Cameroon: THE HEROES OF KUMBO

The date was July 27, 2013. And the venue was Kumbo, capital Town of Bui County, nicknamed Soweto in honour of its heroic role and supreme prices paid for the liberation of the Fatherland, British Southern Cameroons, from the claws of neo-apartheid, annexation, colonial occupation, foreign domination and alien rule of la Republique du Cameroun.With determination and zeal members of the National Council of the SCNC, the highest governing body of the people’s vanguard liberation movement, from various parts of the territory assembled in patriotic spirits to deliberate on matters of national interest and adopt a road map for the way forward.

While the National Council was scheduled for July 27, the SCNC Youths had negotiated for a Memorial Mass and Thanksgiving to be held at the St. Theresia Catholic Cathedral Kumbo for the repose of the departed Souls next day Sunday July 28, 2013. This was approved and announced several times in the church. But the colonial administration prevailed and caused the church authorities to cancel the Mass at the 11th hour and the repressive forces were put on red alert to make sure that the Council meeting does not hold. Working in close collaboration with the proconsuls CPDM agents planted spies all over the town and beyond and anonymous phone calls were made to know the venue of the meeting.

It should however be recalled that on 1st Oct. 2012 in Buea, capital city of British Southern Cameroons, the colonial troops armed to the teeth arrested and brutalized SCNC Leaders and activists during a Mass at the Catholic Church Great Soppo, Buea. Indeed under the brutal reign of la Republique du Cameroun, it is the will of the proconsul and “the fear of the gendarme that is the beginning of wisdom” and not the fear of the Lord that reigns in the occupied land.

With Spartan determination and faith in the Living Lord who has ordained the restoration of the statehood of British Southern Cameroons, the leaders and activists gathered in Kumbo enthusiastically as redeemers of the Fatherland.

By mid-day when we had not gone far into the agenda, Ma MonicaKongnyuFokwen’s compound, venue of the meeting, which by law is private premises, was crudely invaded by heavily armed Gendarmes and Police. In their usual colonial tactic of divide and rule, their first target was the Chairman, but all assembled uncompromisingly offered themselves to be in chains with their leader.

After transporting those arrested to the Gendarmerie Company, the Brigade, and the Police station for detention, interrogation and psychological torture, they carried out the most crude and illegal search without a search warrant and in the absence of the owner of the compound. Threatening the teenage house-girl with guns and brutalization doors were kicked open and every room was ransacked and bags and boxes were looted and transported to their colonial offices.

LIFE IN DETENTION CAMPS

While it was not too raw at the Gendarmerie Company, it was hell at the Police and the Brigade detention camps. At the Brigade forty SCNC men and women one of whom, (Evelyn Angum) is pregnant, plus six found in the cell were detained in what could best be described as a modern Hitler-like gas chamber. Air tight without even a small hole for a fly or needle to pass through, the detainees soon found it difficult to breathe. Within an hour and half there was no more oxygen left in the cell. Battling for life and with heavy bangs on the door the authorities were forced to open the door and all inmates came out weak and looking frail like ghosts. Had they not acted fast, only corpses would have been carried out.

How such a detention cell exists in this modern age in occupied British Southern Cameroons clearly depicts the agony of British Southern Cameroonians under la Republique du Cameroun’s domination. Should this not call for international condemnation and investigation?

At the Police the SCNC detainees including a pregnant young lady, Pascaline Ndi, from Saturday to Monday evening without a charge let alone judged and condemned were kept incommunicado under life-threatening conditions.

In spite of all the psychological torture and provocation all the SCNC detainees respecting their philosophy of nonviolence displayed high spirit of discipline, maturity, determination, mission and integrity which defiled the arrogance of the colonial forces. It was the colonial forces that gave up their arrogance to mend fences with the people they set out to brutalise. All had good lessons to learn about the SCNC, its ordained mission and British Southern Cameroons while some charmed by British Southern Cameroons Anthem and numerous freedom songs could not help taping.

Confusion among the oppressors was self-evident as the hope of taking us either to the State Counsel or Court on Monday July 29 could not work. Finally by late evening we were moved to Kumbo Prison for further detention. Prison is la Republique du Cameroun’s flourishing industry in the Northern Zone of British Southern Cameroons for the mass unemployed youths where the dehumanized youths are decapitated and wasted away. Most painfully even teenagers detained or imprisoned for minor crimes are in same cells with hardened criminals and murderers.

This transfer to Prison detention ended the squalid detention of men and women in same rooms which lasted for three days.

But the saga of dehumanisation was not over. In Prison detention adults were parked like sardine in tiny bung beds. It was hell on earth all the same.

It is worth pointing out that many delegates from Counties of the Southern Zone, Menchum, Mezam, Ngoketunjia and Donga Mantung Counties arrived after the arrest of these eighty-three (83) compatriots.

SOLEMN APPEAL FOR THE RESPECT OF INTERNATIONAL INSTRUMENTS

It is sad to note that la Republique du Cameroun, signatory to the UN and AU Charters and other international instruments persistently and systematically violates the inherent and inalienable rights of the former UN Trust territory of British Southern Cameroons. Instead of engaging in the Constructive Dialogue under the good offices of the African Commission in conformity with the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) Ruling in Communication 266/2003 which declared British Southern Cameroonians a distinct people from citizens of la Republique du Cameroun, the Yaoundé annexationist government is only intensifying the militarization and subjugation of the peace-loving and law-abiding people of British Southern Cameroons.
In the January 2013 Human Rights Report on Cameroon,

“Amnesty International” in consonance with the UN and AU Charters and other international instruments in defense of human freedom, dignity, democracy and world peace based on justice “urges the Cameroonian government to reconsider its current position on the right of members of political and other organizations, including the SCNC, TO EXERCISE THEIR RIGHTS TO FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION, ASSOCIATION AND PEACEFUL ASSEMBLY. Such organizations that do not advocate or use violence should not be prohibited from exercising these rights solely on the grounds that their methods or objectives run counter to the policies of government. THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD STOP ARBITRARY ARRESTS, UNLAWFUL DETENTIONS AND ILLTREATMENT, AS WELL AS LIFT ALL RESTRICTIONS, ON SCNC MEMBERS.” (AI Report, p.26) (Emphasis, mine).

In view of the threat to peace and stability which la Republique du Cameroun’s imperial tactics pose for Africa, we call on the UN and democratic world to vehemently condemn la Republique du Cameroun’s annexation and domination of British Southern Cameroons and support the people’s inherent right to freedom and sovereign independence.

CONCLUSION

In defense of our rights to freedom, human equality and dignity, we take this opportunity to salute all defenders of human freedom and right to self-determination of all oppressed peoples who prayed and fought for our release.

Proud of the gallant Bui population who toiled day and night to feed us in detention, all SCNC activists and men and women of good will who assisted in various ways, we assure you that God from His bounty will generously reward you. Thank you for standing with victims of gross injustice.

While remaining grateful to God Almighty for sustaining us, we heartily congratulate the heroes and heroines of Kumbo for not bowing to the dictates of the colonizer. Victory is on the side of the faithful who in solidarity stand for a greater humanity based on divine will and world peace based on justice!

On Saturday August 3rd we were ushered out from our various prison detention cells at 5 a.m. for departure to Bamenda under Gendarme and Police escorts. It was at the Legion Up Station that we were set “free” in occupied British Southern Cameroons by the Legion Commander.

Done in Bamenda, this Monday August 05, 2013.

For the SCNC and British Southern Cameroonian people,

NFOR, NGALA NFOR,National Chairman (SCNC)

c.c.

H.E. BAN KI-MOON
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