MY “WISH”, our CHALLENGES for 2009 and beyond

MY “WISH”, our CHALLENGES for 2009 and beyond.

Some people call it a wish but, I prefer to talk of a challenge. It is a challenge for me to accelerate in 2009, my contribution to human enlightenment, consciousness and knowledge as well as to keep on learning from others.

The greatest problem plaguing the world today is neo colonialism, imperialism by a privileged few, who are so determined to dominate the world in all aspects and make others eternal “slaves”. This has been manifested through horrible exploitation, sponsoring of conflict, terror and horror, and bullying of others especially the “weak”. Were others born to play the second fidlle? I do not think so. We must struggle to position ourselves and not only rely on circumstances but create those circumstances and opportunities.

In a chat with a friend in Belgium, he told me that the world is already too complicated and we just have to dance the dance as it is without challenging or questioning the status quo. I told him if the present status quo was made by man within a very long period of time, it can also be changed by man not necessarily the people who made it, though, also within an even longer time frame.

As a development, international journalist and communicator, I will not only report events as they are. I must go beyond the mere reporting, to give some details that I know, of what might have triggered an event. It is not enough to report that people have been killed or are being exploited. Why and how are they being killed and what can be done to stop such exploitation and massacres? We must only write that in books but talk of it everyday to create the needed awareness.

In a collective way, we can alter the injustice implanted hundreds of years ago. If we believe in it and above all believe in ourselves, we can start now and in another one thousand years to come or so to come, we should have made a better place for many to live in , just as others prepared it for the few enjoying now.

“It does not suffice to believe in change, we must believe in ourselves to effect the change needed". (Agendia Aloysius)

Journalist, development communicator.

Media and the use/misuse of the appellation “International Community”

Media and the use/misuse of the appellation “International Community”

Various media organs around the world operating from their own agenda have always been using the phrase “international community” to accept or negate certain issues and events. It is in most cases made without attributions therefore coming as sweeping statements which may just be reflecting the views of the journalist or the media organ.

It is common to hear, “the International community has condemned US over the aggression in Iraq, the International Community has blamed Hamas for the violence in the Middle east, The international community has condemned the Coup in this or that country , The international community has called on Israel to shun horror and terror in their disproportionate response to the filing of rocket propel grenades by Palestinian militants, the international community has blamed President Laurent Gbagbo and his government for the prolonged conflict in that country, the International community has blamed President Mugabe for the humanitarian crisis in his country. The international community has done this; the international community has done that” etc.

As someone developing a career in international communication, global journalism and international development, I have always asked myself, who is this international community, how are they qualified and quantified and who do they represent?

There are almost two hundred countries in the world. The United Nations which can be described as the largest grouping of countries in the world has 192 members. Some say it does not bring about any unanimity. Others claim that the UN is in itself, undemocratic, therefore, cannot claim to speak for the international community when some members exclusively hold veto power to stifle the development of “rebel” states and leaders.

In my opinion, the media should not only inform, educate, entertained but contribute to development. That is why going beyond reporting, to presenting issues and analysing making fair comments and opening up for discussion is very good. Media must not shy away from its development role, yet indirectly or directly represent the views of their political masters, most of who profess imperialism, domination, oppression etc.

According to Finnish Professor of Communication and Development, Kaarle Nordenstreng, "only the UN General assembly can be said to speak on behalf of the international". He posits that the security council cannot, given that it is not representative enough.

When colonial troops were placed in the middle of Cote D’ Ivoire separating the North and the South of that country in a bid to comfortably arm rebels who had been favoured in a trouble making MACOUSSI peace deal, most radio organs be they the so called global media blamed and keep blaming the Ivorian government saying for example, “the international community has held President Gbagbo for stalling the peace talks”. Who was therefore this international community? Was it France and its allies? The same applies to several countries and situations.

I am therefore really flabbergasted when I hear supposedly “more experienced” and “pace-setting” media organs referring to some countries and their allies as “the international community”. I think the international community should be a mutually inclusive than exclusive thing.

It appears the media seem to have fallen prey to some politicians who are happy with such appellations because in my opinion, I have never read any article quantifying this “international community” by; some, many or most. It is often categorical. In very few cases, the use of the appellation may have been appropriate. This also applies to other appellations as militants. Who is a militant, who is a freedom fighter?

ENS Maroua: Mediocrity versus meritocracy in Cameroon

ENS Maroua: Mediocrity versus meritocracy in Cameroon

While in Cameroon, I was overwhelmed when I heard about the creation of the Advanced Teacher Training College in Maroua. I knew it would create jobs and also happy that it would spur the people of the grand north to be more interested in education.

I was again happy to read the result on the website of the French daily Le Jour. But, I was taken aback, when recently, I checked daily news online, and read that Members of Parliament, for the Grand Nord provinces, were not satisfied with the quota ; 33 percent according to Jacque Fame Ndongo, Higher Education Minister, and 14 percent according to them, accorded to the grand north.

These MPs, according to online reports, then threatened with a strike and called on the Head of State, Paul Biya to cancel the results or admit a considerable number of candidates for the grand north under what is usually called sociological composition of admitted candidates into professional schools in Cameroon.

To my astonishment, President Paul Biya, whom one of his minister recently said that he does not work under pressure, bowed to the pressure from the MPs and not only granted their wish, but, far beyond that, accorded more than the number of places they wanted, thereby giving them a percentage of 60 among the those enrolled this year in various fields.

This leaves many of us really worried. When will mediocrity give room for meritocracy in Cameroon? Is our president a coward? When did the head of state start appointing those who will get into professional schools? Was Biya doing that for the interest of Cameroon or the interest of the Grand North or even his political interest? Has he ever asked himself about the sociological composition in the appointment of says General Managers, Governors, Ministers, and other top level government posts he makes?

Has he, who is preaching rigour and moralisation, forgotten that the said school is expected to train teachers who will thereafter train youths, Cameroon’s future? Has he forgotten that the admission of mediocre students will have a multiplier effect on the number of mediocre Cameroonians in multiple sectors?

In 2006, Anglo-Saxon students in the University of Buea protested against the admission of students to the medical school in that institution who did not even sit in for the written part of the examination. Yaoundé authorities asked soldiers to opened fire on unarmed students, killing two and wounding several others in 2006. Did Biya ask himself thereafter about the sociological composition of those admitted in the school as well as similar school created in the University of Douala? What future is Mr Biya and his accomplices building for Cameroon?

It really puzzles me that in virtually all professional schools in Cameroon, mediocrity and ignominy are now the benchmarks. Half baked nurses in the name of doctors are trained in CUSS and these guys end up taking a lot of souls consciously or unconsciously. The problem may not be even with the training as such, but, with the calibre of students admitted there.Most of those admitted are not qualified. Just as in other professional schools in Cameroon, ENAM, EMIA, POLICE, and ASMA/ESSTIC etc.

I have always said that if Biya were to rigorously fight corruption, let him give room for meritocracy. This is because, if people were to get into the public service by merit, the degree at which they take or give bribe in the course of their duties may be minimised to the highest level. The public service will then be filled with hard working and the right people who will be able to transform our country. Everything being equal, Cameroon will be “an eldorado” in the next 20 years if such measures are implemented.

Mr Biya and co, please could you guys give room for meritocracy? Where are you driving our country to? There is the urgent need to stop this thing of appointing people as students in professional colleges who do not merit it.

Unfortunately too, this is merely another manifestation of the evils of our country; appointed MPs who do not even represent the will of the people but that of the political masters, appointed governors who ruled the people with colonial fists and who are there to rig elections with all impunity, and an appointed president who is there to serve neo-colonial interest and that of a few protégés in the country.

Agendia Aloysius

Scandinavian countries want Mugabe’s resignation

Current situation aggravated by pride

Scandinavian countries including Iceland, Norway, Denmark, Finland and Sweden have added their voice to calls for the President of Zimbabwe, Robert Mugabe to resign.

In a statement released Friday, December 19, and endorsed by the Foreign Ministers of the said countries, and highly circulated in Nordic media outlets, the latter, accused Mugabe of being responsible for the current impasse and “grave humanitarian situation” in that country.

According to them, there is need to put “….an end to the misrule of Robert Mugabe and of the disrespect for democratic principles and human rights - which are core issues underlying the Nordic engagement and support for the liberation struggles in southern Africa,".

The Nordic countries reputed for their peaceful nature, believe the government of Zimbabwe is responsible for what they described as the “tragic situation in the country”

The call of these countries comes on the heels of that of the British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who initiated the move. President Nicolas Sarkozy of France, George Bush of USA, the Kenya Prime Minister, Raila Odinga, the President of Botswana and a handful of others have made semilar calls.

However, the South African Regional grouping, SADC, has called for restrain and dialogue. This position has also been supported by the African Union and Thabo Mbeki, former President of South Africa, appointed by SADC to mediate in the imbroglio which erupted after Tshangari bowed out of the second round elections on claims that his supporters were being attacked.

Meeting in Yaoundé, Cameroon recently, the Council for the Development of Social Research in Africa CODESRIA also criticised the use of any force as has been insinuated by some western countries.

While supporters of the embattled Zimbabwean opposition leader Morgan Tshangari, of the Movement for Democratic Change MDC, accused Mugabe of stalling the talks, supporters of Mugabe and some independent analysts have blamed Tshangari for constantly leaving the talks to consult his advisers who are said to be Britain and USA from whom Mugabe claims to be preventing a re-colonisation of his country.

In an interview with Abou Ammar, a Palestinian Masters Global Journalism student in the Orebro University Sweden, he described Mugabe as a hero who is painted evil by Western government and media. According to him, the west has dramatised the situation in Zimbabwe and are determined to crucify Muagbe. He regretted that Al Jazeera television which shows “good things” about Zimbabwe and Mugabe is not received in most homes in Africa.

Robert Ngu Ngomesia, a Master graduate in Computer Engineering says “the West are against Mugabe and not necessarily against the Zimbabwean people”. According to him, Mugabe should step down for the sake of the country. He however stresses “even though Mugabe is a strong fighter, let him think of his people now and step down.”

Robert holds that the sanctions on Zimbabwe have missed the target and “we are in a situation where neither Mugabe nor the West will want to be dragged in the mud” he says. While the West wants to maintain sanctions, Mugabe too wants to hang on and defy them. “The issue at stake now is pride” Roberts concludes.

Njang Joseph, a PhD student in USA describes Mugabe as a “bad guy like most African dictators” who should go but, he emphasizes that, for African countries to accept the use of any kind of force, will be the worst mistake ever, for any violence will spill to other countries in the region.

Mugabe, a long time friend with the West became an enemy when he began the redistribution to black Zimbabweans, of formerly exclusively white-owned farm land. The former had been deprived of most fertile land during the colonial era. The redistribution which was described as disorganised was speeded when Britain refused to continue funding it as had been agreed during the 1979 Lancaster House Agreement which paved the way for the independence of Zimbabwe in 1980, with Robert Mugabe as its pioneer president.

Mugabe says Zimbabwe is his and only the people of Zimbabwe will put him down. “Let Britain be for the British and Zimbabwe for Zimbabweans” he said during a rally of his ruling ZANU-PF party recently.

By Aloysius Agendia

Is military intervention needed in Zimbabwe?

Is military intervention needed in Zimbabwe? What is presently doing the rounds in some news media and fora is the declared wish by some countries to wage war on Zimbabwe so as to “liberate” the people of that country from the pangs of what has been described as a dictatorial regime. Some are for, others against. Where are you? Meeting in Yaoundé, Cameroon on December 10, a group of African intellectuals attending the 12 congress of the Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa CODESRIA in very strong terms condemned any use of force in Zimbabwe. “.....We, the undersigned African scholars, are greatly concerned about threats of military intervention in Zimbabwe, ostensibly in the name of human rights and for humanitarian purposes.” They however, recognised the political impasse in the country but prefer diplomacy and appreciated the efforts of SADC because “…military intervention in Zimbabwe will militarise the whole of Southern Africa.” They cited DRC and Somalia as failed areas where force has been irrationally used with disastrous consequences. I may add Iraq. The document is signed by Professors Issa Shivji, Samir Amin, and 200 other scholars who attended the 12th Congress of CODESRIA, in Yaoundé Cameron. Who is who to tell a leader of another sovereign country that, time is up for him to leave power. The disaster in Iraq is there for us to see and draw conclusions. Those who have money to sponsor wars and who claim to be so concern about the health of Zimbabweans and other disadvantaged people world over, should have funded and facilitated the purchase and redistribution of the land in Zimbabwe which without mincing words, is the cause of the mayhem in that country today. I have never seen a situation where a group of countries or call them people, have been so united to punished someone they consider "recalcitrant" so as to give warning lesions to any other African leader who may want to “rebel” against the imposed “natural order”; imperialism and domination. Who are those funding the Tshangari(s), the rebels in Niger Delta, Nigeria, the Laurent Kunda(s), the Vincent Oti(s), who were those who funded the Savimbi(s) Jonas and paraded him as a liberator, the Foday Sankos, Samuel Doe, Les Forces Nouvelle in Cote D' Ivoire, who are those sowing confusion in Sudan, Chad, Central Africa Republic, who are those who killed Patrice Lumumba, Sankara, John Garang, Felix Moumie, Ernest Ouandie, Nnamdi Azikiwe.etc??? Who were those who coerced Ahidjo of Cameroon to resign and brought in Paul Biya who continues to serve neo colonial interest? These very people are setting confusion here and there, shipping weapons with "aide" and making us think they care when they do not really care at all. They know so well that a stable Africa will mean a diminished west. Unfortunately, these very people have successfully brainwashed a good number of African “educated elite" who now profess intellectual dishonesty just because they want something to eat. Robert Mugabe may have stayed too long but Morgan Tshangari is no better choice. To an extend, I buy the idea of the think tank who suggested that the better way might be to keep the two, Morgan and Mugabe away from power. But that is difficult still. They both love power. Tshangari‘s tactics have already proven that he cannot govern. He appears to be more of someone who is coming to auction the country back to the imperialists and the poverty creating and aggravating Bretton Woods institution for his personal survival and that of his accomplices. Another powerful wind of change, this time around, a real one needs to blow across Africa. But to achieve this, Africans need to sit up and make self critiques. I have never seen a dictator who organises elections and looses. African problems need African solutions. Inasmuch as we do not realise that, the situation will hardly ever change. Remove Jack and put Sam, in a few years we return to the same situation or even find ourselves in a worst situation. Very unfortunately too, the likes of young die hard African generation leaders like the Thomas Sankara(s), and the Lumumba(s) contrast with another generation like the Compoare(s), Odinga(s), Faure Eyadema(s), and the Joseph Kabila(s) etc. OMG, Safe this continent.

Murder of Cameroonian girl reignites worries on trade in human parts

Murder of Cameroonian girl reignites worries on trade in human parts

Peace loving Cameroonians and Nigerians were again on November 10, 2008, taken aback with discovery of the gruesome murder of a Cameroonian lady, Ngeyi Xaverie Marie, allegedly by her concubine, a certain Nigerian born Chika Jude (See photo). The unfortunate girl was killed cold blooded and some of her body parts like eyes, private parts removed.

The macabre took place at Tamtam Weekend, a neighbourhood in Cameroon’s capital, Yaoundé. Their neighbours were said to have been alerted by a pungent odour from the lovers’ room and called the police who broke into the house to find Xaverie lying in her own pool of blood with body in an advanced state of decomposition. Chika was nowhere to be found.

Information from an eye witness, Prince Fotabong, from the deceased’s village, who assisted in the burial, indicate that Chika Jude had already called the family of the Xaverie to go to his Yaoundé residence and collect the remains of their daughter given that, he ( Chika Jude), was already at large. He used phone numbers (234) 708 915 5102 and (234) 703 399 8661, it is reported, indicating that he was already in Nigeria.

The killing of Xaverie brings again to question the issue of trafficking of human parts around the globe for medical and magical purposes.

In Cameroon, a few of such stories have always come up and unfortunately, the accused are often Nigerians. This does not in anyway mean that all Nigerians are as such. Years back, another Nigerian business man in Muyuka, a town in the South-western part of Cameroon, was said to have murdered his Cameroonian girl friend to extract parts of the body for rituals back home in Nigeria.

What are human parts being used for, and what actually prompts people to kill others to extract human parts?

While other says human parts have medical/scientific value, some believe human parts are used for magic and ritual purposes, such as getting more protection and money. Brain Handwerk, writing for National Geographic Ultimate Explorer on January 16, 2004 wrote “Organ Shortage Fuels Illicit Trade in Human Parts”

According to him, “In 2002, U.S. doctors performed 24,900 lifesaving organ transplants. But for every person lucky enough to receive a transplant, two others are added to a waiting list that now features more than 80,000 people in the U.S. alone. As desperation grows, so may an illicit trade in human organs in much of the developing world”. Is that then the reason for the killing of fellow humans to extract body parts? I do not think so.

In most countries in the world, like Cameroon and Nigeria, legislation clearly bans any sales of human organs. But according to Brain “….. With demand so high, many have attempted to profit by selling organs such as kidneys, obtained from living donors tempted to give up their "spare" organs for cash.

He further writes, “In December 2003, police in South Africa and in Brazil broke up an international ring trafficking in human kidneys. The racket also involved people in Israel—and possibly even further afield.” http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2004/01/0116_040116_EXPLorgantraffic.html

Another report culled from http://www.american.edu/TED/body.htm says Organs and other body parts do not necessarily have be donated or coerced from some unfortunate souls. They can be stolen.

It narrates cases in Germany where human body parts are smuggled out of hospital basements after each autopsy by some unscrupulous hospital workers and sold to local drug companies for the extraction of growth hormones. The list of items on Drug Company’s plan does not stop there.

The same online report states that ".....in an investigative report by Der Spiegel, a liberal German newsmagazine, drug companies also buy meninges --the membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord -- by tens of thousands. They are used to make a valuable medication used in skin transplants. Recently, pathologists in one city began extracting muscle membranes from corpses thighs, which is then sold to firms that market reconstructive surgery. Lastly, brains and other organs are shipped to medical schools to be used by students in anatomy classes".

The report concludes that that “The loser in all this, human market, is undoubtedly the dead people and their loved ones who do not realize that with or without the permission for autopsy, the parts of the deceased are being plundered”

That is not the case in many parts of the world, for, living human are also being killed and body part removed. Others are forced to sell to some of their body parts.

Some traditional doctors and soothsayers have in some cases asked their desperate clients to bring human parts. This is often in a bid to scare away such clients but, the some of among the latter do go and kill to retrieve human parts.

In an article published in Ocnus.net on May 3, 2007 it is reported that the US had even accused China of coercing prisoners to donate their organs for transplants. .

It further reiterates “In some parts of Nigeria human parts are used for magical rites and other rituals. These parts, too, are stolen by debauched, profit-seeking individuals, and later sold to witchdoctors or pastors who perform various kinds of rites. http://www.ocnus.net/artman/publish/article_28828.shtml

According to it, in Nigeria, body parts are sold and bought mostly for fetish and magical reasons. It equally asserted that most of the horrible deals are done in the Western and Eastern parts of Nigeria.

In neighbouring Cameroon, former BBC reporter, Ange NGU Thomas on April 3, 2003 reported the arrest by police in Douala, Cameroon’s economic capital of two men in possession of a bag full of human bones.

According to the report the two men told the police that the human bones were ordered by an unnamed Cameroonian professional footballer.

Barrister Chief Charles Taku (Fuatabong Achaleke) an advocate at the International War Crimes Tribunal in Arusha Tanzania says the Cameroon penal code seriously punishes trafficking in human parts. He posits that international law equally has more of general provisions in international human rights law, which prohibits cruel and degrading treatment, human trafficking and also specific previsions in bilateral and treaty law. He also advocates for the need for moral reawakening.

There is the urgent need for fellow humans stop behaving like cannibals and have respect for life.

Development Communication as a panacea to world’s major problems

Development Communication as a panacea/solution to world’s major problems The world is more than ever before faced with the growing challenges such as poverty alleviation, improvement in health conditions, education, political and women empowerment, climate change, terrorism, immigration among others। In a bid to resolving these problems, one of the most important aspects, that is, development communication is not being implemented or it is being done artificially. Development communication means dialogue, involving people, it is understanding etc. We cannot dialogue with each other when we do not want to involve them or when we do not want to even see them at all. We cannot effectively carry out development communication when our hidden agenda is to exploit others. The world today, be it in the private or public sector, needs leaders, managers, and people well drilled in development communication and who will practice it effectively and efficiently. This is not about sitting in offices and giving orders or signing repressive decrees that do not only affect our people negatively but, which go beyond our national and territorial boundaries. Arabs and Christians, the West and the Moslem world, developed and developing countries, opposition and ruling parties need to go in for meaningful dialogue. These groups also need to dialogue and involve each other in their various setups. All these, for the sake of meaningful sustainable development. Development communication is not only about information sharing and mutual understanding but, also, going in for collective action. It implies that the stakeholders in the process of development who include; local leaders, the people targeted in a given project, as well as those coordinating just to mention a few, are expected to sit down and discuss on how they will go about a given program. In the process of dialogue, misunderstandings are reduced and disagreements, minimized. With the growing need for development in the field of health, education, poverty alleviation, women empowerment etc, several national and international Non governmental organizations, local governments and other institutions are on the ground to achieve the millennium development goals. Participatory development communication istherefore extremely important but, is not only limited at the level of NGOs, but also, extended to government and local beneficiaries. Is the Bretton Woods failing? Even the Breton Woods institutions, major proponents of development communication are wanting, in effectively implementing participatory development communication. Most of its clients, impoverish countries in the developing world, remain receivers of instructions instead of people participating in dialogue, understanding and effective development communication that can bring about an improvement in the living conditions of people. The IMF and World Bank merely give instructions among which has been the privatization without calculation on the impact of such measures on people. Many of their programs have failed woefully like the Structural Adjustment programs because of ineffective development communication strategies. The Prime Minister of Cameroon, Thomas Ephraim Inoni, in a newspaper report on November 19, 2008 attributed Cameroon’s slow economic development as partly due to stringent and unrealistic IMF policies. "It is now evident that government had become fed-up with the IMF imposed conditionality to accordingly bail the country from its long economic crunch” Eden newspaper wrote. He “acknowledged that development in the country under Biya had been slow but blamed this on what he described as IMF constraints" while presenting 2009 draft budget of his country in parliament. ."http://www.edennewspaper.com/content/view/3649/1/ This may be a complain from a lazy government but does not cancel the fact that they may still have a point. In most cases, the Bretton Woods institutions meet with leaders of various countries while ignoring the civil society. The United Nations too? Even the United Nations is not different. We cannot practice or talk about participatory development communication when a few are in the Security Council, some with what is called veto power, almost block the survival of other states. In development communication, no party can successfully succeed when others reign as kings' not ready to listen but to give orders." As Agunga (1997) notes, Communication should be geared towards creating and stimulating understanding as a basis of development rather than merely transmitting information. " I consider US President-elect, Barack Obama’s plan to meet with leaders of some countries considered as "sponsors" of terrorism like Iran, a positive approach toward development communication. Instead of sitting in offices with stereotypes and considering people as terrorists, dictators whereas they may be freedom fighters, it is important to meet dialogue with them and know what people want. What is rather evident is that capitalism hates any form of dialogue or development communication that will benefit the other party other than itself. It seeks for exploitation and survival of the fittest, which is terrible. As my conclusion, get the people involved; use the right strategies and the right people (professionals) to pilot development communication in all our institutions and in every project. How often do elected officials especially in developing countries go back to their electorates to explain certain issues and get their views? ?????" Aloysius Agendia

Cameroon: Dancing forward and backward with decentralisation

Cameroon: Dancing forward and backward with decentralisation

On Wednesday November 12, 2008, President Paul Biya signed a decree dividing Cameroon into regions and thereby replacing the hitherto provinces. This was the application of the 1996 constitution as it had been clearly stated therein. Effectively applying the regions stuff implies, Cameroon will join the ranks of Nigeria, USA, Russia etc which have various states, and regions which are like autonomous, though with a Central / Federal government. But that is not the kind of federation Cameroonians really want.

The decentralisation stuff in Cameroon is a complete farce. It is a non-starter despite the noise being made by the public media in Cameroon to laud the initiative of president Biya. Though it is enshrined in it that people will elect councils which will govern the region, it is not known when that can ever begin. More disturbing, in a country where presidential decrees take precedence over the law or constitution, hoping for veritable decentralisation in Cameroon is still long.

Article 56 of the 1996 Constitution of Cameroon and in relation to the regions states that;

: (1) The State shall transfer to Regions, under conditions laid down by law,

jurisdiction in areas necessary for their economic, social, health, educational, cultural and sports development.

(2) The law shall define:

- The sharing of powers between the State and the Regions in the areas of

competence so transferred;

- The resources of Regions;

- The land and property of each Region.

The effectiveness of regions implicitly gives more power to regions, making them autonomous. On the other hand, the head of state according to the constitution, can still overrule a region as he can dissolve a regional council Article 59 of the constitution states this.

In article 58, it is made clear that the president shall be represented in every region by an appointee who, according to the law, protects national interest…..

Article 58 :( 1) A delegate, appointed by the President of the Republic, shall represent the State in the Region. In this capacity, he shall be responsible for national interests, administrative control, ensuring compliance with laws and regulations, as well as maintaining law and order. He shall, under the authority of the Government, supervise and co-ordinate civil State services in the Region.

(2) He shall exercise the supervisory authority of the State over the Region.

What kind of decentralisation is expected in a country where in councils/municipalities are not managed by the elected mayors and the councillors, but, by appointed sycophants called government delegates who have virtually nothing to render to electorate than their political master.

How are these so-called regions really different from the present status quo of the various provinces? Appointed governors, surrogates Divisional and sub divisional officers etc. This is no form of decentralisation. If Mr Biya and his cohorts who have taken the country hostage want to decentralise, let them come up with a veritable federation. All provinces or call them regions should be autonomous with a central federal body. It is more of a mere change of name and no real issue will happen in PRACTISE. When people clamoured for a veritable independent electoral Commission, The New Deal regime came up with National Elections Observatory I and II and more recently Elections Cameroon, Elecam whose members are yet to be handpicked by the President.

Initially, it moved from NEO I and II and soon, ELECAM but nothing has changed, as, the organisation of elections and proclamation of result remains the prerogative of appointed SDO who rigged for appointments and promotion.

Inasmuch as free and transparent elections are not held in Cameroon, the issue of regions or decentralisation will still remain a farce. True decentralisation is allowing people to freely choose their leaders and the kind of government they want. Not necessarily shadow democracy practised in Cameroon with the support of some western neo colonial governments.

Agendia Aloysius www.agendiaaloysius .blogspot. com www.lebialem. com

Obama, abortion and priestly overzealousness

When I read an article published by Associated Press and dated November, 13, 2008 with the title SC Priest: NO Communion for Obama supporters, I was really embarrassed by the priest stands and choice of words.

I do not understand why a man who calls himself, a “man of God” has the audacity to suggest that that those who voted for Obama as president of the USA should not be given Holy Communion for as he posits, Obama supports abortion, hence those who support him “"constitutes material cooperation with intrinsic evil." As if those who supported his adversary are free of cooperation from more intrinsic evil either.

The South Carolina priest, Jay Scott Newman, of Saint Mary Catholic Church, Greenville, according to the article, emphasized that such voters who take communion without penance are putting their soul at risk.

The truth is that, those who respect the virtue of life will certainly never kill through abortion. Abortion is in itself evil, but under what circumstances can abortion be committed? That is subject to another debate. In my opinion, in any case where the foetus is a threat to the life of the mother it can be dealt away with. That notwithstanding, abortion should not be a choice given that if partners choose not to have children they should not even have it before deciding to deal away with it. Obama looses points here

Many others who are against abortion have killed millions of lives in other ways which can as well be worst than abortion because in my own thinking, inasmuch as I value the life of an unborn child, killing a person already alive on earth is more dangerous than a person yet to be born.

The statement of the clergy, though not totally wrong, can be considered extreme and in this particular context, it can be considered outrageous because it has political undertones.

My worry is why has this priest been so quiet as people die in thousands every day because of "irrational" wars in Iraq, Afghanistan, Sudan, racially imposed sanctions on Zimbabwe, exploitative and neo colonially funded war and confusion in Democratic Republic of Congo, injustice in the Middle East etc. I wonder why it is now he wants to advocate for the rights and privileges of the unborn when he has never done for the millions alive but suffering from injustice caused by fellow humans.

Rev Newman wrote “"Voting for a pro-abortion politician when a plausible pro-life alternative exits constitutes material cooperation with intrinsic evil, and those Catholics who do so place themselves outside of the full communion of Christ's Church and under the judgment of divine law. Persons in this condition should not receive Holy Communion until and unless they are reconciled to God in the Sacrament of Penance, lest they eat and drink their own condemnation. "

The election of Barack Obama as the 44 and first African American president of the most powerful nation on earth was testimony of the fact that the racial divide, at least, in the domains of politics in the USA, is being gradually bridged. If Obama could genuinely win an election in a country whose past is entangled with lots of horrible racial stories and whose minority/coloured or African American population constitutes less than 15 percent of the 250 million Americans, it was therefore a good testimony.

For “men of God” to make such statements in public is therefore tantamount to preaching hatred. If Obama is a hundred percent for abortion, can the clergy contest the fact that some of those who are anti abortion have not directly or indirectly killed millions of born and unborn children through other means? It can be argued therefore that his teaching in this situation, was not based on moral grounds as that of a man of God should be, but, on more of political and racial grounds.

The choice of words of the priest describing Obama as “radical”, though this is part of freedom of expression which is an integral part of US life, it is to say the least, unexpected of a priest who is ought to be subtle in his ways. His insistence on using Hussein as the middle name of Obama equally has a negative connotation of the priest’s real intentions.

According to the newspaper report, 54 percent of US Catholics voted for Obama therefore implying that, 54 percent of US Catholics should be deprived of the HOLY communion. The above average vote for Obama by US Catholics also attests to the fact that some Christians do go to church but may not necessarily follow the teaching of priests, some of whom across the world, have become as bad examples as evil itself.

I personally stand against abortion. When priests mingle with politics not because they want to distinguish right from wrong or good from bad but, because, they want political gains to go on the other side of the coin, then, there is a big problem. Can this not be considered hypocrisy?

Agendia Aloysius www.agendiaaloysius.blogspot.com www.lebialem.com

Was there any genocide on the Wouri Bridge on Wednesday February 27, 2008?

Revisiting the February 2008 strike action in Cameroon

Was there any genocide or massacre on the Wouri Bridge on Wednesday February 27, 2008 in Cameroon?

The official dead toll given by the Cameroon government following the February 2008 unrest stood at 40. Government had initially advanced 17 and later 24. Independent sources put the figure at over a hundred like the case of the Christian Action for the Fight Against Torture ACAT. The government said the highest number of deaths, 30, was recorded in Douala. The President of ACAT Cameroon Madeleine Afite says over 100 people died in Cameroon with over 20 alleged to have drowned in River Wouri. All over Douala, everybody say corpses have seen removed from Wouri but none would love to be quoted. The officials at the morgue in Bonasamma and Lanquintini hospitals in Douala would not want to comment on this. Mutations in its Tuesday March 18 edition reports that according to Fru Ndi government did not take into consideration the 40 people who drown in the river Wouri. L’Effort Camerounais in the following interview with (Elvis N) one of the youths who survived what happened in the bridge, narrates the drama that happened. According to him, they were caught in the bridge, sprayed with cold water and teargas. Some people are alleged to have jumped in water and drowned. Excerpts. E. N are initials of his real name which we are not giving in full. But another audio version of the interview in pidgin is available.

You were among the thousands of youths who were marching peacefully from Bonaberi on February 27 to the office of the governor of the Littoral Province what actually happened?

We left that morning about three thousand youths, heading for Bonanjo. When we arrived the bridge, (Wouri) we met police men. From the Deido end of the bridge the police van began speeding and spraying water on people. People gave way for the vehicle to pass and when it got to the CIMENCAM end, it turned and blocked the road. Again from the Deido end of the bridge another vehicle came, those who were in the bridge were blocked and those who were outside fled to the Elf based. The police vans began throwing teargas while a helicopter flew across the bridge with soldiers armed to the teeth. As they continued spraying teargas, the only way for most people to safe their lives was to dive into the River Wouri.

About five hundred guys who had crossed the bridge were caught near the road construction company, RAZEL and mercilessly beaten. I was one of those who entered into water but at the tail end, yet some of the military men followed us there with guns. They threaten to shoot those who did not come out. Those who were able to come out did.

Immediately I came out of the river, the military arrested me, searched me and took my phone worth (Four hundred thousand) CFA400.000, took my purse search it but could not find anything inside. They did not care for any lives. I wonder if they were out to loot from armless youths or if they were out to maintain order. I begged them to give me even my sim card but one of them said when we go out for war we should be ready to loose everything. When the situation even became worst, a few of them tried to save some lives from water. Fortunately there were also some fishermen in water too who save some lives.

Do you mean to say the forces of law and order attacked you guys when none of you had thrown stones?

No. Nobody attacked the forces of law and order not even throwing stones.

When we got to Bonassama from Bonaberi, some people wanted to break into the Texaco filing station but they were blocked by others. The youths had said the march was a peaceful one. Not even a stone was thrown on Texaco. When we even got to Bonassama, we saw the DO for Douala Four, he tried to stop us but we told him that we are marching peacefully to go and see the governor. Some people even claim that he is the one who called the forces and law and order to come and get us.

You said earlier that some people jumped into water. Any estimate?

I do not know the exact number of people who jumped into water but what I know is that people jumped into water. Just imagine the number of people who were on the bridge blocked and the forces of law and order throwing teargas. Some people had no choice than to jump into water.

That means some people were killed?

Actually! I did not see any dead given the situation in which I even found myself. But from what I hear, about 20 people died after jumping into water. At one moment, they asked us to enter the truck so that we could be driven to Bonanjo. We got in and were seriously trashed but a sympathetic captain who certainly has children too, came to our rescue. He asked his colleagues to stop beating us and told us to come down. He asked whether we shall ever strike again, we told him, no. He then asked us to sing the National Anthem which we did. They then asked us to leave immediately. However, some people had been taken to Bonanjo.

I see you have a swollen hand. What happened?

I think I was not even deadly beaten like others because my phone had been taken. I also had some video of some scenes in the phone. When they caught me they asked me to lie with my back on the ground and be looking at the sun. I obeyed but one of the gendarmes took a very big stick and wanted to hit my stomach, I tried to defend with my hand and that is how my right hand got broken.

The president said the youths are being manipulated, who was manipulating you guys?

Well, I can say that is the president’s opinion and he has a right to it. I do not think what is happening in the country concerns any particular political party. If that was the case, I think there should have been at least one political leader with the youths. The youths are just fighting for their rights and well being. They have been abandoned.

Will these change things in the country?

I do not know but we just hope that a change will one day come.

Interviewed by Aloysius Agendia

By the time this interview was conducted, I was a full time staff with L’ Effort camerounais, Cameroon’ oldest newspaper which belongs to the National Episcopal conference of Cameroon. It was not published for security reasons as expressed by the Editor in Chief.

Comming up, another audio interview in French of some of the strike victims

The photo of the interviewee has not been updated for security reasons.

France, La Francophonie, French and African dictators

France, La Francophonie, French and African dictators

From the 17 to 19 of October 2008, leaders of countries with French as a common language met in Quebec, Canada as part was what was known as the 12 summit of La Francophonie. Its Secretary General and long-time ex president of Senegal, Abdou Diouf, chaired the deliberations which ended in the absence of the protagonist France, as its Head of State, Nicholas Sarkozy had left for the USA. Far beyond promoting the French language, which according to the website of La Francophonie, is spoken by 200 million people in 54 member states, La Francophonie also has the responsibility of improving human rights, democracy and economic cooperation.

But within most of Francophone Africa, many people have a very negative impression of French, France and La Francophonie. “It would appear all trouble and suffering in Africa is mostly in Francophone Africa” says Matia K, a Ugandan student in Orebro, Sweden. Territories where French is spoken are ridden with endless conflict allegedly being fuelled by its colonial masters be it in countries like Rwanda, Congo, Chad, DRC, Central Africa Republic, Senegal, Cote D' Ivoire etc.

French is the second language spoken world wide after English but this has not deterred some countries and people from relegating the language to the background. On October 28, The Washington Post wrote “In another blow to the language of love, the Rwandan government has decided to change instruction in schools from French to English”. This was just a confirmation of what some people had been suspecting.

Rwanda's Minister for Education, Theoneste Mutsindashyaka said “When you look at the French-speaking countries -- it's really just France, and a small part of Belgium and a small part of Switzerland… Most countries worldwide, speak English. Even in China, they speak English. Even Belgium, if you go to the Flemish areas, they speak English, not French." According to him, the decision of his country, was purely economic and had nothing to do with the country's souring relationship with France.

Rwanda recently accused the French government of taking part in the 1994 genocide through the arming of the former Rwandan army and ethnic Hutu militias. An estimated 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus were slaughtered in just a hundred days. France also accused Rwandan President, Paul Kagame, of involvement in the massacre.

Though the rough diplomatic relations between France and Rwanda have been dismissed as reason for the “reclassification of French as the third Language, after English and the native language of Rwanda, the unsmooth political relationship cannot be totally denied.

In most of French colonies or Trust Territories like Cameroon, Chad, Gabon, Congo etc the economic exploitation, human right abuses, political victimisation by its neo-colonial regimes and the domination by the aristocratic class, etc, is said to be under the indirect influence of France. Dieudonne Kibungi, a Burundian refugee in Sweden believes France, just as most colonisers, is responsible for the ills in most ex colonies.

France is accused to have maintained and supported dictators. It has been accused of supporting rebels to destabilise sovereign governments like the case of Les Forces Nouvelle in Cote d ‘ Ivoire, the assassination of Thomas Sankara of Burkina Faso, Um Nyobe of Cameroon, etc. In an interview with a Cameroonian monthly journal Les Cahiers de Mutations, Vol 048, Dec 2007, page 8-9 , Dr Abel Eyinga, accused France of forcing former Cameroonian president Ahidjo to step down in favour of another neo colonial agent Paul Biya and the scenario may likely repeat with Biya soon.

The longest serving dictators are all products of French system of governance.

France was implicated in the genocide in Rwanda, French companies have been involved in several scandals among which was that of Elf in Congo etc.

The adopting of English by Rwanda can therefore be interpreted as a clear indication of the rejection of French intrigues in Africa, opines Pascal Lumi.

So many African seems to have supported this move by Rwanda which according to some, was already going in some areas.

Barrister Leonard Bekong, a Legal expert in USA says, it is not only a Rwandan issue. “Recently in Cameroon, most French speaking parents have begun to undertake such decisions without bringing the state into it.Most have simply decided to send their children to English speaking schools in Yaounde, Douala etc. If you visit some of those high profile schools from the base, you will notice that French speaking Cameroonians out number the English speakers in number.”

Ben Bezejou, a University professor in the USA also notes that the decision is not only interesting but well planned. “The leaders of this country are very courageous to embark on this project.”

However, as of now, only 5 percent of Rwandans speak English and it will therefore be an uphill task, to effectively change the official language.

In several francophone countries, the degree of human abuses is just unimaginable. The case of Cameroon, Chad, Central Africa, Congo Brazzaville, Gabon, Congo Kinshasa etc are glaring.

The reclassification of French as secondary language may also fall under the framework of the RUPTURE with African countries, announced by French President, Nicholas Sakorzy, when he took office in 2006.

If this rupture could then leave from language to lessen the implication of France in the economic and political life of its former colonies, this could be very advantageous for Africans. This is the view of Rayong Ngantcha, a Cameroon resident in London and strongly supported by political parties in Cameroon such as the Movement for African New Independence, MANIDEM, headed by Anicet Ekane and Union des Populations du Cameroon UPC S-Mackit faction.

La Francophonie has on several occasions validated brutality and fraud. During the 2004 elections in Cameroon, while the Commonwealth Observer Mission led by former Canadian Prime Minister, Hon Joe Clarke, expressed worries on the conduct of election, La Francophonie delegation validated fraud, together with a group of ex American congressmen paid to monitor the elections.

In Mutengene La Francophonie monitors drove passed disenfranchised voters who were protesting as “unqualified” people voted several times. They drove passed, but were quick enough to conclude that the elections were totally free.

The abandonment of French as an official language could be extended to the neo-colonial economic, political and human right policies of France in its related colonies.

The adoption of national indigenous languages by African countries will also be a sign of more emancipation.

Agendia Aloysius

Election of Barack Obama as US President and African excitement

Election of Barack Obama as US President and African excitement

Why Are Africans so excited about the imminent election of the Illinois Senator of Kenyan origin, Barack Obama, into the White House? That is what I have been asking myself for some time now. Cut across Africa, there are several people waiting for the election of Barack Obama, the Democratic Party Presidential candidate, ahead of USA election on November 04, 2008.

From Cameroon, passing across South Africa through Kenya ("Obama’s second home") to Uganda, etc, supporters and fan clubs have been created for Obama.

If this year’s American elections were to be voted by Africans and Europeans, then, I would have confidently concluded that Obama will be the next , that is 44th American president.

But the questions are; Why are people so excited with the election of Barack Obama as president of USA? What will be the impact on Africa if Obama is elected president?

Before the advent of Obama, who was little known in Africa till about a year and a half ago, other African Americans had occupied high offices in USA such as; Colin Powell, Condelizza Rice, Rev, J Jackson etc. But, did they do anything impressive on Africa? Most people in Africa apart from the intellectual class will tell you bluntly that they do not even know who Powell or Rice etc are.

There are so many things which many people do not know. As president of America Barack Obama has one objective : serve and defend the interest of America, politically, economically, socio-culturally and anywhere, whether in the Africa, Asia, Europe or the Middle East. It is against this background that Winston Arrey, a student in the University of Douala says “the advent of Barack Obama,-- as the leader of the USA will have little impact on Africa and Africans unless US interest is at stake”. He believes Africans must take their own destiny and pilot their own affairs. Emmanuel Ambe in Örebro University says "America is the most powerful country in the world in all domains and an African leading America will not allow his fellow brothers continue to be dragged in the mud and reduced to beggars" by its neo-colonial leaders. How neo-colonial will Obama not be? This is subject to another debate.

Osangie Ayanru, a Nigerian, member of the Africans Politics forum has a different view. He believes that Obama, being an African, will certainly not accept the stealing of money by African leaders and starching in foreign banks. He writes “….. I was encouraged to hear Obama, say that he would not deal (with) rulers in Africa, whose main interest is to cart our money and deposit them in Swiss bank accounts. Obama, was responding to a question on why Africa, is a basket case. If a system of accountability is engendered and encouraged by no less than an American president, we may be seeing a turn for the better in a continent blighted for so long by poverty, diseases, suffering and stunted growth due to the excesses of its rulers”.

This is true, but, the same African leaders who steal our money day in day out, and send to European and US banks are the same people who are welcomed and praised everyday by the same European and American leaders who will on the contrary always give lessons of "democracy". Omar Bongo of Gabon, Paul Biya of Cameroon, Obiang Nguema Equatorial Guinea, Idriss Derby of Chad, Sassou Nguesso of Congo Brazzaville, late Mombutou Seseko of Zaire, François Bozize of the Central African Republic, Eduardo dos Santos of Angola, etc, are some of the leaders who have once or twice featured in the list of Africa´s richest leaders or worst dictators. Their people continue to wallow in poverty yet, as they (rulers) go about gallivanting and living extravagant lives. Many of them like Paul Biya of Cameroon, continue to spend most of their time in western countries and being received by Western presidents.

Youth involvement Many of those anxious in Africa about the election of Obama are youths. First, Obama, is himself a youth, and far younger than a vast majority of African leaders. They believe that Obama, with his much heralded concept of change, will in one way or the other, boot out octogenarians who have taken most African countries hostage.

But, Congo Kinshasa and Togo are led by youths, though circumstances under their accession to power, and, whose interest they serve, remain highly questionable. Some countries also continue to be reduced to monarchies.

The election of Obama in USA, will give African youths positive hope and the believe in themselves, in the sense that, youths can also lead. The most important development must not only be limited to the election of a "coloured" or African to the White House.

However, has Obama the magic wand and the will to change things around in Africa? I doubt. He has been to Kenya where his father came from, just thrice in 47 years. Will he able to think about, and, influence positive change in Africa better in just 4 years as the next president of the USA?. Well, there may be some reasons to hope as many people continue waiting. Aloysius Agendia