News

11, December 2017

Trump slams media over fake news, calling reporters a ‘stain on America’ ⁰

US President Donald Trump has once again railed against the media blasting journalists and calling their work “a stain on America” after a string of errors in reporting on his presidency emerged over the past week.

“Very little discussion of all the purposely false and defamatory stories put out this week by the Fake News Media. They are out of control — correct reporting means nothing to them. Major lies written, then forced to be withdrawn after they are exposed…a stain on America!” Trump tweeted Sunday.

The tweet came after some journalists made several reporting errors causing them to become targets of Trump and conservative media and commentators.

The errors by CNN and ABC have been widely covered in the media, including on CNN, which featured a Sunday segment on mistakes in journalism.

Trump referred to ABC News’s Brian Ross as a “fraudster” on Friday, a week after he reported that the president had directed his former national security adviser Michael Flynn to make contact with Russian officials during the campaign.

ABC later corrected the report to say the president directed Flynn to contact Russia “after” he was elected.

Washington Post reporter Dave Weigel has also became Trump’s most recent target after the president demanded Saturday that he apologize for tweeting a photo of an empty arena before a Trump rally in Florida that had been taken hours before the event started.

Weigel responded and apologized minutes after Trump tweeted that he had “put out a phony photo of an empty arena hours before I arrived.”

Trump’s comments were his latest attack against the news media for the coverage he receives. During a speech in Phoenix, Arizona, in August, he called journalists “truly dishonest” and “sick people.”

Trump has repeatedly used the term “fake news” to cast doubt on critical media reports about his administration, often without providing any evidence to support his case.

As a candidate, Trump had pursued the same anti-media rhetoric threatening to “open up our libel laws so when they write purposely negative and horrible and false articles, we can sue them and win lots of money.”

Source: Presstv

10, December 2017

Ambazonian refugees: More than 5000 registered in neighbouring Nigeria now, says UN ⁰

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has revealed that since the beginning of the Southern Cameroons crisis, 5, 277 Ambazonian refugees have so far been registered by the UNHCR agency in Nigeria.

The UN says it is running out of resources to support new asylum seekers who arrived on December the 4^th in Cross River State after the 84 year old French Cameroun dictator, Paul Biya declared war against the people of Southern Cameroons.

The UN body noted that new asylum seekers from Akwaya, Otu, Eyumojock, Nsan, Dadi and Bodam arrived Cross River State in Southern Nigeria. “A joint registration team from UNHCR and the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI) will continue biometric registration for new arrivals in Cross River State” UNHCR stated.

The Southern Cameroonian refugees have been receiving food and non-food items including mattresses, blankets, mosquito nets, cooking utensils and hygiene kits from the UN. But with the renewed escalation of the conflict in Cameroon and the arrival of thousand new asylum seekers, the ability to respond has been affected by the lack of additional resources to support newcomers.

Cameroon Concord News understands that the UNHCR Nigeria and its partners have developed a contingency plan for about 40,000 newcomers from the Federal Republic of Ambazonia with a nominal budget of $ 18 million.

By Sama Ernest with files from CIN

10, December 2017

Israelis protest against corruption-tainted Netanyahu in Tel Aviv ⁰

Thousands of Israelis have taken to the streets of Tel Aviv to vent their anger at the regime corruption, calling on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to step down. Israeli media estimated that about 10,000 people turned out for the protest dubbed the “March of Shame” in Tel Aviv on Saturday. Similar demonstrations also took place in other Israeli cities.

Saturday’s rally was part of the weekly events sparked by corruption allegations against Netanyahu, who has been questioned in two cases and is suspected of being involved in bribery, fraud and breach of trust. Around 20,000 Israelis join the demonstration against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Tel Aviv, holding up signs reading “Crime Minister.”

Protesters held banners reading, “Crime Minister,” “Neither left, nor right (we demand) integrity,” “We are fed up with corrupt (politicians)” and “Sweep the corrupt away.” They further shouted slogans such as “Corporate power, organized crime,” “We won’t stop until Bibi resigns,” “The people demand legal justice,” “Shame-Mafia” and “Bibi go home.”

Demonstrator Mira Levni said the Israelis “don’t like … the behavior of our leaders.” “I came to protest this unbelievable racist and corrupt regime. We are going to keep coming to protest until Netanyahu goes down,” said another demonstrator, Yigal Shtayim.

Another participant, Sigal Aviv, stressed that in addition to graft, the event was meant to denounce the Tel Aviv regime’s policies such as occupation and mistreatment of refugees.

“Our idea is to voice that this demonstration should include other issues, not only the issue of corruption, the corruption is only the symptom, it’s not the disease, the disease is the occupation, the disease is the way the regime treats refugees, the way it treats lower class people in Israel,” she said.

Netanyahu is suspected of having received luxury gifts from businessmen overseas in Case 1000. He is also being investigated in Case 2000 for an alleged media bribery scheme to help Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper against its competitor Israel Hayom in return for favorable coverage of the premier.

Source: Presstv

9, December 2017

Man arrested in Bachou Akaegbe in connection with Mamfe Gendarmerie post attack ⁰

Cameroon Special Forces loyal to the regime in Yaoundé say they have arrested the main agent recruiting soldiers for the Southern Cameroons Defense Force. Our source within the military leadership hinted that AYUK NKEN Franklin was arrested in Bachuo Akaegbe village some 12 kilometers from Mamfe the chief town in Mamyu.

The Francophone dominated army also revealed that he was arrested in possession of three weapons of war and ammunition. The army added that his mission was to enlist and train young people in combat.

We understand that on the night of 7 to 8 December 2017, five Ambazonian militants were shot dead by the Cameroon Defense Forces, who responded to an attack by nearly 200 freedom fighters on the Mamfe gendarmerie post.

Three of the Southern Cameroonians killed were named as Tako Prosper Arrey, Anyong Patrick Abong and Disengi Kendry. Constable KELLY Hervé on duty at the Mamfe Gendarmerie Territorial Brigade was killed during the attack and ten members of the defense forces were wounded.

By Sama Ernest

8, December 2017

Mamfe shooting: Conflicting reports, Hoaxes arise after tragedy ⁰

The Biya francophone regime has announced that 10 suspected Southern Cameroons terrorists were shot dead by the Cameroonian army in fighting in Mamfe, Manyu Division. The Yaounde government stated that the “terrorists –secessionists” entered the country from Nigerian on board a speed boat.

The government statement also hinted of some arrests that were made at the Bombe-Bakundu weighing station with firearms and ammunition. According to military officials, the secessionists fired the first salvo killing a gendarme and wounding several others. The Cameroonian forces fought back fiercely. The provisional balance sheet records from the regime revealed that at least 10 assailants were killed and several others neutralized and injured.

There are conflicting reports on last night incident in Mamfe with CIR sources saying that the bodies made public by troops loyal to the Biya regime where those of detainees who attempted to escape from the Mamfe Central prison when the shootings were going on.

The images of the so-called “terrorists-secessionists” were aired on state television without the ammunition they were carrying during the raids on the Mamfe gendarme station. The attack occurred as a tribute ceremony to honour recently killed soldiers was underway in Buea.

We gathered that the Biya regime has blamed the attacks on the interim government of the Federal Republic of Ambazonia headed by Sisuku Ayuk Tabe. For his part, President Ayuk Tabe told CIR that he has instructed the defense secretary to carry out an assessment of the happenings in Manyu. The Ambazonian leader reassured the Southern Cameroonian people that all options were on the table against the Biya French Cameroun regime.

By Sama Ernest

8, December 2017

14 UN peacekeepers killed, over 40 wounded in DR Congo attack ⁰

An armed group has attacked a base of the United Nations peacekeepers in the east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, killing at least 14 peacekeepers and wounding 40 others.

The UN peacekeepers, who were mostly from Tanzania with at least five Congolese soldiers, blamed the Friday attack on a rebel group based in neighboring Uganda.

“It’s a very huge attack, certainly the worst in recent memory,” said UN deputy-spokesman Farhan Haq from New York.

The base, which is located about 45 kilometers from the town of Beni, has been repeatedly attacked by rebels from the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) rebel group. It is home to the peacekeeping mission’s rapid intervention force, which has a rare mandate to go on the offensive, according to Radio Okapi, which is backed by the UN mission.

The UN has described the attack in Congo as the worst in the recent UN history as well as a war crime.

The radio station, citing military sources, said fighting had lasted four hours.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo had one of the most brutal colonial rules before undergoing decades of corrupt dictatorship and back-to-back civil wars that left the mineral-rich country poor and politically unstable.

In 2006, the UN mission helped carry out Congo’s first free and fair elections in 46 years, paving the way for President Joseph Kabila to be elected for a five-year term.

His second term in office ended in 2016. Under the DR Congo’s constitution, Kabila is banned from seeking a third term. However, Kabila is authorized to stay in office until his successor is elected but he decided to remain in power. This prompted the UN to urge the Congolese authorities “to respect the fundamental freedoms enshrined in the Congolese Constitution.”

The delay in holding an election has flared up violence in the country.

Source: Presstv

8, December 2017

Cameroon refugee’s crisis spills over into Nigeria ⁰

Violence in English-speaking areas of Cameroon over the last year is having a knock-on effect in neighboring Nigeria, where thousands of refugees are seeking sanctuary. Some are fleeing the unrest while others are suspected to be secessionists in favour of armed struggle, who could use the Nigerian side of the border as a base.

John Inaku, head of the Cross River state emergency management agency in southeast Nigeria, said over 28 000 people have arrived from western Cameroon since October. “But many of them have not been registered yet and people are still coming in,” he told AFP.

Most have fled across the border on foot through the bush since the start of an increased crackdown by authorities in Yaounde. Cameroon was divided between French and British colonial rulers before independence in 1960 and English-speakers account for some 20 % of the population of 23 million.

They have long protested against what they perceive to be a bias towards their French-speaking compatriots. In recent weeks, growing numbers have joined the ranks of the secessionists, some of whom are openly advocating armed struggle for an independent state.

The security situation has worsened significantly since the authorities have cracked down on pro-independence demonstrations.Ten soldiers and police officers, as well as several civilians, have been killed since October 1, when separatists symbolically declared an independent state of “Ambazonia”.

The recent violence blamed on small, well-organised groups has been concentrated in forested and mountainous border areas. Only two roads link Cameroon and Nigeria.

Source: AFP

8, December 2017

Battle for Ambazonia: Gendarmerie officer killed in series of attacks in Mamfe ⁰

Armed Southern Cameroons militants reportedly staged a series of attacks deep inside Mamfe, the chief town in Manyu on Thursday the 7th of December 2017. According to sources from the South West Gendarmerie Legion, the Mamfe gendarmerie company headquarters was attacked.

Constable Keli Hervé of the class of 2015 was killed and nine other gendarmes were seriously injured. Cameroun government sources say five of the assailants were killed in the attack. The same sources indicated that during the attack, a vehicle belonging to the Mamfe gendarmerie was carried away by the attackers who abandoned it further on the Mamfe – Bamenda highway. This new attack brings to eleven the number of elements of the Cameroonian forces killed ever since the beginning of the Southern Cameroons crisis.

Source: Cameroun Info.Net

8, December 2017

Ambazonia Crisis: Defense Minister, Delegate General for National Security in Buea County ⁰

Defense Minister Joseph Beti Assomo is among a Biya Francophone government delegation that travelled to the Buea County to pay tribute to the soldiers and policemen killed by suspected Anglophone militants in Eyumojock and Akwaya sub constituencies.

Beti Assomo was expected in the Upper House in Yaounde for a discussion on the Southern Cameroons crisis today December 8^th 2017. Cameroon Concord News understands, the defense boss has dispatched the Secretary of State for Defense in charge of the gendarmerie Minister Jean Baptiste Bokam to meet the senators in the 3rd parliamentary session of the legislative year 2017.

Joseph Beti Assomo arrived Buea yesterday accompanied by Martin Mbarga Nguele, the Delegate General for National Security. Mr. Beti Assomo will inter alia coordinate a special security meeting on the army operations in the Manyu State.

By Sama Ernest

8, December 2017

Cameroon’s Military Moves In on Separatist-held Villages ⁰

Cameroon’s military has taken over two villages held hostage by separatists whom the government called terrorists. The separatists had been collecting taxes, rendering justice in their courts and imposing prison sentences on people who refused to collaborate with them.

The separatists have killed at least eight soldiers and policemen over the past month in their campaign to break from francophone Cameroon and form a separate anglophone state called Ambazonia. They also aim to loosen President Paul Biya’s long grip on power.

In the southwestern village of Bafia, one of those retaken, hundreds of people have returned, nearly two months after they fled. Resident Enow Basile, 31, said he and about 100 villagers were arrested by the armed groups and detained at a local government school, where a man calling himself General Amstrong, leader of the group, had installed his headquarters.

“When you come, they tie your eye, they beat you up,” he said. “If you don’t have from 100 thousand francs ($180) and above, they promise to take your life, so people were paying.” More than 100 people complied, he said.

“And they always attacked trucks that were transporting cocoa to Douala,” Basile added. “They attack them, each pay 50 thousand francs ($90) to pay a pass, but if you don’t pay, you will not pass. You don’t take cocoa to Douala.”

Muyenge, 10 kilometers from Bafia, was the other occupied village. Resident Ayuk Lucas said the invaders were sanctioning anyone who did not respect them.

“They even create a court. Everything. A whole government where they send to come and collect somebody and ask you to pay some money to them,” he said.

Last week, Cameroon’s military arrested 20 members of the armed group. But the U.N. Committee Against Torture expressed concern Wednesday, demanding an investigation into the deaths of at least 17 people killed in October 1 clashes between the security forces and those seeking a separate state. It said more than 500 people had been arrested, some of them from the hospital in the wake of the unrest, and it criticized Yaounde for not responding to several demands seeking information on those still being held.

Muyenge resident Ebune Francis said the armed separatists were expressing anger about what he described as the Cameroon government’s neglect of English-speaking regions. He said he did not support secessionists but did support demands made by teachers and lawyers when they began a strike more than a year ago that later degenerated.

“We had been supporting the government, supporting the government. Nothing is coming, so we all are annoyed,” Francis said. “We are abandoned by the government. We don’t have water, sometimes we don’t have electricity. You want us to be happy with the government? No.”

The government has assured the population of the English-speaking regions that it will assure their safety.

Schools have been closed in most of the English-speaking northwest and southwest since November last year, when the lawyers and teachers called for a strike to stop what they said was the overuse of the French language.

Source: VOA