Troops Clash With SDF Militants At Press Conference

By Joe Dinga Pefok

The relative calm that seemed to reign in Douala after the Littoral Governor banned public gatherings and meetings was disrupted Wednesday, February 13, when anti-riot police and gendarmes clashed with SDF militants after a press conference.

Troops storm SDF press conference

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Armed with guns, batons and backed by water canons, the troops swooped on the militants shortly after they had concluded the conference at Lewat Hotel in Bessengue.

Littoral Provincial Chairman, Hon. Jean Michel Nintcheu, who is also Vice President of the SDF Parliamentary Group, almost lost his life in the onslaught when the troops forced his car to stop at 'Vallé Bessengue', opened the door, pumped in tear gas, shut the door and tried to block him from opening it and escaping.

However, after a desperate struggle, Nintcheu succeeded in forcing open the door, almost choking to death, and abandoned the vehicle at that spot.Led by the Littoral Provincial Chief of National Security, Joachim Mdida Nkili, the troops went into rampage with their water canons between 'Feu Rouge' Bessengue and 'Mobil Bonakouamouang'.

They blocked traffic and indiscriminately sprayed water mixed with an itchy chemical on people along the roadsides.

Hasty Troops

Fru Ndi's press conference was focused on CPDM's plan to amend Article 6 (2) of the 1996 Constitution, which limits the mandate of the President of the Republic. Earlier, it had been alleged that the SDF had planned to stage a protest march just after the press conference. So, even before the press conference started, anti-riot policemen and gendarmes had been positioned at strategic points close to the venue.

Tension rose to fever pitch when many SDF militants turned up for the press conference in yellow T-shirts which carried a message denouncing any attempt to modify the country's constitution. This seemed to anger the police officers who flocked into the conference hall.

Asked about the Governor's ban on public demonstrations in the Littoral, the SDF leader noted that the disease of inconsistency that has been choking the Biya regime for years was once more seen on February 11, when Fai Yengo violated his own banning order to go out and preside at the Youth Day march past.

Fru Ndi argued that with Fai Yengo having presided at a public gathering in spite of his own decision, SDF militants and all other members of the public could also go ahead with any public gatherings and meetings in Douala and the Littoral at large.

Hardly had Fru Ndi left the venue of the press conference than troops invaded. Apparently, they assumed that the SDF was about to stage a protest march since a group of SDF militants had stealthily embarked on a seeming march towards 'Mobile Bonakouamouang.'

The troops dispersed them with water canons. Then, as they struggled to run away, they were confronted by baton-wielding policemen and gendarmes.

Constitutional Conference

Speaking at the press conference, Fru Ndi said: "The SDF is not fundamentally opposed to amendments of the Constitution if they are meant to meet the aspirations of the entire nation." However, he insisted that the party "is vehemently opposed to any amendment that seeks to entrench an individual in power."

Fru Ndi further said: "If there is need to review the present Constitution, the medium for doing so should be a Constitutional Conference. The referendum does not provide the best way forward under the present electoral laws and political dispensation. The enabling environment for the crystallization of the will of people is just not there."

The SDF Chair also questioned who would organise such a referendum. Fru Ndi urged all Cameroonians to join the struggle to stop the CPDM regime from changing the Constitution. He stressed that the issue was not an SDF affair but an affair for all Cameroonians, no matter their political affiliation. He equally urged CPDM militants to reject attempt by the Biya regime to tinker with the Constitution.

Said he: "This is not the time for much talking. This is the time for action." The future of Cameroon as well as that of our children, Fru Ndi said, would be jeopardised if Mr Biya and the CPDM were allowed to proceed with their plan of prolonging the presidential mandate.

"We must say no to this gross abuse and insult of Cameroonians. We must say no to any bid to mangle the Constitution so as to protect a handful of corrupt citizens."

Comments

[rexon]

This is good news for citizens of La Republique. NJFN has actually taken his politics with La Republique to right place (La Republiques economic capital). However, the people of the Southern Cameroons should not get themselves into this. Southern Cameroonians should struggle to solve their own problem with the colonisation of their land by La Republique, rather than get distracted by the constitutional amendment problem of their neighbour (La Republique). It is of no use intervening into the affairs of a foreign land, when you have much problems in your backyard. Successive governments of La Republique have promoted the occupational policies of their regime. There is yet no evidence that any new regime will reverse this trend. Lets concentrate all our efforts on driving out the occupational forces be it CPDM, SDF, France, etc.

[Ahadji]

Most of us strongly believe that most of you posing on this forum as SCNC activists are really are actually working for Biya to ridicule SCNC. Any SCNC person who things he can liberate Southern Cameroon from La Republic du Cameroun without fighting from within the present dispensation is an illusionist. We are not interested in people who want to liberate Southern Cameroon by posting long speeches and forming a long list government in Exile. Some of you SCNC activist have made a laughing stock of the Southern Cameroonian question. We believe in Fru Ndi’s move for equality for all Cameroonians and commitment to root off the Biya regime which has brought untold suffering to Cameroonians and especially to Southern Cameroonians. We believe that when a reasonable regime will be in place, we will seek for constitutional reforms that will address the Southern Cameroon question.
Thank you

[Fon]

Cameroonians should join the SDF now to resist the devilish intentions of the Biya regime. We Cameroonians strongly and vehemently say no to any attempt to modify the constitution to allow Biya and his clique to continue their theft on our resources.

[FRITZANE KIKI]

There is little doubt that the Biya's governance is reminiscent of the worst dictatorship as of present which has severely damaged the reputation of Cameroon at home and abroad.Mr Aladji if you think 20 plus years was not enough for that change to be done and fulfill the promises for the country and constitution they swore to uphold,then it is ridiculous.

Cameroon is united in ambivalence a democracy that is not rooted in the rule of law.If after all those years in power the system is not working then it is better to turn the page to an entirely new direction.We should accept it is unworkable and Camerooians will tell you they are disappointed with the handsome charmer at Etoudi,surrounded by ardent ideological believers.The lack of Freedom,liberty and democratic values primaturely applied by the 'powers that be' has caused the nation much to be appreciated.

The opposition still has much to do as far as fulfulling their goals is concern,rather than overstating their strength.We know the road to the Etoudi is not easy so they should redouble their efforts to overcome the CPDM influence,rather than remaining detractors to pressure movements and human right groups who are in the loudest form of condemnation and vehemently oppose any form of constitutional amendments and the stupity virus of the power-mongers of the ruling party members.

Fritzane Kiki
S.Korea

[MOTABENAMA]

FELLOW CAMEROONIANS, THE STAKES ARE HIGH A SMALL GROUP OF PEOPLE ARE LOOKING AT US ALL AS THOUGH WE WERE FOOLS. ITS TIME TO PUT AN END TO THIS NONSENSE.WE MUST LOOK FOR A PLAN B TO STOP THIS GROUP OF DANGEROUS PEOPLE WHO WILL LISTEN TO NO OTHER LANGUAGE BUT THE LANGUAGE OF VIOLENCE. IF WE TAKE THIS NONSENSE FROM THE CPDM GROUP OF POLITICAL DEMAGOUGUES THEN WE SHOULD KNOW IN EARNEST THAT WE ARE MORTGAGING OUR LIVES AND THAT OF THE NEXT TWO GENERATIONS. FOR YOU THE CPDM PARLIAMENTARIANS IF YOU VOTE FOR THIS NONSENSE DONT COME BACK HOME BECAUSE WE MAY START SHOWING YOU AND YOUR FAMILIES WHAT PAIN YOU ARE TRYING TO PUT AN ENTIRE GENERATION THROUGH. WE ARE SIMPLY TIRED OF DEALING WITH A GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO DOES NOTHING BUT PUT US AND THE FUTURE OF OUR COUNTRY IN MISERY. WE SHOULD ALL BE READY FOR THE WORSE BEACUSE COME MARCH THE PEACE AND TRANQUILITY THAT REIGNS IN THIS COUNTRY WILL BE NO MORE. OUR BLOOD SHALL SPILL BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY OUR VIOCES WOULD BE HEARD AND JUSTICE SHALL PREVAIL. WE SHOULD NOT DARE TO LET THIS HAPPEN FOR IF WE DO THEN WE ARE ALL COWARDS LETS FIGHT TO THE LAST PERSON THAN TO ALLOW A CONSTITUTIONAL AMMENDMENT. MAY GOD BLESS CAMEROON AMEN.

[vextoj]

rexon,
we cameroonians have alway told u people-SCNC blablabla or what, to stop disturbing those of us who seek solutions for all cameroonians. THIS IS NOT AN SCNC FORUM. whatever the case ur scnc ideas will be CRUSHED like a rotten pear. we will never allow those stupid scnc activists to destroy this nation just like paul biya.
we are calling on all cameroonians whether english or french speaking, to say `NO TO BIYA'S PLANS' he is not even sure to be alive by 2011 and he is already planning for prolongation.
AS for cpdm militants we all know u are addicted to `food' and `drinks'. Biya has alway used this method to keep u all in the dark. food and drinks provided especially in ebolowa and yaounde, will never replace roads, hospitals, schools and jobs which we all need in this country. the gov't is spending money to educate cpdm militants on constitutional admendmant meanwhile that money can be used to provide scholarships and improving on the poor cameroonian's life. we know all those old tricks mr biya.
As for the SDF i can only appreciate their effort to stop this old and functionless biya. but the SDF needs to improve on that quest. ALL cameroonian are ready to help the SDF on this matter but they need to have VERY STRONG INTERNATIONAL BACKINGS TO SUCCEED. biya survives because he receives support from the past crafty french gov'ts.
Those in diaspora should keep on writing abt this evil regime. keep on sending ur comments at both national and international level, so that the world will focus on cameroon. this is the time, because other african countries are in similar crisis-kenya, chad.
we must make the world know that all these events in these countries occur when the wishes of the people are not heard or taken into consideration.

[rexon]

Vextoj,

I am not against any African fighting Biya's constitutional amendment problem. However, this is the primary responsibility of citizens of Biya's country (La Republique). Any Southern Cameroonian can support citizens of La Republique, just as we supported those who were against similar moves in Nigeria, Uganda, Chad, etc. Southern Cameroonians should focus their attention on their occupation problem. The constitutional amendment problem of La Republique should be secondary to them. Because that is not their country.

[lionking]

Rexon when you say "southern Cameroonians should focus on their occupation problem" what are your personal proposals for this your dream move to be a successful one? I think a democratic cameroon can be a starting point for SCNC case. Changing the constitution is not only affecting the SDF but SCNC as well as CPDM generations. Be realistic for once in what comes out your minds. If any person calls on cameroonians to unit to fight for a democratic process i think we should credit such challenges.

[Nsahlah]

Rexon,
Remember that in a lawless La Republique, Southern Cameroon will have no avenue or forum to discuss the freedom of Southern Cameroon. As of now, you are a citizen of La Republique. You left the country on its passport, even if it may not be valid to you anymore. Let assume that you were to be deported from your current country of residence, where do you think you will end up? It is important to fix that which we are stiil linked to before looking forward to that which we envision for ourselves. The trials and tribulations we go through now will help to avoid such pitfalls should the day ever come for Southern Cameroon to be self governing. To shy away from the ills bedeviling Cameroon today is tantamount to passing the buck as the American expression goes. We are all still citizens of Cameroon, legally speaking.

[Paa Ngembus]

Nsahlah or Nsahlai,

Some of you La Republique stooges like former Minister Nsahlai (my apologies if you are neither him nor related to that bloke) make me wanna puke.

Let me paraphrase your warped logic here.

A slave sees his master's house under attack and he/she sees an opportunity to free himself/herself from slavery and you are telling the slave to defend his/her master and save the jerk before negotiating his/her freedom anew with the master.

You must either be out of your mind or you must not understand the words "the logic of survival".

Just where did some of you go to School Mr Nsahlai? In ENAM or Ecole d'Outremer?

Simply amazing.

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

PS: I see when I was away some of you little Froggie toads like Ahadji and Vextoj started jumping around and insulting people. I am back. Dare to raise your ugly heads and I will crush you to a pulp. Bastards.

[red flag]

ALL THESE ALHAJI, VEXJO, FOOLS CAMEROUNESE WHO ALWAYS TRY TO DISMISSED OUR NATIONALITY AS SOUTHERN CAMEROONINANS.

NEED TO SOME RE-EDUCATION CAMP. CITIZENSHIP IS NOT FORCED ON ANY ONE. ITS A MATTER OF OUR HISTORY, CULTURE AND
FACTS, THAT, IF NOT FOR AHIJO, 1972, ANNEXATION
OF SOUTHERN CAMEROONS, YOU PEOPLE WONE HAVE THESE BILE TP SPIT ON A SOUTHERN CAMEROONS/SCNC FORUM. THOSE WHO DOESNT LOVE THE FREEDOM FIGHTERS SCNC MUST CEASE FROM COMING HERE, SINCE ALL SOUTHERN CAMEROONINANS ARE SCNC MEMBERS AND SCNC IS SOUTHERN CAMEROONS.
SURE WITH ARMY ON THE GROUND YOU GUYS WILL KNOW WE ARE SERIOUS.AND WOULD START PACKING TO YOUR OWN COUNTRY. FOOLS.