The opposition is no longer considered a serious party of government in Cameroon and its risks becoming a permanent irrelevance, according to a former deputy general secretary of the presidency.
Next Sunday, October 9 will be another strong test for the opposition in Cameroon to see if its can pull off an unprecedented victory in the presidential election, clearing the way for the first time in the history of a change of direction in the governance.
Despite calls for civil disobedience from activists in exile in the Us, Uk, Belgium and France, around 7.5-9 millions of voters in Cameroon will not miss their Sunday service before heading to the thousands of polling station to make their choice.
Paul Biya warned Cameroon it was now facing a fresh and deep social contract crisis, but urged it to conjure up the calls for civil disobedience and election boycott and to show the world some fight. Fight against the spirit " of the devil of division"
For this time, the calls for civil disobedience that is normally the refusal by ordinary people in Cameroon to obey laws and pay taxes in order to protest about something or try to persuade the government to change its policies, will be against Paul Biya regime. Chief Mila Assoute, on of the presidential candidate disqualified by the government body in charge of the organisation of the presidential election, " Elecam", called Cameroon Elections, has called for a non-violent demonstration against Paul Biya and his " tyrannical rule". Bello Bouba, leader of the Undp and member of the coalition government has seen his influence in the Parliament largely reduced.
According to the former deputy general secretary for the presidency in Cameroon, Rene Owona, " the opposition uncertainty is the biggest threat to the implementation of the real democracy in Cameroon and leaders must have to bring internal change and accept leadership challenging before even starting to look at ways to bring more or recruit more and more members to their own political party".
This presidential election will become a proof that tyrannical rule will not be accepted indefinitely by oppressed public. Jean Jacques Ekindi, former " lion hunter" for ages is back to the Parliament with a single seat with one goal, to oust Mr Biya from the presidency. He will need a support of almost 200 Mps to win that battle.
Even thought the entire country will be on high alert according to internal sources close to the secret police and the Home Office, in order to avoid any disturbance, or hijacking movement by some " anarchists" mainly from opposition groups and even from the government strategic group of action according to some local newspapers, the government has decided to use to full force of the law to fight against any attack to the property or any demonstration on the streets.
Taking control of Cameroon in 1984 on a wave of popular support, Paul Biya promised to bring peace and reconciliation to a country divided after a failed plot to remove him from the power. 29 years on, Paul Biya merely tightened his grip on power and carried out a brutal suppression of any opposition to his rule and government.
Amid allegations of intimidation and torture, Paul Biya has been able to stifle any political opposition.In place in Cameroon there is a body of ruthless men to carry out Biya`s orders and the dirty one is done by military elite and the secret police is there to coordinate all the action leaving the opposition with a limited margin of manoeuvre and action.
The Cameroon people Union one the first opposition party created under the French domination and to become official has been dismantled.
The Social Democratic Front and the Southern Cameroon National Council have suffered the same, but with different level of official recognition and public support. Paul Biya has crushed anyone who defied him.
Adamu Ndam, former government minister has been sacked by Paul Biya and now in control of the city of Foumban, West-Cameroon as the mayor.
We see with Biya, and others leaders of the main political opposition parties the rise of the modern totalitarism despot who combined the growing appeal of nationalism with that of a new political ideology to bind the people to his wishes.
There is a real concern with these unrecognised, disorganised and uncoordinated calls for civil disobedience and a unconvinced creation of transitional government. These are not really different with what George Orwell, the English author and journalist said when he wrote " Power is not a means, It is an end. One does not establish a dictatorship in order to safeguard a revolution. One makes the revolution in order to establish the dictatorship"
But it is clear that growing discontent over Cameroon is driving social justice and the opposition lacks a tradition of strong democratic government, and retains a history of internal ethnic conflict. It is time now for the opposition in Cameroon to show a real fight for the future.
Next Sunday, October 9 will be another strong test for the opposition in Cameroon to see if its can pull off an unprecedented victory in the presidential election, clearing the way for the first time in the history of a change of direction in the governance.
Despite calls for civil disobedience from activists in exile in the Us, Uk, Belgium and France, around 7.5-9 millions of voters in Cameroon will not miss their Sunday service before heading to the thousands of polling station to make their choice.
For this time, the calls for civil disobedience that is normally the refusal by ordinary people in Cameroon to obey laws and pay taxes in order to protest about something or try to persuade the government to change its policies, will be against Paul Biya regime. Chief Mila Assoute, on of the presidential candidate disqualified by the government body in charge of the organisation of the presidential election, " Elecam", called Cameroon Elections, has called for a non-violent demonstration against Paul Biya and his " tyrannical rule". Bello Bouba, leader of the Undp and member of the coalition government has seen his influence in the Parliament largely reduced.
According to the former deputy general secretary for the presidency in Cameroon, Rene Owona, " the opposition uncertainty is the biggest threat to the implementation of the real democracy in Cameroon and leaders must have to bring internal change and accept leadership challenging before even starting to look at ways to bring more or recruit more and more members to their own political party".
Even thought the entire country will be on high alert according to internal sources close to the secret police and the Home Office, in order to avoid any disturbance, or hijacking movement by some " anarchists" mainly from opposition groups and even from the government strategic group of action according to some local newspapers, the government has decided to use to full force of the law to fight against any attack to the property or any demonstration on the streets.
Taking control of Cameroon in 1984 on a wave of popular support, Paul Biya promised to bring peace and reconciliation to a country divided after a failed plot to remove him from the power. 29 years on, Paul Biya merely tightened his grip on power and carried out a brutal suppression of any opposition to his rule and government.
Amid allegations of intimidation and torture, Paul Biya has been able to stifle any political opposition.In place in Cameroon there is a body of ruthless men to carry out Biya`s orders and the dirty one is done by military elite and the secret police is there to coordinate all the action leaving the opposition with a limited margin of manoeuvre and action.
The Social Democratic Front and the Southern Cameroon National Council have suffered the same, but with different level of official recognition and public support. Paul Biya has crushed anyone who defied him.
Adamu Ndam, former government minister has been sacked by Paul Biya and now in control of the city of Foumban, West-Cameroon as the mayor.
We see with Biya, and others leaders of the main political opposition parties the rise of the modern totalitarism despot who combined the growing appeal of nationalism with that of a new political ideology to bind the people to his wishes.
There is a real concern with these unrecognised, disorganised and uncoordinated calls for civil disobedience and a unconvinced creation of transitional government. These are not really different with what George Orwell, the English author and journalist said when he wrote " Power is not a means, It is an end. One does not establish a dictatorship in order to safeguard a revolution. One makes the revolution in order to establish the dictatorship"
But it is clear that growing discontent over Cameroon is driving social justice and the opposition lacks a tradition of strong democratic government, and retains a history of internal ethnic conflict. It is time now for the opposition in Cameroon to show a real fight for the future.
No comments:
Post a Comment