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Showing posts from February, 2011

Arm yourself for Cameroon 2011

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It is common knowledge that Elecam is the creation of the government of Cameroon to placate a few of its donor nations and a reluctant attempt to show the world that when Biya will win the elections (as the CPDM believes it would), some form of legitimacy should come into play. It is a strategic ploy, a trick, a wickedly cunning ruse to keep the Biya dictatorship in place for another 7 years, totaling 36 years of misery. 36 years of the same failed policies: rigor and moralisation, grands ambitions, etc. It is true that countries that hold the purse from which Cameroon borrows are putting pressure on the Biya regime to loosen up to the demands of the opposition and some are even calling on him to step down, but let's be realistic, most of what we have heard are " unofficial ", "off the record" , "hints" from "sources close to" because in diplomatic circles, certain subjects are taboo and certain declarations will and can be perceived

Can Cameroon repeat February 2008? Can a revolution succeed today?

If you watch the news you must be excited, that is if you are on the side of the oppressed, by the trending fall of dictators around the world and especially in North Africa. By the way, I define dictators as anyone has been elected to be at the helm of a country for more than 3 consecutive terms. While Egypt has given hope to some Arab populations suffering from the grip of tyranny and dictatorship, it will be too risqué to make a syllogistic argument in favor of any kind of insurrection in Cameroon. What is different (from a layman's standpoint) between Cameroon and Egypt? In other words, can a revolution that was cooked in Egypt be consumed in Cameroon? My answer is NO. Lack of common language Cameroon is split into two main big factions, anglophone and francophone. The language barrier stops most Cameroonians from communicating clearly their vision, objectives, etc. This has made Cameroon to seem like two countries in one. How to overcome this problem... maybe the use of pidgin

Can Cameroon repeat February 2008?

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It happened 3 years ago. It led to the deaths of hundreds of people, among whom was a 13 year-old child. When it happened we all decried the ruthlessness of the Biya regime. Lets take a short walk down memory lane. I published this email on February 28, 2008. Dear reader, Below are three accounts of the situation in our country. It is sad that human life is sacrificed for any goals to be attained. It is equally sad that some of the objectives of the strike action (according to some sources), to revolt against an incessant toll that high living costs are imposing on our brothers and sisters, are bashed by and exacerbated paradoxically by the strike action. The pro government press sees the strike action as ridiculous and scoffs its rationale. Newspapers that have been vanguards of change and pro everything good couldn't give the strike a definite intent, at least those that I read. Now, I begin to ask myself some questions: why a nationwide strike? The price of fuel seems to be

Biya: Devil's Alternatives

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In Frederick Forsythe's The Devil's Alternative , the President of the United States is faced with two options, both leading to the death of people. A third option eventually saves the day. The President of the Republic of Cameroon left Cameroon on February 2nd for Europe with his family. Nothing new here. We all know by now that Biya spends at least 90 of a possible 365 days in Europe. One of his recent trips to La Baule caused considerable stir per its cost. The interesting thing about Biya's current visit is that there is a popular uprising in Egypt as the dust is still settling on one that took place in Tunisia. It is also interesting to note that there is persistent rumor that Biya will not run for the nations topmost job, and this announcement will be the best youth day message that the President could ever give to the nation's restless youth. Although the rumor about Biya's no-commit seems too good to be true, if it turns out to be as wished, it will be like

The South West risks nothing backing Ayah

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When the South West elites (SWELA) and chiefs (SWECC) met recently, on Saturday, January 29, 2011 they were gleeful in identifying their needs: " construction of the Kumba-Mamfe road, Mamfe-Menji road, Loum-Kumba-EkondoTiti-Mundemba-Isangele-Akwa road and the Tombel-Bangem road; construction of theLimbe Deep Seaport, the Limbe shipyard, the Limbe bitumen factory; ensure regular electricity supply and extension of the rural electricity network; construction of a referral hospital; appointment of sons and daughters to post of responsibility; ensure permanent water supply in divisional headquarters; extension of railway network from Kumba toMundemba and Kumba to Mamfe, and rehabilitation of the Tiko and Besongabang airports " . To these I add (for laughs) the Mamfe-Akwaya road. Perhaps I should refer South Westerners and Northwesterners to the website of the Presidency (all searches on Cameroon take you to the Presidency), the sections on "realisations" (French) whic