From: shemlon@occlusal.rutgers.edu (Shiyghan Shemlon)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.african
Subject: Re: CAMEROON: Bill Clinton's "coup d'etat"?????????
Summary: MISSED POSTING
Keywords: Cameroon, Elections aftermath, US Presidential Inauguration
Date: 7 Jan 93 17:29:08 GMT
Organization: Rutgers Univ., New Brunswick, N.J.

I GOT THIS REPLY TO MY POSTING ON THE ABOVE SUBJECT. FROM THE LANGUAGE
I CAN GUESS IT WAS INTENDED FOR POSTING, BUT WAS INADVERTENTLY
FORWARDED TO ME INSTEAD. I HAVE ASKED FOR PERMISSION TO POST IT, BUT
THE LANGUAGE OF THE FIRST PARAGRAGH SUGGESTS TO ME THAT IT WAS
INTENDED FOR POSTING.

********************************************************************* 
********************************************************************* 

From JEMBEI@gallua.gallaudet.edu Wed Jan  6 10:21:51 1993
Received: from [134.231.4.48] by occlusal.rutgers.edu (5.59/SMI4.0/RU1.5/3.08) 
	id AA28304; Wed, 6 Jan 93 10:21:46 EST
Received: from gallua.bitnet by gallua.bitnet (PMDF #2663 ) id
 <01GT6ZPYCCOG8Y6G18@gallua.bitnet>; Wed, 6 Jan 1993 09:39:52 EST
Date: 06 Jan 1993 09:39:52 -0500 (EST)
From: JEMBEI@gallua.gallaudet.edu
Subject: CAMEROON: Bill Clinton's "coup d'etat"?????????
To: shemlon@occlusal.rutgers.edu
Message-Id: <01GT6ZPYCCOI8Y6G18@gallua.bitnet>
X-Vms-To: in%"shemlon@occlusal.rutgers.edu"
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; CHARSET=US-ASCII
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7BIT
Status: R

X-News: gallua soc.culture.african:6879

>From: shemlon@occlusal.rutgers.edu (Shiyghan Shemlon)
>Subject:CAMEROON: Bill Clinton's "coup d'etat"?????????
>Date: 4 Jan 93 22:08:41 GMT
>Message-ID:<Jan.4.17.08.41.1993.8376@occlusal.rutgers.edu>

>
>Biya's political machinery has literally been swept off the ground by
>a decisiion of US President elect Bill Clinton to invite John Fru Ndi,
>Biya's main political rival whom many consider to be the legitimate
>president of Cameroon to his January 20th inauguration in Washington
>DC. 
>
>Since the declaration of the results of the October 11th presidential
>elections, the main contender for Biya's throne, Mr. John Fru Ndi has
>been under house arrest and many of his prominent supporters are
>either in jail or have escaped the country. The human right abuses
>since the contested results that declared Biya the winner have caused
>an outcry from many western organisations and governments many of whom
>have suspended all financial aid to Cameroon. Life in Cameroon has
>virtually come to a standstill, partly because the government is
>strapped for cash and partly because a vast majority of the population
>has refused to accept Biya's illegitimate self imposition as the
>elected president. Many gov't employees have been going for months
>without pay, the economy is in shambles and educational institutions
>are barely functional. There is also a widespread boycott of French
>goods in Cameroon because the average citizen believes Biya is hanging
>on by grace of the French gov't. There are also rumours of widespread
>disgruntlement among the Anglophone minority (constitutes about 30% of
>the population) who feel they have been short changed since the 1972
>"peaceful revolution" that abolished the Federation of two states;
>Anglophone west Cameroon and Francophone east Cameroon. Their major
>grievance is that the two Anglophone provinces contribute close to 70%
>of the GNP and get less than 3% in gov't investment and development
>infrastructure. Many Anglophones also strongly believe that the only
>reason the French have prevented the legimate president John Fru Ndi
>from gaining the Presidency is because he is Anglophone and
>potentially anti French interests in Cameroon. The moderate
>Anglophone's are calling for a return to the Federal system which
>existed from 1961 to 1971, while the more radical are clamouring to
>secede and declare Anglophone Cameroon an Independent State (a
>potentially very dangerous move that could lead to civil war). Both
>the radical and moderate Anglophone groups are currently lobbying at
>the UN. Many political observers believe Cameroon is currently sitting
>on a powder cake that could explode at any time.
>
>The move by President-elect Clinton to invite Mr. John Fru Ndi to the US
>presidential inauguration is widely interpreted in Cameroon as an
>American recognition of Fru Ndi as the legitimate President-elect and
>a warning to Biya to step down in the name of democracy. Cameroon
>political observers however do not see Biya giving up his throne. It
>is believed he is currently trapped because there is no possibility
>for him to step down gracefully anymore. If he persists only the God's
>of Cameroon know what will happen next. The Cameroonian clergy has
>called on all brethren to pray for a peaceful conclusion to this
>stalemate. Are we looking at another Somalia in the making?????? 
>I hope not. I will like to believe my fellow citizens are wiser. However
>we shall be keeping close watch of the situation.
>
>
>SHEMLON WO WAN WAN VIBAN
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

	$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$%%%%%%%%%%%%%%$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

In his recent article CAMEROON: Bill Clinton's "coup d'Etat"?????????
my fellow citizen (I guess he is from Cameroon) and brother has provided our
respected readers with creditable information. However, I would like to ask
some questions, and of course, try to comment on some of his assertions. I have
no sympathy for, and am far from being an unconditional supporter of either
Biya or Ahijo's government. For your information, my cousin (he is my brother
in our tradition) has been in political asylum for more than 30 years.

One of my questions is where have you gotten yor statistics about the
North-West and South-West provinces population, and their GNP contribution ?

I guess when one deal with the two provinces GNP, what first come in mind is
OIL. 1987 statistics--I am unsure whether they are accurate or not state that
petroleum contributed about 50% of Cameroon export earnings (in 1987).

My second question is: what is the purpose of specifying that "the two 
Anglophone provinces contribute close to 70% of the GNP ?"

Also, I am tempted to question the appropriateness of labelling the US
President-elect's decision a "Coup d'Etat." A warning to Biya ? YES, it is. 

Now, here is how I view Cameroon's situation:

Whoever becomes Cameroon's President at this time will be more likely to
continue the old-fashioned policy, if that person is a member of the actual
government team, or has served in any of Ahijo's administration. It is possible
that some members of the actual administration are very good people, who could
bring concrete democratic changes in Cameroon. But with those who served in
Ahijo's administration, I doubt. Cameroon certainly needs someone who will
bring new ideas, put in place a new team, devoted to changes.

We shall be very careful whenever we deal with political realities. This is not
only true for Cameroon. It is true for Africa in general. Our major weakness is
our addiction-like desire to operate behind clans, tribes, etc. We can't blame
Europeans for having divided our continent into micro states--I won't say
nations, for there is no genuine nation in Africa ! whereas we continue to
develop clanism, tribalism, and want to balkanie these very micro states.

John Fru Ndi appear to be a prominent political figure in today's Cameroon (I
am sorry, for I know little about him). However, if he wants Cameroon to go
back to the old times of federalism (Cameroon is the size of
California)--African federalism, in most cases, is nothing more than a
sophisticated tribalism, then he is short-sighted politician. I won't support
any candidate who wants federalism. That is just primary hypocrisy and
selfishness. Is it because Cameroon oil industry is located in Limbe
(South-West), in an "Anglophone" province as they call it that English speaking
Cameroonians should want federalism ? Well, it is theii right to express
themselves. But we should know that federalism has drawbacks, dangers in
itself. It is a weakness. And what if later, there is no more oil in the actual
site, but elsewhere in Cameroon ?  Fortunately, not all people from that part
of Cameroon--I won't call them Anglophone support this federalism. My opinion
is that, what we need is to develop a genuine nationalism beyond democracy.
Look at Americans ! See what Europeans are working on now ?

Regarding the US President-elect Clinton to invite John Fru Ndi, if this is
true, I see nothing bad in that. It is not a "coup d'Etat" either. Because of
Clinton adamant support of democracy, it is natural that he invites a
democratic leader to attend the inauguration. And it would be great if the US
government really takes more concrete actions in order to help bring about
democracy--a genuine democracy in Cameroon. There is no democracy if people
refuse to lose ! I have read "Jeune Afrique" accounts. In one of the articles,
the author titles: "Cameroon....The Americans against France ?" Because of the
pressure that some of the US Embassadors in Cameroon, and other African
countries on local government. I am a deaf and few deaf people are involved in
politics--deaf peple with high school education are very rare in Cameroon. But
I have the right to WANT a TRUE democracy. No matter who the president is,
where he is from, if he is a Cameroonian and accept the rules of democracy,
works for it, he is my man.

Whether Biya resigns or not, there is hope that Cameroon will become a
democratic country, provided friendly nations and their governments such as the
USA help the Cameroon peole. the dark side of sanctions (freezing aid) is that
the poor people is hurt more than the intended targets (Cameroon students have
not received their scholarships for more than one year !). But if the goal is
attained, then deprivation would not have been worthless !

Cameroonians are wise people, and I hope they will avoid the CHAOS !!!

Poppi