Celebrating the prophecy of the Miracle In The Forest in Lebialem and Africa

Celebrating the prophecy of The Miracle in the Forest in Lebialem and Africa

When I watched the 25-minute documentary title Miracle in the Forest and translated into Nweh (main language spoken in Lebialem, a division located in South west Province Cameroon and seat of the Focolare Movement in Africa) as Anu mbong Ambin, I was touched among several things by one sentence. This was the advised Madam Chiara (Mafua Ndem) founder and late President of the Focolare Movement gave to her first team to Lebialem led by Paul Salsa (not sure of spelling) which arrived Lebialem in the mid sixties. “Do not only preach the word of God but, live it, even for at least, the first six months”.

The development brought by the Focolare Movement to Fontem in particular and Lebialem in general, as a result of the implementation of this advice, cannot be overemphasized. The summarized positive developments below, could as well be classified in several categories among which is religion, health, education, roads and infrastructure, employment etc. These developments have been referred to as the miracle in this area which was considered a dead-end to many; thick tropical virgin forest.

Celebrating Mafua Ndem Chiara Lubich come January 2009 in Fontem-Cameroon-Central Africa, is like reflecting on the teachings of this woman who has changed the world through her teachings. The Focolare Movement is found in over 120 countries world wide. As Chiara always reiterated, we have to work towards making a UNITED WORLD. Though making a “united” world as such may sound utopic, efforts of the Focolare Movement in bringing together people from different countries, religion , races to talk, think and work together is worthy of praise. This is equally why Pope Benedict XVI described Chiara on the occasion of the latter’s death in March 2008, as “a woman of faith and a living example”. We are therefore celebrating that Chiara Lubich (Mafua Ndem) has gone to join our ancestors to continue working for development in Lebialem, Africa and the World as a whole. In 1966, she came to Lebialem and in May 2000, she made the second and last physical trip to Fontem. I called it physical because she has always been in Lebialem and africa spiritually. During one of her lectures in Our Lady Seat of Wisdom College, Fontem, (A college created by the Focolare Movement ) Chiara said “you cannot just teach the word of God by telling people to go in peace, because, if people are hungry, you must give them something to eat before preaching the word of God to them.”…… “In the course of helping them, you will make many ask themselves what motivated your actions. When they come to understand that it was the desire for mutual and human love irrespective of race, religion or ethnicity they will be deeply touched and will forever remain faithful and committed disciples of love”.

As pop star Michael Jackson sings in one of his songs, though we can question his practicability, if you care about mankind and the living, then make the world a better place for people to live, irrespective of race, religion, sex.

Pope John Paul II, said we have to build bridges and not walls. He was referring to the exploitation of developing countries and paradoxical closing of frontiers and in some cases encouraging acts of racism in some developed where people from developing countries are going en-mass for “better lives”

Building bridges is what the Focolare movement is based on, and what they have practiced, though as any human organisation, they have their own short comings. I do not mean bridges base on irrational immigration but bridges meant for the helping of one another.

Health The Focolare Movement came to Lebialem at a time when the place was facing untold health difficulties. The health sector was devastating, infant mortality was over 80 percent but it has been brought to less then 1 percent according to DR Philemon. This same medical doctor attests to the fact that a treatment protocol against sleeping sickness was developed in Lebialem which is now being used world wide with very minimal side effects. Source: interview Miracle in the Forest

The Mary Health of Africa General Hospital was created. The hospital has become a reference across Cameroon with people in major cities like Douala, Yaoundé and Bamenda coming to Fontem for treatment. The first doctors like Lucio and Nica did a formidable job which is being relayed by current health staff. The hospital however, needs more specialist in various fields.

Apart from the other health centre in Fonjumetaw, there is the urgent need for the Focolare to extend its heath services to other parts of Lebialem.

Education Besides being in good health, education is also another vital point in human development. The creation of Our Lady Seat of Wisdom College made it easy for many Lebialem sons to go school. Initially in the 60s and 70s, the lucky ones used to trek over 700 kilometres to Buea to attend school(Saint Joseph College Sasse).

The Focolare Movement through the Catholic Church also operates several Catholic primary schools in Lebialem and its contribution to human development cannot be underestimated. The economic crisis which hit Cameroon in the 90s led to the closure of several Catholic schools too.

Infrastructure If you go to Lebialem ask who “Fr John the road” is. Most of those above 30 or those who have read any literature about the Lebialem will immediately know the person. Though a priest whose principal mission is preaching, Fr John W´s involvement and determination to make sure that motorable roads get to Lebialem, earned him the name John the road. Of course he succeeded and today Lebialem is linked with roads though they remain highly seasonal.

Lebialem now hosts some building like the Saint Claire Catholic Church, Mariapolis Centre, Mary Health of Africa General Hospital etc which are outstanding. So many sons and daughters of Lebialem have also come to construct home. The presence of two mobile phones companies in Lebialem is directly or indirectly connected to the presence of the Focolare Movement and their activities which have attracted quite a good number of people to stay in Lebialem.

Light and water Lebialem also hosts a giant power plant which generates electricity that is used for the activities of the Movement. The free water supply of the Movement to some public areas cannot be under estimated.

Religion Placing religion at this point does not in any way mean it is less important. ( I’m very Catholic myself) The creation of Youths for a United World and Gen groups spread across the world is essential for building more united world for the love of mankind. Though a Roman Catholic organisation, the strength of the Focolare Movement has been its appeal for the love of mankind cut across different religions, races and nationalities.

Employment

Through the creation of several enterprising centres like Carpentry, building, mechanic and maintenance garage, schools hospital etc, several people have gained employment through which they sustain and educate their children and families

Lebialem, which in the 60 s was plagued with diseases and untold suffering is very different now; healthy and waxing strong. Some people even thought it would be erased but far from that Lebialem is now dream place welcoming so many people from different horizons.

It will be unfortunate to say the miracle which took place in Lebialem could have been happened without the collaboration of Lebialem people. They have been very cooperative.

JOIN US IN CELEBRATING MAFUA NDEM CHIARA LUBICH, THE ICON OF MUTUAL LOVE, ON JANUARY, 9 AND 10, 2009 IN FONTEM-Lebialem Southwest Province of Cameroon, Africa

Half baked justice and repression in Cameroon

Half baked justice and repression in Cameroon

It is always said that justice delayed is justice denied. In Cameroon justice has not only been in most cases delayed, but out rightly denied especialy to the poor. The major way of doing this byPresident Paul Biya has been through the constant rigging of elections since the introduction of multi party politics in 1990, so as to maintain himself in all spheres of power, economy, judiciary, legislative etc..

History

It all started when in proclaiming the results of the presidential elections in 1992 in which Biya had overwhelmingly lost. The President of the Supreme Court, Alexis Depanda Mouele, admitted that his “hands are tide”. The hands were so tide for him to declare Paul Biya looser of the 1992 elections. As a result, Biya was declared legal winner with a narrow margin against the self proclaimed president, John Fru Ndi, leader of the Social Democratic Front-front line opposition party. Though the legal president of Cameroon, Biya has always remained an illegitimate president.

However, since 1992, President Biya, who has been in power for 26 years has learned never to organize any fair elections be they presidential, legislative or municipal. He knows doing so is rendering justice to Cameroonians in virtually all sectors. Through fraud, he has been able to have a firm grip of all the arms of the county be the executive, judiciary, legislative etc. He has also succeeded to terribly impoverished Cameroonians; reduce them to beggar so as to constantly give pockets of coins, party uniforms etc to get “support” from the people.

Fortunately for him and “unfortunately” too, most Cameroonians are literate, peace loving and have so far refused taking guns like other countries. The cunning ruler and his cohorts have therefore used this as their greatest advantage to stay in power and torment Cameroonians. Biya´s unpopularity and illegitimacy is testified in his reluctance to visit the other 9 provinces, than the Centre Province where he is based. In 26 years, there are several provinces he has not visited up to thrice like the two Anglophone provinces, most of the three grand North Province, the East Province etc.

In the absence of war, and a precarious calm sustained by Cameroonians for which Biya claims to have brought, he has been able to toast Cameroonians and tighten his opponents or those who may pose any immediate or future threat to him.

Injustice, arrests and torture

Some of such cases have been through arbitrary arrests and sentencing of Cameroonians. Ahead of the first multi party elections in Cameroon in the early 90 s, over 15 people were killed and justice has never taken its course. It must also be admitted that overzealous opposition militants in some parts of the country like the Northwest attacked supporters of Biya . Victims of these attacks some of whom lost their lives and property claim never to have be benefited any justice from the state.

February 2008 nation wide social upheavals One of the latest incidents which has proven that the Cameroonian justice system is more of a farce and tele-guided thing was recent the sentencing of Lamja Pierre Roger, commonly referred to as Lapiro de Mbanga to 3 years in jail and a penalty of FCFA280 Million on September24, 2008 in Nkongsamba. He was accused of attending illegal meetings, causing and participating in public disorder and destruction of property during the February 2008 turmoil in Cameroon.

This unsuccessful contender of municipal elections in Mbanga under the opposition SDF ticket is also one of the most popular artists in the country. From February 25 to 29, 2008, millions of Cameroonian youths took to the streets to protest against general frustration, unemployment, poverty and hunger. Government released its military arsenal on armless youths who were protesting and in the cause of quelling the strike, hundreds of youth were shot dead with live bullets by the Cameroon forces of Law and Order. According to the Minister of Justice Amadou Ali, 40 people were killed. This figure was given after government adjusted its figures from 17 and later to 24. Independent sources like Barrister Alice Nkom of Women Voters and Sons put the number of deaths at almost 200. Madam Madeline Affité of the Action for the Abolition of Torture (ACAT) talked of over 200. t must however, be noted that some people mostly the unemployed took vantage of the situation and began looting.

That not withstanding, the drama after the arbitrary arrests of over 1500 youths across the country and their sentencing to jail terms ranging from 6 months to 6 years was highly condemned. Barrister Momo Jean de Dieu described the marathon judging of the youths as a travesty of justice. In Buea and Bamenda, lawyers walked out of the courtroom and protested on the streets against what as was called an abuse of justice and human rights. Most of the youths like the case of those in Douala were seriously tortured, forced to sign documents implicating themselves before they were brought to court as , Mbella E one of the victims testified.

The Lapiro affair

One of the spectacular arrests a month after the strike was that of Pierre Lamjo Roger (Lapiro de Mbanga ). He was kept under horrible conditions as his wife testified. On September 24, he was sentenced to 3 years in jail and fined FCFA 280 millions by the Nkongsamba Court of First Instance. This crowd pulling artist had been called upon to help calm the youths during the strike and had his camera destroyed as he tried to immortalize the images. It could not be understood how he could be labeled the instigator of the February strike.

The condemnation of Lapiro is well calculated by Biya and his cohorts, they know he will appeal the verdict, after which, they sentenced will likely reduce the sentence and fine but it will still be far beyond the reach of Lapiro to pay thereby forcing him to stay in jail and stop composing songs considered anti Biya regime.

Generally in Cameroon, prison conditions are below human standards and most of the inmates are still awaiting trial. Like the case of Douala, more than three quarter of the close to 4000 inmates are still awaiting trial, Sister Jacky Atabong –Prison apostolate worker- L ´Effort camerounais 436-2008). The Douala New Bell Prison was constructed in the colonial days for 800 people. It has entered the annals of his history that on September 24, 2008 in Nkongsamba, one of Cameroon´s most popular and daring artist, Lamja Pierre Roger, commonly called Lapiro de Mbanga was sentenced to 3 years imprisonment with a fine of FCFA 280 million. It had been seriously warned that the trial was too politicized though government refuted. Another former political prisoner Celestine Monga in a letter to Lapiro published in Le Messager newspaper, reiterated that the government was determined to nail Lapiro, so as to give a clear message to any Cameroonian who thinks he can say or write what he likes. Lapiro had earlier produced a single titled “constitution constipé” meaning, constipated constitution. This was ahead President Biya´s move to propose the change of constitution so as limit presidential mandate and give him immunity for crimes he may have committed while in power. Of course, the bill went like a letter in the post office, given the parliament is made up of Biya´s representatives and not necessarily the people representatives. Another artist Joe La Conscience who embarked on a peaceful walk against the attempt to change the constitution was seriously rebuffed by government forces. He again began a hunger strike in Yaounde but was arrested and sentenced to 6 months in jail.

Paul Kingue

Another prominent victim of the half baked justice system in Cameron is Paul Eric Kingue whose picture is right above. This sacked, Cameroon People Democratic Movement CPDM-mayor of Njombe, a locality approximately 69km metres from Douala, during the strike in February, went on Canal Deux International, a local television channel and reported that 8 innocent and harmless youths had been shot dead. This was like an affront and challenged the CPDM government and a challenged to his own master who indirectly commanded the killings and for whose sake the killings were done..

Mr Kingue also refused corruption and obliged the French banana company, SPM , operating in his municipality to pay the require amount of taxes and, only to the municipal treasury. Previously, this French company use to pay less than what was due as taxes to the council. The rest of the money used to be distributed among the former mayors, SDO for Moungo, some ministers etc. The new mayor challenged this status quo. The manager of SPM promised hell to Mr Kingue claiming to have "connections " with most of the corrupt government officials. The information was released by Paul Kingue.

Kingue´s later utterances during the strike was only like the last straw on the camel’s back. He was thereafter accused of embezzling from council coffers only after 6 months in office. He was later arrested detained and relieved of his duties. By the time this article was written he was still languishing under horrible detention conditions in Nkongsamba.

Embezzlement and injustice

After the Breton Woods institution urged the Cameroon government to cut down spending and get rid of corruption, the government began with the arrests of embezzlers. A few like Mounchipou Seidou, former Minister of Telecommunication had been arrested and judged and sentenced in 1997, just like Pierre Desire Engo, former General Manager of the National Social Insurance Fund, Titus Edzoa, former Minister of Public Health and confidant of Paul Biya etc.

The operation only continued in 2005 with the arrest, judging and the jailing of other state thieves like Ondo Ndong, former GM of Council Support Fund whose corrupt largess is also reported to have been of benefit and command of, the first Lady, Chantal Biya. Given that the first Lady was mentioned, Ondo Ndong was sentenced to 50 years, later reduced to 20 and to pay damages of over FCFA20 billion. As if to warn anybody not to dare involve the presidential couple in any case of corruption. Ondo Ndong admitted to have stolen money to finances party events and distributed tax payers cash to many of his people and institutions among which was the Chantal Biya Foundation.

Other arrests and sentencing have been made; Joseph Edou, formerly of Credit Foncier, Gilles Roger Belinga of SIC, Siyam Siewe of Douala Port Authority, Abah Abah Polycap of Finance, Olanguena Awono of Public Health Fonjindam of Shipping Yard and Engineering etc.

Regrettably too, Biya knew so well since 1987 (admitted during an interview with Eric Chinje) that senior state employees had been embezzling state funds. He had even refused and said people should bring proves. He constantly refused to act given that he is the supreme judge, magistrate, police, sportsman, artist etc etc etc.

Biya´s former minister Garman Haman Adji, even admitted that 60 percent of Biya´s ministers are corrupt but the figure is far more than this.

Injustice and repression

In the year 2005 and 2006 respectively, students of the University of Buea took to the streets. The peaceful protest which began only in the university campus was forced out of campus by forces of law and order who fired indiscriminately at armless students. The 2005 strike was because of the appeal by students for the government to cancel fees payment in government higher institutions and in 2006, because, some students were included in the list of those admitted into the new Faculty of Medicine in the University of Buea whereas, they did not even sit in for the competitive entrance examination. The result was the killing of armless students. Unfortunately, no justice has ever been done on this issue.

In 2007, people in Abong Mbang in the East Province, took to the streets after staying in the dark for 2 weeks. The result of the the protest was the shooting to death of one of the protesters. Since then, justice has never been made. The DO accused to have shot the guy ran to Yaoundé where he had ample protection from Paul Biya ´s regime. He remained in Yaoundé till he was recently transferred and he never took part in the handing over of ceremony.

In Kumba-South West Province, the same scenario occurred (no electricity for students for long) and a 14 year old student of Cetic Kumba was shot to death as student marched against the intermittent power cuts. The government has refused to take action. It goes without saying that the Biya regime is built on corruption, embezzlement, repression and impunity.

Unfortunately he receives the support of most western countries who wrongly believe the stability in Cameroon is as a result of Biya efforts. The relatively calm and stable environment in Cameroon which Christian Cardinal Tumi has always described as not a sign of peace, is not thanks to any leader but, thanks to Cameroonians who continue persevering.

Some, who have not been able to persevere or bear the political and economic stress, have migrated to other countries, while others whose lives are at risk have been forced to remain out of the country or forced out of the country.

Paul Biya of Cameroon and Lukashenko of Belarus: Brothers within

Paul Biya of Cameroon and Lukashenko of Belarus: Brothers within

Eternalising their stay in power

Belarus is a small pro-Russian state in Eastern Europe. I had known pretty little concerning Belarus especially concerning the situation of the media and politics in that country till I attended a lecture on Friday, September 19, at Örebro University in Sweden. The lecture focused on; The Media of the former Soviet States. Much was said about the media in the region, in countries like Gerogia, Russia, Belarus, Estonia, Latvia, Turkmenistan, Lithuania etc before and the after the communist era. I got struck by Belarus and the its president who is implementing policies though arguable, are very similar to that of Paul Biya of Cameroon. President Lukashenko has been in power since 1994 and in October 2004, he changed the constitution that permits him to be reelected as many times as he would love or as the “people want”, as they (dictators and semi dictators) always claim. This is exactly the same thing which happened in Cameroon on April 10, 2008. Biya has been in power for over a quarter of a century since November 6, 1982. President Paul Biya using his absolute majority in parliament gotten through constantly rigged elections, successfully passed a bill which cancels the limitation of mandates, previously limited to 7 years renewable once. The bill which has already been adopted and enacted into law, also gives Biya immunity from prosecution from crimes committed while in power. This issue of modifying the constitution makes Biya and Lukashenko similar in their quest for absolute power. People of the same coin though may be, in different sides. Security, alienation and imposition The two men have extremely tight security around them and even innocent children handing flowers to them on public occasions are even suspected. Biya is reported to have one of the tightest security around the world and always stays far from the people he calls “his people” while that of his counterpart Lukashenko, is likened to that of Adolf Hitler. This is equally similar to that of the Equato Guinean president Theodoro Nguema Obiang Mbasogo who prefers to recruit mostly Moroccans for his own security than his country men. For fear of direct or indirect prosecution, officials in all government offices and most private offices have effigies of Paul Biya posted on walls and in some streets, like the large picture of him at Boulevard de la Liberté-Douala, Cameroon’s busiest street in the economic capital of the country. Those who do not have his effigies in their offices are not punished directly as such, but, rather indirectly. This may be even in their business ventures through exorbitant taxation or through fault finding tax officials. In Belarus it is similar but not exactly the same as in Cameroon. This is almost the same thing in most part of Africa but for the fact that defaulters in Belarus (those who do not affix the effigies of the president face more draconian punishments. Rare but closely watched public manifestations and repression Just as in Belarus, in Cameroon, public manifestations especially those with any political connotations are seriously repressed. Some of such manifestations were repressed across Cameroon prior to the amendment of the constitution and before then, prior to the introduction of "multi party politics" in the early 90 s. In major cities like Douala, Governor Fai Yengo Francis banned public manifestations for over 6 months in a bid to allow the “peaceful” modification of the constitution. When Cameroonians took to the streets from February 25 to 29, 2008 to manifest against hunger and deepening frustration, the government took up arms across the country on innocent and armless youths killing 40 people, according to government adjusted figures, and, over 200 according to independent sources. Over 35 children are said to have drowned in River Wouri alone when thousand of youths were blocked on Wouri Bridge on Tuesday February 26, 2008 in an attempt to escape assault by government trigger-happy troops. Since then, some people continue to be hunted for taking part in the protests. I personally talked to eye witnesses who made the claim. This issue has never been highlighted as it should have been, in the Cameroonian media due to fear of government threats and reprisals. Demonstrations are highly restricted in Belarus but for exceptional reasons, people must obtain registration and permission to carry out any demonstration. This is just the replica in Cameroon as, often, even authorized demonstrations are sometimes brutally dispersed when it is perceived that such rallies may contravene with the interest of the government. President Lukashenko is very anti west. His country has no diplomatic relations with countries like the USA but on the other hand, has excellent ties with China, Venezuela etc. The latter has a vibrant anti USA and western regime with President Hugo Chavez as the president. However, President Paul Biya of Cameroon has ties with the West which can be said to be very strong as well as with China. Despite the differences between these two men, they both have an irresistible crave to stay in power for as long as possible and to always appoint their cohorts in various places who keep on ruining the economy like the case of Cameroon, and creating an elitist class. Biya has been in power for over a quarter a century; since 1982 . He was however, in the circles of power since the 1970 s with positions such as Secretary General at the Presidency of the Republic and also Prime Minister. Though a handful of embezzlers have been arrested in Cameroon, the cream of states thieves between the 70s when Biya got into power circles as Secretary general till date are still very free. Perceived as free but highly controlled media Both men that is, President Biya and Lukashenko have their own ways of repressing the media. In Belarus, it is more open repression. The state newspapers sells most, not because people love to read them, but because, they are imposed on all government institutions and even most of private establishments. In Cameroon, shortly after the 1990 bill on freedom of expression was passed, there were plethora of media organs. Though a good number have not been responsible enough. Many media organs in Cameroon are continuously dying out or working under very serious constraints due to government’s strategy of suffocating private media organs with taxes or indirectly depriving them from getting adverts, through indirect threats to potential advertisers. Most ads are equally exclusively posted only on state media. However, the repression in Cameroon recently took a dramatic twist when ahead of the modification of the constitution to permit Biya stay in power for life, the government proceeded to the banning of Radio Equinox and Television Equinox which were considered more liberal and less elitist by most Cameroonians. The reason for the suspension was quite vague as it was said that the media organs in question though belonging to the same group were operating illegally. Ironically, most media organs in Cameroon according to government and in principle, are operating illegally because none has paid the FCFA 100 Million needed to have a license to operate a television and FCFA 50 million for a radio. So this was just like giving a dog a bad name to hang it. Another method being implemented by Biya and his regime is to allow the media to sometime write or say what they want but the government actually pays a blind eye even when clear cases of government officials involvement in corruption and embezzlement are exposed. Political victims Furthermore, in Cameroon the government may dismiss the fact that there are no political prisoners in the country but, political prisoners are caught up and arbitrary jailed, now and then. Members of the secessionist group, the SCNC: Southern Cameroon National Council are caught beaten and jailed time and again. Hundreds have been killed. This movement made up of the two states of the English speaking region of Cameroon are advocating for the total independence of their region at most, and at least, a return to a federation which will give various provinces some degree of autonomy. Though regrettably that the SCNC operates in very dispersed ranks, it is also unfortunate that President Paul Biya has never paid any attention to them nor even addressed their concerns that is, equal sharing of the national cake. The various factions of the SCNC with people like Barrister Ekontang Elad, Retired Ambassador Henry Fossung, Chief Ayamba, Hitler Mbinlo, Justice Federick Alobwede etc have hardly ever agreed in acts. Taking the case with Belarus, it has not totally ideologically seceded from Russia or communism just because the people have never been given the means to express themselves freely. Political victims are also noticeable within the circles of government in Cameroon and Belarus as well as several other countries though. In Cameroon, the former Minister of Public Health, Titus Edzoa was charged in 1997 with embezzlement judged and jailed for 15 years. This was shortly after he expressed his intention to challenge President Biya by running for presidency under the banner of the ruling Cameroon People Democratic Movement (CPDM) party just like president Paul Biya. Edzoa also said Paul Biya is indeed the richest Cameroonian (Wealth gotten through outright theft and embezzlement of state funds). Though actually among the circles of those who have ruined Cameroon economically, Titus Edzoa’s arrest and subsequent jailing was promoted by the fact that he was becoming a threat to Biya´s political ambitions. It was not because Paul Biya really wanted to get ride of embezzlers and extremely corrupt senior state functionaries. Some people within the ranks of the ruling party have deserted the country for fear of their lives and due to their growing political influence. An example in Cameroon was Chief Milla Assoute, formerly of the ruling CPDM. The case in Cameroon is similar to what happened in Belarus when opposition party Kazulin, was sentenced to five years in jail. He was released just for two days to bury his wife. Corruption and embezzlement and impunity The Cameroon government recently and is continuing with what has been called Operation Sparow Hawk(Operation Epervier in French). This is cleaning the state of embezzlers and those who are ruining the country economically. It must be said here that, out of over 2000 state thieves who have past through senior government offices less than 30 have been arrested, yet the state controlled media and other bought over private media organs consider the arrests of a handful of people as a big achievement for the Biya regime. According to Garga Haman Adji, former government minister who resigned due to too much pressure and influence on is job, and, his inability to effectively fight corruption in his then Ministry of Public Service and Administrative reforms, 60 percent of ministers and senior state functionaries and post holders in Cameroon are corrupt. Well, an average Cameroonian will talk of 98 percent. The so called, Operation Sparow Hawk has been reduced to political victimization because President Paul Biya, firstly targets mostly those whom he thinks have embezzled too much money and stand a threat to his power. Secondly it is being used by those commanding it like the Minister of Justice, the Secretary General at the Presidency, the Secretary General of the CPDM among others to eliminate their political opponents as the war on who will succeed Paul Biya continues. The culture of impunity and justice only for the rich is the order of the day in Cameroon. During an interview granted former state media journalist Eric Chinje in 1987, Biya already talked of embezzlement and how people were ruining the country, but, it took this very Biya, more than18 years to "punish" the first "embezzlers". This is a clear indication that he hasn´t the will to bring change in Cameroon. On September 19, a close aide to Biya(a lieutenant) is alleged to have attempted to steal Biya briefcase concerning FCFA 7 billion as Biya was en-route to New York for the UN summit. The lieutenant was immediately brought back to Cameroon an detained. However, Cameroonians continue to wonder why and what Biya was going to do with so much money abroad when he has succeeded to place naturally rich Cameroon under the list of the most Highly indebted and poor countries in the world. That said therefore, though there is relatively peace in Belarus as well as Cameroon, both Presidents Biya and Lukashenko are birds of the same feather. While the former is pro West and the latter anti West, non actually works for the real interest of their people. They converge at repression, anti democratic, embezzlement, creating an aristocratic or bourgeoisie class etc. As president Biya winds up time given his fast advancing age as compared to the still very energetic Lukashenko, Biya is making everything possible to either die in power or hand over power to a close ally who will not prosecute him. The big problem is that he is surrounded by power mongering people and he does not know what to do and do whom to hand over power. That is why some people claim that he is grooming his son Frank Biya to hand over power to him just like Eyadema did in Togo, something similar in DRC from Joseph D Kabila to his son. Presidents Abdoulaye Wade is preparing his son in Senegal, Muahamar Qaddafi in Libya, Mubarak in Eygpt, Obiang Nguema in Equatorial Guinea etc The grounds for any democratic elections in Cameroon the country are almost impossible. This impossibility has been created by Paul Biya who has introduced poverty and corruption as a way of life in Cameroon thereby paving way for the buying of consciences. Biya does not want any situation where a democratically elected official will give him sleepless nights and/or seized his ill gotten wealth. That is why he hesitates creating any veritably independent electoral body but still want elections to be controlled by government through his appointees and stooges at the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Decentralization. Biya and Lukashenko are therefore different sides of the same coin. Though they have some differences and many similarities both are "dictators" and anti democratic. They have a lot to borrow from each other. While one is more of an open dictator, the other practice what i will term "disguised dictatorship." Agendia Aloysius University of Örebro Sweden

Cultural Decline in Cameroon and the way out: The Case of Lebialem

Our declining culture and cultural succession

With the increasing poverty in Africa sub of the Sahara , (poverty promoted by embezzlement, corruption and harsh economic climate) being implemented by neo-colonialists African leaders and worsen by Brettons Woods’ institutions- IMF , World Bank poverty aggravating programmes and strategies, most people are seeking for greener pastures abroad i.e. in Europe, America and a few in Asia. (Babisakana) financial expert affirmed in one of the editions of Le Messager Newspaper of Cameroon early 2008.

The accelerating poverty and massive exodus of Africans among whom are Lebialemers (People from Lebialem division Cameroon) to the West, has far reaching consequences. Villages are left empty or/and in some cases with only old people. Our cultural is serious dying as people are ready to auction it for pieces of silver in order to gain wealth, hence the giving of traditional titles by chiefs (Befua) to people who do not merit them or who do not even know their values.

Among the hundreds or even thousands of Lebialem people who have embarked on political or economic asylum/exiles, are our much loved nobles and chiefs (i.e. bekem, befua). These chiefs, some of whom are quarter heads have applied and obtained asylum in some countries thereby in principle, accepting that, they may NEVER ever set foot on Cameroonian /Lebialem soil again.

As a result, some villages such as "N, N, E, M" etc have been left as orphans though some have regents who many do not attached any importance as if it was the chief or noble himself . Some of these regents have very little and in some cases no authority over “their” subjects.

There is absolutely nothing wrong for a person to seek a better life for his family in this world in which more and more people continue to care only for themselves and never for others though it continues again to be more and more globalised (in terms of communication and technology anyway) .

As a matter of fact, one cannot blame nobles (bekem and befua) who have taken the West for their permanent residence or as a political or economic refuge. It is because they want to feed their families and have "better" facilities; health, education, freedom etc. The exodus of Africans and Lebialem people to permanently reside in the West may be a better economic and political refuge for some but hardly ever a cultural refuge for any.

What really puzzles me is the massive departure of “bekem” and “befua” to the West. I would kindly suggest that in areas or families where somebody has been crowned as successor (nkem or Fua) especially a quarter or family head, people in that area could work for the “placement” of the said individual so that he or she cannot really envy others as such. The successor could once in a while visit abroad but, not stay there permanently. It can be different if it is illness. Pa Nkemalem Nkainjo Peter. source Lebialemportal www.lebialem.com -interview.

In the regard of "placement" of nobles, quarter heads or successors etc, I salute the efforts of the People of Lewoh ( A Fondom in Lebialem-Cameroon) who “placed” their Fon. This could also be copied by areas, Bechati, Bamumbu, Lebang, Essoh Attah, Ndungated , etc.

“Placement” of people by “God Fathers” is a jargon now very common in Cameroon . This means influencing or imposing the admission of a person in a professional school or even the buy of a position for that person. In most cases, unqualified people are admitted in public professional schools and that has terribly contributed to the ever increasing inertia in Cameroon public service. This system can only be destroyed in Cameroon when a much more “patriotic” regime takes over from Biya and his cohorts and gives room for meritocracy.

Inasmuch as the absolutely corrupt and poverty aggravating regime continues to clink on power, mediocrity will continue to prevail. And in such cases, those who fail to “place” their people are the losers. I am forced to mix politics and culture here because our culture has been badly damaged by partisan politics and politicking.

Need to rethink succession in Lebialem

On the other way round, I really think there is the urgent need for our kingmakers to rethink succession. Let me say cultural succession because the word succession may be too ambiguous and others may be too sensitive treating this.

Cultural succession in this case means that if a living noble, quarter head or Fon knows/foresee that his biological child cannot preserved our culture well when he the Fon, chief, quarter or family head dies, he (the family head) may then, will cultural-succession , to any person from the Royal family.

What will become of our culture when chiefs (nobles) who have fled to the Americas and Europe die and hand the village/our culture to a kid(s) who have never been to Lebialem, or who do not even know the culture handed down to him or them to preserve or sustain.

Take the case of the Fon of Fontem, Fon of Nwemetaw, Essoh Attah, Njoargwi or any other Fondom or chiefdom if you want. Most of these Fons/chiefs are young and have very “ambitious” children. Though they seek to learn, some as a result of negative comparism may never want to live at home let alone in Cameroon ? What will happen when our traditions/culture is handed to this generation of people most of whom know little or noting about the culture? A Fon, chief, quarter head whose child cannot even express himself/herself in the dialect, yet expected to succeed his father/mother, communicate with his people and among others settle disputes in “Lemoh”…. In which language? We are really joking, I think so.

If succession was therefore open to all children of the Royal Family, we may not find ourselves in some current and future situations. That may be one of the best methods of maintaining our culture. In that case, any person from the Royal Family resident at home and who masters the tradition can succeed the Fon/chief, quarter head, if the latter dies in their respective areas.

I also strongly suggest that chiefs or quarter heads who have gone and seeked permanent residence and who do permanently reside in Europe or America or those who have gained asylum thereby accepting in principle that they will never go back to Cameroon, should be stripped of their cultural titles. In that case, if such a person before enthronement was called, say Richard, Gilbert, Jonathan etc and after enthronement became say Fuankwin, Fuatam etc, people should henceforth call them by their names such Jonathan, Gilbert and not Fuankwin Fuakam, FuanNdih etc etc.

Let them go with their real names and not with the traditional titles. If such people loved their titles or culture so much, while in America , Europe or Asia , they could create their own villages and titles like the case of “Fon” Fonjinju a Lebialemer highly regarded traditional leader in Melong.

Some people may consider this approach radical but, I think, even Africa itself needs to be saved by leaders who have the interest of and for the continent. When such leaders begin the implementation, they are called “radicals” or “dictator” by the West or his neo-colonised African peers. But I strongly believe such measures ought to be taken to partly savage our continent, countries and villages. Lumumba, Sankara, Mandela, Mortale Mohammed, Nkrumah, Gadaffi, and to and extend the Mugabe, Gwagbo Laurent, Kagame etc are examples. Not the Biya, Mubarak, Eyadema, Nguesso, Nguema, Bongo etc

Back to the issue, to avoid such situations, I strongly suggest that if any of us is made a chief, especially quarter head, because, (a chief is he who has subjects not chiefs nowadays who have just their wife or wives and child(ren) as their subject(s) stationed in a land where even none of these children may even know what culture is all about). We should therefore, support our chiefs quarter heads to be economically viable and stay at home i.e. Lebialem itself or at worst Cameroon in general. The efforts of all of us are needed here.

I strongly believe that the issue of succession be divided henceforth, into two, CULTURAL succession and MATERIAL succession. The former concerns us. I know this may mean modifying the laws of the Cameroon . Please can any legal mind shed more light on this?

If such measures or adequate measures are not implemented, we may in few decades or less, be confronted by what Professor Fidelis Achenjang calls “Fualessness” as written in the master piece: Lefua in Lebialem : Decline or Transformation. In it, Prof looks at Fualessness with respect to the wanton and abusive awarding of traditional titles to unqualified people. This may lead us to a level where everybody is a chief and in that case with or few no subjects. Prof did not use the exact wordings above.

To preserve our culture, let us adapt the strategy of the Catholic Church. The pope is always in Rome, so do must quarters heads always be in villages. Just as the church and Christians do contribute for the well being of the pope, so too the need for us to support our quarter heads or nobles, the custodian of culture.

AGENDIA Aloysius

Nwua Nkemndem Ajong-akroh Gabriel a Njentse Lebang

Son of Nkemndem Ajong Gabriel

Örebro -Sweden

www.lebialem. com

Life and studies in Sweden

Sweden is one of the four countries of the Scandinavia including Norway, Denmark and Finland. It has a population of 9 million people among which 1 million are immigrants according to public sources. In recent years Sweden has been an “Eldorado” of studies for thousands of migrants from around the globe.

The country is certainly one of the most interesting place to learn among the countries in Europe and in the Scandinavia in particular. It must equally be commended the fact that, Sweden is among the very few countries in the world, if not, the only to make education completely free. It is calm, peaceful and its citizens are generally welcoming. Though not necessarily an English colony, the second language after the Svenska (official language of Sweden) is English. It is really amazing to know that most Swedish speak good English as well. However, Sweden is certainly not a destination for those who want to come there and look for jobs. The jobs are quite few and those available are often for people who understand the Swedish language. This does not in any way mean that it is totally impossible to have part time jobs in Sweden as a student. The educational system is well organized. Education is tuition-free and most of the things in school, as in most of the country, are highly computerized. This is good though, but, has drastically cut down jobs.

Furthermore, even to do photocopies you just slot your card into a machine or enter your code and do your photocopies yourself. Just imagine the number of people who earn a living in the University of Buea or any other university in Cameroon through photocopies. It is completely different here. We hear that the Swedish government is about to introduce the payment of fees but this has not been confirmed by any official sources. It must be said here ahead of time that, the introduction of fees will certainly and drastically, reduce the number of students who will come to Sweden. This is mostly because, unlike in most developed countries, foreign students in Sweden have limited part-time employment opportunities. It is really a pleasure and an experience doing an International Masters Programme in Global Journalism at the University of Örebro in Sweden. As Roland Stanbridge Coordinator of the programme posits, those (most) of us who came in as local journalists from our various countries are expected to leave Sweden as international or global journalists. It is under the framework of attaining this objective that the 16 Global Journalism students of the 2008 batch attended the 5th Global Conference on Investigative Journalism which took place in the Month of September in Norway at the expense of the Department I must admit. Several of such trips are earmarked like our trip to Finland in the month of November. The trip to Lillehammer in Norway was formidable from information i gathered from friends since i arrived Sweden late. Though i did not attend the conference in Norway, from the experiences shared by other participants, it was worth attending.

Aloysius Agendia

International Masters Student

Global Journalism-Örebro Sweden

Lectures about blogs, MAGJ 2008

So far we talked about blogging, and some of its technical aspects. After my four years experience in Cameroon as a local journalist working with L'Efort camerounais and Lebialemportal - www.lebialem.com, i deemed it necessary to continue my studies with a Masters in Global Journalism at Orebro University-Sweden and i hope to equally do a PHd programme before returning to Cameroon. God be my helper and bless my angels: my lovely wife Glory and little daughter Jackie whom i love so much.