Suspension of Sky One Radio and anarchy in Cameroon

The suspension or ban of Sky One Radio in Yaoundé, Cameroon by the Minister of Communication, Issa Tchiroma on August 17, shows the many facets of the country.

The decision, which is multidimensional, falls within the framework of stifling free speech and equally brings to limelight some of the latter’s excesses. It also shows the laxity with which the Cameroon government handles issues, the impunity in the country and the lost of faith by many citizens on the nation’s weak institutions managed by “strong men”.

The program “Le Tribunal” which was the cause of the suspension had been on air for over two years broadcasting the same things, which caused it to be banned(- the judging and denunciation of societal ills and individuals on air). I once listened and found it wanting in several dimensions, though very important issues were being raised.

However, the government did not really border. As earlier reiterated, they have adopted the “I do not care attitude”. It was until the Congolese and Ivoirian diplomats complained about the utterances aired on the radio that the Cameroon government took action.

This is exactly the same thing happening on corruption, embezzlement and other ills in the country. The media sings day in day out. Biya asked for proves and many have published with proves but the government does not care.

Cameroon, the oil and mineral rich country filled with hardworking people has been taken hostage by the elitist class. There is anarchy in the name of democracy and with such anarchy, only the most powerful can survive. As a party sycophant or a wealthy man, you can do what you want and nobody will ask you anything.

The judiciary is itself as corrupt as the executive and many Cameroonians have lost faith even in the cleanest magistrate/judge in the system.

Its argument are most often not based on law or logic but on luck as a judge can decide to slam any penalty he wants or just reads what has been sent to him from the hierarchy.

As of the result of the corruption and impunity perpetrated by the rich, party diehards, the government and the forces of law and order, many Cameroonians resulted to the last “gift” for them, which was the relatively free press to vent their anger.

It is a bid to release their frustration, that many media organs open their airwaves to people who make not necessarily false claims but declarations that are so difficult to prove. It becomes again worrying when some journalists feeling they could not be indifferent, had to join and made several wrong moves.

It is normal for any media to open it airwaves for listeners to air their views on issues such as: the usual numerous presidential outings and bloated delegations, distribution of tax payers’ money to party militants out of the country during such visits, payment of contracts that have not be executed, many MPs acting as fake or incompetent contractors hence cannot check government irregularities; why ruling and opposition party leaders clink on power, expenses on some international visitors which have not help Cameroon on anyway among others. Such programs which many people would certainly want to participate in ought to be handled by analysts as well as specialists invited to that effect to comment on listeners’ worries.

Inasmuch as journalists must be responsible for what they write or say, public officials must be responsible for their actions. I strongly believe that corruption continues to skyrocket in Cameroon because the media have never served its purpose. Media publication should be used as basis for judicial investigation, forceful resignation, impeachment etc. With such a system in place, many people will tow the line.

The issue using “administrative tolerance” to threaten media organs is a pity. In a free world, it is absurd to ban a radio on baseless reasons like that which are usually advanced by civil-militarized regimes of Cameroon, as had been the case with Equinox Radio, Magic FM and Equinox Television in 2008.

Some people cannot afford to be indifferent with what is happening in the country but, it would be for the best interest of media organs to trained in-house analysts to appreciate the situation in the country and beyond rather than allow pseudo journalists join the anarchists in destroying the country.

Why grant asylum to economic and political criminals?

Take look at history and you will realise that several people who have plundered various African countries with or without the complicity of western, fellow African and Asian country leaders either in the domain of politics and the economy have either died out of their country of origin or been granted asylum in some of these “safe havens”.

On the contrary, the real people who need protection, who have been or are being persecuted by the system organised by dictators, some are refused the right of asylum.

Internal conflict, war and even genocide are often directly linked to bad governance, embezzlement; impunity and injustice, always perpetrated by failed regimes and failed system.

These vices in tend, develop poverty, both of the mind and economy and a feeling of frustration and the need to revenge among many, mostly in the grassroots but who are often helpless but bear the brunt of these regimes.

However, various head of regimes and their accomplices who often steal their nation’s wealth and starch in foreign banks, shuttle in and out of their countries with their families and friends as they want and are always able to get asylum some where to enjoy stolen wealth when the tides seem to turn against them.

I strongly believe that inasmuch as we have always advocated the need for many western as well as Asian countries not to make their banks acts as safe heaven for stolen wealth, then turn around and condemn corruption; it is high time these countries stop acting as refuge for economic and political atomic bombers who have ruined most of Africa.

The Congolese (Zairian) dictator and one of the highest economic thieves of our time, Mobutu Sese Seko died miserably in Morocco, despite haven embezzled billions of dollars and starched in French and Swiss banks as well as having assets in these countries among others. This is the same person who with the help of outsiders including the UN killed the man, Patrice Lumumba who would have changed the fate of Congo Kinshasa from the bloody and world cake we have today.

Mengistu Haile Mariam of Ethiopia is in Zimbabwe; Hissen Habré of Chad is in Senegal, Charles Taylor who successfully brought down the monster in the person of Samuel Doe seeked asylum in Nigeria though now meditating his fate at The Hague. Didier Ratziraka who has contributed in no way small way in ruining Madagascar economically and politically is in France, so too was Henri Konan Bedié former president of Cote D’Ivoire.

According to my Nigeria friend, almost all past and present state governors, presidents, ministers and other senior government officials in Nigeria, have at least a bank account and a house in the UK and US and most especially, in the UK. These assets are from ill-gotten wealth and these people with their family can live in any of these countries as long as they want whereas poor Nigerians are shown the way out.

The mismanagement, embezzlement and complicity of the same clique have contributed in no small way to the political strife, frustration, poverty, anger and all kinds of ills within the Nigeria society.

There are some perpetrators of the 1994 Rwandan genocide living freely in various countries in Europe and other parts of Africa. Such political criminals should be sent back to Rwanda for judgement though they would always argue that their judgement would not be fair. This is same for several people who during the Mobutu era, killed several people in Congo Kinshasa. They have left the country and are enjoying their stay outside.

In July 1992, the former vice president of Sierra Leone Abdulai Conteh who had held several ministerial posts in that country fled to Britain. He was accused of having embezzled millions of dollars from the country.

Even the British Home office described him as corrupt as he seeked asylum but again the same Conteh is today a strongman in the British Canary Islands.

Of course, he fled to Britain in 1992 where he had amassed much wealth and bought a house in Finchley. He even had the audacity to vie for the leadership of the AU Commission.

The case of Cameroon is not different. Though we have known just two presidents since 1960, President Amadou Ahidjo though can be said to have ensured a rather more economically stable Cameroon, cannot be spared to have political destroyed the country through his one party system, changing of the constitution and silencing of his opponents.

His successor, Paul Biya, is worst in all domains but for the pseudo freedom of expression in Cameroon. Surrounded by monsters, they have destroyed Cameroon in all dimensions and of course, most of these people are one way in one way out of the country.

In the late 90s, a certain Robert Messi Messi who was accused to have embezzled several billions CFA of Cameroonian savings in the SCB bank fled to Canada and was granted asylum.

Again, the former Minister of Public work Dieudonne Ambassa Zang’s parliamentary immunity was lifted on August 7, 2009 to investigate corruption charges levelled against him. However, before that was done, he had fled the country to the West and now seeking asylum too it is alleged.

There are so many of the criminals who conscious of their atrocities have taken double nationality in a country like Cameroon and ready to escape at any time. Personally, I do not even support the issue of dual nationality. People can choose between taking one nationality and opting for a permanent residence in another country.

Why should these people/leaders who destroyed their countries and caused millions to suffer economically, politically and socially be granted asylum for them so stay and enjoy the stolen wealth?

Fast developing nations have to review the issue of granting what so ever asylum to those who have destroyed their countries in all domains. Why must they be given the chance to enjoy stolen wealth and raise their children in peace when they refused to give the same opportunities to others while in power? All those who have held or are holding posts of responsibility in public offices must be held responsible for the atrocities they commit.

If laws in several countries could be changed to make sure that past leaders, dead or alive, guilty of corruption have all their assets seized even the houses in which their children live, that would be good. The only assets they should boast of given their children should be education and not stolen property.

African leaders and ministers who fall sick should not be treated in Europe. Let them build worthwhile hospitals in their countries. It is unacceptable to accept them do treatment there often with taxpayers money when the very taxpayers back at home not have a dime to treat mere fever.

CONAC, the New Deal, the Media and PATRIOTISM

I was bewildered when I read on various Cameroon online news sites of how the President of toothless bulldog “anti corruption” unit known by its French acronym as CONAC, qualified Cameroonian journalists as unpatriotic because they do not paint a good image of the country abroad.

To say the least, that utterance was being too simplistic for Mr. Paul Tessa and his team, in their bid to calm the uproar that has accelerated following the publishing of a report alleging, though not denied by the accused, that President Biya embezzled billions of state funds, financed sects with tax payers’ money, among other atrocities.

The same media organs labelled as unpatriotic gave Mr Tessa, his team and other ruling party- big wigs, as well as independent observers, airspace, newspaper pages to “clean” the name of the president like Gregoire Owona did in Le Jour newspaper. He justified Biya’s wealth to the fact that he has been a senior civil servant for over 40 years. According to him, Biya’s son, Frank Emmanuel Biya, is a major forest exploiter and should own the wealth he has across the globe. This was the same with The Post, Eden etc that all carried the views of some senior English-speaking ministers in the government on this issue.

In reaction to the utterances of CONAC President, Zachary Ngniman, former CRTV journalist, CPDM parliamentarian and now the so called anti corruption unit Head of Communication asserted the claims of Tessa. In the same line, Charles Ndongo who thinks being patriotic is reviewing and reiterating (not analysing) successive president Biya speeches confirmed Tessa claims just as Alain Bilibi still of CRTV.

My worry is; what does Mr Tessa and his team define as patriotism?

Even without checking in any dictionary, I understand patriotism is the love of one’s country and the readiness to even die for it.

HOW is the love for one’s country measured?

The love for one’s country is simply putting the interests of the nation ahead of individual desires. It is obeying the laws for ordinary citizens, paying your taxes, it is creating good laws by MPs, it is negotiating deals that favour the country on any business line.

In fact, it is taking responsibilities and making sure Cameroon as a nation is no looser in any of our actions. For journalist, patriotism is digging out the irregularities, news in the country and publishing them. It is as well appreciating other positive efforts done by the public. It is honouring the public’s right to know while respecting professional deontology.

The actions of journalists would not be complete if their reports do not act as basis for investigation. A free and reliable press and an independent judiciary make a strong nation. These are the kind of institutions we need not “strong” men to take the country hostage.

When marionettes like Mr Tessa are appointed to head so called anti corruption unit, they certainly give a damn to what the press writes because they do not care for the interest of the country and most especially, because, they are serving the person who appointed them. Patriotism is not flooding newspaper pages with motions of support.

It is not organising media outings to justify or denounced the ills that have been reported by the press.

Inasmuch as some press in Cameroon including the public media is wanting, it is understood that most of what is written by the press in Cameroon have elements of truth. Journalists rely much on leaked information and the government of Cameroon is full of thieves and unpatriotic people, they leak much information often to the press and unfortunately, press reports have never served the real intention.

A lot more do speculate because journalists in Cameroon virtually have no access to information. It is therefore normal of a journalist to question the wealth of a mere custom officer who earns 200. 000 francs a month but can construct a villa for 25, 50. 75 or 100 million when he has not even on duty for 20 years. This goes same for ministers, school heads, delegates, general managers, security and health officials and any ordinary citizen.

The New Deal, Cameroon and the false perception

The 27-year-old New Deal Government under the command of President Biya, excellently masters how to deceive the world. A reading of the press in Cameroon makes you draw an immediately conclusion that Cameroon is a very free country. Nevertheless, the unfortunate thing is that the New Deal has never used the press for the right purpose. In creating such a “free” atmosphere, the impression is given to the world that Cameroon is free, whereas, it is not. The violent suppression of the February 2008 legitimate protests are there to testify and the government cared less about what was written by the press thereafter.

The press may be free in writing what they want but the in terms of economic and politics, Cameroonians are not free. The government has adopted the “I don’t care attitude”.

Mr Tessa certainly knows so well about other phantom corruption bodies like ANIF, Supreme State Control and Audit, CONAC, other plethoric anti corruption commission in various ministries. The bottom line should not be the creation of these several useless bodies, which continue to suck Cameroon economically.

The most important thing is empower these bodies, make these institutions strong. If President Paul Biya is the number one Cameroonian in everything in as it is usually said, he should champion the patriotism through making sure that elections are free and fair so that in the first place, the people we get in parliament are not virtually appointed but legal and legitimate representatives of the people. His appointments should not be base on allegiance but also and most importantly, on merit.

He should make sure that he and his colleagues strike a balance between any deals they make and the interest of our nation. He should make sure that meritocracy is given a chance so that we may have the right people in the right places like ENS, ENAM, Polytechnic, EMIA, etc.

The foundations of mediocrity being built in Cameroon is the foundation of unpatriotism because wrong people are put in the wrong place and they keep doing things with impunity and sinking Cameroon more into the abyss.

I had earlier written that Cameroon desperately needs patriotism not necessarily capitalist democracy. With the economic and moral decadence in Cameroon that has been enhanced by the inertia of the government for 27 years, many Cameroonians do no longer think of the future but rather, of their survival for the next minutes. That is why they can be easily bought. A short-sighted and disorganised opposition has also caused more harm.

Even those who have “successfully” left the country, many are still in moral, intellectual and economic bankruptcy reason why they thronged Ottawa not to receive Biya but, to share the bank notes they were promised. The same thing happened in Paris last July. Should we call this patriotism?

What Cameroonians expect of CONAC

Mr Tessa and team, have the duty of investigating/fighting corruption in Cameroon and making public their results. Investigate corruption in our education, health. customs, taxation, police, transport sectors .

CONAC should indentify those corruptly accumulating posts and receiving double salaries whereas others are jobless, those constantly changing their ages to die in pubic service, those stifling the kick-off of local initiatives but are ready to allow pseudo expatriates control our economy and exploit Cameroonians, those out of the country but still receiving their salaries. We expect CONAC to organise at least, monthly conferences to tell us what they have done while channelling their report to the judiciary to continue from there.

The president of CONAC was opportunistic to seize the period when their mentor has been accused of embezzlement to say that Cameroonian journalists are not representing the image of the country well. What are the numerous diplomatic services doing? If I were part of their moribund organisation, we would investigate the issue and call all those concerned to book, even the president.

Do they think it is even patriotic for their mentor to avoid skilful Cameroonians and lavish taxpayers’ money on so-called international communication agencies and public relation companies who have never been effective in helping Cameroon any way?

CONAC is not in a position to give people lessons on patriotism when seemingly, they cannot even do their own job well.

I would like to invite CONAC to look at what the press in countries like Sweden, Norway, South Africa, even next-door Nigeria write. Areas where public officials and institutions have nothing to hide from the public. CONAC president seems to have been comparing the Cameroonian press to that of other francophone-failed states like Gabon, Chad, and Congo Brazzaville, Central African Republic etc where leaders have refused to leave power or have almost installed monarchies etc.