By Nformi Sonde Kinsai
The ranks of members of the Cameroon armed forces are rumoured to be clamouring for compensation after the handover of the oil-rich Bakassi Peninsula to Cameroon by Nigeria on August 14.
Sources at the Defence Ministry that opted to remain anonymous told The Post in Yaounde at the weekend that members of the armed forces are already murmuring their anticipation for compensation from President Paul Biya.
The sources say the officers are arguing that their services and contributions to the success story in Bakassi crisis must be recognised and compensated. According to them, they demonstrated restraint, defended and delivered the country from a full blown confrontation with the Nigerian army and withstood all sorts of provocation from a rebel group, which they claim are yet to be identified.
When The Post pointed out that they were recruited to defend the country and guarantee its security and integrity in all honour and fidelity, which services the State was paying for, they retorted that they were at a war front.
"In the face of any trans-boundary conflict, especially when the security of the state is at risk, the defence forces are given special attention and eventual compensation if they triumph.
"It happens in many countries across the world as some sort of motivation and Cameroon is no exception," one of them told The Post. He added that the Cameroon defence team to the numerous court sessions at The Hague, members of the Cameroon-Nigeria Mixed Commission and some military commanders that were sent to Bakassi, have reaped enormously as a result of the conflict and it is, therefore, time for the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces to think of what to do for military officers of the rank and file.
The officers raised many other issues to justify why the country's armed forces deserve compensation. They said some of their colleagues who have been to Bakassi for uncountable times in 15 years while the dispute raged, contracted all sorts of diseases.
While some are alive and are still sick, many others have died. They told the story of how some Cameroonian soldiers, who were arrested and taken to Nigeria during the early days of the war were tortured and fed with tapioca mixed with sand while others were maimed.
They noted that when the International Committee of the Red Cross, ICRC, eventually negotiated and the prisoners of war were exchanged between the two countries, almost all Cameroonian soldiers came back sick.
They also stated that many who were in that group had passed on to the world beyond.
Harping on the rules governing such conflicts as the one that was
witnessed over Bakassi, they said the family of every military officer
killed at the war front, must be accorded 100 percent pension dues.
They also said that families that lost loved ones in the face of the conflict are today receiving pension dues less than the stipulated 100 percent.On why they waited for 15 long years to begin to clamour for compensation, they argued that the Cameroonian military is a highly disciplined corps where respect of command is strictly respected.
It is for this reason, they said, that they remained committed to the security and integrity of the state which has borne fruits. They also said it would have been foolhardy for them to begin looking for compensation when an outburst of the conflict was still looming in the horizon.
"Despite the anxiety, we must remain devoted and vigilant for total peace to be restored in Bakassi," one of the officers declared to The Post.
SHAME TO THESE FRENCH BATARDS, THE WOULD NEVER ASK,WHAT EVER HAPPENEND TO THE OWNERS OF BAKASSI, I MEAN THE BAKASSIANS? TO THEM THEY HAVE WON A WAR
FOR A AND THATS NOT THEIRS.
Posted by: red flag | Monday, 18 August 2008 at 06:40 PM
Blackmail?
Let these good for nothing fellows grip Paul Biya on his balls until he pays.
This is the sort of nation he has built where anything is exchangeable for money. Have these guys forgotten that they took an oath to defend the nation unconditionally?
How could they be quoting what happens in other countries? Is it only when they want benefits for themselves that they admire what is happening in other countries? When they abuse our human rights by beating, torturing and killing citizens, why don't they quote those other countries where human rights are respected? In any organised system Cameroon included men in uniform in time of war or peace always get special provisions. Most if not all of these provisions are in writing in Cameroon laws today but just because the country is lawless, and corrupt these men in uniforms have not even bothered to check if they can find out if such benefits exists. See how stupid they are. What amount of money do they think the goverment could afford to give them that would mean anything to them? What of those who had never set foot in Bakassi just because they had never been assigned there? Should they be compensated too? If yes on what basis? And if no, why not? Did they choose not to go to Bakassi?
Instead of using the significant military influence to ask for lastimg benefits like subsidised housing, education, health care, career advancement opportunities in diferent areas like technical professions for themselves and their families i.e. things that that could positively affect the lives of their children and the children's children, for years to come, they want money just for themselves now. What a shame? What ignorance? Is it not the society Paul Biya wants? He has got it. Will he refuse? And how much will he pay for those who are no longer with us because of Bakassi? Could there be any amount that can make up for loosing a family member there? Let him dare refuse and see what will happen. But with the unfortunate shortsightedness in government just because something might probably not happen the next day they will conclude it will not happen at all. This is the beginning of military disgruntlement. Unfortunately they are asking for what they have already in the laws of Cameroon but because the government has forgotten that there are laws guiding how they should operate for the benefit, equality and fairness to all citizens, these military men too want to seize the opportunity of current administrative confusion and cash in for themselves. Do we call that BLACKMAIL? Yes we do.
I know Paul Biya will pay. Has he not placed himself under a position of blackmail from the military even though he does not know it? And the worst thing about blackmail is that once it starts it never stops. It always resurfaces in different ways and it must one day turn ugly - very ugly indeed.
Posted by: Fonngang | Monday, 18 August 2008 at 06:45 PM
The raising of La Republiques flag in Bakassi on two old sticks tied with a rope, is an indication that it will not be long before they take this their finny colors of the Southern Cameroons.
Look at a whole so called an international victory for them with diplomats present, and they are using two old sticks for their flag. Does it mean they were not certain that Nigeria will hand over our land to them for all these while?. Or are they only concern about the oil they will rip from there. I feel very very sorry for any thing French so sorry.
Posted by: mk the southerner | Monday, 18 August 2008 at 08:15 PM
mk the southerner,
Funny indeed. When a friend of mine saw the old stick, he asked me whether we do have metals in Africa. The lining used never pass through the tailor but u gonna hear the amount paid for the flag. I know the flag in itself is nothing compared with the the land given back to us but it is shameful. All Biya and his agents care about is Greed.
Posted by: Ndi O | Monday, 18 August 2008 at 11:45 PM
Truly the kind of pole on which these irresponsible guys hung the flag is indicative of the mismanagement in Cameroon. It is a shame and those responsible should be disciplined.
Posted by: anthony nsom | Tuesday, 19 August 2008 at 12:40 AM
Yes Ndi
This is supposed to be a national issue which I think was meant for the eyes of their president and the international community. Is it possible to believe that they could not even get a nice upright, pole whose straightness and uprightness is symbolic of what stuff the nation is made of? We are talking here of a pole nobody had to spend a franc to get. Citizens will even clamour and beg for the opportunity to get the honour of providing such a pole even free of charge in a contest.
And once again let me criticis this paper for not making any critical comments to that effect. What do they think when they see flags flown on smooth tall and straight poles? Accident? No. It is deliberate and indicative of what national pride is about.
Yes gentlemen, we can see what Cameroon is made of from this shameful display here.
Posted by: Fonngang | Tuesday, 19 August 2008 at 03:11 AM
What war did they fight before talking of winning? Had Nigeria not respected international law we would not be where we are today.
Posted by: Mburlih | Tuesday, 19 August 2008 at 05:31 AM
Please,gentlemen,let's not become over sentimental over symbolic feats.Yes,the pole that was used as seen in these pics doesn't reflect the stature of the occasion.But we must understand the circumstances in which this particular flag hoisting took place.Did anyone notice the rag-tag military fatigues of the soldiers and some of them are even barfooted.We are talking about a War zone here where the enemy can carry out a "blitzkrieg" at any moment.
Again,nobody here can ascertain the exact date when these pics were taken or exactly in which part of the peninsular they were.These maybe the pics dating back to 2002 when the ICJ ruled in favour of Cameroon,when the war was at its zenith.That's if my facts are correct.
However,the bottomline is that the territory is Cameroon's.That's the most important thing and we should be happy for that.
Rexon and MK the Southerner,pls shut ur "dichotonomous funnels" by claiming Bakassi is "Southern Cams".I would've even prefered the territory should go to the Niger Delta rebels that have proven that they are a force to reckon with.People who follow words with action.Not a bunch emotional wrecks who keep living in Dreamland imagining they can create a state by tough talk.
Posted by: Essono | Tuesday, 19 August 2008 at 08:37 AM
Compare that pole and flag with the one the Americans used hoisted at the island of Iwo Jima in 1945.Ours is even better.
Posted by: Essono | Tuesday, 19 August 2008 at 08:42 AM
Essono,
You are wrong. The two situations cannot be compared. Was Iwo Jima awarded to the Americans by the ICJ in 1945? Did the Americans have about six months to wait to hoist their flag at Iwo Jima? What war was being fought in Bakassi? Are wars won in a court room or on the battlefield? Do not support mediocrity. This a country where everything is done the way a tailor patches old dresses. When they want to tarr a road they take liquid tarr and rub on the road to decieve the public. It does not take long for first rains of the year to wash the useless tarr away. Look at all the schools the build. They give contracts of fabulous sums to their criminal friends and they pack poorly made cement blocks together and call them school buildings. Visit most of these schools and see how the blocks are crumbling over each other. Nothing is done to last in Cameroon. It seems as if the government is hired by someone else to work for them. Then you want to justify the use of a dirty piece of wood they used to raise up the cradle of the nation. Is that piece of wood not just like the road leading to Bakassi itself from Cameroon if there is a road at all? What is wrong is wrong and it is this pretence that something is what it is not that is killing the country. That is pure negligence, self deceit, lack of patriotism, lack of self pride and dignity and above all lack of respect for one's country.
Posted by: Fonngang | Tuesday, 19 August 2008 at 12:38 PM
No,no,no Fonngang,u're completely off the hook.I was metaphorically comparing the pole and the flag period and not the conflict in Bakassi or Iwo Jima.Nor was I defending the regime's dev't programmes.Read and reread the sentence above instead of rushing to write an essay on bla! bla! bla! God knows what.
And to think that an unapologetic opponent of Biya's regime like me,should defend the regime's dev't policies...
Posted by: Essono | Tuesday, 19 August 2008 at 03:50 PM
Essono,
The reincarnated Simplice Aka United States of Leuven. Wonders shall never end. La Republique have been given a burial ground by Nigeria. Mark my words. If they dont leave the Southern Cameroons by peace, they would never have peace in their own country. You can fool some people sometime, but not everytime.
Posted by: rexon | Tuesday, 19 August 2008 at 06:01 PM
No Essono I am not completely off the mark. I had to quote examples of all the halfhearted attempts these guys make to do anything in Cameroon. I have read most of your postings here and I agree with you that you are a no nonsense critic of the regime. But as much as you do not give them a breathing space I too will not give you a breathing space if you even try to ralax a bit in criticising them. You see if such a pole was used by another country with a track record of seriousness in their development prgrams I would not have bothered that much. But even if you give tthe Cameroon Authorities a year to prepare for such a ceremony, these guys will still pull this kind of fake stunt. That is how they operate and it does not limit itself to situations where there are emergencies.
Soldiers use anything to make a statement with flags in wartime. They must not go and try to get a designer pole from somewhere to do that with. But the Cameroon government is a basket case and they should not make any excuses. It is their style.
Essono, I don't think we are very much on opposite sides of the matter but my rebuttal to you was because I just sensed that you tried to give them a breathing space they do not deserve.
Posted by: Fonngang | Tuesday, 19 August 2008 at 06:02 PM
Fonngang,let's not get into unnecessary polemics.I still insist that I was refering to the flag and the pole,period.When I refered to the pole I wasn't giving the regime a "breathing space" as u insinuate.Yes,I understand that u're using the rudimentary pole that was used in the picture as a metaphor to decry and highlight the infastructural chaos this regime has plunged Cameroon into.And ur analysis above is incontestable.We know all these things.
On another issue,our debates on these forums shouldn't only be criticism all the time.Lest our discussions become stale and stereotyped.We need to advance intellectual debates so as to make the forum livelier.U know people all over the world read what we write here.And carrying out a balanced and intellectual debate doesn't sap the fire in u.For example,let's not debate like these secesssionists.U realise how bereft and intellectually hollow their comments are.
Posted by: Essono | Wednesday, 20 August 2008 at 06:34 AM
Rexon,
Oh!!! Think what u would,I would do what I want.I don't care a dime.I would expose ur mafioso secessionists mov'ts on this forum for the world to know how ideologically and politically bereft they are.I have what it takes to do that.And there's nothing on earth u can do about it.NOTHING!!!
U've come face to face with ur worst political nightmare on this forum.Stay tuned.
Posted by: Essono | Wednesday, 20 August 2008 at 06:44 AM
Essono,
Is it today that you know our organisation is mafioso? We need you to expose it as we have been exposing your mafioso SDF NGO's. Between, tell your CPDM sponsor Danny boy that when we are more than him, he can only reincarnate you guys and your ideology. The SDF is already buried and there is nothing you can do to resurrect it. Join the SCNC and you will be free. What we are fighting for is for u.
Posted by: rexon | Wednesday, 20 August 2008 at 03:42 PM
The verbal snippets of a provincial reject.Ignoramus!
Posted by: Essono | Wednesday, 20 August 2008 at 04:56 PM
Rexon, Why do you keep waisting your time with people who don't exist or have nothing to share but abuses and anger.
Just make your point brother and let those who are tempered by it begin to cry over it. You see I just write what I know is right and I don't care about the stupidity expressed by frogs.
Ours is justice my friend.
Posted by: mk the southerner | Wednesday, 20 August 2008 at 05:02 PM
Mk the Southerner,
Your advise has been taken in good faith. I will work well to write just my point and ignore them. Their business with La Republique has already crumbled and they are no longer needed by Biya and his ilk, why wasting time there?
Posted by: rexon | Wednesday, 20 August 2008 at 05:05 PM
Rexon,
don't you have something else better to do than sit at your keyboard writing such twaddle as in this quote, "tell your CPDM sponsor Danny boy that when we are more than him, he can only reincarnate you guys and your ideology."?
If only this was true! I see you can not counter Essono's cut and thrust, so you conclude that he must be one of my acolytes!! He is not. The innuendo notwithstanding, thanks for recognising my inputs into our debates.
It used to be fun Rexon, but I have since resolved to give this tedious game of playing 'space invaders' a miss.
Blessed be Cameroon.
Danny.
Posted by: Danny Boy | Wednesday, 20 August 2008 at 05:59 PM
WHY WOULD EVERY ONE JUMP ON ESSONU,I WAS
GONNA ASK, BUT WHEN OU GOT A CANCER PLAGUE
INDEVIDUAL, RUNNING TOAWRDS A HEALTHY CROWD, THATS WHAT HE GETS. EVRY ONE YELLING GO AWAY, GO AWAY, AND THIS LOW LIFE THEIFFROM, THE FRENCH NEGROED EQUATORIAL FOREST OF AFRICA, DOESNT EVEN KNOW WHERE HE BELONGS, HE DOESNT EVEN KNOW THAT , HERE IS A SOUTHERN CAMEROONS
MEDIA. HE STILL FOOLISHLY KEEP SPEWING HIS VERNUM TOWARDS US, I BEG SOME ONE SHOULD SHOOT HIM DOWN BEFORE HE CONTAMINATE US.
ICJ, NIGERIA OR NOT. BAKASSI IS SOUTHERN CAMEROONS TERRITORY. AND SOUTHERN CAMEROONS MUST BE INDEPENDENT BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY.
LA REPUBLIQUE DU CAMEROUNS FRONTIER ENDS AT THE MUNGO RIVER, EAST SIDE, THAT
FRONTIET HAVE NOT CHANGED IN THE UNITED NATIONS RECORDS. ILLEGAGL OCCUPATION BY FRENCH CAMEROUN ON SOUTHERN CAMEROONS DOESNT PROVES LEGAL.
Posted by: red flag | Wednesday, 20 August 2008 at 06:26 PM
ESSONU, THE FOREST THIEF
PLEASE ANWER MR THE FOLLWING QUESTION:
1. HOW CAN YOU TERM BRITISH SOUTHERN CAMEROONS INDEPENDENCE MOVEMENT(SECESSION)
WHEN IT HAVE NEVER IN HISTORY BEEN A
PART OF LA REPUBLIQUE FRANCAISE DU CAMEROUN?
2.HOW DO YUOU FEEL IF 8M BRITISH SOUTHERN CAMEROONINANS. WERE RULING OUR
PEOPLE IN YOUR FOREST TOWN OF SANMELIMA OR EBOLOWA, AND DESTROYING THE PRESTIGEU CULTURE?
3. IN ORDER FOR LOUIS EYEYA, AL ALL OTHER
FRENCH CAMEROUN SENT OVER ILLEGAL GOUVERNEURS IN SOUTHERN CAMEROONS BY PAUL BIYA TO BE INSTALLED , THEY HAVE TO E PROTECTED BY YOUR MILITARY AND GERDAMES, IS IT NOT BECAUSE PUL BIYA KNOWS THAT OUR PEOPLE DOESNT WELCOME YOUR PRESENCE? SUCH THE MILITARY HAVE TO INTIMIDATE THE PEOPLE IN OTHER TO ENFORCE YOUR FRENCH FOREIGN RULE UPON THEM, ESSONO, IS THIS WHAT YOU CALL
UNITY? OR AFRICAN UNITY? THESE YOUR COMPARTRIOT MUST ABADON THEIR LITTLE VILLAGES TO NOBODY, IN PEACE, THEN COME FAR AWAY CROSS MANY RIVER AND OVEANS AND MOUNTAINS, INTO OUR LAND. ACCORDING TO YOU IS THIS GOOD OR BAD?
IF YOU SAY GOOD. THEN YOU MUST BE HANGED IMMEDIATELY
Posted by: red flag | Wednesday, 20 August 2008 at 06:37 PM
COMRADES,
Interesting comments indeed. Suppose the flag hoisted at Bakassi had two stars ,will the pole be any issue? Catch not the shadow and loose the substance.
Posted by: Radicalbrother | Thursday, 21 August 2008 at 06:07 AM
Radicalbrother, two or one star for me does not make any difference. Even if it was the Southern Cameroons flag hung like that I will still see something wrong. Thank God this can not happen in a free Southern Cameroons.
I know that you know how need and apt the Southern Cameroons military, drilled in the English style can be.
Posted by: mk the southerner | Thursday, 21 August 2008 at 10:03 AM
Our motherland continues to suffer from the brutal occuptation of la republique du cameroun.We continue to have traitors in all frontiers wherein the peoples of the southern cameroons find themselves.We must be careful as the enemy manifests in various forms.When we destroy their propaganda against a free state of the southern cameroons, they tend to metamorphose into different evils who stand antagonistic to the freedom of our motherland.Unitedstatesofafrica today is not heard but I wonder how his ideologies and heresies manifest in most of the heretic incognitos in this forum.There is reincarnation in this forum and we the comrades of the southern cameroons must be as careful as serpents and to unravel their true identities.
Taking a look at the pole on which the flag of a disgraced nation was hung,it is crystal clear that such a regime does not even know what it is telling the world.It is most probably unsure of what it is doing,the symbolism of it is also unknown.A house divided against itself will not stand and this is the divide that is underway in la republique.This is a herald of doom for Biya and his regime.
I salute all the comrades of the southern cameroons of this forum who stand on truth.Those who have the knowledge about la republique du cameroun and the southern cameroons and don't use it rightly are not wise.Wisdom is the rightful application of knowledge.We must dedicate our knowledge the true right and destiny of our motherland.It is blatantly clear what la repubique has done and is doing to our motherland.It is intellectual dishonesty to refute strong allegations of the southern cameroons against the government of la republique.
We must stand for the truth so to save our motherland.
Peace
Legima Doh,
ScNc,New York
Posted by: Legima Doh | Thursday, 21 August 2008 at 03:36 PM
Cameroon shall remain one and indivisible
Posted by: Essono | Thursday, 21 August 2008 at 05:42 PM
It's a shame looking at the pictures of those soldiers. They look like some poor rebels. If the government of Cameroon cannot take care of its people it should at least take good care of those guys. It's a shame to see the military guys dress in racks especially in such an occasion and after what they have gone through in Bakassi. They should at least dress professional in some good military camouflage. Some of them are even bare footed. The flag is hanging on … … Paul Biya …….. no need commenting you need to look after those guys. All they need for now is some respect. Dress them up.
Posted by: donzebe | Thursday, 21 August 2008 at 08:11 PM
Essono
no matter the situation those guys should be wearing some shoes and better military camouflage and the flag should be on a better pole. How can fight in such a dress up. It seem the guns they are holding are some French left over from ww1.
Paul Biya need to do this:
1. dress those guys up
2. construct some major highways linking Bakassi to rest of cameroon. A major Highway from limbe through kumba to Bakassi and name it Biya international hwy.
3. Start the construction of a major city in Bakassi and call it Biyacity or whatever.
Posted by: donzebe | Thursday, 21 August 2008 at 08:39 PM
WHAT THESE CRIMINALS AS WELLAS BIYA OUGHTTA, DO IS TO PACK AND LEAVE OUR LAND, FOR US TO BUILD OUR WAY, THATS WHAT PEOPLE DO, ALL OVER THE WORLD, THEY RULE ONLY THEIR OWN LAND, THEY DONT
RULE THEIR LAND AND THEN INTEND THE CALL
OTHER PEOPLES LAND AS THEIRS, ONLY THEIFS AND BANDITS THINK THAT WAY
SOO TO HELL WITH BIYA, WHY CAN BUILD 100
HIGHWAYS ON BY OUR SELVES AND NAME IT
FREEDOM HIGHWAYS.
Posted by: red flag | Thursday, 21 August 2008 at 11:44 PM
thanks for your article,like your blog very much,well done
Posted by: Belstaff Bag | Wednesday, 28 December 2011 at 05:49 AM