Police Gun Down 14-Year-Old Student, Wound Several Others

By Olive Ejang Tebug Ngoh

A 14-year-old Form One student of the Government Technical College, GTC Kumba Herbert Ngome Kwelngome, was killed when police opened fire on protesting students over the weekend.

Many of the protesters were reportedly wounded, some of them seriously, following the incident.The kid was reportedly in a crowd of students who were marching to the Kumba Central Divisional Officer, DO's office to protest the detention of some of their mates.

The police intercepted their march around the Kumba Cow Fence, using teargas to disperse them. The students were further caught in a trap when they discovered a contingent of police behind them from the Buea Road area and another approaching from Kumba Town.
Gendarmes were later to reinforce the police who teargased the protesting students. The latter replied with a volley of stones on the forces of law and order.

After half an hour of fighting, the teargas reportedly got finished and the police resorted to firing live bullets at the crowd. One of the bullets hit Kwelngome on the head and he died instantly. His corpse is presently at the Kumba District Hospital mortuary.

A Form Five student of the Cameroon College of Arts and Science, CCAS Kumba, Derrick Nchabalow, also got a bullet that left him in a coma. He too, was transported to the Kumba District Hospital, and later evacuated to the Douala General Hospital still in unconscious.
Also, a Form Five student of GTHS Kumba, Napoleon Ngoe Muango, received a bullet on his back. He is presently receiving treatment at the Kumba District Hospital.

The Post also learned that other injured students are hospitalised at the Apostolic Hospital Banga Bakundu.According to an eyewitness, Joseph Wong, a French teacher who was attending a pedagogic seminar in CCAS Kumba, a Police Commissioner shot the students.

He said the Commissioner came to the scene while the students and police were locked in a teargas-and-stone battle. He said the Commissioner, who was a victim of the students' stones, got enraged and ordered his subordinates to shoot, but they hesitated.According to Wong, the Commissioner pulled his gun and fired at the students.

Ravaged Fiango Police Post

Genesis

A strike action began on Wednesday, November 7, when CCAS students, joined with their counterparts of GTHS to demand that electricity be re-instated in the student residential area.

The strike action came after an electricity transformer reportedly got burnt about a fortnight ago and the students were incensed that their school authorities did nothing to redress the situation.The students, mostly of examination classes, were further distressed over the fact that they could not study computer on campus or read at night.

The embittered students told The Post that the SDO for Meme, Magloire Abath Zangbwala, visited their school the previous day and their school authorities failed to mention the problem of electricity.

The students started a strike action on November 7, which led the local administration here, to arrest and detain several of them, after quelling their actions with teargas.Some students were detained at the Central Police Station and others at the Company Gendarmerie Buea Road.

AES SONEL had reacted immediately by installing a new transformer from Douala in the student residential area on November 7.On November 9, about 300 students from CCASS and GTHS Kumba marched round the streets of Kumba, demanding the release of their detained comrades.

Derick Nchabalow, hospitalised

The students went to Cameroon College of Commerce High School, CCCHS and Diligent Bilingual Academy, halting classes and urging the students to come out so that they could, together, fight for their detained mates.

The Post learned that the DO for Kumba Central, David Kouam, told the students that until Southwest Governor, Louis Eyeya Zanga, gave orders, the students could not be released.
The students then began a demonstration from the entrance into CCASS Kumba to the DO's office, demanding the release of their colleagues. But when they marched past Buea Road, the forces of law and order intercepted their movement that led to the confrontation.

Students Go Wild

After the police shot the students, the latter grew mad, raced to the DO's office and set it ablaze. Before the forces of law and order reached the scene the whole building was already on fire.

From the DO's office, the students rushed to the Central Police Station where they set the police canteen on fire before proceeding to AES SONEL.The students went amok, shattered the louvers of the AES SONEL building, dismantled computers from the building and set them on fire. The fire also affected part of the building.

The students equally rushed to the Fiango Police Post and set it ablaze, calling on the police to kill them just as they are wont to kill their mates.It was at this juncture that the DO ordered for the release of the detained students. By evening that Friday, a contingent of police from the Mobile Intervention Unit, GMI, Buea arrived in Kumba and imposed a seeming state of emergency.

They used teargas to quell movement that evening and mounted attacks on the population and beat up whoever they met on the way. They also broke into houses and beat people, sending all to bed very early.

Deceased Father Reacts

When The Post contacted the father of the deceased, Kwelle Ngome, a retired Sub-Officer of the Gendarmerie, he referred to his child's killing as a political act to confuse the Province. He questioned how an unarmed Form One student could be shot dead.The retired officer stated that according to requisition order from DOs, forces of law and order are supposed to use live bullets only in a situation of war.

"The students' strike was not proportionate to the killing of my child. I am preparing to go to the school on Monday to demand my child from the authorities," he promised.

Comments

[simplice]

Which is finally the original version. Three dead or two?.

[Ngumbaman]

I was quite impressed with the revolutionary and spectacular manoeuvre of the young militant students.How young people could burn down an administrative building(state symbol),police stations and AES Sonel and on the way provoking the release of their mates is quite impressive.This is prove of the fact that when the people shall eventually rise the so call Israeli trained military will be destroyed to ashes.It is prove of the fact that having military superiority doesn't make you invisible.The situation in Iraq is a pointer to that fact.
Let Southern Cameroonian youths learn from this example and prepare to die for their fatherland,freedom and justice.All those who died are great patriots.The students of the University of Buea and all Southern Cameroons institutions should be ready to defend the Southern Cameroons.let the so called cowards in the SCNC continue to preach their doctrine of dialogue whilst our people are slain by the occupier.A recent news item on the french daily "Mutations" talks of an attack on Cameroonian soldiers by over a hundred masked armed men who attacked cameroonian soldiers killing more than twenty in the Bakassi peninsular.The reporter says at first many thought the assailants came from the Nigerian side of the border but recent evidences shows that they came from within the Cameroonian border.Signs of times yet to come.Southern Cameroonians rise and defend your fatherland,we are behind you.

[Ngumbaman]

I was quite impressed with the revolutionary and spectacular manoeuvre of the young militant students.How young people could burn down an administrative building(state symbol),police stations and AES Sonel and on the way provoking the release of their mates is quite impressive.This is prove of the fact that when the people shall eventually rise the so call Israeli trained military will be destroyed to ashes.It is prove of the fact that having military superiority doesn't make you invisible.The situation in Iraq is a pointer to that fact.
Let Southern Cameroonian youths learn from this example and prepare to die for their fatherland,freedom and justice.All those who died are great patriots.The students of the University of Buea and all Southern Cameroons institutions should be ready to defend the Southern Cameroons.let the so called cowards in the SCNC continue to preach their doctrine of dialogue whilst our people are slain by the occupier.A recent news item on the french daily "Mutations" talks of an attack on Cameroonian soldiers by over a hundred masked armed men who attacked cameroonian soldiers killing more than twenty in the Bakassi peninsular.The reporter says at first many thought the assailants came from the Nigerian side of the border but recent evidences shows that they came from within the Cameroonian border.Signs of times yet to come.Southern Cameroonians rise and defend your fatherland,we are behind you.

[red flag]

THE WAY TO KUMBA COMRADES. I AM WITH YOU. ITS NOT OVER YET TILL ALL THESE FRENCH CAMEROUNESE NEGROES. LEAVE OUR COUNTRY FOR US TO RULE. THEY , MAGLOIRE ZAMBWALALA. IS FRENCH CAMEROUNESE, ANDRE FILS IS FRENCH CAMEROUNESE, LOUIS EYAYA IS FRENCH CAMEROUNESE, KOUNPSA ISSA IS FRENCH CAMEROUNESE, PANJOUGNO IS FRENCH CAMEROUNESE, WHERE IN BLACKMAN AFRICA IS THERE , A FOREIGN BLACK RACE RULING ANOTHER? FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME
IN THE HISTORY OF MANKIND, WE SEE THAT
7M AFRICANS ARE SUNJUUGATED IN THE WORST FORM OF BLACK ON BLACK COLONIALISM AND APPARTHEID. , RIGHT ON OUR OWN GOD GIVEN LAND. WE ARE LEFT WITH NO OTHER OPTIONS, I THINK JUST AS THE WHOLE FREE WORLD THINKS, IF CONFRONTED BY A FOREIGN PEOPLE ARMED AND KILLING YOUR FAMILY, IN GUISE OF SOME FORM OF CROCKED IDEA CALLED . LA REPUBLIQUE DU CAMEROON OR

ONE CAMEROUN INDIVISIBLE. WE ONLY HAVE ONE THING TO DO. PLAN AND EXECUTE

MURDER ON THEM TOO, AS THEY HAVE THE GUTS TO KILL OUR KIDS, WE MUST WIPE THEM OUTTA OUR LAND AT NIGHT WITH PETROL, WE HAVE TO SILENTLY AND CAREFULLY

CHART WHERE THESE MEN LIVE. WHAT CAR THE DRIVEM WHAT ROUT THE TAKE AND WHERE THEIR KIDS SCHOOL AND TARGET THEM, AND THEIR KIDS , BURNT DOWN THEIR HOME, THROW PETRO BOMBS INTO THEIR VEHICLE, BURMT DOWN ALL ROADS BLOCKS POLICE AND GERDAMES STATIONS. WE FAR OUT NUMBER THEM , WHEN WE KILL ONE POLICE MAN , WE TAKE HIS GUN, AND USE IT ON THE NEXT ONE, AFTER THAT WE HAVE 2 GUNS, CONTINUE AND WE WILL BE ABLE TO HAVE AS MANY GUNS AS NECESSARY TO FREE OUR OURSELF AND LAND FROM THESE P BLACK PESTS UNINVITED
MURDERERS.

[simplice]

Reg Flag, Keep doing the talk, keep talking. We want those who can do the work, not the talk. We've heard enough and think "Bla Bla Bla " without action isn't deserving of serious examination.
What have you contributed in support of Wilson?. If you cannot join Wilson; then all you say is "HOT AIR".

[Legima Doh]

Ngome,may your soul rest in perfect peace.Our land continues to witness the spilling of the blood of the innocent.Retribution is at hand ,it shall come on a scale that is unprecedented.

Peace to our motherland.

Legima Doh
ScNc

[Legima Doh]

Skip to main contentAccess keys help
BBC logo

*
Home
*
News
*
Sport
*
Radio
*
TV
*
Weather
*
Languages

UK versionInternational version
|About the versions
Low graphics|Accessibility help
BBC News
watch One-Minute World News

mobiles News services
Your news when you want it
News Front Page
Africa
Americas
Asia-Pacific
Europe
Middle East
South Asia
UK
Business
Health
Science/Nature
Technology
Entertainment
Also in the news
-----------------
Video and Audio
-----------------
Have Your Say
In Pictures
Country Profiles
Special Reports
RELATED BBC SITES

* SPORT
* WEATHER
* ON THIS DAY
* EDITORS' BLOG

LANGUAGES

* Somali
* French
* Arabic
* Swahili
* Great Lakes
* Hausa
* Portuguese Africa
* More

Last Updated: Tuesday, 13 November 2007, 14:59 GMT
E-mail this to a friend Printable version
Soldiers killed in Cameroon raid
Map
More than 20 Cameroonian soldiers have been killed during fighting in the Bakassi peninsula near the border with Nigeria, say Cameroon army officials.

Details of the clash remain unclear. Cameroonian military sources told the BBC the attackers wore Nigerian military uniforms and ambushed a boat.

But the Nigerian military are blaming militants from the volatile Niger Delta for the attack.

The Niger Delta lies just west of the sensitive and oil-rich peninsular.

Nigeria handed the Bakassi peninsula over to Cameroon more than a year ago in compliance with a ruling by the International Court of Justice.

Delta militants?

The Nigerian army said the raid could have been carried out by the same group of gunmen that had earlier attacked a nearby oil terminal run by Exxon Mobil.

If so, this will be the first time that Nigerian militants have attacked Cameroonian territory, says the BBC's Alex Last in Nigeria.

He says there are a number of questions to be answered about why such a raid would be carried out now; was it simply an opportunistic attempt to grab weapons, or was it an attempt to show local Nigerian dissatisfaction with the Bakassi handover, or was it a deliberate attempt by a militant group to escalate the violence in the region?

So far, no-one has claimed responsibility.

The BBC's Randy Joe Sa'ah in Cameroon says that military sources told him the attackers wore Nigerian military uniforms and attacked a Cameroonian military boat carrying food intended for soldiers on the peninsula.

They killed the Cameroonian soldiers on board and put on their uniforms. They then went to the peninsula and shot and wounded more unsuspecting soldiers before getting away with some military equipment.

Our reporter says there is great surprise in the region at the incident as since the peaceful handover in August 2006, the area has been quiet.

Sovereignty dispute

There were a series of bloody clashes between Nigeria and Cameroon in the 1990s.

Residents of Bakassi's main town of Abana
Many living in Bakassi before the ruling saw themselves as Nigerian

The peninsula had been administered by Nigeria since independence from Britain in 1960.

However, Cameroon based its claim of sovereignty over the region on maps dating back to the colonial era and was successful at the International Court of Justice after a lengthy case.

Bakassi juts into the Gulf of Guinea, an area which may contain up to 10% of the world's oil and gas reserves.

It is also rich in fish and most locals are fishermen.

E-mail this to a friend Printable version
Bookmark with:

* Delicious
* Digg
* reddit
* Facebook
* StumbleUpon

What are these?

SEE ALSO
Nigerian troops leaving Bakassi
11 Aug 06 | Africa
Late bid to stop Bakassi handover
07 Aug 06 | Africa
Nigerians told to accept transfer
15 Jun 06 | Africa
Doing time in a Cameroon 'cell'
24 Aug 04 | Africa
Nigeria hands Cameroon villages
19 Dec 03 | Africa
'My home is in another country'
19 Jan 04 | Africa

RELATED BBC LINKS
Focus on Africa
Network Africa

RELATED INTERNET LINKS
Nigerian government
Cameroonian presidency
International Court of Justice
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites

FROM OTHER NEWS SITES
Washington Post* Nigeria says 19 Cameroon troops killed in Bakassi - 4 hrs ago
About these results
* Requires registration

TOP AFRICA STORIES
Soldiers killed in Cameroon raid
Somalis asked to fight insurgents
Thousands flee fresh DRC violence
News feeds| News feeds

MOST POPULAR STORIES NOW

* MOST E-MAILED
* MOST READ

* Man marries bitch to beat curse
* Cat's daily routine baffles owner
* 'Hidden costs raise' US war price
* No consensus on IPCC's level of ignorance
* NHS to speed up technology use

Most popular now, in detail

* MOST E-MAILED
* MOST READ

* Spain royal sex cartoonists fined
* Man marries bitch to beat curse
* 'Hidden costs raise' US war price
* Viewpoint: Media freedom dented
* Cat's daily routine baffles owner

Most popular now, in detail

FEATURES, VIEWS, ANALYSIS
Bhutto poster Pakistan deal
Has Bhutto now finally given up on talks with Musharraf?

Princess Letizia, Prince Felipe, and daughter Sofia Grave offence?
A bawdy cartoon of Spanish royals puts press under pressure

Students attend a general assembly at the Rennes II University with a banner reading: "Work kills, long live the strike!" Test of resolve
French strikes threaten President Sarkozy's package of reforms

PRODUCTS & SERVICES

* E-mail news
* Mobiles
* Alerts
* News feeds
* Podcasts

*
BBC Copyright Notice
MMVII
* Most Popular Now | The most read story in the UK is: Man marries bitch to beat curse
* Back to top ^^

* Help
* Privacy and cookies policy
* News sources
* About the BBC
* Contact us

[Delors]

Yes, if it's not Bamenda, it's Kumba or Kumbo. Shall we learn. The fact that nearly all administrators and uniform officers found in the two English Speaking provinces is a well calculated act and their mission is to to kill. Unfortunately the big guys from these provinces cannot act for fear of loosing their Job. If we all are killed and they stay on like ministers, Prime minister or Generals, it's normal. Where is INONI....
I'm thankful for the youth have started to understand that the struggle lies in our hands and our blood will free us. Since these killers will never be punished, we should fight them when they fight us and kill them when they kill us. If cameroonian police or gendarme know how to shoot well, they should join the fight in Iraq alongside the Americans and the Brits.
May the soul of those who have been brutally killed rest in the hands of the lord.

Jac.

USA

[red flag]

shut they rotten mouth, foreigner. who gave you the authority to(simplice)
information is vital, now these kids can read my posting, and now they know who their enemy truly is , their enemy is they simplice-like, and we just gotta do, what man gotta do, burn them dead, shoot them till they go back where they came from uninvited.
IF SIMPLICE HAD A CHOICE HE WILL DENY THIS STORY TO BE ON THE INTERNET, THATS CALLED CENSORING, AND THATS WHAT HIS COMRADE(AHIDJO AND BIYA HAVE BEEN DOING FOR 47 YRS, ) WITHOUT ANY SUCCESSM SOO, STICKY-MOUTH SIPLICE CRAWL BACK INTO CAVE, OR JUST SHUT UP. I AHVE SERVANT LIKE YOU HERE WHO CLEAN MY HOUSE AND COOK MY FOOL , I TREAT THEM BETTER THAN YOUR GOVERNMENT TREAT US.

[simplice]

RED FLAG
SANS COMMENTAIRE

[casara]

People,
When are these illiterates, primitive fools called police people going to change from this inhumane behavior.Not too long thier friends went on a rampage in Bamenda kiiiling scores of unarmed civilians,today they are killing 14 yrs old students.Do they have kids?When are we going to start taking the police to courts for unlawfull killings?I think it's high time people we make these fools using our tax money to kill us pay back.When are these colinisers leaving our motherland.Hell to La Republque,hell to these primitive fools called police.
My heart goes to Ngome Herbert's family.
Herbert Ngome,may your soul rest in perfect peace.Oh poor little boy.Why would it be you.
I hate these people called law enforcement officers.I wish i could fly like the UFO"S.(unidentified flying objects)

[simplice]

Casara, hold yourself and send a dollar to the bereaved family. Don't dream you can fly; for you cannot.

[donald nji]

policemen in cameroon are very good in killing children.since most of them are illitrates they turn to fear the unifors on children.we of southern cameroon are counting the number of children killed we would one day react.an eye for an eye

[Ndode]

Why isn't anyone talking about the school authorities who failed to do their jobs? If anyone is to blame here, they are really the ones at fault! When parents send their children off to school they rely on the school authorities to protect them. The article clearly states that officers from AES Sonel visited the schools and the authorities failed to mention the electricity problem!
It is sad that some kids got killed and others got injured but may I remind everyone that all over the world, that is the risk the population runs when they decide to confront law enforcement; this is not a uniquely Cameroonian problem. I can quote at least ten other examples where similar situations played out around the world, with even more disastrous outcomes.
In this case, the school authorities failed to do their jobs, so some students assumed leadership and spearheaded this so-called "revolution". Unfortunately in such situations it is the younger and weaker ones like Herbert Ngome who die first!
And why should we condone students burning down public buildings? What kind of Southern Cameroon would we inherit if all our structures are burnt down before our elusive independence? If we tolerate this kind of vandalism masked by revolutionary fervor, how are we any different from European colonialists who stripped Africa to the bone before leaving the continent, even pulling down telegraph lines and uprooting railroad tracks in their wake!
We should be more civil and intelligent about this, and not play off all our cards before the hand is even dealt! I hope the people who are encouraging this behavior and calling for more of it, and even volunteering to partake in it, will equally be as willing to give up their lives in America and elsewhere to go back home and lay some blocks when the time comes to rebuild.

[DECKY]

WHEN WILL THE LAW ENFORCEMENT AND ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICERS LEARN ABOUT THE POPULAR SAY WHICH SAYS A STEACH IN TIME SAVES TEN.I DONT THINK THE AES SONEL WOULD HAVE WAITED FOR THE POOR STUDENTS TO GO ON STRIKE BEFORE THEY CAN INSTALL THE TRANSFORMER.IT GOES WITHOUT SAYING THAT NOTHING GOOD CAN COME OUT FROM A MORALLY DECADENT SOCIETY LIKE CAMEROON THAT HAS LOST ITS MORAL AND ETHICAL VALUES.
IT MAKE ME REALISE HOW VOLNARABLE I WAS WHEN STUDYING IN CAMEROON.ALL I CAN SAY IS THAT THE FAMILIES THAT LOST LOVE ONES SHOULD ACCEPT MY CONDOLENCE AND CONSIDER THEIR LOVE ONES AS HEROS OF THE WAR RIGHTS.

[Ma Mary]

Very good Ndode. We are seeing the consequences of lack of mass popular backing of the SCNC's "Force of Argument". Lazy, unprincipled Southern Cameroonian leaders as well as SDF distractions took the energy out the early Southern Cameroons mass movement. Unanalytical people actually thought that they could make deals with la republique that Southern Cameroons could live with. How wrong they were!

Chaotic, negligent colonial government will lead to dangerous uprisings. We are dealing with a greedy and completely unregulated gang of Mobutu clones, who steal from essential services and according to our analysis, it will not change under any government in la republique. Ahidjo's reign was the same; it was just to a different degree and was masked by terror and secrecy.

If you want peaceful transition, get involved massively in peaceful civil disobedience and put your weight, your leadership, your resources into the force of argument.

Otherwise be prepared for what is coming.

[kenedy Epie]

It is shameful and barbaric that police in Cameroon are using live bullets on civilians who are protesting for rightful services.
I salute the courage of my K town young brothers and Sisters who could bravely stand on their feets for their rights. Gone are those days when Cameroonians used to seat and accept nonsense mostly from the Betis dominated regime. Their time is up and they should be ready to kill more Countrymen because lots of demonstations are around the corner. I see fire in the country as a whole because the whole system is collapsing.

[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 HERBERT BE FORGOTTEN. DO NOT BE HELPLESS

[rexon]

Ndode,

I have watch violence in Europe. Quite recently in France, buildings were burned and several thousands of cars were burnt down, we did not hear any shooting. A killer is a killer and he looks for any opportunity to kill. La Republique wants to wipe us all and you cannot deny that. We also know that the CPDM where you belong instructed the shooting of this children as they did to our brothers recently at UB. If you are honest to yourself, you will know that the students were protesting peacefully and the violence started only after they were shot. And that they had a legitimate right to protest. Lets see where this cycle of violence will end.

[M Nje]

Mr. Kwelngome,
Rest in peace. You are a MYTH and a true son of Southern Cameroons. You are a casualty of those who have continue to preach "Cameroon is One and Indivisible."
Have peace wherever you are. sincere condolence to your entire family.

Where are those our friends who continue to preach that we should remain in this illegal union with La Republique. Can you come out and explain to us. Is this what you are preaching that we continue to accept. From the Ndo Tea Estate, to the University of Buea (twice), to Bamenda recently, the countless road accidents that have taken the lives of our precious citizens, and now in Kumba, we have continue to see our people perish under the occupation of La Repblique Du Cameroun. Is this what you are encouraging for our people? Can you put your GREED aside and fight for FREEDOM for Southern Cameroons, FREEDOM to end this senseless murder of our people by La Republique?
A 14 year old armless kid being murder by gangsters disguising as security officers, what a terrible situation. La Republique Du Cameroun is a criminal enterprise run by gangsters hiding under the name of a government.

We had our POWERCAM and La Republique dismantled it in their effort to destroy our institution. We need to fight to restore our independence and all our institutions including POWERCAM. Why should our people have to strike before electricity is delivered to them? It is a shame, a big shame. Southern Cameroonians, wake up, wake up, and wake up. It is time to WALKED AWAY.

[Prince Eseme]

Sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry

[Klemenceau-Shalom]

People, let a composer help complete this for us:

Count your troubles name them one by one
Count your troubles and see what biya has done
Count your troubles, name them one by one
And it won't surprise you what biya has done.

He has been destroying our country
He has been killing our people day by day
He has been stealing our resources
He will surely face justice one day.
.......
Please let one faithful Southern Cameroonian complete.

Btw let those who are here to pretend understand that they can only do so for a while.
We know that the biya regime is good at hiring people to clean or defend it's image. So let no one be fooled when people came here pretending to be preaching unity instead of decrying in toto what biya and his gang members are doing against Southern Cameroonians and the humanity.

Where is the Ricardo?

Shalom

Klemenceau

[rexon]

Constitutions and Intrigue

In a recent essay on the African mindset, an African
writer put the reason for the failure of African
countries on "intrigue" and defined intrigue as:
being too clever, trying to be too smart, deception,
conspiracy, plotting, scheming, widening the goal post
each time your opponent is about to win, saying
everyman to himself when it pleases you, saying if I
cannot get what I want let the whole system be
destroyed, saying if I cannot beat them I join them
and the end justifies the means, I am the wisest and
every other person is foolish, remote control and
hanging on the fence, hidden agendas, dribbling your
opponents, saying what you did not mean and meaning
what you did not say, being white when your are black,
laughing last, winner take all, two edged sword,
selfishness, disunity, intolerance. .. Intrigue
predisposes society to underdevelopment and opens it
up to external manipulation. ..

What is happening in our country at the moment is pure
intrigue! Since members of a political party do not
want any other person to take over the presidency of
the country, they are inviting the incumbent to stay
on for perpetuity, forgetting the weaknesses inherent
in human nature and the harm they can wrought on
society tomorrow, after their man has gone!

The motions represent a perennial illusion in African
politics that society is hinged on strong individuals,
not strong institutions. When the motions talk about
"The People", they forget that "The people" are
inherently plural and that in a democracy "The people"
represent an empty centre which no group, interest or
institution can claim to incarnate. All the present
pretension at incarnation is nothing short of
intrigue!

We are being told that being president of our country
is so complicated that only one person of the 17
million now really has a real grasp of it! We are
being told that we have peace because of one man’s
will. Yet we all know that the peace we have derives
from the spirit of "The people" of Cameroon and their
outlook on life. We all expected that 25 years would
have permitted the conversion of this spirit and
outlook into a framework for peace that would serve
all future leaders of Cameroon. All over the world, it
is the job of government to create a framework for
stability, the rule of law and sound economic policies
within which individual families and businesses are
free to pursue their own dreams and ambitions. Twenty
five years would have given us a professional public
service that allows presidents and governments to come
and go with minimum dislocation and maximum
efficiency. Peace is not about the perpetuity of one
man rule or faith in one man; it is about the
guarantee of trust, solidarity and patriotism.

Democratic society is only possible within a framework
that is open to challenge and change. Society has to
constantly work on itself – indulge in the labour of
society on itself... As a plural society, our inherent
divisions and tensions should ensure that we remain
constantly open to the new. Indeed, it is in the
nature of society to constantly apply the sentiments
that made their Constitution to the result of the
Constitution.

Constitutional amendment or constitutional change is
therefore not bad in itself; our problem with the
present motions is the selfishness, the intrigue on
which they are based. Constitutions should never
depend on the whims and caprices of political
parties...partisan groups that grab the reins of
power. The motions we are getting now leave the
impression that constitutions should change with
majorities, with governments and with the wishes of
the occupant of the presidency. This would be
detrimental to the future of our country. We need a
solid foundation, a constitution born of common
deliberations and based on the strength of mutual
pledges, to arm us for the challenges of the new
millennium. This was the wish of those who clamoured
for a Sovereign National Conference in the early 90s
to overhaul the government framework in our country
and lay a solid foundation for renewal. Many countries
around the world, including Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia,
Ecuador, Venezuela, South Africa, Ethiopia and others
seeking progress and development have rewritten their
constitutions to lay such solid foundations for their
countries.

It is "intrigue" to talk about the "sovereign people"
and respect for the "freely expressed will of the
people" just after elections during which the very
people were refused the right to exercise their
sovereignty. Without free and fair elections, we
cannot have the "freely expressed will of the people".
The desire to win may be born in most of us, but the
manner of winning is a matter of honour! Without free
and fair elections, experience informs us that
longevity in office invariably produces benevolent
dictators that upset the separation of powers, and
make repeated victories in elections a foregone
conclusion!

Power tends by its very nature to expand towards
tyranny. But it can expand only at the expense and
with the complicity of "The People", who must always
keep an eye open not only on the schemes of power, but
also on the sinful and corrupted nature of the people
themselves.. .

Mr. Biya came to the presidency in the first place as
a beneficiary of the good will of Mr. Ahidjo - the
first president of Cameroon he has forgotten so soon -
not because he persuaded Cameroonians of his aptitude
to lead the country. His presidency has been docked by
his agonising attitude over issues of democracy and
decentralisation. He allowed irresponsible behaviour
to go unpunished, thus converting irresponsibility,
corruption and embezzlement of public funds to norms
for a large number of his associates, and to the
compass of the Cameroon society. As an afterthought,
he has launched a late, timid fight against the
afflictions that is not having any positive effect.
The true origin of the anxiety within the ranks of the
CPDM is their awareness that their man performed below
expectation during the last 25 years. It may not be
the duty of their leader to select his successor;
however, to lessen the anxiety, he is obliged to show
his party the proven candidates from which they can
choose. Otherwise, motions can only continue to deafen
us and heighten their propensity for "intrigue" that
brought slavery and colonialism and now brings
underdevelopment and shame on us.

Tazoacha Asonganyi
Yaounde

[Njimoney]

Constitutions and Intrigue

Something weird is going on with Prof. Asonganyi. For
more than a decade he was the soft spoken, cheerful
and calculative SG of the SDF. Then he morphed into a
bitter, sorrowfull, self pitying incarnate, who
expects everyone to pity him and beleive his theory of
political intriques, first within the SDF then now
within the CPDM. Now he is running around like a rabid
dog, telling not only the SDF how it should run its
affairs but serving as an advicer to the president.

Intrigue is a two edge sword and it is not only needed
by politicians but everyone would agree that we all
need a "small dose of intrigue to survive
in this depraved world" quoting your source.

Eversince Prof. Asonganyi's ambitions were thwarted by
his now infamous press conference he has embarked on a
self destructive path. This same African writer you
quote, Babatunde A. Ayinmonde, goes further to explain
that if the rat discovers for whatever reason that it
cannot have your grains it will scatter and waste it
in whatever way it can. After exhausting all forms of
intrigue and the objective is not achieved we then,
result unwittingly to self-destructive tactics".
Does this describe who you are?

After having chastised Biya as the most undemocratic
leader in the universe, Asonganyi, is proving not to
have grasp the tenets of democracy. How can he be
suggesting that "Biya is obliged to show his party the
proven candidates from which they can choose". In
light of what is going on it is certain that the CPDM
elites psychology has become addicted to the
dictatorial model of life. The selection of his
succesor should not depend on his whimps rather on the
simple application of the law. You wrote "Mr. Biya
came to the presidency in the first place as a
beneficiary of the good will of Mr. Ahidjo - the first
president of Cameroon he has forgotten so soon -not
because he persuaded Cameroonians of his aptitude to
lead the country". Why not clamour for someone to
persuade Cameroonians of his/her aptitude to rule? Do
you prefer someone who would be a beneficiary of this
demonic regime?

The CPDM has faced many challenges and one of their
greatest challenge has been to block the
establishment of a systematic reliable and legitimate
process of leadership succession, for fear it would
rob them of effective power. We vehemently oppose
their attempts to manipulate the constitution in
pursuit of their goals. Through the subtle challenges
of the sometimes dormant opposition in Cameroon their
traditional tools of political control have been
eroded over the years. Their current attempts to
manipulate the constitution would backfire and provide
an avenue for popular and fatal challenge to the
regime.

It is now evident that Biya's personal ambition and
addiction to power would let him devote most of
his energies and public resources to self-succession
rather than purposeful leadership which he
is grossly deficient in.

Prof. Asonganyi, given your strategic past political
advantage you should go beyond giving faint analyses
and proffer some meaningful possible solution that
would carry Cameroon out of the current guagmire. I
agree with you that "(Biya) allowed irresponsible
behaviour, to go unpunished, thus converting
irresponsibility, corruption and embezzlement of
public funds to norms for a large number of his
associates, and to the compass of the Cameroon
society". Isn't this what the SDF has been trying to
avoid through the use
of 8.2 which you happen to be a casualty of?

After Biya, we need someone who can fundamentally
alter the ruling class and propel Cameroon on a
radically different political direction. Someone who
would be a guarantor of the sovereignty of Cameroon
and a maintainer of the domestic distribution of power
and resources. Someone who would steer us away
from authoritarianism to democratization, from state
capitalism to a market oriented economy,
from underdevelopment to development. Cameroonians are
finding it increasing difficult to find
such a patriot within the ranks of the CPDM.

Eugene Ateh

[UnitedStatesofAfrica]

Red Flag, you are really an idiot. I wonder if you read some of the trash you write. Simplice, that was really mature of you to ignore him. He makes me wonder if this forum is accessed by primary school kids. If that is the case, then things would make more sense.

[Watesih]

Constitutions and Intrigue

Eugene Ateh,
Thanks for that piece.We have said it here time and again,that by casting off the cloak that concealed the slippery,
calculative,and know-all ways of Prof.
Asonganyi,the SDF was very prophetic.Who would have known that the man was going to become restless,vindictive,and vain.He has pushed himself into a tight corner,and pretending to be talking from a Vatican pulpit,and to infidels.But every word of his betrays this crazy idea of trying to place himself on a high moral pedestal.Today he only uses words like intrigues,scheming ,plotting,conspiracy,trying to be too smart.
But this is exactly what he was accused for before Article 8.2 decapitated him.It is incredible to see Prof.Asonganyi professing the view that others would want the whole system to be destroyed if they cannot get what they want.When the crises between the SDF,and himself came to a head,he was called upon to explain himself,but he rather preferred sanctions,and took along those he considered his brothers.Why did it not dawn on Prof.Asonganyi that the SDF was a people`s party,and that, "The people represent an empty center which no group, interest,or institution can claim to incarnate"
Cameroonians have waited for so long to see Prof.Asonganyi bond with those he said were going to bring about a Renaissance,and show the way forward,but what we are served is self-pity,communication gymnastics,and disjointed historical correlates.That time has past for any individual to think himself infallible,and invincible.When you are called to go through the disciplinary committee of a gathering of any nature,and you decide to shy away,the citizens will consider you as somebody who has skeletons in the cupboard.You can only yearn for accountability when you yourself are accountable.As Secretary General of the SDF Prof.Asonganyi refused to serve in Bamenda.
When two SDF factions clashed he took sides with Muna,and promised Muna will be back with a Renaissance,but he got it wrong.Biya allowed some irresponsible behaviour to go unpunished,but the SDF confronted irresponsible conduct,though the Professor refused to humble himself when accused of misconduct.

[red flag]

UNITED STATE OF SHIT, JUST SHUT YOUR ROTTEN MOUTH YOU ARE ALSO A FOREIGNER, YOU HAVE NO VOICE WHEN CITIZENS ARE TALKING, GO BACK TO BANGANTE OR DSCHANG OR WHAT EVER,
WHO TOLD YOU THAT ITS PRIMARY SCHOOL KIDS THAT ARE KILLED, YOU CANT EVEN READ
BASTARD, I FORGOT YOUR ARE A FRENCH-NIGGER,
SON OF A COWARD FROM LA REPUBLIQUE DU MARQUISARDS, . OF COURSE HIGH SCHOOL KIDS USES COMPUTERS IN THEIR ESTABLISHMENTS, IF YOU DONT KNOW, MORON.
YOU OUTTA BE ASHAME OF YOUR NONESENSE
YOU ALWAYS WRITE, EVEN AS LOW DOWN AS YOUR COLONIAL AGENTS WHO ORDERED THE KILLING OF OUR BROTHERS , YOU PEOPLE DOENT EVEN KNOW THAT WE 7 M SOUTHERN CAMEROONINANS ARE FAR SUPERIOR IN EVERY THING FROM YOU EXCEPT THE POSSESSION OF GUNS WHICH I AM BRINGING THEM TO SLAUGHTER YOUR ASS.

[simplice]

The Southern Cameroons cause is sound. But on this forum, it is loosing grounds because, most of those advocating it are stripped of diplomatic traits.
Reg Flag, I once thought you very wise, but you're fast becoming the father of Rexonism on this forum. Keep wrestling with Rexon and Paa Ngembus on who will lead in abusive parlance. Keep on, you now have an edge over Rexon, but not Paa Ngembus. Keep on betraying your impragmatism.

[M Nje]

“It is sad that some kids got killed and others got injured but may I remind everyone that all over the world, that is the risk the population runs when they decide to confront law enforcement; this is not a uniquely Cameroonian problem.”
Ndode | Wednesday, 14 November 2007 at 09:56 AM

Ndode,
Did you read the article well before you post your comments. You seem to give the impression the students decided to “to confront law enforcement.” Did you read this part of the article

“The police intercepted their march around the Kumba Cow Fence, using teargas to disperse them. The students were further caught in a trap when they discovered a contingent of police behind them from the Buea Road area and another approaching from Kumba Town.
Gendarmes were later to reinforce the police who teargased the protesting students.”

How did you come to the conclusion that “that is the risk the population runs when they decide to confront law enforcement; this is not a uniquely Cameroonian problem.”

These students have a right to a peaceful protest except you disagree with that fundamental right. If you agree then it is those who intercepted them and decided to use teargas and life bullet on them who created the deadly situation. Because similar events happen in other places does not make this particular event right. This is simply MURDER.

Your wrote again that :

And why should we condone students burning down public buildings? What kind of Southern Cameroon would we inherit if all our structures are burnt down before our elusive independence? If we tolerate this kind of vandalism masked by revolutionary fervor, how are we any different from European colonialists who stripped Africa to the bone before leaving the continent, even pulling down telegraph lines and uprooting railroad tracks in their wake!

Ndode,
There is a difference between when a group of unprovoked protesters decided to set public buildings on fire and when those who have been provoked with life bullet act in self defense. If these students had gather, planed, and decided to set public buildings on fire even if there were not provoked, then that is a different situation. But in this case, the information we have so far is that they just wanted to bring the attention of the public to their problem through a peaceful march. In the course of that march, their life was put in danger when these armed “security officers” decided to open fire on them. Faced with such attack, the student have a fundamental right to self defense. It is not our duty to detect or advance which method they should use to defend themselves. It is their right and if they decided to burn down public buildings, we have to respect that decision. They are the ones who felt the danger. That bullet could have hit any of them. It has nothing to do with condoning violence. It has to do with the fact that these students have a right to self defense as they see it and we must respect their choice and method.

[M Nje]

“It is sad that some kids got killed and others got injured but may I remind everyone that all over the world, that is the risk the population runs when they decide to confront law enforcement; this is not a uniquely Cameroonian problem.”
Ndode | Wednesday, 14 November 2007 at 09:56 AM

Ndode,
Did you read the article well before you post your comments. You seem to give the impression the students decided to “to confront law enforcement.” Did you read this part of the article

“The police intercepted their march around the Kumba Cow Fence, using teargas to disperse them. The students were further caught in a trap when they discovered a contingent of police behind them from the Buea Road area and another approaching from Kumba Town.
Gendarmes were later to reinforce the police who teargased the protesting students.”

How did you come to the conclusion that “that is the risk the population runs when they decide to confront law enforcement; this is not a uniquely Cameroonian problem.”

These students have a right to a peaceful protest except you disagree with that fundamental right. If you agree then it is those who intercepted them and decided to use teargas and life bullet on them who created the deadly situation. Because similar events happen in other places does not make this particular event right. This is simply MURDER.

Your wrote again that :

And why should we condone students burning down public buildings? What kind of Southern Cameroon would we inherit if all our structures are burnt down before our elusive independence? If we tolerate this kind of vandalism masked by revolutionary fervor, how are we any different from European colonialists who stripped Africa to the bone before leaving the continent, even pulling down telegraph lines and uprooting railroad tracks in their wake!

Ndode,
There is a difference between when a group of unprovoked protesters decided to set public buildings on fire and when those who have been provoked with life bullet act in self defense. If these students had gather, planed, and decided to set public buildings on fire even if there were not provoked, then that is a different situation. But in this case, the information we have so far is that they just wanted to bring the attention of the public to their problem through a peaceful march. In the course of that march, their life was put in danger when these armed “security officers” decided to open fire on them. Faced with such attack, the student have a fundamental right to self defense. It is not our duty to detect or advance which method they should use to defend themselves. It is their right and if they decided to burn down public buildings, we have to respect that decision. They are the ones who felt the danger. That bullet could have hit any of them. It has nothing to do with condoning violence. It has to do with the fact that these students have a right to self defense as they see it and we must respect their choice and method.

[red flag]

IN ANY WAR, THERE ARE 2 CAMPS. THE ATTACKING CAMP AND THE DEFENDING CAMP, SIMPLICE, US OF SHIT, NDODE. RICARDO. AND 11M CITIZENS OF LA REPUBLIQUE DU CAMEROUN ARE THE ATTACKING CAMPS , WE 7M SOUTHERN CAMEROONINANS ARE THE DEFENDING CAMP, THE SALVO IS FIRED, THE KILING HAVE STATRTED. EVERY ONE MUST HAVE AN AK 47 IN HIS HOUSE, POLICE, GERDAME, ARMY
SDO, GOUVERNEURS, COMISSEURS DELEGAUEE ARE ALL LEGITIMATE ENEMIES AND TARGETS SHOOT THEM DOWN GET THEIR WEAPONS AND SHOOT MORE POLCE THEN GET MORE WEAPONS AFTER ALL WE ARE DEFENDING OUR FATHERLAND. BAKASSI -21 IS JUST THE TIP OF THE ICE BERG ARE BOYS DID IT.
THE LIBERATORS OF SOUTHERN CAMEROONS, YES WE DID IT AND MORE IS COMING.
SIMPLICE TAKE NOTE, LOG TO WWW.ALLAFRICA.COM, AND CLICK ON CAMEROON.
YOU WILLREAD THE STORY. WE KILLED THOSE BASTARDS, I AM CELEBRATING WITH MY FREINDS. WE ARE PLANNING MORE SUCH ATTACKS.
UNTILL THE FRENCH-NEGROES COLONIZER/OCCUPIERS LEAE OUR HOMELAND FOR US ONLY TO RULE.