Bachelet welcomes release of hundreds of political actors in Cameroon (08.10.2019)

The President had ordered the release of 333 persons arrested in the context of the conflict in the Northwest and Southwest regions.

GENEVA, Switzerland, October 8, 2019 – UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet on Tuesday welcomed the release of hundreds of political actors in Cameroon, among them opposition leader Maurice Kamto.

On 4 October, President Paul Biya announced the release of Kamto and more than a hundred of others detained in relation to the recent electoral process. The day before, the President had ordered the release of 333 persons arrested in the context of the conflict in the Northwest and Southwest regions. Prosecutors were instructed to drop charges against them.

“I hope that this decision taken by the Government opens the door to longer-term constructive dialogue that enables Cameroon to tackle the root causes and underlying grievances of significant elements of the population, who have been feeling excluded,” the UN Human Rights Chief said.

“I am very pleased to see that President Biya is acting on his commitment to look for solutions to the problems that have beset Cameroon in recent years,” Bachelet said. “During my visit to Yaoundé in May this year, we discussed the way forward to overcome the various human rights problems in the country, and we agreed that national dialogue and reconciliation were essential.”

The decision to release the political actors, reached in the context of a National Dialogue that took place last week, could contribute to political reconciliation, as well as creating a more inclusive environment for socio-economic development.

She also urged opposition parties and militant groups to join the authorities in its efforts towards reconciliation, and reiterated her Office’s willingness and availability to continue providing support to Cameroon.

“Cameroon has an opportunity to leave behind years of conflict and confrontation and enter a new era of peace and prosperity, where human rights are respected and protected, and we will do everything in our power to help make that become a reality,” she said. “There will, no doubt, be many difficulties along the road, but if the will to find solutions remains strong, and if the Government abides by its commitments, the country as a whole could and should benefit substantially.”

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Opinion: The one-sided Grand National Dialogue comes with brief recommendations…

Let’s be clear, there is little to take from the Grand National Dialogue, which happen this week in Yaounde, Cameroon. Where the elite, the patronage had a massive display and speeches. But the other party was all behind bars or in exile. Not like the stakeholders of this dialogue got to talk. It was mostly of the President’s men. It doesn’t help and prove anything significant that the President pardons 333 detainees and Cameroon Renaissance Movement (CRM) get freed on the final day of the talks.

This is really showing, that the President did a PR show. Because, the report of the talks shows that the one-sided affairs. Not only with the recommendation, but also with their pleas. But they are putting the blame indirectly on the armed militants, but not on the military whose displaying an open direct war on the population. These are the who has the force, who makes villages and towns into ghost towns and been reported about. Still, the President and his men, fails to mention that in the report.

“These include the Recommendation to;

► Grant a special status to the North-West and South-West Regions, in conformity with Section 62 Sub 2 of the Constitution;

► Take specific measures to ensure equality of English and French in ail aspects of national life;

► Reinforce the autonomy of Decentralised Local Entities;

► Improve upon the infrastructure of judicial services throughout the country;

► Strengthen the Humanitarian Assistance Program to better serve internally displaced persons;

► Institute a special plan to reconstruct the conflict affected areas;

► Popularise the Head of State’s offer of amnesty to combatants who drop their weapons and enter the reintegration process; and,

► Create a team responsible for mediation with radicalised members of our Diaspora” (REPORT OF THE RAPPORTEUR GENERAL OF THE MAJOR NATIONAL DIALOGUE, 04.10.2019).

This here proves the problem of the Grand National Dialogue, where the NW-SW regions are supposed to become special, but in what sense? What will the Ambazonia get or benefit after the years of military attacks, road-blocks and so-on? What will Yaounde and the Biya’s men do now differently?

Because, they have gone after the leadership of the NW-SW, the ones whose appointed or made-men from the President. The rest have been followed, detained or exiled. This has been systematic measures from the state. That is why, these people are still behind bars and their voice wasn’t listened too. That is why, the recommendations falls flat.

Not, that the ideas are faulty, but its just one stakeholder, one main power speaking. Even other movements and parties dropped out, because they felt it was farce. That says something about it all. Not only the ones already detained and silenced. The President wasn’t mentioning them. They are blaming the guns, the militias, but they are created, because the army is sent there to settle the score and making it worse. Combined with governors putting in curfews and strict movement regulations on the citizens there.

Therefore, from the get-go, the Grand National Dialogue was flawed. The outcomes shows that and that is why the Report is such a thin soup. Cooking a soup made by leaves and hope it taste beef. Peace.

Cameroon: Minister of State, Secretary-General of the Presidency of the Republic – Press Release (04.10.2019)

Cameroon: Minister of State, Secretary-General of the Presidency of the Republic – Press Release (03.10.2019)

Cameroon: Press Briefing of Spokesperson Dr George N. Ewane on the Last Day of the Major National Dialogue (04.10.2019)

Cameroon: Le Ministre d’Etat, Secretaire General de la President de la Republique – Communique (03.10.2019)

Cameroon: Now! Movement – Statement on the Major National Dialogue (01.10.2019)

Cameroon: Press Briefing of Spokesperson Dr. George N. Ewane on Day 2 of the Major National Dialogue (01.10.2019)

Opinion: The Grand Dialogue National is a sham..

Whatever President Paul Biya’s handlers, Prime Minister Joseph Dion Ngute and the rest of loyal men are doing with this Grand Dialogue National or Major National Dialogue. We know it won’t amount to much.

Reports today as the Dialogue starts:

As there are reports of soldiers shooting in the Owe Village in Muyuka Division since morning. Where the soldiers break into homes and people are fleeing the village and is killed deliberately in the forest.

Therefore, when the likes of Minister of Justice Jean de Dieu Momo says yesterday that the separatists has nothing to do or to attend the dialogue. He proves the pointless exercise this whole event is.

If the Swiss backers of this thinks this is wise, maybe they should sell of Biya’s assets and donate it to Bamenda starving public. Because, the North-West and South-West Regions are burning. The Anglophone is directly a civil-war zone, where the army is daily attacking and killing people. Where the leadership is behind bars and the rest in exile. Clearly, the Yaounde and Douala central leadership doesn’t want to give way.

Neither is this Grand Dialogue National anything else, than stalling for time. They have not involved the ones hurt or destroyed by the acts done by the central government. Neither, will Biya humiliate himself nor his compatriots in Geneva. No, he will be the big-man, the one whose decrees and shows greatness. However, this is a failure and the world should know it.

There isn’t anything to get out of this, as long as the Ambazonian leadership is behind bars. As longs as the ones whose speaking for the Anglophone regions isn’t heard. It is just an echo-chamber of the political elites, bootlickers and paid off cronies making a show.

The ones organizing it, knows this, but they will not say it. They are supposed to be there for “freedom, liberty and justice”. But right now, it is only justice for one party and the other one is either silenced by the gun or by the justice system. They are not validated or understood, but while the authorities are allowed to destroying villages, making ghost-towns, curfews on the public, banning public rallies and also killing citizens as they see fit. While the elites of the ruling party is living lavish on the spoils of the “talks”.

It is hard to be talks, when in reality it is one party talking to itself. It is hard to be dialogue, when one of the parties engaged in this. Isn’t allowed to participate or have the ability to do so. If they would show-up, they would need a Shawshank Redemption, Prison Break Cameroonian Edition and some insiders helping them to flee. However, that is not happening. Not any time soon.

But expect Biya and Ngute to bash in glory, to sell stories and look like Kings. Nevertheless, they will not resolve, will find a solution other then a new hustle to fill their pockets. This will not change the realities on the grounds. As the soldiers are still there doing massive hurt and the public’s fears are continuing. The government are still haunting the region, but not like they will answer for these crimes. No, they are dining in the fine halls of the world and eating the spoils of their crimes. Peace.