If Britain had never been in any position to issue a statement concerning its position on the debacle of The Southern Cameroons-Ambasonia, variously known as the British Southern Cameroons, I have the conviction that it is high time this better be done if violent clashes are to be avoided in the Southern Cameroons-Ambasonia and Britain blamed. The High Commissioner or Ambassador implies that the Southern Cameroons National Congress (SCNC) is exaggerating its fight for the restoration of the Independence of the Southern Cameroons and that its cause is not internationally known. The Ambassador want grievances to be trumpeted before actions are taken. Did Adolf Hitler trumpeted his plans and his vicious acts before invading France? Did he not know that the Hutus in Rwanda used on the radio messages before the massacre of the Tutsis started in 1994? Would he have heard that broadcast in even if the announcers were screaming? What action would he and Her Majesty's Government had taken to stop the pogrom? Others think that it is the British Ambassador who is dampening what could be a volatile situation and running away from it instead of addressing it. Does he not know that it was Herald Wilson's Government that created the situation? If the UK's Government had given the political Independence to The British Cameroons as was the rule of the UNO, this palaver would have been shelved and we would not have been talking of wars or skirmishes in the future.
Ideally, commissioners or ambassadors refrain from talking too much without consultation. I see that Mr. Madicott has jumped the queue here. Perhaps on the assumption that he was leaving La Republic du Cameroun that is forced itself to be in the Commonwealth of Nations, then he should expect to be welcomed at No 10 Downing Street with an explanation to give when he lands at London.
Dr. Viban Viban Ngo.
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My Reply to H.E. Syd Madicott, British Ambassador to the Republic of Cameroon (LRC) comment on the global progress of the Southern Cameroons National Congress (SCNC)
The present rotating Prime Minister of Cameroon Republic Mon. Philemon Yang while Cameroon Republic ambassador to Canada never introduced himself as the Cameroon Commissioner to Canada. He was the Ambassador from the beginning of his mission right to the end for 22 odd years. He is a solid man who knew his history though he toed the line of his bosses, Ahmadou Ahidjo and Paul Biya, the incumbent President of Cameroon Republic. On that act, he is perhaps a very shrewd man who would not lie to satisfy his bosses and you will see why from what I have outlined below.
First of all, we should make it crystal clear to the honorable British High Commissioner Mr. Madicott to the Cameroon Republic that he is having a false title. He should be the Ambassador of Great Britain and North Ireland to the Cameroon Republic that achieved its independence from France on January 1st 1960. We of Ambasonia-Southern Cameroons are still waiting for our own British High Commissioner at Buea our capital as we are and have been a Dominion under the British Empire and had sang 'God save Our Gracious Queen/King'. We had never ever been under the French and are not yearning to be under the Francophonie (Francophony). The whole issue is being trivialized. I do not see the Francophonie stooping down before the Commonwealth of Nations or knocking at their door for membership. That will be a travesty.
Cameroon Republic has never and will never be a member of the Britain Empire and what is happening now is a gimmick and political thievery the Honorable Ambassador is glaringly and naively siding with. We would like to suggest that the Ambassador be tutored by his American counterpart before he is interviewed next time. I am not arrogant but I am realistic and diplomatic for reasons you will soon see.
For the Ambassador to ignore the historical facts that we were attached to the British and are culturally different from the French is not only sad but very naive. It is that very mistake or naivety the British made when they lumped the Southern Sudan with the North Sudan that is predominantly Arabic. That caused bitter fighting that had been going on since the 1960s. The British saw the southern Sudanese who have been imposed with Islam and forced to speak Arabic as being the same with the Northerners and thought that they could forge a united Sudan where the rulers were to be the Arabs and the full-blooded Africans would continue to be slaves or servants. The British had forgotten the head of Governor Gordon that was cut off by the dreaded Sudanese fanatical Islamic leader, Mhadi and his cohorts when they could not see how the British could come to challenge them for enslaving the Blacks of Sudan and selling them to Persia, and other Arab communities in the Middle East. What I am saying now is that the forced unity of the north and the south failed, as the Arab never ever considers any full-blooded African as equal to him. He is ever a servant or a slave or a sex object and should be seen and not heard. That is why the Southern Sudan, variously know as Equatoria or Azania will stand as an independent nation state in Africa very soon. That is the only way they can run away from slavery and suppression of the fair skinned Arabs. They cannot stand the suppression and oppression as the Southern Cameroons any longer under the occupation of Cameroon Republic.
According to the British Ambassador to the Cameroon Republic and that is his right title and not ‘Commissioner’, if there are tribal links, African had to forget the colonial links. Who created the Southern Cameroons-Ambasonia? The British created it. Is it not right that they, including the SCNC tell Prince Charles, Queen Elizabeth II, P.M. Gordon, his parliamentarians and those of the Conservative opposition of the perpetual suppression and oppression of the Southern Cameroonians-Ambasonian under the force occupation of Cameroon Republic with the tacit support of the French Government? If the SCNC does not, they will tell them tomorrow when the scenario would turn sour that they were never informed. Were the British and Americans not being informed of the dictatorship in Rwanda and the ugly scenario that was brewing? They were but they all ignored it because it was a black country and blacks are still in the eyes of some whites, sub-human beings.
The secret agreement among the British is not to comment on the Southern Cameroons-Ambasonian political situation. Is that the right way to go about it in the parliamentary democracy we all are striving to implant in Afghanistan and elsewhere?
Why do they turn their backs on the country each time it wants to restore its nationhood and sit with other nation states? What has tribal links of the Western Region of Cameroon Republic with NW Region got to do with suppression of the Southern Cameroonians-Ambasonians ? Has Mr. Ambassador ever visited the Southern Cameroons-Ambasonia?
The Ambassador forgets that the Republic of the USA is culturally linked to Britain than the Southern Cameroons-Ambasonia that got its independence on October 1, 1961 is linked to Cameroon Republic that got its independence on January 1st 1960. When it came to payment of taxes without representation, what did the USA do? It asked for political independence from their colonial masters, the British. Where was that cultural relationship the British Ambassador to the Cameroon Republic is talking of? Where did it go? They, the UK and the USA all spoke the same language, English and had the same culture and were under the same King but the US opted to be independence. What was wrong with that? What is wrong with the Southern Cameroons-Ambasonia restoring its stolen independence owing to the nonchalance of the British Labour Government?
According to the British representative at Ngoa Ekelle, [Yaunde] there got to be blood bath as in the Southern Sudan, the Sierra Leone, Rwanda or the Congo Democratic Republic before the Southern Cameroons-Ambasonia is known in the world to have a case for its independence. The Ambassador has never bothered to read the history of The Southern Cameroons and he is enthused with drama that he has forgotten that all that is following a peaceful channel as the SCNC and other political parties in the Southern Cameroons are not considered as being viable or active? Is the world advancing or regressing?
There is no important British ambassador or representative at the UNO or in the UK that is not conversant with or following up the political cries in the Southern Cameroons but this Ambassador. He is trivializing the Southern Cameroons-Ambazonian case. They all sit at Yaunde and never bother to cross the River Mungo and see what is happening in The Southern Cameroons-Ambasonia. Mr. Ian Smith of Rhodesia and the other minority South African Caucasians once trivialized the plea of Africans for majority role. It came in spite of it being suppressed by the Conservative Government of Maggie Thatcher and President Ronald Regan. The restoration of the nation state of the Southern Cameroons-Ambasonia will come willy-nilly.
Surprisingly, when it comes to democracy among Africans dictatorship is preferred to democracy. The British Ambassador to the Cameroons should have been castigating President Paul Biya for his dictatorship and the enslavement of Southern Cameroonians-Ambasonians instead of guiding his missiles towards the innocent SCNC.
The world associates Africans with wars and backwardness that any organization within it that is for peace is considered not worth being considered. How many times has the SCNC addressed the UN General Assembly? We wonder if diplomats are copied by their Ambassadors in New York, Geneva and so on. If the SCNC takes its case to the UNO, UNPO and other organizations, it ever copies the representatives of other governments around the world. one wonders why on earth the message is not loud and clear to this Ambassador and his cohorts. Does it mean that those bespectacled men and women wearing navy blue suits are just pieces of furniture? They are not. I believe that the Ambassador’s case is just a maverick.
Mr. Ambassador you do not see. There are one and one half million Ambassonians in Nigeria because of the hawkish ways they are being treated in their country by the Cameroon Republic Gendarmes and the Police; there are several hundreds hiding in your country, the UK for fear of President Paul Biya's autocratic rule and the occupation of their lands. There are thousands in the USA, Kenya, South Africa and Ghana running away for similar mistreatment and a day hardly passes without me and other reading of their plight. You said that the SCNC that is registered with the UNPO has no case, and then I wonder what Her Majesty's Government has sent you to be doing at Yaunde. (This is the English spelling Mr. Ambassador. I see you write Yaoundé ). We feel that P. M. Gordon should revamp his mission at Ngoa Ekelle for this man is having conflicts of interests and should be recalled home.
Mr. Ambassador, can you really take the North Sea Oil and covet it and give nothing to the Scots? If the English ever did that, that would be the day that you would have devolution in Scotland. Is that not what Cameroon Republic and France have been doing in the Southern Cameroons since 1972? They give nothing to the Southern Cameroons from their oil and other resources. They help to impoverish the Southern Cameroons-Ambasonia and anyone who dares criticize them is called an enemy in the house. Or, they ask them to go to hell. Is that the parliamentary democracy we learned from Governor Field our Last Governor of the Southern Cameroons? Have you ever plied or asked any of your lieutenants to ply the KUMBA-MEMFE-BAMENDA dirt highway? You cannot venture as you will never survive or go through even with your 4x4 brand-new Land Rovers.
Is that not a motorway of a country that is producing oil? Is our CDC not richer than the Gambian Government? Are they not having independence though sandwiched in Senegal? Are they bigger than us in population? Why must we be slaves in our homeland and you come with your French support and make a statement that we have to remain so since we are related to the elements of Western Region of the Cameroons Republic. Did you old government in Berlin 1884 take into consideration African tribes when they were drawing their boundaries? Were or are the British not related to the Germans? Did they allow the Germans to trample on them during the Second World War? You are talking of the Bamilekes, When the Cameroon Republic forces where shooting at our students at Buea did any of them issue any statement to condemn the actions of the police or gendarmes? If they were or are our brothers you alleges, how comes they are ever silent and guarding only their shops.
I am surprised that you have not mentioned that we are not related to the elements of the British Northern Cameroons? I think you better stay mute as the other diplomats have been doing rather than tarnish the name of the Great Britain that is known for parliamentary democracy.
Are we not tired of the flood of blood in Africa? Instead of praising the efforts of the SCNC and other political parties, you want to tell us that they are not known and that our case is not relevant since the old tribal links are not important that the colonial creation.
Let us be serious. Our parents supported the British to fight against Adolf Hitler to get rid of his suppression of the French and other Europeans. You have forgotten your history so soon? We fought Hitler because he had forgotten the democratic ways and was suppressing and oppressing the Jews, the French, gypsies, homosexuals, Czechs, etc. He threatened the democratic governance of the British. You came to Southern Cameroons and got our fathers recruited to fight with you to teach Nazidom its lesson. We did that together. It now our turn and you are calling our struggle a child’s play. Is it? Many Southern Cameroonians fought side by side with the Royal Troops and died in the jungles of Burma, the deserts of the Middle East to restore democracy in Europe and the world. It is our turn and you are trivializing it Mr. Ambassador. You claim that we are crying wolf!!! Are we?
Do we not have a problem? We have. You want to link our case with the French Quebec in Canada and the rest of the English speaking Canada. The Quebecois were defeated by you the British but we were not defeated in any battle field. The Quebecois are a lot better than us. They have a parliament, a Prime Minister, banks, police force and many more not suppressed by the rest of the English-speaking Canada but the Cameroon Republic closed ours and it was the only democratic government is the whole of Western Africa in the 1950s. The French and Cameroon Republic want us to take arms so that they can defeat us in the battle field. Is that the way of modern Britain? Did you forget what the French did in Biafra ? Come on Ambassador?
Our parents opted to join these fellows who turned us to animals and steal from us daily. Yet you sit blinded and do not want to admit it because you will hurt France that benefits from the stolen oil from our country. You do not want to admit it. Are we not tired of wars in Africa Mr. Ambassador?
When it comes to Africans, the Caucasians always look at them as sub humans. Why can the Ambassador not look at history? Why is Britain that once had an Empire where the sun never set in which The Southern Cameroons-Ambasonia belonged suddenly shying away from taking that leading role she used to take? Do you want us to exhume Sir Winston Churchill to say it loud and clear?
The Cameroon Republic (French Cameroons) was never and had never been part of the British Empire . If they had to be there, it is because they have the feeling that they could benefit from the Commonwealth of Nations and the Francophonie should they hold the Southern Cameroons-Ambasonia under their apron string! Then of what good is a man who belongs to all the political parties? He becomes a goody-goody and cannot make any contributions since he does not want to offend the other parties. The Bible states it clearly: A man cannot serve two masters.
Of course, the British have the feeling that if they could use the Southern Cameroons-Ambasonia they could expand the Anglo-Saxon culture. They have been doing this and to see it being thwarted will not be good for them. The second language in the most populous country in the world, China is English and no force is needed. Then, minus this link, all Francophones, know that the key to entering the UK and the USA , which they consider their heavens on earth now that France is saturated is to master the English Language. You are now hearing from me.
Do you now see that Buea University created to meet the demand of the Southern Cameroonians-Ambasonians when they were being harassed at Yaounde French Universities is flooded by the Cameroonians from across the Mungo? They harangue its chancellor to admit their children who have not passed the advanced level GCE so that they could learn English to proceed to the USA and the UK. They do this at our expense as our children are left floating in air or are chased to go to Nigeria. The Catholic Mission that had ever been ignoring the cause of the Southern Cameroons-Ambasonia as the British Ambassador to the Cameroon Republic saw the need and are planning to create a Catholic University at Buea, the capital of The Southern Cameroons-Ambasonia. They always forget Bamenda as it is alleged that it is the domicile of intelligent men and women who would not take 'no' imposed by the Cameroon Republic for an answer. We will tell you that one day Bamenda will not only have one English university but will have five to meet its pressing demand.
Keberry, J.
INTERVIEW
SCNC Lacks International Support - British High Commissioner
Published:August 17, 2009
H.E. Syd Madicott has been the British High Commissioner to Cameroon for close to four years. On the eve of his departure, he granted this exclusive interview to The Post.
SCNC Lacks International Support - British High Commissioner
Monday, August 17, 2009
Interview By Francis Wache & Francis Tim Mbom
H.E. Syd Madicott has been the British High Commissioner to Cameroon for close to four years. On the eve of his departure, he granted this exclusive interview to The Post in which he discusses wide-ranging issues, including the SCNC, the democratisation process, the state of the media and much more. Excerpts:
Madicott poses with journalists at end of training in Limbe
The Post: At the end of your mission in Cameroon, what memories are you taking back with you?
H.E. Syd Madicott: Moving is a rather unsettling time: I'm moving job, moving country and moving house. I'm left with a wide variety of memories about Cameroon - most of them pleasant ones. I've enjoyed my three and a half years in Cameroon. I have loved the impressive landscape of Cameroon, for instance, the West and Northwest Regions, the Far North of Cameroon and the jungle. I've been to the seaside resorts, the big cities. All of those places will leave a distinct impression on me.
The other thing that strikes me is the amazing diversity of the people here, in Cameroon. You have 200 odd ethnic groups, 200 odd languages and a great variety of physical types and a bewildering variety of cultures. I also think I have learnt a lot here. Cameroon and Africa in general can teach us a many things - respect for age, family solidarity, attachment to culture, dignity and elegance in the face of poverty and adversity and resilience. The enterprise of Cameroonians constantly amazes me.
What were your happiest moments?
What I have enjoyed most is working with my team at the British High Commission. We've got a very good team. I hope they will give the same support to my successor as I have received from them. It's been pleasing to see how some people who were on our guard force are now doing jobs in our offices. We've been able to promote people internally who've got talent. One of the things this tells me about Cameroon is that there is a lot of unexploited talent here which a general economic uplift will make a better use of.
I've met lots of very senior people - from the President down. I've also enjoyed my exchanges with ordinary Cameroonians. One of the things I've done recently, that was a big pleasure, was to go to a small village in the Northwest called Weh, in Wum Division, which is the home village of a number of people who work in the British High Commission in Cameroon. Many members of our guard force and several members of our office staff come from Weh.
I received a big reception when I went there recently. I was given the title of one of the notables of the village, Dzeekeweh, which means "Voice of the Weh People". That was a nice honour to receive. I've also been honoured in other places. I am an honorary citizen of Limbe. But I also think of some of the things we've seen that have helped Cameroon in its development. In my first few months here, we saw Cameroon reach Completion Point in the Extended Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) programme, which has brought massive debt relief to the country.
Britain supported Cameroon unequivocally in this. We've also seen the introduction of the Criminal Procedure Code, which a lot of British effort went into helping develop over a 20-year period. Although it has not yet been fully taken up by all Magistrates, the new Code is at last in place. It was also a great thrill to be at the handover ceremony in Akwa in Bakassi when the Nigerian troops started to leave Cameroon - a great day for Cameroon - and Nigeria. As you can see, there's been a lot to celebrate and many happy memories here.
What were the lowest points?
Come to think of it, if there were any significant low points, they are submerged among the happier moments. I was not very well in the period just before Christmas. I had to go back to the United Kingdom for medical treatment. It was depressing to be out of the firing line and I was very glad to get back at the end of January.
What do you think you would be remembered for?
I hope I would be decently forgotten after a short while and, then, my successor will take forward the work of the British High Commissioner in Cameroon. I haven't come here to establish a legacy or to be remembered too long after leaving, but I hope I'll be able to go home safe in the knowledge that I did my best.
What were the highlights, the milestones of your stay?
It was very interesting to observe the 2007 elections and, as you are aware, I had some things to say in a statement I made with some other diplomatic missions after the 2007 elections which suggested that the elections were not entirely satisfactory. I think it was right to do that at the time. I don't regret it. I think what we've also seen is an increasing coherence from the European Union in the way that it deals with political development in Cameroon. We've got a structured political dialogue with the Government of Cameroon and I was at a session recently that took place earlier this month. That forum can be developed further to bring more benefits to us both in the relationship. Working with my European Union colleagues and other diplomats has been another highlight.
Also, contributing a little bit to the media sector has been a thing I have enjoyed doing. We've also worked in other areas like the prisons, which I consider is very worthwhile. I have also enjoyed working with the government of Cameroon. In particular, I must mention the former Prime Minister, Inoni, and the current Prime Minister, Philemon Yang, whom I met frequently when he was the Assistant Secretary General at the Presidency. From these two gentlemen, I've had nothing but courtesy and kindness and that has been a great help in fulfilling my mission here.
What are your views on Cameroon's democratisation process?
I think every country is at a different stage in its democratic development. There are things about the British electoral system that are going to need to be looked at and, possibly, changed over the coming years.
In Cameroon, the country has reached a certain stage of democratic development in that people at least expect to have free and fair elections. Following the 2004 recommendations of the Commonwealth, about having an independent electoral commission, we've seen that electoral commission established as ELECAM. I wish them every success in their work. I think they've got a challenging task to do two things before the next election: first to make themselves ready to organise the elections administratively and second, to demonstrate their objectivity and impartiality in a way that will encourage Cameroonians to vote and participate fully in the next election.
We would hope, for example, to see a much higher number of Cameroonians registered to vote. I would have thought that the figure that ought to be 8 million for a country this size. It doesn't seem to me to be acceptable to say that registration is a political act and therefore the responsibility of the political parties. It should be regarded, I think, as a civil act which every citizen is entitled to do, freely and relatively easily.
What, according to you, should be done to make it more entrenched and credible?
It is not for Britain or other countries to lay down what is acceptable to the Cameroonian people (although Cameroon has, of course, like many other countries signed international human rights treaties which commit the country to run free and fair elections) . It's up to the Cameroonian people to decide what is acceptable to them and then insist that they get it. One of the aims in having an independent electoral commission is, principally, to avoid elections in the future where the result is contested. At the same time, you want the biggest, most credible mandate for those people who are elected, whether it's the President, parliamentarians or local councillors. For that you need more widespread participation.
The electoral system also has to be credible enough and secure enough to prevent or severely reduce some abuses we have witnessed, such as people being unable to register; people registering and not being able to collect their registration cards, multiple-voting and impersonation and other abuses.
Are you convinced, from the way ELECAM is constituted, that it is credible enough to conduct free and transparent elections?
It is not for me to be convinced, it is for Cameroonians to be convinced. You can make your own assessment of whether you think Cameroonians at the moment have enough confidence in ELECAM. I think ELECAM will want to demonstrate that it deserves the respect of Cameroonians in the coming months leading up to the 2011 elections.
What is your assessment of the Cameroon media?
Firstly, let me talk about the media scene in general. I am pleased to say I think Cameroon has a largely free media, much freer than in many other similar countries in Africa and elsewhere. That shouldn't allow anybody to become complacent about the media scene here. I think that freedom needs to be supported and maintained with a degree of vigilance. I think the period has now passed where the Government was set on further legislation in the sector, since the withdrawal of the social communications bill in, I think, 2006. Self-regulation is the best guarantor for the right kind of standards in the sector. I don't mean self censorship, I mean self regulation. I think it is up to Cameroonian media organisations to behave responsibly and, therefore, reduce the pressure for further legislation.
One or two things that have been of concern over the past few years has been the harassment of journalists. This isn't widespread but it does happen. We have recently journalists convicted and imprisoned by a military tribunal. I am not arguing that this is illegal, but I think it is something that we should all feel uncomfortable about to say the least. It would also be good if broadcasting licences were cheaper because, at the moment, you have many broadcasters who are not strictly within the law because they haven't paid their licence fees and are thus in a situation of "tolerance administrative".
As we saw in February 2008, some of them can have their licences withdrawn in a very short space of time. I don't think that is a healthy situation. From the point of view of journalistic standards, I sometimes have arguments with newspaper editors about individual articles that have been written about me, and I think I can understand that other people including many people in public life feel the same feel the same. I don't think this argues for more legislation - the law already provides adequate protection for anyone who is defamed. But I think it does argue for higher professional standards.
One of the reasons that we've actually contributed a lot in terms of training to the Cameroonian media-and we have just completed a major course in Limbe. We are now training trainers to cultivate skills and competences among their own media organisations throughout Cameroon. That involves both the public and private sectors. I'd like to see a private sector that is truly independent develop here. In other words, not media that always takes an anti-Government stance. What Cameroon needs are media are ready to hold the Government to account but that are prepared, at times, to give the Government credit when it gets things right.
What is your evaluation of the training programmes that have been offered to journalists by the British High Commission? Has there been any perceptible improvement in the way they handle their profession?
I would like to think so especially at the individual level. So much depends on the proprietors of the individual media outlets, who hold a great deal of responsibility. There are certain areas where we've seen evidence that the training has been effective. I'd give you one example. We gave some very specific training to people on how to report on climate change. That has made a difference simply in the sheer amount of column inches of articles published in the Cameroonian media on climate change and I think it's helped elevate climate change to the right level of importance in Cameroon. People are increasingly coming to realise that it's an issue that is vital for the future of the country - and the world that can't be dodged.
Any suggestions on what can be done to enhance the professional standards of the media in Cameroon?
What I am about to suggest isn't a very practical step. It would be the decision by newspapers and other media proprietors to adopt the highest possible principles in terms of their reportage. To insist on high standards from their journalists and to prevent journalists mixing facts and rumours and speculation as if they were all the same. Editors-in-Chief and proprietors need to take a very objective stand in the quality of journalism that they are presenting - even sometimes at the expense of a juicy headline.
During your stay in Cameroon, you must have heard about the SCNC...
Yes.
What is your take on that?
The SCNC often attempt to involve the British High Commission, Her Majesty The Queen, the British Prime Minister, the President of the United States, and other international figures in their argument with what they call 'La Republique du Cameroun'. Let me make Britain's position very clear: Britain recognises the Government of the Republic of Cameroon as the sole authority in Cameroon. That hasn't changed since 1972. Not only does Britain recognise the Government of Cameroon but so does all the other nations in the world and the United Nations. That makes our position on the constitutional question very clear. It seems to me that the SCNC has tried to re-write history retrospectively in its analysis of the situation in Cameroon.
Let me also say that I don't think that the SCNC has significant support in Cameroon, including in the Anglophone parts of Cameroon. So you have to take all that into consideration when assessing the SCNC, but from Britain's point of view the legal position is clear. The SCNC is entitled to its views, but hasn't been able to secure any international support for its arguments as far as I am aware. Moving on to talk more generally about 'the Anglophone problem', as it has been described to me, I recall my previous diplomatic posting was in Canada and, of course, in Canada, you have a rather similar situation with a linguistic minority of about 20 percent.
In Canada's case, 20 percent are Francophones and the majority are Anglophones. I would say that sometimes, in these situations, there is a lack of sensitivity from the majority community towards the minority community and an oversensitivity of the minority community to perceived slights by the majority community. As far as the language question goes, I think that, at one time, Anglophones were seen-seen by Anglophones at least-to be marginalised within Cameroon. I think that the increase in the global status of the English Language has changed all that. The Francophone elites that I meet in Yaounde are all very anxious that their children should have English as well as French as they are growing up and send them to bilingual schools. I believe bilingualism is a big asset for Cameroon.
I meet lots of Ministers who, even if they are not particularly keen to speak English for fear of making mistakes, certainly understand English. And I could, if I chose, to be rather lazy, often get away with speaking English much of the time in Yaounde. My strong recommendation to any young Anglophone is to learn French and I make a similar recommendation to any young Francophone - if you have both languages in this country, then the country and, perhaps, the world are your oyster.
Did you ever experience moments of friction between Anglophones and Francophones because of their linguistic or cultural differences?
There was minor argument when I was lunching in an Anglophone area in a restaurant run by a Francophone. An Anglophone I was with objected strongly to the fact that the menu was written in French. That's an example of exactly the sort of thing I mean. It might be argued that he rather over-reacted, but, I could see his point - it wouldn't have been very difficult to have produced the menu in both official languages.
Some people believe that the Anglophone Problem, as it is sometimes called, is a ticking time bomb...
That is not my impression. Cameroon is made up of many different communities. To talk about the 'Anglophone Problem', you are viewing it along the divide of the European language that the different parts of the country use. But then I see, for instance, that people from the Northwest and the West share, to a large extent, a common culture - the Grassfields culture - and it doesn't make very much difference to them that one group speaks French as their European language and one speaks English.
You can look at Cameroon in a variety of ways and, depending on which way you look at the kaleidoscope that Cameroon is, you can talk of different divisions. You can talk about the North-South divide or the Christian-Muslim divide or any other divide that you wish. It is possible to divide Cameroon, perhaps as many as 250 different ways, if you want, but I think it is more productive to talk about the things that unite Cameroon.
How do you see Cameroon tomorrow?
That will be up to Cameroonians not diplomats like me. We can only do our best to help Cameroon as it develops. But I do have some wishes for Cameroon. The first one is peace and stability. We've seen a big contribution to peace and stability in Cameroon and Nigeria settling their differences over Bakassi through legal and peaceful means and that has taken statesmanship on both sides. I congratulate the Presidents involved. There is a degree of insecurity in that maritime zone around Bakassi at the moment. But I think the deployment of the BIR to Bakassi will have a salutary impact.
I expect that the security situations will improve in the coming months and years. I hope that peace and stability will function in that area. There are other areas where security is threatened. In the border areas of the North, in particular, and, in these regions, you have the "coupeurs de routes" who can easily get across the border. Again, deployment of the BIR has helped. I know that the Government is well aware of these problems and is attempting to deal with them, but it is not easy. I hope there will be peace in Chad and a political settlement in the Central African Republic that will lead to greater stability in Cameroon's Northern and North Eastern borders. The second thing I'd like to see in Cameroon is an improvement in economic and social conditions here, and I think that one goes with the other.
I'd like to see more foreign investments in Cameroon, including from the UK. I think that will come if people see that Cameroon is peaceful and stable. The more that Cameroon develops solid democratic institutions, the more that Cameroon's reputation on human rights improves; the more investment and the more tourism will come to Cameroon. I don't think democratic development and economic development are completely separate. Anecdotally, I think human rights performance in Cameroon has got better over the last few years. But many challenges remain.
I'd like to see Cameroon tackle them successfully. What happened in Geneva, in February, when Cameroon went through the Universal Periodic Review of the Human Rights Council, showed some very positive signs. Cameroon made many commitments to adopt improvements in human rights. I hope that Cameroonians will hold the government to the promises that it has made and that the press will play a part in that. It's an area where we've tried to help at the British High Commission - in prisons, combating violence against women and in various other aspects of human rights works.
I think we'd all like to see an improvement in governance in Cameroon, in particular, a reduction in the amount of corruption that affects Cameroonians from day to day. We've seen that 'Operation Epervier' has had some kind of impact in arraigning senior Cameroonians suspected of embezzlement. There have already been some convictions. What I hope to see is a more general attack on corruption in Cameroon. Along with the Government of Cameroon and various other international donors, Britain is involved in an anti-corruption programme called CHOC, "Changer d'Habitudes S'Opposer a la Corruption".
We hope the programme will become more active over the next couple of years. It would be good to see a general improvement in the way that public life functions in Cameroon - perhaps with those in public office declaring their assets. As you know, we've had a little controversy in the United Kingdom over the allowances claimed by Members of Parliament. Now, this is kind of small beer compared to some of the things that have gone on in Cameroon, but it demonstrates quite clearly that we all need to be on our guard against corruption and poor practice.
Corruption is considered as the number one enemy of economic development in Cameroon. Measures taken by "Operation Epervier" are considered rather too timid and even selective.How should the Government strengthen the fight against this very pervasive scourge?
When I talk to business people who are considering investing in Cameroon, the things they ask about are the security and stability of the country. They ask about the freedom of the country and, then, they talk about things like the legal system and corruption. In these areas, Cameroon can do itself a favour by improving its reputation abroad and becoming more attractive to foreign investors. It would also, of course, improve the everyday life of Cameroonians well.
The Criminal Procedure Code has been overhauled: a parallel effort is needed in the system of civil justice, especially as it affects business. Corruption is a pervasive problem. There are a number of ways of dealing with it. For instance, giving incoming investors a hotline to someone senior that they can call when an attempt is made extort money from them. It would be good to see CONAC demonstrate some very clear ideas about what it intends to achieve over the next two or three years, because more needs to be done. It isn't a question of just jailing a few bad eggs.
Some big shots in Cameroon are alleged to have stashed stolen money in British banks...
First of all, let me restate that we are very keen to seize and return to Cameroon any embezzled money that may be held in a British bank. For some years now, the due diligence required by British banks in accepting deposits from abroad has been much higher. This was as a result of measures to stop money laundering and, in particular, the laundering of terrorist funds. So, it's partly in our own interest that we've tightened things up. But at this point, it's not been established that any such money is held in Britain.
You have got a traditional title from Weh, you are an honorary citizen of Limbe. This makes you an adopted Cameroonian. Forget, for once, then, that you are the British High Commissioner and assume the identity of a Cameroonian. The Head of State has spoken about the country being under the grip of inertia. How do you think, as an adopted Cameroonian, that we can move this country forward?
It is quite clear that the President has set the new Government some key tasks and that most of the tasks are in the sphere of the economy. Given the state of the world economy and the impact that, inevitably, has on Cameroon, I think that is perfectly understandable. So, I think the challenge of the new Government is to try, within a relatively short period, to give new impetus and direction to Cameroon's economic development.
First of all, I would have to say that our Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, was very concerned before the recent London G-20 Summit to make sure the voice of Africa was heard. He invited the Minister of Finance of Cameroon and the Governor of the Central Bank to a meeting in London to hear what African financial leaders had to say. One of the things that emerged from the G-20 was a whole range of financial instruments from the IMF to help developing countries get through fiscal crises caused by the global downturn. Cameroon has already benefited, quite recently, from one of those instruments in a loan that is taken out under very favourable conditions. So Cameroon is not without international help in this.
But Cameroon can also do even more to become a very attractive destination for foreign investments. Cutting down bureaucracy and red tape and speeding up decisions and actions can all contribute. The President and the new Prime Minister have both made their own positions on these issues very clear and I wish them every success. What foreign businesses want when they come to invest in Cameroon is to see as little bureaucracy as possible. There is, inevitably, some bureaucracy in establishing a new business, but you want to see it limited, to deal with as few ministries as possible so it gives a 'one stop shop' for investors
Your Excellency, any message for Cameroonians?
Well I wish everybody in Cameroon the very best of success. I want to see Cameroon become a lot more prosperous. This is a great country, a potentially very rich country: there is a massive opportunity for things like tourism; you can grow anything in Cameroon; it's got lots of mineral wealth. I'd like to see more foreign investments coming in and more investment from the Cameroonian Diaspora, more domestic investment, the creation of secondary industries that process what Cameroon produces. Finally, I'd also like to see some sporting success for Cameroon. If you ask me to put myself in the position of an ordinary Cameroonian, I know I'd want to see the Lions qualify for 2010. It looks like a tough challenge at the moment. I very much hope that England is going to be there in 2010. We are at the top of our group and, so far things are going well. If we don't meet in South Africa I hope we'll meet up at the latest in England in 2018 because England is now bidding for the 2018 World Cup. I hope to see the Lions at Wembley.
That will be a great treat. Well, if the Lions come to the Olympics, I guess we will see them sooner - in 2012. I would also like to wish success to the Cameroonian Cricket Federation which we've been able to help a little bit. It has now become affiliated to the International Cricket Council and recently made its first international visit - to Ghana - for a youth tournament. Cameroonian Cricket is still in its infancy but I have seen it develop enormously, mainly through Francophone players in Yaounde and the strong involvement of the Indian community. It's been fun playing with them and seeing them develop their skills.
One could discern a touch of nostalgia at the beginning of this interview. How soon do you plan to be back?
As you know Ambassadors never overlap. I think the idea is that the nasty smell generated by one Ambassador has time to dissipate before the new man or woman arrives! I've enjoyed my time here. I hope some of what I've done here has been constructive, thanks to the support of my team. As I leave, I wish my successor all the very best of success and I hope that they derive as much enjoyment and satisfaction from their job in Cameroon as I have. I do hope, at sometime in the future, to come back to Cameroon and I would look forward to meeting again the many friends that I've made here.
--- On Wed, 19/8/09, Martin Yembe
Inline with one of my mentors, Chief Achualake Taku, we should rather applaud the High Commissioner for refocussing our attention... and calling on us to forget about the Force of Argument.
I am, in my personal name, writing an open letter, which must be published in The Post of Monday, to the British High Commissioner to LRC. I will be handing the letter personally at the High Commission in Yaounde on Monday.
This man has bitten deep into our flesh and we must react adequately. This is it, people!!!
Martin Fon Yembe ( GLOBINET, West Africa)
On 8/18/09, Professor Martin Ayim
The British High Commissioner is grossly demented. For the record, Neither the UN nor UK attended the Foumban Conference in 1961 to implement the Post Plebiscite UN Resolution 1608(XV) which should have resulted in a Union Treaty. Is history not about the past? Was it not corrected in East Timor? Eritrea? Kosovo?. What is it that the Southern Cameroons is doing abnormally? Is it our eternal and sickening Force of Argument?
People! This name British Southern Cameroons must go, and the UK will be held accountable.
Let someone get this response to that Super Commissioner.
____________ _________ _________
"God grant me the Serenity to accept the things I cannot change, Courage to change the things I can, and Wisdom to know the difference" (Anonymous).
____________ ______
Prof. Martin Ayim
Grambling State University,Louisian a
PO Box 399, Grambling, LA 71245, USA
Fax: (318)274-3202
------------ --------- --------- ---
--- On Tue, 8/18/09, Charles Taku
From: Charles Taku
Subject: Re: [nationalgroup] SCNC Lacks International Support - British High Commissioner
To: dibussi@msn. com
Cc: nationalgroup@ yahoogroups. com
Date: Tuesday, August 18, 2009, 1:26 PM
Guess what? The so- called international community led by the US and Britain considered the pre-1994 Rwandan situation in similar arrogant or should Isay? ignorant, dismissive terms until the hell broke lose. The US apologised several years later and Tony Blair shamelessly and hypocriticly is a "special adviser" to Kagame today.
This type of reckless posturing is not new. It has a history of its own.
However, what we must learn from this diplomat is to review the so-called " force of argument " option which we must conclude from his statements, has failed.
We should consider the other option insinuated by this diplomat since it is obvious from his statements that his Government cannot and will never support a peaceful legal approach to the conflict. And if that is how diplomacy works the British style, so be it.
Regrettably, my reading of history, is that a reckless imperial power like Britain has never and will never support geniune freedom and the ruleof law. Reason why war is being fought and refought in many parts of the world today. The genesis of these conflicts and war has its root in injustices and insensitities suffered under the British Imperial power. By the so-called argument of force we regrettably thought we could achieve what others havegot, through greater sacrifices.
Thanks Mr Ambassador for refocusing us on the appropriate way of attaining freedom from annexation. Will I therefore be right Mr Ambassador in understanding you to mean that your government will never support a peaceful means of settling this conflict?
Chief Fuatabong Achaleke Taku
--- On Mon, 8/17/09, dibussi@msn. com
From: dibussi@msn. com
Subject: [nationalgroup] SCNC Lacks International Support - British High Commissioner
To: fdr_southerncameroo nspeople@ yahoogroups. com, nationalgroup@ yahoogroups. com
Date: Monday, August 17, 2009, 1:10 PM
From The Post Newspaper
During your stay in Cameroon, you must have heard about the SCNC...
Yes.
What is your take on that?
The SCNC often attempt to involve the British High Commission, Her Majesty The Queen, the British Prime Minister, the President of the United States, and other international figures in their argument with what they call 'La Republique du Cameroun'. Let me make Britain's position very clear: Britain recognises the Government of the Republic of Cameroon as the sole authority in Cameroon. That hasn't changed since 1972. Not only does Britain recognise the Government of Cameroon but so does all the other nations in the world and the United Nations. That makes our position on the constitutional question very clear. It seems to me that the SCNC has tried to re-write history retrospectively in its analysis of the situation in Cameroon.
Let me also say that I don't think that the SCNC has significant support in Cameroon, including in the Anglophone parts of Cameroon. So you have to take all that into consideration when assessing the SCNC, but from Britain's point of view the legal position is clear. The SCNC is entitled to its views, but hasn't been able to secure any international support for its arguments as far as I am aware. Moving on to talk more generally about 'the Anglophone problem', as it has been described to me, I recall my previous diplomatic posting was in Canada and, of course, in Canada, you have a rather similar situation with a linguistic minority of about 20 percent.
In Canada's case, 20 percent are Francophones and the majority are Anglophones. I would say that sometimes, in these situations, there is a lack of sensitivity from the majority community towards the minority community and an oversensitivity of the minority community to perceived slights by the majority community. As far as the language question goes, I think that, at one time, Anglophones were seen-seen by Anglophones at least-to be marginalised within Cameroon. I think that the increase in the global status of the English Language has changed all that. The Francophone elites that I meet in Yaounde are all very anxious that their children should have English as well as French as they are growing up and send them to bilingual schools. I believe bilingualism is a big asset for Cameroon.
I meet lots of Ministers who, even if they are not particularly keen to speak English for fear of making mistakes, certainly understand English. And I could, if I chose, to be rather lazy, often get away with speaking English much of the time in Yaounde. My strong recommendation to any young Anglophone is to learn French and I make a similar recommendation to any young Francophone - if you have both languages in this country, then the country and, perhaps, the world are your oyster.
Did you ever experience moments of friction between Anglophones and Francophones because of their linguistic or cultural differences?
There was minor argument when I was lunching in an Anglophone area in a restaurant run by a Francophone. An Anglophone I was with objected strongly to the fact that the menu was written in French. That's an example of exactly the sort of thing I mean. It might be argued that he rather over-reacted, but, I could see his point - it wouldn't have been very difficult to have produced the menu in both official languages.
Some people believe that the Anglophone Problem, as it is sometimes called, is a ticking time bomb...
That is not my impression. Cameroon is made up of many different communities. To talk about the 'Anglophone Problem', you are viewing it along the divide of the European language that the different parts of the country use. But then I see, for instance, that people from the Northwest and the West share, to a large extent, a common culture - the Grassfields culture - and it doesn't make very much difference to them that one group speaks French as their European language and one speaks English.
You can look at Cameroon in a variety of ways and, depending on which way you look at the kaleidoscope that Cameroon is, you can talk of different divisions. You can talk about the North-South divide or the Christian-Muslim divide or any other divide that you wish. It is possible to divide Cameroon, perhaps as many as 250 different ways, if you want, but I think it is more productive to talk about the things that unite Cameroon.
Complete interview is available here: http://www.thepostw ebedition. com/Content. aspx?ModuleID= 3
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