Fidel Castro of Cuba passes on!!!
The legendary leader of the Cuban revolution, Fidel Castro, has died, Cuban state television has announced. He was 90.
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CAMEROON IN CRISIS: The Anglophone Problem-Bribes or Bullets?
In 1985, a maverick English-speaking Cameroonian lawyer, Gorgi Dinka, declared that President Paul Biya had abrogated the 1961 union between French Cameroon and the Southern Cameroons by decreeing that the name of the country was no more the “United Republic of Cameroon” but simply, “Republic of Cameroon”.
Lawyer Dinka claimed that by a stroke of President Biya’s pen, French Cameroon had abrogated the Union, and that Southern Cameroonians had to create their own country called Ambazonia –derived from Ambas Bay, the protectorate that Britain established in 1884 before ceding to Germany in 1887.
With Dinka’s arrest in 1985, the Ambazonia independence movement took off. To most Anglophones who had been used to the Gestapo tactics of Cameroon dictatorship, Dinka’s arrest was just another storm in a teacup. But today, with the generalized strike launched by Common Law lawyers, engulfing other sectors of the population in the two Anglophone regions, Dinka’s revolution seem to have become a raging Prairie fire.
Yet, the senile Biya government which is adverse to sharing power in a putative federation, is digging its heels and spreading bribes and bullets. The conundrum of Anglophones who are hoping for a federation is that the French –inspired system, that prevails in Cameroon does not have the concept of a federation in its political lexicon.
The Yaoundé government has been silently implementing its policy of assimilation, gradually eroding all English –speaking institutions in the former Southern Cameroons. After the abolition of the House of Assembly (Parliament), and House of Chiefs in Buea, the predominantly French speaking government has expropriated all important positions and imposed French as the de facto language of the country to the virtual exclusion of English.
Since 1990 when the Social Democratic Front (SDF) was launched in a gush of bloodshed, Biya has been using the stick and the carrot, or bullets and bribes to contain the opposition. Fru Ndi who was a firebrand rabble-rouser, has mellowed after receiving a few million francs CFA, from Biya. (He of course denies being bribed, but encourages his followers to take any money the government gives, because it is the taxpayers’ money and not Biya’s).
Leaders of the nearly 250 opposition parties have been handsomely rewarded, making the creation of a political party one of the most profitable business ventures in Cameroon. That is why, all the leaders of the main opposition parties in Cameroon, have refused to cede power to a younger generation, because their political parties have become bargaining chips in the big money game that is Cameroon politics.
The stealthy takeover of the judiciary in the two Anglophone regions with the infusion of French speaking judges and prosecutors imposing the Civil law system and requiring lawyers to make submissions in French seems to have gone too far. It has turned out to be a risky move that has backfired.
Yet, with the failed Anglophone leadership and the culture of accepting bribes from the Yaoundé regime, most observers are skeptical that the strike action will result in far-reaching reforms. But the regime seems to have been taken aback by the grown swell of protest on the coattails of the Common law lawyers which has extended to lawyers in London and the rest of the Diaspora in Europe and North America.
Most observers believe that this is a precursor to the real storm that will be engulfing Cameroon with the imminent death of Paul Biya who at 83, is in fragile health and seems determined to die in power.
By Soter Tarh Agbaw-Ebai (Editor-in-Chief) Cameron Concord News Group
Women’s AFCON: The girls are into the semis
The Indomitable Lionesses of Cameroon have once more projected their superiority at the ongoing 2016 Women AFCON by beating the Mighty Warriors of Zimbabwe 2:0. The game which was the third in group A leaves Cameroon at the top of the table with nine points and five goals in all three encounters with Egypt, Zimbabwe and South Africa.
Turkish based Cameroonian striker Michelle Kaba opened the score bank for the Carl Enow Ngatchu girls at the third minute of Play. The coordinated play styles and agility of the Indomitable Lionesses of Cameroon continued and at the 52nd minute, the debutante scorer, Michelle Akaba made it through again to the Zimbabwean backyard and got her second of the game.
The throwbacks from both teams lasted till the end of the regular play time with central left and right winger strikers like Ngono Mani, Gaelle Enganamouit, Ada and many others seriously engaged in the hostilities against Zimbabwe. Cameroon now heads group A and has qualified for the Semi-Final games of the competition which starts November 29.
CRTV
Justice Ayah writes to Biya, calls for a government statement on the Radio Balafon affair
November 24, 2016
AN OPEN LETTER TO PRESIDENT PAUL BIYA
Mr. President,
As access to you is so difficult otherwise, we wish to avail ourselves of this means, the most easy open to us, to draw your attention to what your press secretary must have briefed you on already .
If it may please you to permit a little digression, Sir, we are all already aware of the dangerous role Radio Mille Collines played in inciting the terrible genocide in Rwanda. Next door, in Nigeria, similar incitement resulted in the pogrom that befell the Ibos in Northern Nigeria in the mid-sixties. Similar rumours in the era of modern telecommunication technology can set a country ablaze within seconds.
You are not without knowing, Mr. President, that Anglophones have been referred to in Cameroun as the Trojan Horse, and called upon to leave the country if they were dissatisfied with the way they are (mis)treated in Cameroun. With apparent official connivance, the ordinary Camerounese now considers the Anglophone as not belonging here.
When, therefore, Radio Balafon, as reported on the internet, spreads the rumour that Anglophones are chasing Francophones out of Bamenda where Anglophones are seen as mere squatters on their own native land, and your government seemingly connives at it all, no Anglophone feels safe anywhere in Cameroun, let alone, east of the Mungo.
Therefore are we demanding, in consequence, that an official statement be published on the Radio Balafon matter expeditiously so that Anglophones are put on their inquiry, please!
AYAH Paul ABINE
SUPREME COURT, YAOUNDE
PAP NATIONAL PRESIDENT
FOUNDER JUSTICE4ALL
Teachers releases statement amid meeting with Prime Minister
On the instructions of the head of State, the Prime Minister Philemon Yang is meeting with representatives of teachers and lawyers today Friday 25 November 2016 at Ayaba Hotel in Bamenda.
No teacher should enter any school campus today on any one’s orders or instructions for whatsoever reason, staff meeting, class council or whatever.
The meeting with the PM will decide the way forward, including the fate of Principal Mbake of GBHS MUEA who has been detained at the Central Police Station in Buea on the instructions of the Governor Okalia Bilai (a man who should have retired 4 years ago), on trumped up charges of belonging to the SCNC.
The STRIKE CONTINUES and no Regional, Divisional or sub divisional officer or agent of Government should give contrary orders until Anglophones establish in the meeting today that they are welcome in Cameroon.
All Anglophones should be vigilant and ensure that no one intimidates or tramples on their rights anymore. Any such cases should be made known immediately and those playing “the colonial master” will be shamed and ostracized from the Anglophone Community.
ALL ANGLOPHONE TEACHER UNIONS
Cameroon government spokesman insults Anglophones, says they are “extremists and an insignificant minority”
While the public is awaiting the opening of a frank and thoughtful dialogue on the demands of the Cameroon Common Law Lawyers and those of the Anglophone teachers as requested by the opposition and the Cameroonian civil society, the Biya regime seems to have chosen the path of repression and hard-line.
Issa Tchiroma, the Minister of Communication fired the first salvo last night as he denounced British Southern Cameroonians and called them extremist and an insignificant minority. The corrupt Francophone politician stated that a small group of demonstrators defied all the rules required for the preservation of public order and perpetrated acts of vandalism in the North West region.
The Minister of Communication who was a signatory to a document demanding that power be given back to the North noted that the demands of the Anglophones will have no favorable answer from the Biya Francophone Beti Ewondo regime.
Our chief political correspondent in Yaoundé who contributed to this report observed that the Biya regime has declared a war and let every Anglophone be ready with their matching song.
By Rita Akana
Yaounde: Minister wearing a hat receives diplomats
The Ambassadors of Gambia and Austria have presented advanced copies of their letters of credence at the Ministry of External Relations. They were received separately on Wednesday 23rd November 2016 by the Minister Delegate at the Ministry of External Relations in charge of Relations with the Commonwealth, Joseph Dion Ngute who wore a hat indoors.
The Austrian Ambassador before his appointment was the Deputy Inspector-General at the Federal Ministry for Europe, Integration and Foreign Affairs in Austrian capital, Vienna while the new Ambassador of Gambia to Cameroon, Famara Gaye was the Allied Law Chambers Solicitors Lawyer for Immigration, Civil Litigation, Family, Property, Personal Injury and Criminology since November 2015. Both diplomats are resident in Abuja – Nigeria.
CRTV
Women’s AFCON: The only Cameroonian referee suspended
The only central Cameroonian referee of the 10th edition of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations tournament has been suspended by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) after the Group A match between Kenya and Ghana. Jeanne Ekoumou accorded two completely fake penalties to both team. The first spot kick to Ghana and the second imaginary penalty to Kenya.
Jeanne Ekoumou performed below par and was highly criticized on social networks. CAF was quick to pronounce her suspension order. Jeanne Ekoumou was discharged from the hotel where she resided in Limbe and returned to Yaoundé. Her entourage say she is devastated by the situation. For her fellow Cameroonian referees, there is no cause for alarm.
By Sonne Peter
African Union Chairperson cuts short her stay in Yaounde
South Africa’s Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AU) arrived Yaoundé yesterday Thursday 24 November 2016, for a 72 stay but left immediately due to some modifications on her busy agenda. Madam Zuma had traveled to the nation’s capital on the invitation of the Confederation of African Football for the 2016 women’s Africa Cup of Nations.
Cameroon Intelligence Report was informed that because of a last-minute change of agenda, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma had to shorten her visit to Cameroon originally scheduled for 72 hours. Correspondingly, the Chairperson of the African Union Commission will not be able to watch any of the matches of the 10th edition of the Women’s AFCON as she had hoped.
Some reports suggested that she wanted to meet with players and members of the various delegations and staffs present in Yaoundé at the moment notably Cameroon, Ghana, Mali and Zimbabwe. The South African team that started the first round of the competition in Yaoundé moved the day before her arrival to Limbe. The Banyana-Banyana will play against Egypt in their third and final match of the first round of the competition.
For the past four years, there has been a partnership agreement between CAF and the AU. This partnership aims to use the visibility of CAF competitions, to sensitize and disseminate various messages that can help improve the daily lives of Africans. As part of this 10th edition of Women’s AFCON hosted in Cameroon, CAF and AU have joined forces with UNICEF and Powerplay to campaign against the marriage of girls. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma reportedly met only Prime Minister and Head of Government, Philemon Yang.
By Sama Ernest with cables from CIN
Spanish prosecutors are seeking a prison term of more than 10 years for Samuel Eto’o
Spanish prosecutors are seeking a prison term of more than 10 years for the former Barcelona striker Samuel Eto’o for alleged tax crimes committed when he played for the Catalan club. In addition to a sentence of 10 years and six months, prosecutors are also demanding a fine of £12.11m for the four counts of tax fraud for supposedly defrauding Spain’s tax authority of almost £3.21m from 2006 to 09, according to court documents released on Thursday.
Prosecutors are seeking the same punishment for the player’s representative at the time, José María Mesalles Mata. The administrator of a company that facilitated the deals, Manuel de Jesus Lastre Abreu, is facing more than six years in prison and a fine of £1.85m. Prosecutors also want Eto’o to relinquish any possible fiscal incentives for a long period.
Eto’o and his lawyers could not be immediately contacted for comment, but in the past the player denied wrongdoing, saying he was not directly involved in his tax matters. Eto’o is among other current and past Barcelona players facing legal problems in Spain. In July, Lionel Messi and his father were sentenced to 21 months in prison for tax fraud, although they were not sent to jail because sentences of less than two years for first offences are usually suspended in Spain.
Neymar and Barcelona are dealing with the Spanish authorities because of the player’s transfer from the Brazilian club Santos in 2013. Prosecutors announced on Wednesday that they are seeking to punish the Brazilian player and his club, as well as his parents, his Brazilian club and its former president because of an investment group’s claim that they concealed the value of the star’s transfer fee.
In June, Barcelona paid a fine of £4.65m after acknowledging to Spain’s tax authority it made “an error in the fiscal planning of the player’s transfer”. Also this year, the Barcelona midfielder Javier Mascherano was handed a suspended one-year sentence for tax fraud, and the former defender Adriano was also charged with tax irregularities. Eto’o, 35, played for Barcelona from 2004 to 09. The Cameroon striker now plays with the Turkish club Antalyaspor.
Culled from The Guardian
