The ghost town operation and the industrial action by the Consortium of Southern Cameroons teachers and lawyers will go ahead after last ditch talks with the Professor Ghogomu Paul Minglo so-called Ad hoc Committee end without agreement.

Consortium leaders have called on Southern Cameroonians to massively observe a ghost town for tomorrow Monday the 9^th of January 2017.  The leaders have also promised to extend the strike action indefinitely if their demands are not met by the Francophone government.  Schools around the Southern Cameroons nation will be closed tomorrow.

Cameroon Concord News gathered that both sides have agreed that talks will continue and further contacts will take place with a view to arranging more talks next week. Speaking after yesterday’s discussions, the Anglophone leaders said that large differences remain and progress has been slow, “almost static I would say” hinted Barrister Agbor Balla.

He added that the shutting of schools is the Consortium’s decision. The Gogomu Paul Committee earlier issued a circular to school principals dealing with the implications of the ghost town operation scheduled by the Consortium calling on schools to reopen on Monday the 9^th.

The Anglophone leaders described the move as very provocative and reiterated that the Biya Francophone Beti Ewondo regime no longer has legitimate authority in Southern Cameroons. Roman Catholic Education Secretaries including those of the Baptist and Presbyterian churches have all described it as a normal approach if teachers withdraw from core duties until the Anglophone issues are resolve. Wilfred Tassang noted that the action is going ahead because there is no offer on the table from the Yaounde regime.

By Rita Akana in Bamenda

Tassang Wilfred is one of the leaders of the largest teachers’ trade union in Cameroon. In a short post released to the public, he has asked West Cameroonians to believe in God, remain steadfast for victory is at the corner.  “..Now it is written in the Book of (Exodus) that when the Lord wanted to show His power, glory and destroy Pharaoh, He told Moses “but I will harden his heart so that he will not let my people go.”

Our people in their time-tested wisdom also say, “He the gods want to destroy, they, first of all, make mad”. The Word of God quoted above, and the wisdom of our people referred to above explain succinctly what is happening to Yaoundé. Yaoundé’s resorting to forgery, lies and unprofessional blackmail, the Head of State sending an old and frail Garga Haman to come and bring us to reason is indicative of Yaoundé’s desperation.

The blood of the Lamb is already written on every West Cameroon door post. This is the reason why everyone has received the spirit to discern fake and fraud, forgery and lies. These are signs that don’t lie. A little more determination and Yaoundé’s back will be on the floor. And we shall, like we did in Njindom village during my primary school days, pin Yaoundé to the ground and feed him fists full of dust, apply the same all over him so that when Yaoundé gets up, there will be no lying what happened. The Captain of the hosts of heaven Himself is on the battle field. Just “be still” and know that He is God…”

Praise God.

Deacon Tassang Wilfred

NESG CATTU

Members of the Cameroon Anglophone Civil Society Consortium, CACSC, have revealed that they are much ready to dialogue with the government to break the deadlock that has existed since the strike action in the North West and South West regions began.

In a Press briefing on the developments of events and their stance, they said, “We are willing to dialogue and solve problems which have beset the NW and SW regions, but Government seems to have other priorities. We still believe that a return to two-states Federation remains the best guarantee or institutional safeguard for the protection of our legal, educational, social economic and political in Cameroon.” They also said only a press conference will be convened to announce any strike suspension and not a Press release.

The announcement comes a day after a fake Press release presumably from a government agent said the strike had been suspended and called on students and pupils to go back to school on Monday, it was later found out that the release was not from the Consortium. The Consortium equally observed with regrets governments plan to undermine the dialogue process by making several moves to non members of the ad hoc committee by trying to coerce Chiefs, Fons, Principals and Elites. Members of the Consortium have given the Parliamentarians One week to secure the release of youth ‘abducted’ in Bamenda without which they will face difficulties in upcoming elections. They maintained the ghost town on Monday the 9th.

Culled from CIN

The controversial Chairperson of the so-called Ad Hoc Inter-ministerial Committee tasked with examining and proposing solutions to the concerns raised by the Anglophone Teachers’ Trade Unions, Professor Ghogomu Paul Mingho has issued a release admitting more members into the committee.

Ghogomu who attempted invoking the North West/South West divide to please his Francophone master has finally settled with the recommendation of the North West members of the committee.

The eight new members admitted into the working group include;

1-    Mr. Njie Samuel Kale, PCC Education Secretary

2-    Mr. Ntoko Ntuba Wilfred, Cameroon Education Forum

3-    Mr. George Ngwane, parent

4-    Ms. Louise Ebenye Ikome, Principal G.B.H.S Tiko

5-    Mr. Mbete William, Principal G.T.H.S Muyuka

6-    Mr. S.T Mbu, Education Secretary Lay Private

7-    Fr. Ebiaga Peter Paul, Mamfe Diocess

8-    Mr. Motanga Hilary Hamza, Islamic Education Secretary Buea

It is widely believed that the admission of these members by Ghogomu Paul Mingo, Chairman of the committee will bring more serenity to future discussions. The decision was made following pressure from members of the committee during their first meeting that more representatives from the South West Region be incorporated into the committee.

CRTV

Teachers Trade Unionists have maintained that the strike action must continue unless government grants their request. Wilfred Tassang of the Cameroon Teachers Trade Union says it is a good thing that the eight members requested to be added to the ad hoc committee for teachers were finally included in the list but that they will only sit to negotiate when all the youths arrested in Bamenda and Kumba are released. He said while observing Monday ghost town in the two regions, they are ready for dialogue if those conditions are fulfilled.

Prime Minister Philemon Yang in a press release on Friday called on parents to send their children to school beginning Monday the 9^th of January 2017 .In a typical Francophone-CPDM pattern, Philemon Yang invited the education family to put hands together for the smooth start of the second term in the two Anglophone regions despite ongoing strike action by teachers. The Head of Government assured parents that security measures for the kick off have been taken.

Philemon Yang who reportedly now takes instructions from Higher Education Minister, Fama Ndongo also said government is ready to partake in meaningful dialogue with trade Unionists to arrive a consensus to improve on English sub system of education. The Prime Minister concluded his communiqué with the usual CPDM rhetoric observing that “the issues have been identified and that solutions are underway.” However, Southern Cameroonians seems not to be listening anymore to officials from La Republique du Cameroun.

The North West region based Cameroon Parents Association, CAPA, has given its unflinching support to striking teachers assuring them that they will observe the ghost town on Monday and even beyond. A release signed by eight representatives partially reads, “We unanimously and unilaterally support the ongoing teachers and lawyers strike, declare a ghost town across North West and South West as from Monday January 9,2017.” The Parents also said dialogue can only be sincere if youths ‘abducted’ in Bamenda and Kumba are released. They also decry the divide and rule system of North West and South West people implored by the government.

In another latest development, Fons in Ndu sub division, Donga Mantung Division have reportedly refused to cede to demands of Divisional Officer of the area to lure parents send their children to school come Monday. They told the DO that it is the place of teachers and lawyers to tell the students and not traditional rulers. On his part, the Fon of Tabeken, Ngwayi Polycarp has called on his subjects especially pupils and students to avoid market places and crowded areas, though he did not come out clear on his stance ,it is rumored that he is trying not to victimize himself but supporting the struggle.

Culled from CIR

A group of hungry so-called journalists grouped under a yet-to-be known federation of Anglophone Journalist Association were caught sharing money at Ayaba Hotel in Bamenda recently. The gang were also demanding the news reporters to sell their message that students must return to school on Monday the 9th of January, 2017.

The information was made public by John Mbah Akuroh, a senior political news reporter and president of the Cameroon Anglophone Publishers Association, CANPA.  Mbah Akuroh added that the said traitors, led by one Dotta Ezekiel who runs The Watchdog newspaper, specialized in dishing out awards to gullible politicians, posed as representing all Anglophone journalists in Cameroon.

The President of the Cameroon Anglophone Publishers’ Association, CANPA and Secretary General of the Commonwealth Journalists Association – CJA- Cameroon, declared late last night to local and international pressmen that media gurus in the North West region support the strikes and stand by the demands made.

John Mbah Akuroh further pointed out that his union backs the calls for schools shutdown and ghost town until the demands presented are met.”

The National Telegraph, a home based Anglophone tabloid is reporting that Anglophone soldiers have given President. Biya one condition to look into their worries else they will be forced to follow the footsteps of the Common Law Lawyers and Anglophone teachers in the wake of what has now become known as the Anglophone struggle. The sister publication observed that Anglophone Soldiers of the 2015 batch in the Far North have given the Presidency an ultimatum to solve a bulk of their problems otherwise they would begin a strike action.

Cameroon Intelligence Report is yet to confirm the correctness of this developing story. However, some media sources say the Anglophone soldiers of that batch are being discriminated upon and wouldn’t take any further discrimination from the government. According to National Telegraph sources, since the soldiers stepped foot into Far North, life has been extremely difficult with little or no government attention towards their well being.

“Every day, we are traumatized by the enemy with attacks which one can hardly count. Many of our friends die, we bear all the heart aches, and we spent a year knowing that we will be replaced by others in order to rest for a while even if we have to come back, yet government completely relegates us to the background. September 2016 was programmed to replace people but we were shocked to hear that only the ”ancients”, mostly Francophones were replaced and we were left behind to continue with the new people entering”, an Anglophone soldier confided in National Telegraph.

National Telegraph further stipulated that the Ministry of Defense has a duty and obligation to replace soldiers sent to the Far North one year from date of deployment. National Telegraph revealed that Francophones are mostly taken away from the Far North while Anglophones remain in the same spot. The soldiers have also complained that the individual guns they are using always fail to shoot during attacks because it’s second-rate thereby leading to the deaths of many which is usually not reported by the government. We have very little weapons while the enemy is well armed. We need to know if really we are sent to defend the country or we are sacrificial lambs.

National Telegraph insider quizzed. Furthermore, the health of these soldiers is worrisome; National Telegraph reported that, when they are sick or injured, treatment depends on the individual based on the feeding allowance that is given to them usually on the 7th, 8th or 9th of each month. It’s with that same money and so-called risk allowance that the soldiers can buy drugs by the road side to treat themselves. How can we lack medical care as soldiers defending the nation? one of the soldiers lamented.

According to the National Telegraph, even the 20 permission days which is by right has been suspended and they have spent months going nowhere. The soldiers according to National Telegraph have tabled their problems to the President and have stated in clear terms that should they not be replaced by January 28, 2017, and their bonuses paid all at once, they will begin a strike action. National Telegraph Editorial further writes: “The announcement by Anglophone soldiers is coming at a time when two meetings in Bamenda and Yaoundé between government and representatives of the teachers and lawyers respectively ended in deadlock. The Lawyers and Teachers have been on a peaceful demonstration for months. Schools have virtually shut down in the two English-speaking regions of the North West and South West while courts have completely gone paralyzed. The lawyers have been condemning the infringement on the Common Law system amongst other things while the teachers have decried the erosion of the Anglo-Saxon system of education amongst others.

The general Anglophone community, mostly youths have now joined the struggle demanding for Federalism. Since the strike, tempers have flared and there have been clashes between civilians and security forces. In Buea, several University students were arrested and detained arbitrarily. Others were raped, beaten and looted by security forces sent to maintain peace and order. In Bamenda and Kumba, casualties were recorded with at least five protesters killed by police. Several others were injured while others still remain in detention. Businesses have been slowed down and travelling in some cases made difficult.

In the Bamenda and Yaounde meetings, Teachers and Lawyers demanded for the immediate release of all those held in detention. Meanwhile, all Anglophone Bishops of the Roman Catholic Church have written to the President pointing the need for dialogue. As at the date of this publication, President Biya who has been accused for being in power for too long is yet to make any official statement on the matter….”

Culled from CIR

President Paul Biya is said to be under considerable pressure and panic in Yaoundé after it was revealed that his New Year Day speech was leaked to the public hours before his televised presentation on the 31^st of December. A well-placed source at the Presidency told Cameroon Intelligence Report that close aides to Biya are urging him to order the arrest of many of his collaborators.

The situation became more complicated yesterdays during a press conference by the minister of Employment and Vocational Training, Hon. Zacharie Perevette who Contradicted President Biya’s  end of year speech when he observed that  the head of state was wrong when Biya said in 2016,  320,000 jobs were Created instead of 400,000 .

Insiders say it was because Jacques Fame Ndongo, the Minister of Higher Education who is responsible for writing the Head of State’s speech, did not consult other cabinet ministers before preparing the document. Jacques Fame Ndongo was in the South West region pushing the Consortium to call off the strike action and the ghost town operation to begin on Monday the 9^th 2017.

In France, the president is reportedly being urged by his French mentors to quit the leadership of the CPDM an opinion which has been shared by some senior Francophone Beti Ewondo politicians. The many scandals that have rocked Etoudi including news that some prominent Anglophone political elites are threatening to join the Southern Cameroons Struggle has prompted Biya to cancel the presentation of New Year wishes at State House scheduled for today Thursday 5th Jan.2017.

Our Yaoundé informant hinted that the ceremony has been rescheduled on Friday the 6^th of January 2017. CPDM insiders are now arguing that Biya having succeeded in defusing political tension that was generated by Fru Ndi and the SDF, should very much consider retiring at the end of his current seven-year term.

Culled from Cameroon Intelligence Report