We will reward individuals based on talent and hardwork. Square pegs would be placed into square holes and not the other way round.

Cheers.

[Ma Mary]

Riccardo by any name is Riccardo sputtering platitudes to a failed nationalism.

[M Nje]

"What you do not understand is that there is now a younger, and more dynamic generation of Cameroonians who put the CPDM, the SDF, the SCNC, and the two hundred other odd political parties in Cameroon in the same general category--OLD NEWS!"
Ndode | Thursday, 15 November 2007 at 09:22 AM

Ndode,
The SCNC is not a political party. You need to go back and do some reading. Trying to put it or any other Southern Cameroons nationalistic group in the same category as political parties in La Republique is a huge display of Ignorance or a deliberate attempt to manipulate the public.

The SCNC is a Southern Cameroons nationalistic movement that came out of the all Anglophone conference I and II. It has the mandate of the people of Southern Cameroons to pressure for the restoration of their Statehood. They is nothing that is “OLD NEWS” about what the SCNC or other Southern Cameroon nationalistic groups. Their struggle is based on FACTS, FACTS that are never OLD to fight for. Ndode, your strategy is as cheap as the one our detractors have been using for a long time but have not gone anyway. You seem to suggest from your writing that your belong to

“A generation which looks beyond one nation at the bigger picture, and understands that Africa as a whole is suffering from the remnants of Cold War politics. A situation which the West is desperately trying to rescue today, but only succeeding in producing flawed democracies on the continent. A generation which understands that a more radical shake-up, with true intellectualism at its core is the only remedy left for the continent, and not the same old struggles that our grandparents labored for and still did not achieve much in their lifetime!”

Ndode, we have seen these pan-africans who will advice us that we should fight for the entire African continent and forget about the statehood of Southern Cameroons. In your comments you are suggesting that those behind the Southern Cameroons struggle whom you call “OLD NEWS” are not pan-african. Pan-african are only those in your generation who will not support the Southern Cameroons case. What a generalization. You cannot believe in justice for Africa but think that injustice in another part of Africa (Southern Cameroons) is acceptable. To fight for justice for your neighbors (African Countries), you must fight defend justices for your own immediate family (Southern Cameroons). Pan-Africanism begins at home, it begins with pushing the colonial influence of France via La Republique Du Cameroun, from Southern Cameroons.

[red flag]

NDONDE SCNC IS NOT A POLITICAL PARTY.

SIMPLICE, NDONDE, INTED STATES OF SHIT YOU FOREIGNERS . WHO GAE YOU THE AUTHORITY TO SPEAK ? YOU SHOULD GO BACK TO YOUR ILLAGES IN FOUMBOT,BANGANTE INLA REPUBLIQUE DU CAMEROU, THATS WHERE YOUR FATHERS FROM, THATS WHERE YOU BELONG,
YOU ARE NOT SOUTHERN CAMEROONIANS, SOO, YOU NOT KNOW NOTHING ABOUT SOUTHERNCAMEROONS ,BUT YOU FRENCH-NEGROES ARE A DISTRACTION, ON THIS FSOUTHERN CAMEROON FORUM OF THE POST .
YOU ARE MY ENEMIES AND I HATE YOU ALL.
I AM PREPARING A WAR. A JIHAD AGAINST YOU WITH VERY DEADLY WEAPONS, SOO, RUN AWAY TO YOUR COUNTRY BEFORE ITS LATE.

[consciouspower]

Red flag,

"BUT YOU FRENCH-NEGROES ARE A DISTRACTION, ON THIS FSOUTHERN CAMEROON FORUM OF THE POST .
YOU ARE MY ENEMIES AND I HATE YOU ALL.
I AM PREPARING A WAR. A JIHAD AGAINST YOU WITH VERY DEADLY WEAPONS, SOO, RUN AWAY TO YOUR COUNTRY BEFORE ITS LATE"

With all due respect look at your language. How does this relate to your goals?

How do you prepare a war all by yourself?

Is this a southern cameroon or an English speaking forum?

Do you have the moral and spiritual foundations of a Jihad?

Do you know what a jihad means?

Anger and hate is a spiteful thing. It is suicidal in mind and body. Love grace and forgiveness are free. These are life giving.

Your choice...your consequences. If you live long enough you will find out for yourself.

[Ma Mary]

The files (dossiers) on those committing crimes against the Southern Cameroons people is growing.

PLEASE ADD INFORMATION HERE

It is as easy as ABC

[simplice]

Mr REG FLAG.....NO COMMENT

[Danny Boy]

Rebel group claims responsibility for the attack on soldiers in Bakassi. Open link below for full story.

http://www.thisdayo nline.com/ nview.php? id=95565

Happy sunday.

[tayong]

Ndode
Do you really mind what you write in open forums? When you make statements like
"..It is no secret that North westerners believe they are often regarded as being less educated, less civilized and of a lower crop than their coastal brothers..", can you substantiate this?

This is exactly taken out of the playbook of Ebong Ngole/Oben Ashu and echoed here by you.Subtle bigotry in its most disguised form. I hope you got Rexon loud and clear!

I hope you wont lecture this to my kids who neither know of Northwesterner placement at the lower rungs of "Beltcurve" nor heard of the civilty echelon of their mother being higher than their father talk less of hearing anywhere of a "people from a lower crop".

Classic case of contradiction we get each time from heros of a "generation that looks beyond OLD NEWS"!Believe me if you said this openly somewhere in the US , you would be prosecuted for hate crimes unless you prove your source .These are nothing but your words and your mind!..."people of a lower crop" Hilarious.

[Ma Mary]

Ndode is a bigoted dunderhead, but all countries have those. Let him simmer and stew in hate juice. Ignore him, Tayong.

Meanwhile this is the text from the link by Danny Boy:

We Attacked 21 Cameroonian Soldiers, Says Group
From Amby Uneze in Owerri with Agency Report, 11.18.2007

A group known as the Liberators of the Southern Cameroon People has claimed responsibility for the Bakassi killing which claimed the death of 21 Cameroonian soldiers last week.
In a message posted in the internet last night, the group noted that "until France and La Republique du Cameroon (Republic of Cameroon) leave our home land, the Southern Cameroon, we will not rest".
“We reject any intervention from the African Union (AU) or United Nations (UN) until every single French and French Camerounese Colonial Occupation Force leave the Southern Cameroon, a country with her own internationally defined borders, we will defend those borders till our death", the statement read.
The group further stated that the Bakassi 21 was just a tip of the iceberg and warned that they should not be contacted through the e-mail, adding "do not contact us. We are the liberators of the Southern Cameroon people, D13, SCPF".
The Republic of Cameroon had alleged that those that killed their soldiers at the Bakassi Peninsular last week wore Nigerian Army uniforms and took their soldiers by surprise.
Nigeria in her defence had denied knowledge of the killing, stating that none of her soldiers was involved in the attack.

http://www.thisdayonline.com/nview.php?%20id=95565

[simplice]

Where is Wilson and his INTIFADA project?. Where are those advocating the JIHAD Syndrome?. I told you on this forum, it was all HOT AIR. HOT AIR. We shall continue to talk the talk while true patriots work the work back home.