The members of the Francophone interministerial committee responsible for dialogue with Southern Cameroon teachers are presently in Bamenda for the resumption of the so-called dialogue scheduled for Tuesday, December 27, 2016.

They include the Minister of Higher Education Jacque Fame Ndongo- noted for his anti Anglophone stance and Ministers of Secondary Education and Basic Education. They are led by a certain Paul Ghogomu, who some French speaking media outlets have revealed is the Director of Civil Cabinet at the Prime Minister’s office.

The union of Southern Cameroon teachers has already warned that it will not back down if its main demands are not taken into account. Among these demands initially linked to the improvement of the conditions of teachers has been grafted the return to the 1961 federal status.

The Biya Francophone Beti Ewondo regime has made it public that federalism is not on the agenda. The regime’s controversial Minister of Communication and spokesman reiterated recently that Cameroon is “ONE and INDISIVIBLE”. Our cream of reporters in the North West region have all opined that there are no signs of an exit from the crisis.

On the ground in Bamenda, where the resumption of dialogue is set to begin, the Yaounde regime has ordered the reinforcement of security for fear of any overflows.

By Sama Ernest

Less than three weeks after French speaking soldiers were deployed to the North West regional capital of Bamenda to “subdue” the riots, the Biya Francophone Beti Ewondo regime has today the 27^th of December 2016 militarized the entire region. Cameroon Concord News can now confirm that large numbers of troops from Yaounde and Douala have taken over the entire city of Bamenda.

Our North West political correspondent reported that police and military personnel including members of the French speaking elite force known as BIR are now monitoring sensitive areas in Bamenda. The roads leading to the localities of Jakiri and Nkambe are closed to traffic. A source at the governor’s office hinted that they will be open again at 6pm.

The youth of Jakiri and Nkambe have launched a movement to prevent the holding of today’s meeting with the Anglophone teachers. The freedom fighters are demanding the release of all those arrested during the riots.

We understand this special deployment of law enforcement is therefore intended to allow the first meeting of the Ad Hoc Committee to examine and propose solutions to the demands of Anglophone teachers slated for Tuesday 27 December 2016. The working session is going to mark the revival of dialogue between government and the striking Anglophone teachers.

By Rita Akana with files from CIN

The Peace Crusader who doubles as president of the general assembly of the Cameroon Bar Association has announced that he will not participate in the committee created to examine and propose solutions to the grievances of Southern Cameroons lawyers.

Barrister Halle Nico is reportedly surprised that the presidents of the Fako and Meme Lawyers Association who championed the strike action are not on the Committee thereby giving the impression that it is a North West and not an Anglophone problem.

The legal luminary is also requesting that the seat of the Committee should be Buea or Bamenda and not Yaoundé. The senior Barrister has also questioned why the Chairperson of the Committee is a francophone who cannot articulate the common law.

 Ntumfor Barrister Nico Halle observed that he has already informed the Prime Minister about his decision not to sit on the Committee which is supposed to meet in Yaoundé today December the 27^th 2016.

One person, AGWE Solomon AFI, 49, has died and several others injured in a road accident around Finance Junction, North West regional capital Bamenda. A 70 Seater bus matriculated NW 470 AV belonging to the Moghamo travel agency which left Douala 10 Pm Saturday to Bamenda, upon descending the Finance Junction around 5am missed tract, somersaulted and landed beside the road few meters to Sand Bank.

The tires of the bus were hanging vertically facing the road, the windscreens shattered. Passengers only succeeded to escape through broken windows. As rescue team from the Bamenda Army rescue unit arrived, a certain AGWE Solomon was discovered dead on the spot, dozens of others were injured. Others who were trapped in the bus were finally taken out by rescuers after tedious exercise.

Survivors told reporters that the driver of the vehicle seemed tired and worn and had made several attempts to throw them in the bush. The injured victims were taken to the Bamenda regional hospital for prompt medical attention and the deceased victim taken to the mortuary.

Cameroun Info.net

Fako Chiefs have reportedly rejected the sum of five million francs (5000’000 frs) offered to each traditional ruler to denounce the struggle for freedom from Francophone slavery.

Cameroon Concord News was reliably informed that of the fifty four (54) members who were present in the town hall meeting, thirty four (34) of them walked out rejecting the offer while twenty signaled their intention to receive the money. The chiefs have declared their unflinching support for change and the new Anglophone nationalism.

Our informant is keeping a close watch over this issue and we will publish the names and full addresses of the chiefs who will eventually accept the payments.

By Rita Akana

Over two dozens of youths arrested in Bamenda, North West region during two separate strike actions staged on November 21, 2016 and December 8 have gained freedom. A former detainee who wanted to be called only by his surname, Elvis reveals that over 25 of them incarcerated at the Bamenda Central prison were released on bail Friday December 23, 2016 .

He said they were presented before state council and that their case was defended by some lawyers and Human rights activists. According to information independently gathered those who are still in prison are unable to bail themselves or pay for charges levied against them. The 25 were among others arrested during the uprising in Bamenda when a strike action initiated by Common law Lawyers and Anglophone Teachers turned violent and the  Bamenda population joined in to denounce among others poor road networks and limited water supply.

The youths also staged a strike action and prevented the CPDM party from holding a unity meeting on December 8, 2016 but they met with police brutality as live bullets, tear gas and water cannons were used on them. Over half a dozen died but government sources counted just two deaths. However the fate of other youths over 50 transported to Yaoundé on helicopter is still to be determined. Common Law Lawyers and Allophone Teachers have set their release as a pre condition for dialogue with the government, without which dialogue will end on deadlock.

What has left untold about the Bamenda twin strike action on November 21 and December 8 this year leaves much to be desired. Most of those arrested were never part of the strike; in fact they were just unfortunate passer bys. Elvis who was released Friday sells plantains in Bamenda. That fateful December 8, he was returning from his site of sale and was intercepted by police forces who asked to see his palms, immediately they saw that they were dirty, they arrested him with pretext that he too was involved in burning tires and throwing stones. Like Elvis, several other youths were randomly arrested and detained, some brutalized.

Some of the youths who died were taken to their early grave by stray bullets. At City Chemist roundabout a youth went to fetch water but died on the spot after a stray bullet got him. Another youth went outside their home to eat his Pawpaw but a bullet came from nowhere and struck her mouth denying him the Pawpaw and squeezing life out of him.

Contrary to a situational report from North West Governor Adolphe LELE L’Afrique to Communication Minister Issa Tchiroma Bakary, which indicated that only two persons died, there have been more than six corpse removals from the Bamenda hospital mortuary, an indication that over half a dozen persons died. There are still some youths who were critically injured in hospitals as fear heightens they might give up the ghost.

Culled from Cameroun Info. Net