CERTIFICATION

This is to certify that this work is the original work of Shungmo Amos Ngimndo presented

to the University of Buea in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the award of a LLB

in LAWS. It is open to public consultation; however it can not be used without

acknowledging the author. The author will appreciate any corrections or questions as to the

facts in this book.

SUPERVISOR: AUTHOR:Dr. J B FONYAM SHUNGMO AMOS N

……………………………….. ……………………………

AUTHOR: Tel: (+237) 77-46-26-72

E-mail: dv2k_cool@yahoo.comJUNE 2008 BUEA

1

DEDICATION

This work is dedicated to the three people that I hold most dear in the world.

The first is the almighty god without whom we are nothing. Followed by my

father Mr. Ngimndo Denis who has made me what I am in life, and finally to

the one who has followed every step that I have taken to achieve this work. She

provided me with the will to go ahead and all the comfort. Without her this

work would never have even started. All I will say is “Sheila, you are one in a

million”

2

AKNOWLEDGEMENT

My greatest thanks go to my father Mr. Ngimndo Denis and my mother

Zemoh Justine who has made me what I am in life today. I am most grateful to

my lovely fiancée Akwa Nche Sheila who virtually forced me to go back to

school after my first degree program, to accomplish this task. Her endless

encouragement even when I was at the verge of giving it all up and the comfort

she gave to me made it possible for me to achieve this work.

My sincere thanks also go to Dr Johnny Fonyam who was instrumental in

getting me back to school and who also supervised this work. I am indebted to

Dr, Yanou Michael who encouraged me to take on the program and helped me

during registration and through out my studies.

I am also grateful to the Nkweteyim Family in general and special thanks go to Pa

Nkweteyim Thomas who has done everything possible to see that I succeed in life. There

are so many people who have helped me in one way or the other in this work and all I can

say to them is thank you.

3

ABSTRACT

The people of every given society have a spirit that is embedded in their national

culture. It is this spirit that shapes the people’s lives, activities, and their respond to inner

or outer drive to change, their emotions, their choice and their values. When this spirit is

kept alive, and can function normally, the people are able to strive for and improve in a life

more meaningful in its ramifications. When this spirit is cherished and nourished, the

people can claim to be alive and can talk meaningfully of having a community or a society.

But when it is the contrary, (i.e. the spirit no longer exist, or is distorted through conquest

or forceful imposition of another culture by another society like the case in Cameroon

today where the English culture is in the process of being annihilated in fervor of the

French culture) life becomes mechanical and ceases to have a direction or any real

meaning, because the people are spiritless and thus hopeless….. If the physical body

disagrees seriously with the spirit on their values and priorities, the being cannot have

peace. The body may compel the spirit to succumb to its values, but the subdue spirit will

remain in rebellion until the body wears out of its perpetual friction with the spirit. In such

a state, the being cannot have peace and very often degenerates into senility and insanity.

The body will thus remain in this state, until the spirit can succeeds to quit its prison. This

can happen only when the body becomes lifeless.

The state has a spirit that keeps it together. This spirit in most cases is in the

constitution of the land. Thus, serious violations to this spirit will constitute a great affront

to the wellbeing of the state as it can be seen as an attempt to murder the state, thereby

constituting a felony. WANG METUGE: The African concept of man 1972.

4

TABLE OF CONTENT

Certification…………………………………………………………………i

Dedication………………………………………………………………….ii

Acknowledgement………………………...………………………………iii

Abstract…………………………………………………………………….iv

Table of contents………………….……………………………………….v

CHAPTER ONE

1.0 Introduction……………………………………………………….1

1.1 Background to study…………………………………………………2

1.2 Introducing the Topic…………………………….…….……………3

1.3 Statement of the Problem……………………...…..………………...4

1.4 Objectives of study………………………………………………......4

1.5 Literature Review…………………………………………………....4

1.6 Relevance of study…………………………………….…………….5

1.7 Definition of Concepts…………………………..…………………..6

1.8 Research methodology……………………………………………...6

1.9 Hypothesis of study……………………………..…………………..6

1.10 Scope of Study.……………………….…………………………….7

1.11 Limitation of study…………………………………………..……..7

5

CHAPTER TWO

GENERAL INTRODUCTION TO HUMAN RIGHTS

2.1 GENERAL INTRODUCTION TO HUMAN RIGHTS………………………..11

2.2 FREEDOMS AND LIBERTIES…………………………………………………14

2.3 RIGHTS ………………………………………………………………………….17

CHAPTER THREE

ANGLOPHONE PROBLEM IN THE HUMAN RIGHTS CONTEXT

3.1 INTRODUCING THE REGION………………………………………………..21

3.2 NATURE OF THE PROBLEM………………………………………………...23

3.3 THE RIGHT TO SELF DETERMINATION…………………………………..26

3.4 DENIAL OF CIVIL LIBERTIES AND JUSTICE……………………………..27

3.5 DISCRIMINATION AND MARGINALIZATION……………………………30

3.5.1 POLITICAL RIGHTS…………………………………………………………..32

3.5.2 CULTURAL RIGHTS………………………………………………………….34

3.5.3 DIPLOMATIC ISOLATION…………………………………………………..35

3.5.4 EDUCATIONAL RIGHTS…………………………………………………….36

3.5.5 CIVIL DISCRIMINATION……………………………………………………38

3.5.6 ECONOMIC MAGINALIZATION …………………………………………..38

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CHAPTER FOUR

CONTEMPORARY SITUATION AND HOPES FOR A SOLUTION

4.1 GLOBALIZATION…………………………………………………………42

4.2 DEMOCRATIZATION…………………………………………………….43

4.3 HUMAN RIGHTS GROUPS………………………………………………46

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS…………………………………48

BIBLOGRAPHY………………………………………………………………...50

CHAPTER ONE

1.0 INTRODUCTION

The denial of justice or impunity in any part of the world has always given the signal

to the perpetrators of such acts of injustice that what ever they do; they can not be held

accountable. This has often created fertile grounds for more abuses which have in the past

let to serious humanitarian calamities such as the concentration camps of the Second World

War, Dafur crises, the Rwanda genocide etc. Such crises often come about as the result of

isolated Human right abuses, which often go with impunity. A classic example of such a

situation is the case of Rwandan genocide of 1994

7

For a better part of history, a few people knew about the existence of a country in

Africa called Rwanda. Many people all over the world could not even place it on a world

map. However, after 1994, Rwanda became very popular and people from all parts of the

world have been trudging into Rwanda to contribute in the making of history. Perhaps the

Hutus and the Tutsis should be proud of finally drawing the attention of the whole world to

what for years had existed in Rwanda, but nobody gave a dame. But at was cost was this

finally achieved? Before the actual genocide in Rwanda there had been a series of killings

and other human right abuses which the world choose not to notice until it degenerated to

genocide.

Cameroon is not too far away from the pre genocide Rwanda of 1994. there

presently exist so many human right abuses which if not checked, may lead to another

humanitarian calamity, this time around in what should be considered one of the most

peaceful nation in central Africa. This research will better explain this assertion as we

move on.

1.1 BACKGROUND TO STUDY

For more than four decades now, the Anglophone in the republic of Cameroon has

suffered serious persecutions and catastrophes that can be compared only to the biblical

apocalypse, due to the false union contracted in 1961 between the Southern Cameroons

and the republic of Cameroon.

This union in reality never existed except in the minds of the leaders who failed

from the onset to take into consideration several factors. The world is witnessing the

8

making of another Rwanda in Africa, but like in the traditional way, every one is silent and

sees it as an internal problem, which is the main concern of the Cameroonian government.

The Anglophone problem is one of the most volatile problems in the African

continent, which the international community has refused to recognize because of the

seemingly peaceful nature of the country. However it should be noted that this seemingly

peaceful country is on a gunpowder foundation that may explode at anytime. And what a

great explosion will that be?

In the next few chapters we will ride through this problem to see if there is really a

Human right problem. The Cameroon government in trying to alienate the Anglophones

has committed all kind of atrocities that are aimed to forever render the Anglophones

silent. This is to prevent the crux of the matter from getting to the international level.

Therefore everything has to be done to silence the Anglophones before it is too late, and in

trying to do this, the government of Cameroon has gone an extra mile in their quest for

total secrecy of the Anglophone plight in Cameroon.

There always come a time when the cup of endurance becomes full, and people are

no longer willing to be plunged into the abyss of despair, frustration and dehumanization.

It is at such a time that the majority government might think of the final solution to a bad

tooth in the mouth. Extermination or should we say annihilation, may be the only solution

so that they will forever enjoy the resources of this economic giant which has been turn

into economic and political dwarf. This should be the most callous act of ingratitude that

the world is yet to notice since the end of the Second World War.

9

1.2 INTRODUCING THE TOPIC

Much ink has flowed on the Anglophone problem in Cameroon especially with the

liberalization of the media in 1990, coupled with globalization and the coming of the

internet. There is much already on the topic, but all what already exist only views the

problem in general term.

However this work is going to portray the problem as a human right problem which

has to be resolve as fast as possible before another can of worms is open in an already

volatile region. This work is intended to bring out all the Human rights abuses embedded

in this problem from the view point of an Anglophone.

1.3 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

That the Anglophone problem is a Human rights problem and is the greatest contributor to

the high rates of human rights abuses in Cameroon.

1.4 OBJECTIVES OF STUDY

The objective of this work is to study the Anglophone Problem in the context of

Human Rights from the view point of an Anglophone. We shall look at how an

average Anglophone sees the problem.

1.5 LITERATURE REVIEW

To accomplish a task like this we have to research into much Anglophone literature

on the problem, the view of independent observers and even the view of the Cameroon

government.

We shall be aided here by works of general historians such as Dr. Julius Ngoh,

williad Johnson, Takoungang $ Krieger, Mbu ATN, NN Mbile, Rev Nja’ah Peter etc10

We shall also look at works of activists such as Dr Nfor, Dr, Calson Anyangwe, Albert

Mukong and many others

Another source of literature for this work will be gotten from interviews, news papers

articles, periodicals, journals and other small documents such as “The two alternatives” etc.

The internet will be very useful in this work and we shall also look at human right

documents such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other specific human

rights documents such as human rights fact sheets.

1.6 RELEVANCE OF STUDY

The aim of this work is to examine the Anglophone problem from a totally different

angle which is the Human Rights view. This is aimed at getting Cameroonians to know the

reality of what the Anglophone problem is all about. There will also be an in-depth study

of the basic Human rights concepts such as freedoms, rights, liberties etc. This will be of

great importance to students especially and all those who want to understand the basic

tenets of Human rights and a general understanding of Human rights.

A whole chapter of this work has been dedicated to general introductions to human

rights which is the basis of any human rights studies any where in the world. This chapter

will be of great importance especially to many young Cameroonians who all through their

lives have taken human rights to be what the authorities want them to belief.

This work also aims to make young Cameroons to grow up knowing their rights and

be able to defend those rights at any given point in time. Human beings by virtue of their

11

humanity are born with these rights. They are not acquires and so it is just a matter of

proper education to get these rights protected.

Also this work aims to bring to the world what an ordinary Anglophone feel his problem

is.

Finally this work is aimed at throwing more light on the Anglophone plight in

Cameroon which for long has been regarded as a taboo. The mere mention of the SCNC

which is the front runner or the main organization struggling to break this taboo by letting

Cameroonians know the truth of the matter has for long been synonymous with arbitrary

detention and imprisonment.

1.7 DEFINITION OF CONCEPTS

ANGLOPHONE: this term is used to refer to the citizens of former British

Southern Cameroons. It is used interchangeably with Southern Cameroonians.

1.8 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

As stated above much research is needed to accomplish this work. This will be done

in the following ways.

The first method will be through previous researches on the topic which can be

gotten from available books, novels, pamphlets, class discussions,

12

personal interview with some of the major actors in the field conducted in 2002 by

this researcher will also be used to analyze the situation

Journals, periodicals, news paper articles, press releases, conference discussions, etc

will also provide most of the material needed for this work.

The internet will be widely exploited to bring this work to light

Questionnaires are absent due to lack of time and the sensitive nature of some of the

issues raised in this work.

1.9 HYPOTHESIS OF STUDY

The Anglophone problem in Cameroon is a human rights problem. All what will be done

in this work will be to defend the above stated hypothesis.

1.10 SCOPE OF STUDY

This study will be based mainly on the Anglophone problem from 1st of October

1961 till date. The main focus will be those issues which make the problem that of

human rights such as marginalization, torture, denial of the right to self

determination etc

Part of the study will also focus on the emergence of democracy, globalization, the

internet, human rights groups and other NGOs actively participating in the field of human

13

rights in Cameroon. We shall look at the effects of these organizations and concepts on the

problem.

Finally we shall look at the contemporary situation and we shall also attempt a

solution to the problem.

1.11 LIMITATIONS OF STUDY

The Anglophone problem in Cameroon for close to half a century has been label a

taboo or a no go area and so only very few people have been courageous enough to talk

about it in the open or even put it in writing. This has greatly limited the availability of

facts on this field of study especially from those who have lived through it.

This lack of information from those who lived through the various stages of the

transaction that have taken place since the coming together in 1961 was greatly enforced

by decree No. 66-LF-18, of 12th December 1966 which clamped down on freedom of press,

and law No: 67/LF/19 of 12th June 1967 which banned all meetings and political

associations. These two decrees effectively silence all those who could have agitated until

after 1990 when the liberty laws of 19th December were passed to liberalize the country and

to uplift most of the restrictions

Thus for about four decades, much literature on the Anglophone problem did not

exit. Most of the information we now have on such issues can only be second hand or

authentic memories which in most cases are tainted by political ambitions.

Another great limitation of this work will be the absence of direct interview with any

of the founding fathers of modern day Cameroon who are either death or have clouded

memories and can not objectively explain the situation due to their shadow political 14

ambitions. For instance J.N Foncha the founding father of unification only started talking

of the Anglophone plight in Cameroon when he was quite close to his grave.

Again most of those who have written on the problem are either in prison, death or

in exile. They are hard to pin down and most of such documents can not be sold publicly as

their ideas are obviously different from what the government will want to the majority of

illiterate Cameroonians to belief. For long such documents or books were banned and

destroyed by the government.

This work will also be greatly limited by the fact that there is no concise trend as to

the order of events that have occurred so far. There is no book or document in existence

which will tell you about the abuses that the Anglophones in Cameroon have suffered since

the formation of the union in 1961. Therefore we can only depend on isolated newspaper

articles and documents especially from the Southern Cameroons National Council (SCNC)

which in some cases may be bias and not academically oriented.

The above, and lack of questionnaires which even if produced very few people will

be willing to give their opinion on the issue, will greatly limit this work. However this

researcher has taken five years of serious research on this field and has enough documents

to support his hypothesis.

15

CHAPTER TWO:

2.0 GENERAL INTRODUCTION TO HUMAN RIGHTS

The whole idea of Human rights is founded on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

(UDHR) that came into force in December 19481. It was the first ever generally agreed

declaration on what are considered fundamental rights of all humans all over the world.

1 See “The Universal Declaration of Human Rights 1948”. Also see explanatory notes on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other related international instruments published by the Human rights defense group in Cameroon

16

It declares these rights in the following words. “now, therefore the general

assembly proclaims this universal declaration of human rights as a common standard of

achievement for all peoples and all nations, to the end that every individual and every

organ of society, keeping this Declaration constantly in mind, shall strive by teaching and

education to promote respect for these rights and freedoms and by progressive measures,

national and international, to secure their universal and effective recognition and

observance, both among the peoples of Member States themselves and among the peoples

of territories under their jurisdiction”2

Several definitions for Human Rights have emerged all over the world. However

there is no generally accepted text book definition as everything is contextual. Although

there is no general text book definition of human rights, which is accepted worldwide,

there is a general understanding as to what constitutes basic human rights.

They are those rights which are fundamental to all human beings by virtue of their

humanity, age, sex, color, height, weight, race, country, social situation in life, language,

level of education, development or underdevelopment, and all other arbitrary criteria not

withstanding.

The Human rights enjoyed by the president of the United States should not be more

than that of a poor refugee in Rwanda because they both are humans. A pigmy in the

equatorial rain forest of Africa has nothing that should prevent him/her from enjoying the

same rights as his/her fellow human being in Washington DC.

2 Ibid 17

Many definitions of human rights have been developed but it should be noted that

non-of these definitions has been generally accepted as conclusive on what should be

recognized worldwide as a definition for human rights. Many theories have also come up

aimed at trying to explain human rights.3 However, it should be understood that definitions

in most cases are meaningless if one cannot fully grasp the meaning behind them. It is for

this reason that I have decided to explain what human rights are, and not try to define them.

The necessity for the Universal protection of Human rights is clearly spelled out in

the preamble of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as follows:

“Whereas recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights

of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace

in the world,

Whereas disregard and contempt for human rights have resulted in barbarous acts

which have outraged the conscience of mankind, and the advent of a world in which

human beings shall enjoy freedom of speech and belief and freedom from fear and

want has been proclaimed as the highest aspiration of the common people,

Whereas it is essential, if man is not to be compelled to have recourse, as a last

resort, to rebellion against tyranny and oppression, that human rights should be

protected by the rule of law,

3 As cited by Shungmo Amos, in Human rights in the former Southern Cameroons page 3. (unpublished work) Here you can also find the various definitions and theories that have been developed to support or define human rights. All these theories are aimed at bringing greater understanding to the concept of human rights.

18

Whereas it is essential to promote the development of friendly relations between

nations,

Whereas the peoples of the United Nations have in the Charter reaffirmed their faith

in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person and in

the equal rights of men and women and have determined to promote social progress

and better standards of life in larger freedom,

Whereas Member States have pledged themselves to achieve, in co-operation with

the United Nations, the promotion of universal respect for and observance of human

rights and fundamental freedoms,

Whereas a common understanding of these rights and freedoms is of the greatest

importance for the full realization of this pledge”

For a better and greater understanding of human rights, we are going to break this subject

matter into two major parts. There are two basic constituents of human rights, which if

studied, will leave us in no doubt as to what human rights are. These two major

constituents can be brought to light in the form of freedoms, rights and liberties.

2.1 FREEDOMS AND LIBERTIES

According to Robert Green an American politician, “Intellectual liberty is the air of

the soul, the sunshine of the mind, and without it, the world is a prison, the universe a

dungeon.”4 Few people think of freedom in very similar terms. To some, it is about

political rights: the right to assemble, to free speech, to participate in government, etc. To

4 See http/www.worldquote.org (2003)19

others, it’s all about property rights: to do with one’s land, possessions, or body as one sees

fit. To others, freedom means freedom from hunger, health, fears, or other woes. To a few,

freedom means total freedom to do anything in some cases limited only by other people’s

freedom, and in other cases limited only by the individual’s will and ability to exercise

power.

Among the basic freedom to which men may aspire that their lives might be full and

unclamped, freedom from fear stands out as both a means and an end. A people who will

build a nation in which strong, democratic institutions are firmly established, must first

learn to liberate their minds from apathy and fear.

In recent times due to prevailing trends, it has increasingly been noticed that one

man’s freedom fighter might be another man’s terrorist. Thus, whenever we have to say

anything about freedom, we should be specific on what freedom we talk about. However,

when we talk of political freedom, we can then be able to reach a certain level of

agreement. Everyone has the following fundamental freedoms:

a) Freedom of conscience and religion;

b) Freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression, including freedom of the press

and other media of communication;

c) Freedom of peaceful assembly; and

d) Freedom of association.5

5 See Canadian Charter of rights and Freedoms (internet) 20

The most important fundamental freedom as described by John Locke in his treatise

of government is that; “every man has a property in his own person, this nobody has any

right to but himself”6

This fundamental freedom has been claimed to include free choice of job or

occupation, free choice of spouse and free movement within countries and across borders.

However it should be noted that some freedoms might be restricted to people who are

legally and dully convicted of crimes or committed into mental institutions.7

The second important freedom is the freedom of the mind and conscience. This

contrast greatly with practices of ideological intolerance, religious intolerance, political

intolerance, and the zealotry of moral or patriotic righteousness or enormous social

pressure towards conformity.8

The freedom of mind and conscience can be expressed in one’s expression of his

convictions without fear of reprisals. These include freedom of speech, of the press, of

debate, and discussion. It is the freedom to criticize, to question, to challenge, and to say

unpopular things, the freedom to be creative by thinking of things different from the

official position etc. This fundamental human right shows that every one is free to think

and spread whatever ideas with out fear of reprisals.

The next fundamental freedom is that of equal access to advantages and

opportunities available in a free society. This freedom deals with those ills such as

discrimination and marginalization, which is rampant in our Cameroon society.

6 See John Locke two treaties of government (internet)7 Class discussion and notes with Dr TN Fonchingong. (2002)8 Ibid.

21

Discrimination and marginalization, negates the foundation of freedoms and Human

right in every society. Such practices destroy the very foundation of states and there can be

no national culture in such states. Such states drift about aimlessly as there is chaos

everywhere. People in such societies lack the will or motivation to forge ahead. There is

lack of commitment in everything the people do and one can never talk about concepts

such as national unity or national integration.

Cameroonian are suffering today because the opportunities that exist are been

restricted to a particular group of people who now see it as their birth right and thus no

need to strive for excellence.

Another fundamental freedom that is often considered very important is the freedom

of political and social activities. In every society, we have the inputs and out put values in

what Political Scientists call the political system9. It is the will of the people. Inputs from

the civil society go into the political system through the effort of political parties, trade

unions, pressure groups, liberation movement, etc to bring about output that is of general

interest.

Since Political and social activities are the main reservoir from which inputs can

leave the civil society to the political system. Where people cannot freely participate in

social and political activities, such reservoir become empty, and the few politicians at the

top take all the decision which will obviously favour them. When this happens, the will of

the people is not respected and thus their views are not taken into consideration. Here we

say the political system has failed and thus a new one has to be developed to replace it.

9 For more on the political system, see David Easton. University of California. (internet) 22

2.2 RIGHTS.

A right is a just claim or a title to have, possess, use something, or act in a particular

way to enjoy certain privileges that exist in a free society. Without these rights, one cannot

fully develop him self to the fullest, and thus will remain a sub human. Man has a right

first of all to his life and existence, conscience, thought etc, before all other things

necessary for his existence such as cloths, food, shelter etc.

Once born he has the right to life, to think, be brought up, and most of all to be free,

the right to education and assistance from his parent and also the society in other to realize

his best self, to develop his physical, mental, moral and creative faculties.

Although man has the right to life, he also seeks what has been described as the

highest good of man by most philosophers namely happiness. Most philosophers of the

past such as Plato, Aristotle, Epicurus, Zeno etc dwelt much on this right to happiness

because it is the ultimate good of all humanity. When man is happy, all things around him

are pure and clean, man is in his best form, and there is joy and peace everywhere.

Man is also endowed with his personal dignity and thus the right to be respected and

regarded by every other person as a human being no matter his position or status in life. If

human life is to be secured, if man is to develop his faculties and realize his best self, if

man is to achieve happiness, and if human dignity is to remain unimpaired then man must

be free and secure in his physical person, free in his mind, and free in expressing himself.

23

The right to freedom has since time in memorial been developed through natural

law, and enshrined in constitutions and landmark documents such as the magna Carter, the

Habeas corpus, and the famous American constitution.10

We have the right to pursue our happiness, protect, and express our personality, but

we cannot pursue these rights without thinking of the people with whom we live, the state

and the society at large. We should know that as we have these rights, so do others. Thus,

rights go hand in hand with obligations.

There are approximately three types of rights which can be conveniently divided

into: first generation rights which involve the basic human rights such as to the right to

freedom of thought, conscience, religion, worship, respect as a human being etc. Second

generation rights are mostly economic in nature such as the right to education, the right to

employment etc. while the last group of rights or third generation rights are collective

rights such as the right to self determination, solidarity etc11.

In his Nobel Peace Prize acceptance statement, President Carter said: “My concept

of Human rights has grown to include not only the right to live in peace, but also to

adequate health care, shelter, food, and to economic opportunity. I hope this award

reflects a universal acceptance and even embrace of this broad-based concept of human

rights.”12

Human rights are inviolable. This is explained by the fact that if we consider the

unique place that man occupies in the universe, and by virtue of his reasoning and

10Cited in Lessons from Fonlon. Published in The freedom forum of June 2003. (This document was first published by Bernard Fonlon in “The task of today”)11 Also see Shungmo; Human rights in the former southern Cameroons pg 3 (current work)12 see The Carter center (internet).

24

intelligence. If we consider what man has been able to achieve with the force of his mind,

we realize that he is an extraordinary being who deserves the highest respect.

Successive repressive Francophone regimes in Cameroon have been able to succeed

up to this moment because they have succeeded in preventing the people from knowing

their rights. Human rights have been removed from all educational curricular and thus

people leave the university without knowing what fundamental human rights are.

In such a society, people grow up believing that blatant human rights abuses are

normal day-to-day events and thus are comfortable with it. A slap from a police officer,

arrests without warrant, mid-night arrests, denial of educational opportunities,

discrimination, unlawful detentions, etc become very normal and there is no cause for

alarm.

The various human rights organizations in the country are beginning to create

awareness and the people are beginning to know the limits of government

From the fore going, we realize that duty of the state or government as far as the

rights of the citizen are concerned, is to respect and protect those rights. Try to regulate the

relationships between the various members of the society with the aim of upholding and

safeguarding these rights and try to see that people do not abuse the rights of others in

other to increase the enjoyment of their own rights. However the government does not have

monopoly over any of these rights as members of government who safeguard the equal

enjoyment of these rights are subjected to same rules too.

25

However it should be noted that human rights as of now has no general definition, as

people from different parts of the world define human rights based on their various

traditions and customs, their environment, upbringing and natural situation in life.

26

CHAPTER THREE

THE ANGLOPHONE PROBLEM IN THE HUMAN RIGHTS CONTEXT

3.1 INTRODUCING THE REGION.

Anglophone Cameroon refers to the ex-British Southern Cameroons which, united

with the ex-French Cameroon in 1961 to form the Federal republic of Cameroon, a union

on the basis of equality. This territory has a total land area of 43.000sq.Km, and a

population of about five million. It is more populated than at least sixty and larger in land

area than at least thirty United Nations member states. 13

The origin of this territory dates back to 1884 when Germany proclaimed a

protectorate over an undefined territory between west and central Africa, which she named

“Kamerun”. At the end of the First World War, Germany was forced to renounce her claim

over Kamerun by the Versailles treaty of 1919, that recognized the 1916 division of the

country along what was known as the picot line, between Britain and France who had

jointly wrestled the territory out of German hands.

Following this agreement, France obtained 4/5 of the territory, while Britain was

satisfied with the remaining 1/5. France renamed her own portion French Cameroun while

13 Nfor N Nfor: (2002) the Southern Cameroons, truth of the matter Bamenda p 427

Britain renamed her own part British Cameroon, made up of two disconnected strips of

land.

By article 22 of the League of Nation’s covenant British Cameroons and French

Cameroun were given a new legal status, and were placed separately as mandated

territories under Britain and France respectively as class C mandates. The responsibility of

Britain and France was to bring up or prepare the people of the territories towards self-

determination and independence.

In effect what we are saying is that the German Kamerun, which existed before the

First World War in 1914 had completely disintegrated after 1922, and each part either

formed a new country, or joined another to form a new country. Thus the German

Kamerun which existed after 1884 was shared up to include part of present day Chad,

central Africa, Republic, Gabon, Congo and later Nigeria when British northern Cameroon

decided to join Nigeria following the 1961 plebiscite.14

With the demise of the League of Nation in 1939 and the emergence of the United

Nations Organization (UNO) in 1946, all mandated territories where transferred to the

UNO as trust territories, with Britain and France maintaining their role over the two

territories. The role of the trusteeship council was clearly stated in article 76(b) of the U.N

charter, which shows that the objective of the trusteeship system was to promote the

advancement of the inhabitants of the trust territories and their progress towards self-

government or independence.15 Also article 1514(XV) of 14th December 1960 of the U.N

14 ibid15 Nfor N Nfor (1994) The hidden agenda, Bamenda (1994)

28

charter was to the effect that no state or even a microstate could be refused independence

on the basis of its size or population.16

For 46 years, Britain administered British Cameroons as part of her larger Nigerian

colony. The Southern Cameroons was administered as part of the eastern region of Nigeria,

and the Northern Cameroon as part of northern Nigeria. Within this period the people of

British Cameroon were taught democratic values.

To proof their political maturity, in 1953, the 13 members representing Southern

Cameroons in the Eastern regional house of assembly in Enugu, staged a ’’walk out’’

following the eastern regional crises, and were granted a quasi federal status in 1954. From

this period southern Cameroon had taken a determine step towards full independence and

self-government. However, instead of granting Southern Cameroon independence as

enshrined in the U.N charter, Britain sacrifice the future of the very people she had

protected for 46 years in order to strengthen her relationship with France and Nigeria.

She misled the U.N to endorse the two alternatives, a choice between attaining

independence by joining either la Republic du Cameroun that attained independence on the

1st of January 1960, or Nigeria that gained independence on the 1st of October 1960. The

result was in favor of la republic du Cameroun.

The Anglophone problem in Cameroon today is based on the fact that since the

formation of the ill-fated union, Anglophones have come to be a people with a problem.

This problem has been seen in many ways. However there now seem to be a consensus on

the fact that it is “annexation” and nothing less.

16 Op.cit. Nfor (2002)29

3.2 NATURE OF THE ANGLOPHONE PROBLEM

The Anglophone problem is fundamental to the future of Cameroon and has

occasioned much controversy and confusion as to what the problem really is. In the past

people use to look at it from various dimensions; such as marginalization, deprivation,

exploitation, neglect, assimilation, etc. However, more recent studies have blended all the

above approaches to come out with one word, which encompasses all “Annexation”. This

new school has come about as a result of the fact that all the factors or views listed above

are present in the Anglophone problem.

As Per the Buea declaration of, the All Anglophone Conference (AACI) 1993 the

Anglophone problem can be seen in the following words. “We have been disenfranchised

marginalized and treated with suspicion. Our interests have been disregarded. Our

participation limited to non-essential functions. Our natural resources have been ruthlessly

exploited without any benefit accruing to our territory or its people. The development of

our territory has been negligible and confined to areas directly or indirectly of benefit to

the Francophones. Through maneuvers and manipulations we have been reduced from

partners of equal status in the union to the status of a subjugated people.”17

Independent Southern Cameroonians have also described the Anglophone problems

in various ways. For instance Dr Christopher I. Atang, describes the Anglophone problem

by using the following words “our territory has witnessed the most gory act’s of vandalism

by la Republic’s army of occupation…wanton elimination of human lives and destruction

of properties. Our people have been callously tortured; shamelessly raped; our sons and

17 The Buea declaration 3rd April 1993, Mount Mary Maternity.30

fathers maimed and massacred; our businessmen and farmers have had their property

looted or burnt”18.

To Fon Gorgi Dinka, “instead of government by dialogue, we have government by

terror. Instead of legislation by debate we have legislation by ambush. Instead of law and

order by persuasion, we have law and order by banditry and piracy; he Ahidjo himself has

been referring to it as a peaceful revolution”19

The definition to the Anglophone problem which has captivated me most is that of

Dr. Nfor Ngala Nfor in his Truth of the matter (2002) where he had this to say. “The

Southern Cameroon question is not mere marginalization, deprivation, neglect or lack of

people in strategic positions. It is annexation while marginalizations, naked, exploitation

among others, are the manifestations and consequences of a chronic disease. It is a

political question and not a cultural issue. If this were not the case some southern

Cameroonians who have completely assimilated French values and speak French better

than some Francophone Cameroonians would have occupied some of the prestigious and

powerful positions”20

Many Southern Cameroonians believe that decree No 72 -270 of 2nd June 1972 was

the final annexation of Anglophone Cameroon while decree No: 84-001 of 4th February

1984 was to completely assimilate the Southern Cameroon.

18 Cameroon life October 1993, page 13,19 Gorji dinka,The new social order: 1985.Also see Mukong AW 1990, The case for the Southern Cameroons USA, CAMFECO, pg 9520 Nfor Op.cit ,2002

31

The Anglophone problem as seen above has had unbelievable consequences on the

Anglophones or west Cameroonians. The following pages will concentrate on looking at

some of these problems in the Human rights context

3.3 DENIAL OF THE RIGHT TO SELF DETERMINATION

Self-determination is defined as free choice of one’s own acts without external

compulsion, and especially as the freedom of the people of a given territory to determine

their own political status or independence from their current state. This right to self

determination is succinctly stated by the American constitution in the following words

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal,

that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights. That

among these is Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these

rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from

the consent of the governed, That whenever any Form of Government becomes

destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it,

and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and

organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect

their Safety and Happiness….. But when a long train of abuses and usurpation,

pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under

32

absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such

Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security”21

This basis Human right rule does not apply to the Anglophones in

Cameroon. From the very beginning, Anglophones were denied this right to

self determination by the UN which gave them only two alternatives which

precluded the right to self determination.22 It was even alleged that Charles de

Gaulle had referred to the Southern Cameroons as ““The southern Cameroons was

a small gift from the queen”. (un petit cadeaux de la reine)23

After independence Southern Cameroons then West Cameroon was again refused

the right to self determination in 1972 when the unitary constitution was changed without

them having much say to it, as the referendum to decide an issue affecting only them was

open to the whole country. As if this was not enough, in 1984, by presidential decree No:

84-001 of 4th February 1984, the name of the country was not only changed, but east

Cameroon simply revive the name with which they gained independence in 1960 to include

west Cameroon. Many have suggested that by this single act, a whole nation was simply

assimilated or annexed.

So assimilated, the Anglophones have remained in this state of assimilation or non

existence till the 1990s when they were liberated by the liberty laws. Since then much has

been done towards the achievement of their right to self determination under the leadership

of the Southern Cameroons National Council (SCNC). Efforts have been ruthlessly

suppressed and it is these efforts that have led to the greatest degree of human rights abuses

recorded in the history of Anglophones. Arbitrary arrests, illegal detentions, torture,

21 See The American declaration of independence. (Internet)22 The two alternatives” was a document published and circulated by the U.N, bearing the impact of the two questions to be posed, on southern Cameroonians, and the implication of each choice. The two alternatives were adopted by the U.N resolution 1352(XIV) of 16th October 1959. This resolution also made arrangements for the plebiscite. Resolution 2013(XXVI) was also passed on May 31st 1960 requesting the administering authority of the southern Cameroon to make sure that the people were fully informed of the constitutional arrangements that will follow the results of the plebiscite. The two alternatives was a blatant abuse of article 76(b) of the U.N charter which was to the effect that “The objective of the U.N trusteeship system was to promote the advancement of inhabitants of the trust territory and their progress toward self determination or independence”.23 See Hotline news No: 0075.

Also see Nja’ah peter: 2001, The Anglophone problem in Cameroon pg 65)

33

killings and even assassinations. These abuses are the crux of this work and we shall

discuss them as we go along.

3.4 DENIAL OF CIVIL LIBERTIES AND JUSTICE TO ANGLOPHONES

Civil Rights are privileges that every person is entitled to. When a person is

discriminated against for associating with or being part of a certain group of people, his or

her civil rights are violated. In many legal spheres, discrimination based on race, sex, age,

religion, ethnicity, physical/mental disability and sexual orientation is prohibited. When

these rights are interfered with, civil action can be taken against the perpetrators.

Fundamental individual rights such as freedom of speech and religion are protected

by law against unwarranted governmental or other interference. Civil Liberties on the other

hand are enjoyed by all human beings based on their humanity. Under no condition should

some one be prevented from enjoying these liberties

The text book definition of justice is: “The principle of fairness; the ideal of moral

equality.” In this work, we shall not go into polemics, as we all at least understand what

justice and civil liberties are all about. With the case of the Anglophones the persistent

violation of their civil liberties, has greatly hindered them from living freely in the country

that they are supposed to call their own.

An idea on what I am talking about here can be gotten from reports of what

happened in Bamenda in 1992. One reporter describes the situation in the following words.

“Bamenda is hell on earth. Bamenda is an inferno where human beings are reduced

to something less than animals’…being of northwest origin is a crime. Your social status

34

doesn’t mean anything to the army of occupation. People are harassed, humiliated and all

sort of indignity is melted to north westerners… retired justice Nyo Wakai was arrested in

his house beaten with wife and children before taken away and detained

incommunicado…. some of those arrested are taken to bushes around Mendankwe,

stripped of their clothing and drilled on guerrilla warfare for the cameras of CRTV….as

part of the diabolic mission in Bamenda, victims of the emergency laws are not allowed to

go to the hospital or receive any form of medical assistance… red cross personnel who

tried to assist the victims were force to sit on dirt…many corpses have been abandoned in

the mortuary because of the impossibility to withdraw them…Two expectant mothers gave

birth on the streets on October 26 and 31….Last Sunday people going to church were

assembled and forced to sit on the road and recite “gendarmes are more than god”…

Many people are reported death in gendarme custody: according to one detainee who

bought his freedom, all those arrested are beaten three times a day…they are locked up in

overcrowded cells which makes breathing difficult…To date more than 1500 persons have

been arbitrarily arrested, detained and tortured. There are reports that some detainees are

beaten to death. Food water and visits are denied hence verification impossible…Torture

and looting of private properties by gendarmes are common place…infringement on

freedom of worship as gendarmes force worshipers and clergy to rub themselves in mud

and return home saying God is dead”24

These civil liberties are well spelt out in the preamble of the 1996 constitution as any

other right, but when it comes to the Anglophones, there is always the un-written law that

24 le messenger vol 2 no: 40 of 12th November 199235

applies. An Anglophone can be arrested at any time, accused of anything and tortured to

sign false confessions which the courts always take to be the truth.

Anglophones have been arrested in the middle of the night in front of crying children

and wives who were seeing them for the last time. There are many others languishing in

francophone prisons without crimes and there is no body to tell their families of their

whereabouts. The police or gendarme officer who is suppose to be the servant of the

people has become the master and every where you hear people calling them “chef” to

please them.25

The absence of civil liberties and denial of justice has been successfully carried out

in Cameroon because the judiciary has been muffled. The independence of the judiciary a

very important feature in all democratic societies has been thrown to the dogs. The

judiciary is simply the extension of the executive arm of the ministry of justice. The judge

can be appointed and dismissed at any time and thus for the judge to keep his position, he

must be willing to play ball and not offend the master at the top.

It is hard to belief that in our modern society the chief judge of the Supreme Court

could declare over the national television and radio that he can not do anything because his

hands are tied. But this was exactly what happened in Cameroon in 1992 during the

reading of the results of the presidential elections. Still in 1992 in Bamenda, authorities

rejected a high judge’s ruling because the decision freed Anglophones who have been

incarcerated at the Bamenda central prison for long. These people were later transferred to

Yaoundé were they were sentenced by a French judge in a military tribunal.26

25http/ www.thesoutherncameroons.org(2006)26 Judgment No: HCB (CMR) 92

36

3.4 DISCRIMINATION AND MARGINALISATION OF ANGLOPHONES

The United Nations charter has defined discrimination in the following words; “any

distinction, exclusion, restriction or preference which is based on any ground such as race,

color, language, religion, national or social origins, birth or other status and which has

the purpose of nullifying or impairing the recognition enjoyment or exercise by all persons,

on an equal footing, of all rights and freedoms”. From this definition, there are some

words that we need to take note of: they include DISTINCTION, EXCLUSION, and

RESTRICTION OR PREFERENCE. The U.N has thus bared all its members from

practicing discrimination that has been found anathema to human existence. Discrimination

goes hand in hand with marginalization, which is the deprivation of a group of people from

effectively handling important government positions. Cameroon ratified the U.N charter in

1984 and thus is bound by all the laws and decisions of the said organization.

However, what goes on in Cameroon is far from being this as there is a blatant abuse

of whole aim and objectives of what the national assembly ratified and the president

signed. Since the coming together of the Southern Cameroons and la republic du

Cameroon in 1961 to form the federal union, the Southern Cameroonian or Anglophone

who is a minority in the union has undergone lots of discrimination in the hands of the

French speaking Cameroonian who are in the majority.

According to A.N.T Mbu, “Every thing including positions look like gifts or

privilege. West Cameroonians have no right for any thing in the republic. They have been

discriminated and colonized anew” He goes further to say “They are treated worse than a

37

conquered people, discriminated upon and marginalized. Their lands and property are

looked upon as enemy property, as they stand idly by and watch it looted and carried

away”.27 The English speaking Cameroonian from the former Southern Cameroon is

highly discriminated upon. He is excluded and restricted from the government and several

areas of public life by his francophone brother.

The base of this discrimination and marginalization is the language or name of the

person in question. From the language you speak, you can easily be identified as an

Anglophone. Secondly the name you bare can also clearly tell from which part of the

country you hail. Speaking French in most cases does not mean you will be fully accepted

as you are forever condemned to be a second-class citizen, you are denied the right to

employment, you are to be arrested and tortured without being charged in any court, and to

be denied the right to all freedoms. You are to be humiliated no matter the circumstance.

Per Dr Atang “enough is enough! We are firmly determine to die on our feets than to

cringe on our bellies as untold misery, injustice, domination, discrimination, exploitation,

manipulation…are visited on us daily by; la republique du cameroun’s troop of

occupation.”

3.4.1 POLITICAL RIGHTS

The cardinal rule has always been that the Anglophone, no matter how intelligent he

is must always come after his Francophone counterpart. It is unbelievable to think that

there exist whole ministries in a bilingual country like Cameroon without a single

27A.N.T Mbu: 1993 civil disobedience in Cameroon, Impriemerie Georges frere ( page 324),38

Anglophone at the higher echelon. However they can always serve as messengers and

occupy other lower positions.

Dr. Nzefack. Peter Stanley had this to say “Anglophones are hardly privy to

national secrets let alone secrets of political power which are remotely controlled from the

Elysee palace. The only secret Anglophones are initiated into is how to thwart the popular

aspirations of the Anglophone populace and deliver critics, dissidents and non-conformists

to the sledge hammer of CENER”28.

There are certain ministries in the country where English is unheard of such as

defense, economy and finance, external relations, territorial administration, national

education, investment and many others. Taking of secretary-generals in ministries, it is a

no go area for Anglophones.

When we talk about discrimination in ministerial positions, some misguided

opinions always call the attention of the people to the fact that the last three successive

Prime ministers of the country have all been Anglophones. However it will be of great

importance to clarify them on the fact that the power structure in the office of the Prime

Minister has greatly changed as compared to the time a francophone was Prime Minister.

No one can claim that the powers of the Prime Minister during the Biya era and that during

the Achidi Achu or Musonge era are the same.

Before power could pass on to the Anglophone the power structure was greatly

modified. Thus secretary-generals and vice prime ministers had to come in. Cameroon has

always proclaimed to be practicing what is known as advance democracy. However it is

appalling to believe that in Cameroon with advanced democracy, there are traditional

28 Cameroon reviews vol. 1 of June 1994)39

Anglophone ministries such as transport and mines. These ministries became traditional

Anglophone ministries only after they have been stripped naked of all the juicy

corporations under them.

All these corporations such as CAMAIR, CAMSHIP, in the ministry of transport

and HYDROCABURE, SCDP, SONARA etc in the ministry of mines, have direct access

to the presidency, thus making the general managers of such corporations more powerful

than their ministers. The ministry is only a small faction of the whole vampire scheme

because if we go to the diplomatic missions, we realize that the situation is even worse as

there are whole diplomatic missions without a single Anglophone in the mission.

To better clarify this situation, it will be better to look at some statistics published by

the post newspaper of Monday April 14, 2003.

“Cameroon cabinet made up of 53 members…has only 6 Anglophone…of the 32 full

ministers there are only 2 Anglophone. There are seven ministers of state with no

Anglophone…there has been only one Anglophone minister of state since independence…

Of the 32 secretaries of state, only two are Anglophone. In the 32 ministries, no

Anglophone is director of general administration. In the ministry of territorial

administration, of the 268 divisional officers (DO’s) only 9 are Anglophone, and only 6

Anglophone senior divisional officers (SDO’s) of the 58…the military reeks of Anglophone

marginalization. There are only two Anglophone generals out of 25…the police force

witnesses the similar marginalization… There is no Anglophone head of department at the

delegation for national security…Anglophones have been condemned never to dream of

heading the national security or defense ministries. In the police-training academy found

in Anglophone Cameroon, more than 90% of the trainees are francophones…. Of the more 40

than 30 heads of diplomatic missions, only 4 are Anglophones…the Anglophones are

frightened away from most important state corporations in the national oil refinery found

in Anglophone Cameroon, more than 90% of the senior staff are francophones… and the

list goes on.

3.4.2 CULTURAL RIGHTS

The official language of the arm forces in this bilingual country is French. Thus to

belong, you must be ready to give up your birthright (which is the English language). In

the CRTV, which is the state owned television house, the official language is French,

English is given less than 10 hours a week, English films have to be translated to French

before they can be shown, English is barely tolerated in this bilingual country. If you watch

CRTV, no body needs to tell you that it is a French channel.

According to S.T Muna: “Television programs even those originally made in

English are shown only after they have been translated into French. Also According to the

Buea declaration Anglophone who share equally in the burden of financing the C.R.T.V get

far less than ¼ of the services provided by this republic utility”.29

3.4.3 DIPLOMATIC ISOLATION

It is a taboo for an Anglophone to hope of ever becoming an ambassador to any

important country in the world, English not withstanding such as the U.S.A., France,

Britain, Australia, Canada, Germany, South Africa etc. There are whole diplomatic

29 Also see the Buea declaration and Shungmo (2003) pg 58.41

missions without a single Anglophone. By the way, Cameroon is known in most cases as a

French speaking country. This was clearly demonstrated during the NEPAD negotiations

in Mauritius Island were Cameroon was presented as a French country.30

3.4.4 EDUCATIONAL RIGHTS

In the educational milieu, the situation is no better. In the words of ST Muna, “entry

qualification, into ENAM, ENSA, IRIC, ESSTI, ENSET, polytechnic and Ngaoundere

university centers, limits the number of English speaking students very seriously”31 The

only Anglophone University in the country created of recent due to pressure from the

Anglophones has totally lost its Anglo-Saxon tradition as appointments to various positions

is now by presidential decree based on party affiliation and not by the senate council as it

ought to be. To continue with assimilation, French has been made a compulsory

requirement for graduation. Meanwhile we cannot say it of English language in the other

five French language state Universities.

Still in the educational domain, we have schools all over the Anglophone provinces

with no teachers or classrooms and children are forced to study under trees if they wish to

learn. In the technical sector, the prevailing tendency is that only francophone teachers are

sent to the English provinces. The lack of language or communication skills has forced

30 See Nja’ah peter (2001): The Anglophone problem in Cameroon. Prospects of a non-violent transformation. Bamenda quality printers pg 29. Also see Shungmo (2003) unpublished long essay pg 33.31 See Muna ST, (1984): some problems of social justice and balanced development in Cameroon. Yaounde. Here it should be noted that S.T Muna was one of the fathers of unification.

42

them to give lectures in languages that are neither French nor English. The constant poor

results obtained from these schools attest to this fact.

There have been constant attempts by the francophone government to wipe out the

English system of education and culture that existed in the former Southern Cameroons by

introducing French syllabuses to Anglophone schools and changing names of place such as

Victoria to limbe. So that future generations will never know that they had any links with

English.

In other higher professional institutions, the frustration of the English speaking

Cameroonians can be seen in the number of English speaking Cameroonians graduating

from these schools. Admissions into schools such as EMIA, ENSET, ENAM, IRIC and

others greatly restrict Anglophones. In most cases the entire board of such schools is made

up of francophones and thus during interviews Anglophones are rejected if they cannot

speak the language. Those who wish to go there must have Godfathers or strong party

barons. In most cases, these are no go areas for Anglophones.

English speaking graduates are frustrated at every level. After graduating from the

University, most of them cannot continue with their higher degree programs, as they are

nonexistent in English. To continue you have to do it in French or go abroad which is the

only other alternative but expensive. To get jobs with English degree is another serious

problem, as all francophone employers will tell you that English degrees are less than their

French equivalents.

According to S.T Muna; “in order words virtually all Anglo-Saxon qualifications

are inferior to french ones and so Anglo-Saxon standards are supposed to be inferior to

French ones. This gives an idea of the frustration which English speaking citizens faced 43

virtually at all levels, in the University, in the public service and in state corporations with

regards to their progress”32. However, it is also amazing to think that most of the greatest

Cameroonian scholars recognized internationally are these very Anglophones whom the

francophones claim having lower qualifications.

3.4.5 CIVIL RIGHTS

In the normal day-to-day relations between the normal francophone and

Anglophone, the general government policy has given rise to mistrust and entrench

relations. The normal francophone citizen following the example of his brothers in the

government sees his English brother as an enemy who should be shone. This has given rise

to several appellations such as les biafrais, les enemis dans la maison, les anglos etc which

are aimed at ridiculing the Anglophone.

Delegations such as sporting and athletic will always portray Cameroon as a French

country. Anglophones have been greatly discouraged from this sector. It is no surprise for

those who know that in the Cameroon national football team there is no Anglophone.

Should we say it is because Anglophones are not talented? Can we justifiably claim that if

Anglophone Cameroon was a separate country, it would not have been able to put up a

strong national team or send athletes abroad?

3.5 ECONOMIC MAGINALIZATION

32 Ibid. Also see Mukong: 1990,pg 27

44

Destroying the land and infrastructure of any nation in the world is just the same like

telling the people not to exist at all or to forever remain beggars. Moreover, to be candid no

one will watch you destroy his source of lively hood without offering a word. Through out

the history of the unification of the two Cameroon, this destruction of infrastructure,

businesses, and all other sources of livelihood of the Anglophone have characterized the

relationship.

Anglophone Cameroon or west Cameroon is blessed with natural resources

including; crude oil and gas, coffee, cocoa, tea, palm oil, banana, timber and minerals such

as diamond, gold and uranium. The territory produces more than 70% of the gross national

products of Cameroon (G.N.P). But since unification, has walloped in underdevelopment

and poverty.33

The systematic destruction of the infrastructure of Anglophone Cameroon started

immediately after unification. To render the Anglophone weak and un-viable to agitate, all

the independent powers of west Cameroon were taken by article five and six of the federal

constitution.34

With grounds cleared as such, the systematic closure of all viable Anglophone

businesses such as CHE AUTOMOBILES, FOMENKY DIRECT SUPPLIES AND

THE KILO BROTHER. State corporations such as the NATIONAL MARKETING

BOARD, POWERCAM, CAMEROON AIR TRANSPORT,(CAT) and all other revenue

producing infrastructures such as banks, and industries was the next issue in their diabolic

political agenda.

33 Loc .cit Nfor, 2004 pg 434 1961 unitary constitution of Cameroon.

45

Sea and river ports were closed down, airports and warehouses were neglected and

finally closed down. Care was taken to make sure that everything that could give the

Anglophones a little independence were taken over or destroyed. This was followed by the

neglect of the remaining infrastructures. Roads were dug up with the pretext of

maintenance and left at that stage.

The responsibility of town planning was taken over from the west Cameroon

government and ghost towns developed everywhere. The Buea declaration of 1993

describes the situation in the following words

“They dug up the existing tar, destroyed the roads and in that state abandoned them

as in the case of Kumba-Mbonge and Kumba-Tombe roads.” Furthermore., “The

government has not added a single Kilometer to the network that existed in

Anglophone Cameroon prior to unification, other than the few kilometers from

Mongo - Tiko, Victoria - Idenau and from Santa - Bamenda, Which were done

primarily to serve the economic and commercial interest of Francophone and to

provide easy access to oil installation, manned and exploited by Francophones”.

All viable towns west of the mongo which use to boom with economic activities

were turned into ghost towns and everything is being done to keep them in that stage. They

reap the wealth and resources of Southern Cameroons, as if they have a target date to

depart or underdeveloped it. The timber, banana, tea, palms, rubber, etc are being exploited

everyday with little benefit to the people of Anglophone Cameroon.

Moreover, even though all oil resources in Cameroon originate in Ndian division of

west Cameroon all oil related companies such as societe national de hydrocarbure

46

(S.N.H), societé nationale de reffinage (SONARA), societé Camerounaise de deport

petroliere (S.C.D.P), HYDRAC etc are predominantly staffed by Francophones. Also, this

region of Cameroon has never seen a single mile of tar road. All oil revenues are paid

directly to Yaoundé, while taxes are paid to the Douala city council which harbors most of

these companies.

In economics, we all know of location of industries and the concept of comparative

cost advantage, which are all based on the fact that we can progress by using natural

advantages. However in Cameroon, we have to remove all the natural resources from one

part of the country to another just because the people of this other part of the country

should not be allow to benefit from the fallouts. I did personally ask this question to the

secretary general in the North West governor’s office in 2002 and was told that factors of

location of industries were not present in Bamenda.

The next question as to why Bamenda produces the greatest quantity of eucalyptus

trees use for electricity poles, yet they were processed in Baffousam, received no answer.

The most annoying part of the whole issue is that every step is taken to prevent foreign

investors from investing in this part of the country.

PECTON OIL Company, which was first registered as PECTON VICTORIA

CO.LTD, was forced by the government to be set up in Douala. GUINNESS also wanted

to settle in Ombe but Government pressure forced it to Douala. Again for several years

American companies have been trying to set up a cement factory and flour mill in west

coast Victoria, to no avail etc.35

35 Op. cit Mukong: 199047

CHAPTER FOUR

CONTEMPORARY SITUATION AND HOPE FOR A SOLUTION

4.1 GLOBALIZATION

Globalization in its literal sense is the process of globalizing, transformation of some

things or phenomena into global ones. It can be described as a process by which the people

of the world are unified into a single society and function together. This process is a

combination of economic, technological, socio-cultural and political forces.

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Globalization means increasing the interdependence, connectivity and integration on

a global level with respect to the social, cultural, political, technological, economic and

ecological levels. The civil liberties are enhanced and there is a more efficient use of

resources. All the countries involved in the free trade are at a profit. As a result, there are

lower prices, more employment and a better standard of life in these developing nations.

The effect of globalization of the Anglophone problem is that with the increase in

globalization. Many people are now aware of the Anglophone problem. The greatest agent

in this category is the internet which has greatly helped in creating awareness of the

Anglophone problem all over the world. More people now know of the Anglophone

problem than in the 90’s when there were no internet services.

Also with the coming of the internet many people can now write and post articles

over the internet without fear of government crackdown. The most popular news blog on

the internet visited by Southern Cameroonians all over the world

(http/www.thepostnewsline.com) has so many forums and questions on the Anglophone

problems are the most hotly contested issues with so many ideas from those who can not

even mention it in public. This has created so many debates on the issue thus awareness.

Many people feel very free discussing these issues over the internet.

The influence of the internet is that it has made so many people to be talking about

the problem at the same time thereby creating international recognition and debates on the

issues affecting the Anglophones. Many can now talk about it all over the world with

certainty as to what it is all about. For a very longtime now in Cameroon we have not heard

of books being banned like before, because globalization has brought about so many means

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of communication and so most of the information is now free for all over the internet and

cell phones.

In this era of globalization, nothing is hidden as happenings in one part of the world

are known all over the world in a matter of minutes. The effect of this is that the

international community has brought pressure to bear on the Cameroon government and

thus limiting the number of human rights abuses. Now when a man is arrested, within the

next few minutes the whole world is talking about it and so the person can not be detained

indefinitely like it use to happen.

4.2 DEMOCRATIZATION

Democratization is the transition to a more democratic political regime. It may be

the transition from an authoritarian regime to a partial democracy, transition from

authoritarianism to a full democracy or transition from a semi-authoritarian political

system to a democratic political system. The outcome may be consolidated (as it was for

example in the United Kingdom) or democratization may face frequent reversals (as it has

faced for example in Argentina). Different patterns of democratization are often used to

explain other political phenomena, such as whether a country goes to a war or whether its

economy grows. Democratization itself is influenced by various factors, including

economic development, history, and civil society. However in this work we shall be

limited to the effects of democratization on the Human rights of Southern Cameroonians or

the Anglophones.

The wave of democratization that swept through most African states in the late 80’s

and early 90’s had it toll on Cameroon. The process though ugly in Cameroon came

50

anyways and most people could then savor the much heard about democracy. Though we

can not say Cameroon was completely democratized within this period, it will equally be a

fallacy to say nothing came out of the whole process

Following the launching of the Social Democratic Front (SDF) in May 1990, there

was no turning back as the wheels of democracy started spinning in Cameroon. The late

90’s heralded the liberty laws which came to liberalize both the economy and the political

system.36 Though the process may be very slow, what is important is the fact that it is in

motion

The effect of democratization on the Anglophone problem is that it brought about

considerable freedom of speech and the press which has been very important in the

creation of the awareness of the Anglophone problem. Also the liberty laws officially

brought to an end most of the repugnant laws that existed in Cameroon prior to this period.

The difference here was that people could talk freely even though talking had no impact on

the decisions of the government. Though people could still be locked up arbitrarily, they

had to at least give a reason for their actions. There was thus a small degree of

accountability on the part of the government.

With democratization, the courts could even go through the charade of a mock trial

with the aim of portraying to the world that Cameroon is a land of justice, though the

judgments are made before the trial even starts. The absence of the independence of the

judiciary only means a judge can be told what to do at anytime and any thing contrary to

the wishes of his employers is seriously detrimental to his position. He can be removed

from office at anytime with the stroke of a pen.

36 See the liberty laws of 19th December 199051

With democratization, fabulous documents have to be written to portray to the world

the greatest democracy in paper. This is only on paper as the reverse is true on the field. A

good example is the 1996 constitution of Cameroon which made provision for democratic

institutions and guarantees to human rights which have never been implemented till date 12

years later. To prove that there is no intention to follow that particular constitution;

revisions have already begun with the hope of keeping the president in power for life.

Also democratization has led to the development and implementation of some

democratic rules such as law No: 2005 of 27th July 2005 on the new criminal procedure

code intended to improve on the system of justice in Cameroon. Before the coming of this

law, the Cameroonian justice system could be epitomized by Albert Mukong’s Prisoner

without a crime which describes vividly what was done to Anglophone prisoners of

conscience.

The new law has given hope to many Anglophones as with a good lawyer and

enough money you can be sure to get a somehow fare trial. Unlike before where

Anglophones were triad in francophone courts by French judges with the inquisitorial

system of justice37. This single piece of legislation has greatly improved on the human

rights of Anglophones as it seems they will no longer be arrested arbitrary and detained for

very long periods without trial. However we still have to see how effective it will be.

4.2 HUMAN RIGHTS GROUPS

Human Rights groups are fallouts of democracy and have greatly proliferated in

Cameroon since the introduction of multi party democracy in the 90s. There are so many of

37 See Judgment No: HCB (CMR) 9252

these groups present in Cameroon today all advocating for the rights of Cameroonians to

be respected. The first major human rights groups in Cameroon created by ARBERT

MUKONG, The Human Right Defense Group (HRDG), had as one of its initial aims the

protection of the rights of Anglophones.

Local Human Rights organizations are often the first to notice that human rights are

violated and start to react. This is because they are there at the grass root close to the

people and most people often run to them when their rights are abused especially the poor

who can not buy justice in Cameroon.

International Human rights groups such as amnesty international, transparency

international have been actively involved in Cameroon since the early 90s and their

presence is highly felt through their annual Human rights reports which have to force the

government to revise most of the repugnant laws that hitherto existed in Cameroon.

Most of these Human Rights groups are seriously victimized by government agents

who find their presence as a threat to the kind of absolute power that they will want. This

has led to a situation where most human rights defenders have become victims of human

rights abuses. However it should be noted that the aim of this work is not to critically look

at the works of Human Rights groups, but to look at the effects of their presence on the

Anglophone problem.

To this effect we can say they have been very instrumental in educating the public

on their fundamental Human Rights which ought not to be violated, and what they ought to

do if those rights are violated. The greatest hindrance to Human Rights defense is the

ignorance of those whose rights are abused. You can not complain of something you do not

know. It should be noted that Human Rights is a relatively new concept in Cameroon and 53

so for a very long time, many Cameroonians have lived under a totalitarian regime that

they can not even differentiate between what is right or wrong. Thus for long every one has

gone along with the abuses of their rights as if they were natural things that ought to be

done by the authorities.

Thus Human Rights groups have a long way to go for Cameroonians to be

completely educated on human rights. It may sound funny, but it is a reality in Cameroon

that many young Cameroonians leave our universities without and idea on what basic

human rights are. Such people can then only be educated by these groups.

From our hypotheses of this study, the Anglophone problem in Cameroon is a

human rights problem. If this is the case, then the Anglophones need all the human rights

groups that they can get to help not only in educating them on those rights, but also defend

them. This has been going on for a very long time now, and this is why many Anglophones

can now claim that their rights have been violated from the very onset and thus they can

not continue in the union, if those rights are not respected.

From all the evidence we have seen above, the fact is that the Anglophone problem

not only exists, but it is a human rights problem. It has single handedly contributed

enormously to Human Rights abuses recorded in Cameroon.

In a nutshell, what we are saying is that globalization, democratization and the

presence of Human Rights groups have greatly ameliorated the hitherto deplorable

condition of Anglophones, especially the talking type whom it is hoped with the new

criminal procedure will be accorded some degree of respect. Thus following the new law

we do not expect midnight arrests, arbitrary detention, torture and the injustices which have

54

characterized the relationship between the government and Anglophone activists for over

40 years.

CONCLUSION AND RECOMENDATIONS

After an in-depth study of the Anglophone problem in the Human rights context, we

can conclude that the Anglophone problem in Cameroon is a human rights problem which

should be handled like any other Human Right issue. Thus there is need for the

intervention of the international community to resolve the problem. This is due to the fact

that many Anglophones have taken the matter to a different level and they see no other

solution other than the creation of an independent Southern Cameroons. It should be noted

that the Southern Cameroons National Council (SCNC) went as far as declaring the

independence of THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF SOUTHERN CAMEROONS in 1999

over radio Buea.

This is proof to the fact that most Anglophones are no longer interested in the union

of the two Cameroon, and thus want the United Nations from where the Problem arose to

come back quietly to Cameroon and review the union, to see if it is working or the people

can assume their right to self determination which is a fundamental Human Right38

The Anglophone problem has not occasioned any uprising in Cameroon today

because of the facts that the Anglophones have been constantly terrorized and now live

constantly in fear of a military crack down, or even genocide. Any attempt by

Anglophones to raise their voice has often been ruthlessly suppressed such as the strike

cases in the University of Buea and Kumba were many young innocent Anglophones have

38 Many Southern Cameroonians or Anglophones believe that their problem emanated from the very floor of the UN, which refused them the right to self determination by the two alternatives.

55

lost their lives. Most outspoken Anglophones or leaders have been forced to flee the

country while the rest have become traitors to the Anglophone course. However the new

brand of Anglophone youth now should greatly worry the world at large because they can

not be expected to forever remain quiet if conditions continue the way they are right now

with the presence of modern means of communication.

The recommendation of this author is that the United Nations should come back to

Cameroon and conduct another plebiscite for the people to choose where to live, and not

listen to leaders who keep giving the assurance that things are fine meanwhile a tornado is

building from within, and it is inevitable that it will one day come to light. One stitch in

time saves two. I think at this stage, only the people themselves can decide their fate. They

should be allowed to exercise their right to self determination which has been denied them

for many decades now.

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