By Francis Wache & Azore Opio With Field Reports
Calm has now returned to Cameroon after a week of demonstrations that crippled the nation.It all started on Monday, February 25, when taxi drivers called a strike to protest against the hike in fuel prices.
Nobody on that Monday, February 25, could have predicted that the nationwide transporters' strike action would take such a dramatic and bloody clash.Though the strike action by the Syndicate of Transporters had been announced, the State owned CRTV, said on Sunday, February 24, that the strike action had been called off by the leaders of the Syndicate of Transporters after clinching a deal with the Minister of Labour and Social Security, Prof. Robert Nkili.
And, so, both the government of Cameroon and the population were surprised when, on Monday, February 25, not only were the streets without taxis, but the inter-urban and intra-urban buses were grounded paralysing all movements.
The situation soon degenerated when disgruntled and mostly unemployed youths seized the opportunity and took to the streets expressing their discontent. They complained that those in power had not created enough avenues for employment and economic opportunities.
The strike action, peaceful at first, quickly turned violent with the rampaging and sometime marauding youths engaged in running battles with the forces of law and order. While the troops fired gunshots into the air, the mob responded with volleys of stones. Then the troops riposted, tossing teargas canisters.
Worse, bandits and petty criminals soon joined the fray and then began an orgy of violence, savagery, brutality and the looting of private property and the destruction of public buildings. Lives, too, were lost and trigger-happy forces of law and fired live bullets at fleeing demonstrators.
The situation was not improving faster as expected. Cameroon was
progressively plunging herself into the abyss of endless destruction.
Calls for peace and calm began to surface from all nooks and crannies
from the country. But the angry youths and Cameroonians in general felt
that the most soothing words must come from the Head of State.
Biya's 'Declaration Of War' Speech
President Paul Biya, on Wednesday, February 27, made a declaration on the situation. He castigated the opposition that had failed to win power by the ballot for turning to the bullet to destabilise the country.
In a vitriolic tone, and in less than five minutes, he defiantly told the "demons" instigating the demonstrators that their efforts were doomed.Immediately after President Paul Biya's address, the protesters, in Bamenda, for example, infiltrated by bandits, went amok, destroying and looting anything on their way.
Targets: PMUC, Breweries, Taxation Offices…
In most towns, demonstrators targeted PMUC offices. When they could not torch them, they turned to the ubiquitous PMUC kiosks planted along the streets and set them ablaze. In Bamenda, they ransacked all the offices of PMUC building owned by the SDF National Chairman, John Fru Ndi, on Commercial Avenue.
The angry crowd evacuated computers, electronic gadgets, money and other valuable property and burned them outside the building. They tried to make away with the safe in vain.
The same scenario was enacted at the Cow Street Taxation Office, Nkwen, where the rioters could not remove the safe. They, however, carted away laptops and valuable documents and set them ablaze outside the office.
The protesters also ransacked and burnt down the Nkwen Post Office immediately after Biya's speech on Wednesday night. The angry youths proceeded to the Bamenda Urban Council, where Abel Ndeh's three cars were all razed.
An inventory conducted by The Post indicated that two seven-ton loaders were burned, one trailer damaged, three vans "Keep Bamenda Clean" vandalised, windscreen of European Union service car shattered, two salon cars and a motorcycle parked on the Council premises were burned; and six tippers had their windscreens shattered. Several private vehicles impounded at the Council premises were also destroyed.
The rioters left the Council premises at Ntarikon and stormed a primary school known as County Primary and Nursery School, owned by Abel Ndeh's wife. They inflicted some damage on the structure.
In Nkambe, Donga Mantung, the Police Post at the Nkambe Main Market was razed. In Kumbo, the protestors vented their anger on some government institutions and private establishments. Despite pleas from Bui Senior Divisional Officer, SDO, Daniel Panjouono, they stormed the Transport Delegation at Bam-bui Quarters; a building that also housed the Public Works Service and Radio Meteo and set fire to it.
They later ransacked the Divisional Delegation of Elementary and Secondary Education and the Delegation of Commerce, where they emptied offices and burnt documents, furniture and damaged computers and photocopiers. Brasseries Du Cameroun depot at Ta Mbve, the Guinness Depot and a police van did not escape the wrath of the protestors.
The Taxation Office and Finance Control Service at Mbve received the same treatment, while some taxation officials were equally visited and their property destroyed. Indeed, the youths went out of hand as they extended their ire to billboards at the Tobin Roundabout mobile phone kiosks.
In Mbengwi and Babito and other parts of Momo, protestors set administrative installations on fire. Meanwhile in Santa, rioters burned the DO's office and a vehicle. In Kumbo, Bui Division, Divisional Delegation of Transport, Public Works were burned as well. At Taxation Office and that of Education and Youth Affairs, the protesters brought out all the office equipment and set it on fire. Guinness and Brassieres were depots were looted.
Meanwhile, in Kumba in the Southwest, the Delegations of Taxation, Education, Social Affairs, Town Planning and Treasury were burnt. The most affected was PMUC, which had all its properties and kiosks burnt. Les Brasseries du Cameroun had its Kumba Regional office completely burnt. Demonstrators also burnt down and destroyed Kumba I (Kumba Town) and Kumba II (Mbonge Road) and Kumba Central Police Posts.
Also, two Total Filling stations were destroyed. Demonstrators equally looted treated palm oil from a timber company near the train station. The looters have reportedly sold the 'poisonous' palm oil, which was meant for the treatment of timber. The timber company has put up a notice cautioning the population against consuming the oil, since it might be harmful. This has caused general panic, as the local population are unsure of palm oil.
Muea in the Southwest Province witnessed part of its police post burned down.
Arrests, Torture, Rape
Over 150 youths arrested in Bamenda are now undergoing severe torture in various detention camps. Rumour holds it that in the days ahead they would be transferred to Yaounde.
When over 200 Koutaba special troops landed in Bamenda in the wee hours of Thursday, they treated nearly every home at Mile Two, Foncha Street Junction, Ntarikon, Commercial Avenue and Hospital Roundabout to a good dose of torture.
They even raped a soldier's wife whose names we are withholding. Several cases of rape were reported in Mile Three, Ntarikon, and Hospital Roundabout, where the soldiers broke into private houses, forcing boys out to clear off the debris and road blocks.
On Ghana and Cow Streets, most of the houses broken into were owned by free women. Most women were deprived of their cell phones and money. One woman who spoke to The Post regretted, "when they broke open my door, they pulled out my brothers and beat them to near death.
The reason was that two of the soldiers pulled down their trousers and were about to rape me in front of my brothers, but my brothers protested and the soldiers thrashed them severely."
Also, two students from Progressive Comprehensive High School, PCHS Bamenda, were reportedly raped at Ayaba Hotel.
In Kumbo, no death was reported, but over 30 persons were arrested. Meanwhile, in Nkambe, the Senior Divisional Officer for Donga-Mantung, Godlive Mboke Ntua, declared that over 20 youths were arrested and would be prosecuted.
In Kumba troops moved into quarters, beating and arresting those suspected of being involved in looting and destruction of properties. They visited places like Fiango and Hausa Quarters were most of the demonstrators were suspected to have come from.
Buea, like other towns, was also paralysed with troops and the youths occasioning destruction, theft and torture. In all, about ten youths sustained wounds from gunshots, while one died of a bullet wound at the Buea Hospital Mortuary. Others are still nursing their wounds in various hospitals after being severely tortured by troops.
Those arrested were about fifty, most of them teenagers picked at random. They are now incarcerated at the Mobile Intervention Unit, GMI, waiting for the Governor to seal their fate.
On their part, troops went amok breaking into private homes, beating its occupants and looting whatever they could. They looted cell phones, money etc, and destroyed TV sets, electronic gadgets and other valuables.
Hordes Of Looters To Serve Jail Terms
In Yaounde, about 400 alleged looters, who were judged and convicted at the Legal Department, have been transferred to the Kondengui Maximum Prisson where they are to serve a two-year jail terms each.
Most of the arrests were arbitrary as the troops swooped on passers-by and took them away. They even ransacked homes arresting those they found there. The convicts were transferred in four trucks on Friday, February 29, under the mournful eyes of parents and relations who were helpless at such convictions without ample evidence.
According to the family of Baba Abdoulaye, one of the supposed looters, in the 'Derriere Combatant' neighbourhood, their son, was sleeping in the house when a group of children who ran into their house for safety, woke him up.
When the police invaded the house, they whisked him away with others and no amount of pleas could make the police release him.For Fabrice Kamdem, who resides at Polytechnic, when violence started on Tuesday, he decided to park the CD plates he was selling in the usual place before heading home.
He said his friend decided to eat before going home. As the friend was leaving the restaurant, the police asked him to identify himself. Although the friend produced his ID card, the policeman yelled, "c'est vous" (you are the ones). Then he was bundled him into the truck.
Children who flocked to the streets out of curiosity were also arrested. Some of the kids sent on errands by parents were whisked to detention cells. Civil rights and other observers describe the arrest, trial and incarceration of the putative looters as a violation of human rights and a blatant disrespect for the new Criminal Procedure Code.
Those who were lucky to escape the detention cells had to buy their freedom after being beaten and bruised. They were subsequently released after paying sums ranging from FCFA 10,000 - FCFA 80,000. Those whose mobile phones were seized never got them back.
In Limbe, soldiers arrested a human rights activist, Djibril Ngeve Nyeke, at the Mile I neighbourhood and accused him of encouraging mob action. But The Post learned that Ngeve had been trying to dissuade some of the boys from perpetrating violence. A 16-year-old welder, Clinton Ngwa, was also brutalised by soldiers as he went to pick his younger brother from school.
Meanwhile, in Kumba, over 30 youths have been arrested and detained at the Gendarmerie and police cells. Although they were arrested indiscriminately, they were accused of orchestrating looting, violence and destruction of properties.
Death Toll
When reinforcement arrived from Koutaba Military Base in the West Province, a bloody confrontation ensued in Bamenda. At the end of it, six youths were shot to death. These included; Emmanuel Che, 24, of Ndamukong Street who was shot at Mile Two Junction, Ashley Fontoh, 14, student of GTC Bamenda, shot at Ntarikon Junction, Devoline Awah was shot in the head at Brassieres Junction, and Bernard Ngwa was shot on Che Street, Ntarikon.
Among the several youths shot with live bullets and currently receiving treatment at the Bamenda General Hospital are; Gerald Nichia and Janet Nimbong.
Kumba recorded one of the highest death tolls in the Southwest Province, with seven youths shot to deaths. Crates of beer killed three others as they looted beer from Les Brasseries regional office.
In Limbe, soldiers deployed to quell demonstrations shot dead a petty trader, Richard Tangie Nwonfor, 32, about three hours after President Biya's address.Tangie had sallied out to observe youths, irked by the President Biya's declarations, battle with the police and the military. The troops shot him around the hips and ran before collapsing on the campus of UNICS Secondary School, where he died.
The long and short of the transporters' strike is that it ignited a heap of smouldering grievances among the youths and other Cameroonians; those who see Brasseries du Cameroun as a 'drug' industry, PMUC as drain on the economy as well as fuelling corruption amongst the armed forces, vacillating politicians who tell youths blatant lies and voracious tax collectors who feed fat from both the government and taxpayers.
Some of the grievances, however, were not addressed during the protests - the medical corps, the judiciary, businessmen, teachers and just the ordinary Cameroonian looked on as the youths attempted to send their messages home.
The damages, human, material and financial losses caused by the strike have left painful gaping wounds in the economy and the society. In nearly all the places where the strike reached, there was a recurring refrain; trigger-happy troops, with the police to bear most of the blame, toyed with tear gas and live ammunition, dropping unfortunate youths to their untimely deaths. The government did its best to stifle any sort of protest with batons, tear gas and water canons.
By press time, the prices of essential commodities that had started creeping upwards even before the idea of the strike had formed in the minds of the transporters, had at the weekend doubled up - a cup of garri in most scantily attended markets sold at FCFA 100, rice went at FCFA 100 a cup, a fresh tomato FCFA 50, a loaf of bread (blockade) FCFA 350 and so on and so forth.
*With Field Reports By Chris Mbunwe, Peterkins Manyong, Kini Nsom, Walter Wilson Nana, Leocadia Bongben, Willibroad Nformi, Francis Tim Mbom & Ernest Sumelong
I greatly commend the critical analyses given by the post journalist pertaining the sad and smypathetic events that unfolded in Cameroon a forth night ago.
It is horrible and disgusting sitting-by and watching our belove country falling apart. Sometimes one is tempted to questioned. "where are the Gods of the land that these kind of things are allowed to happen?.
Cameroon has been a peacful country since time immemorial. Why is it that today when the evolution of the world is fast pulling nations ahead but that of Cameroon is rather taking us backwards comparison to the days of French revolution?.
We all agree that people come and go but the state and it,s institutions remain. The Biya's era shall go down in history as the worst period that Cameroonians have experience the most violent and autocratic rule. A government that fails to listen to the wish of it,s people is doom to crumble woefully even if it takes centuries.
Cameroonians and most specifically the opposition leaders that act as the voice of the people when it comes to discontent and anger should educate its people and let them know that demonstrations that goes with the burning down of institutions have no grounds even if they are geniune. The burning down of schools, offices,business places will directly or indirectly affect each and every one and further aggravate their frustrations.The children of the schools affected will not be given a different academic year nor the parents of the business places burn down be offered other jobs. Who is then the loser? is it the government or the common man on the street.
We all agree that anger and frustration may lead some one to extremism but we can not compromise the burning down and looting of our institutions.
The government of Cameroon should be aware that the use of brutal force to quel the civilian uprising is invariably caling for armed factions that when emerged tomorrow will be difficlut to suppress.
Cameroon is a pecae loving nation.We will not even a bit, want to see our beloved country turn apart like Kenya just because of the selfish desires of our so called mighty leader and his stooges.
God please safe my beloved country.
Posted by: s.akamembulle | Monday, 03 March 2008 at 09:05 AM
I greatly commend the critical analyses given by the post journalist pertaining the sad and smypathetic events that unfolded in Cameroon a forth night ago.
It is horrible and disgusting sitting-by and watching our belove country falling apart. Sometimes one is tempted to questioned. "where are the Gods of the land that these kind of things are allowed to happen?.
Cameroon has been a peacful country since time immemorial. Why is it that today when the evolution of the world is fast pulling nations ahead but that of Cameroon is rather taking us backwards comparison to the days of French revolution?.
We all agree that people come and go but the state and it,s institutions remain. The Biya's era shall go down in history as the worst period that Cameroonians have experience the most violent and autocratic rule. A government that fails to listen to the wish of it,s people is doom to crumble woefully even if it takes centuries.
Cameroonians and most specifically the opposition leaders that act as the voice of the people when it comes to discontent and anger should educate its people and let them know that demonstrations that goes with the burning down of institutions have no grounds even if they are geniune. The burning down of schools, offices,business places will directly or indirectly affect each and every one and further aggravate their frustrations.The children of the schools affected will not be given a different academic year nor the parents of the business places burn down be offered other jobs. Who is then the loser? is it the government or the common man on the street.
We all agree that anger and frustration may lead some one to extremism but we can not compromise the burning down and looting of our institutions.
The government of Cameroon should be aware that the use of brutal force to quel the civilian uprising is invariably caling for armed factions that when emerged tomorrow will be difficlut to suppress.
Cameroon is a pecae loving nation.We will not even a bit, want to see our beloved country turn apart like Kenya just because of the selfish desires of our so called mighty leader and his stooges.
God please safe my beloved country.
Posted by: s.akamembulle | Monday, 03 March 2008 at 09:07 AM
That comment was absolutely brilliant gentleman. Keep your comments flowing.
Posted by: simplice | Monday, 03 March 2008 at 07:05 PM
"The long and short of the transporters' strike is that it ignited a heap of smouldering grievances among the youths and other Cameroonians; those who see Brasseries du Cameroun as a 'drug' industry, PMUC as drain on the economy as well as fuelling corruption amongst the armed forces, vacillating politicians who tell youths blatant lies and voracious tax collectors who feed fat from both the government and taxpayers."
Not my words, USMinnesota; Not my words.
Southern Cameroonians rightly see the Alcohol Industrial Complex as a dangerous addictive drug distributors and a drain on productive activities and not a "success story". What planet are you from. You live in the USA where the alcohol is seriously regulated. Try to sell alcohol to a minor in your college town, my friend, and you will become tattooed Clyde's wife in Mankato State Prison
Posted by: Ma Mary | Monday, 03 March 2008 at 11:23 PM
Mr Biya.
Can you not see that it is you who is the "demon"? If you cared anything at all about your country and it's people you would step down! Of course you will not but will continue to pose as a democratically elected leader. Can you not see that your days are numbered? Hopefully one day you will be in the prison cell that you have put so many others in. Most of them were innocent but you are not!!!!!!
Lawrence Nolan
Posted by: nolansafrica | Tuesday, 04 March 2008 at 03:24 AM
BSC Restoration Government Responds To
The February 2008 Massacre by Paul Biya
Fellow British Southern Cameroonians:
The brutality that was carried out against our citizens this past week adds a sweltering sense of urgency to the restoration of our stolen sovereignty. The most important thing you should do at this time is refrain from involving yourselves in the political affairs of the foreign country next door to us and east of the Mungo river. For these matters in the Republic of Cameroun are veritable distractions from our total focus on restoring our independence. Paul Biya's brutality on our citizens this past week should make it even clearer and even more urgent that we should not waver for a single moment from our determination to take our national sovereignty.
Your Restoration Government has chosen, for the time being, not to retaliate. Consider the kind of entity we are dealing with here. In his televised speech, when Biya used the phrase “apprentice sorcerers”, he reminded us all, once again, that he is not normal human; that he is a demonic force, a blood thirsty sorcerer. Photos of the youths whom Biya's troops slaughtered this week depict this event as the veritable handiwork of a demon and seasoned “sorcerer”. Yes, the British Southern Cameroons Restoration Government is at work to decolonise our country and restore our self-government. But in no way do we want to build our reclaimed sovereignty on blood. For it is written, “those who come with the sword die with the sword.” Unless forced to resort to force, our goal is to leave for our children the legacy of a nation that is built on the rule of law. ◊
Self defense is an inalienable right, inalienable because it is inherent in all humans, not derived from any law. And so international law and morality bow to it. Indeed, strikes, riots and revolutions have always been the preferred pathways out of oppressions and towards autonomy. The Boston Tea Party and the later American Revolution decolonised the people of the United States, transforming them into one of the greatest nations in the world today. Storming of the Bastille in 1789 freed the French from a tyrant as corrupt blood thirsty as Paul Biya.
To our neighbors suffering the brutal weight of this Biya regime, we offer our sympathy--since we fully share your grief--and we rise to stand with you as you fight to reclaim your God-given right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Biya's heavy handedness with you continues the state terrorism that Ahidjo directed against your parents in the 1960s. Time has not erased from human memory Ahidjo's genocide which killed more than half a million of your patriotic parents in the first decade of your independence– almost all of them Bassas and Bamileke. Time is not going to erase memory of the massacre that Paul Biya is now carrying out against your children today in 2008. Have no doubt that the world is witnessing that only the name has change, for Biya’s regime is a mere continuation of Ahidjo's 1960s regime.
Speaking to the nation on February 11, 2008, just two weeks earlier, Paul Biya pretended that the future was rosy for the youth of Cameroun. Now, barely two weeks later, his helicopter gunships and machine guns slaughter these very youth, letting the world know that by "rosy" he actually meant a bloody future for you. And your offense? Asking for employment and fair prices for basic needs. No family head butchers a hungry child for crying. If Biya were serving you or your country, he would never call you “apprentice sorcerers”; instead, he would relieve your pain. On national television last week, he would be talking like other presidents today when they meet a suffering community--with empathy in his eye and voice, not with vengeance and the fury of a blood thirsty vampire. You deserve better.
Fortunately, time favours you, not Biya who cannot turn back the clock. He represents the past – the dark past. The Camerounian youth represent the future, and the Republic of Cameroun rightfully belongs to them. Do not give up. Continue your valiant struggle against the sorcery that holds you and your country hostage. Victory and history are on your side. Once you free yourselves of the dark cloud that Biya and his regime have hung over you since 1982, we shall re-establish our ages long diplomatic and trade ties. We promise you our friendship and pledge to maintain good, exemplary, neighbourly ties with you. For now, harbour not the slightest doubt but that you have our total moral support. It is obvious that the freedom loving democratic world out there also sympathises with you and supports you morally.
To our British Southern Cameroonians, your Restoration Government is hard on the program to return us to the state of independence, freedom and civilised rule. That is because the Southern Cameroons was practically independent, its people were free and government was civilised and a servant of the people and not their master. You shall have a major role to play in bringing us to our dream of freedom.
Carlson Anyangwe
Head of Government
Posted by: rexon | Tuesday, 04 March 2008 at 06:23 AM
I am delighted to inform everyone that our application to demonstrate at the Cameroon Embassy on March 14th in regards to the recent situation in Cameroon has been approved. I received a call this morning at 7:30 am from Officer Walter of the United States Secret Service. He questioned me as the person who send in the application. After answering all his questions, he informed me that we have been approved and our demonstration starts at 10am to 1pm on Friday March 14th, 2008.
The will be D.C police presence for our protection, no one will be arrested as the demonstration will be peaceful. No drums will be allowed. Flyers and posters are allowed, Loud Speakers are allowed, no cars to be parked around that area. We need to be organized as we have enough time to make the world know of our problems. CNN and Fox 5 DC have also accepted to be present to cover the event. I am still contacting other media outlets to cover the event.
Cameroonians Journalists within the US are encouraged to be present to cover this historic day in our lives.
Please spread this good news to the entire Cameroonian population within the United States. For those comming from out of state, please you all can car pull. We need as many Cameroonians as possible. Modalities are in the works. We will be informing everyone on the details. For the time being, we are pleased our application was approved.
Billy Mukoi
For the Cameroonian Community.
Posted by: rexon | Tuesday, 04 March 2008 at 09:34 AM
Ma Mary,
First of all, you need to thoroughly check your facts about me. You are beginning to sound like a little crazy.
Second of all, I have never applauded the existence and activities of PMUC and Brasseries. My argument was that, these companies have their right to exist. However, if we don't want them, it is up to us to put them out of business by not buying their products. Alcohol is regulated in the West but are alcohol companies regulated? are these companies regulated In America? in Britain? in France? NO! There's a difference between regulating alcohol companies and regulating alcohol Ma Mary. I'm surprised that a self-proclaimed SCNC "intellectual" like you can't tell the difference. Companies have their right to exist as long as they are legally functioning.
Ma Mary,
Your desperate attempt to politicized every single issue has and will always be a flop. Not once, has the SCNC been mentioned by the Cameroonian populace during this strikes. What does this tell you? that the SCNC has no stronghold in Cameroon. Nobody gives a damn about your ineffective and crippled pressure group. Cameroonians are looking for real solutions, not careless ramblings by a bunch of internet warriors.
If the SCNC had a brain, they would have taken advantage of this confusion and declared independence. Unfortunately, the SCNC is not smart enough to carry out such a move. SCNC is a waste of my time.
Posted by: UnitedstatesofAfrica | Tuesday, 04 March 2008 at 09:54 AM
Fellow Brosis,
Did you hear Paul Nji Atanga, the Minister of Special Duties on "BBC have your say?". If not, then you get to the page and hear him. My brothers, we are surrounded by evil men. One might be tempted to call some of these people " Animals". I regret saying this.
God have Mercy. We hope for better days.
Posted by: Ndi O | Wednesday, 05 March 2008 at 01:05 AM
Hey Mukoi,
Thats great news. That what we expect from you guys. Good work and keep up. You have all our support.
Posted by: Abdou | Wednesday, 05 March 2008 at 08:03 AM
This SCNC story is read only in the internet. Nothing is known back here in Cameroon as such. Cameroonians are are all suffering from the suffocation of the evil regime that has nothing but to staff people to death. While we are here in Buea preventing the summarily sentencing by a minsterial order of the alleged victims arrested during the strike for two years, you people are talking of SCNC. Where are they therefore to protect our innocent children through the common law procedure from being imprison as those in other provinces without trial?
Posted by: Francis Nche | Thursday, 06 March 2008 at 06:49 AM