Immigration: " Deportation and Removal first, appeal later..."

The Home Secretary´s hostile immigration bill published on Thursday 10 October 2013 will enforce the government`s moves to curb access in the UK for illegal migrants and immigrants.

 Theresa May (in picture) is creating a really hostile environment for illegal immigrants and migrants. The bill on the immigration and asylum procedure is introducing the " deport first, appeal later" policy for thousands illegal immigrants and migrants facing removal or deportation from the UK and who face no " risk of serious irreversible harm" from being sent back home. Jamaica, Nigeria, Cameroon, Ghana and many more are on the Home Office list of countries with " no risk".

On this policy, the Home Office would like to reduce the ground for appeal from 17 to 4. Those " failed asylum seekers" or  who asylum application has being refused "or being detained under the Immigration Act 1971 around the 10 Immigration Removal Centre around the country will have less chance to fight for their right to remain" legally" in the country.

Theresa May to explain her new bill at the Commons

 The bill also restrict the ability of immigration detainee to apply repeatedly for bail if they have already been refused it. 

The Home Office will create a stronger guidance for the Courts on the use of human rights laws to prevent deportation or removal from the country. 

Asylum seekers will not longer be able to apply for provisional driving licence under the new bill and even use their Asylum Registration Card (ARC) to open a simple bank account. The Home Secretary will have to explain in the House of Commons her bill and also how an illegal immigrant deported or removed from the UK will have the right to appeal from outside the country with an effect on public money as well.

 McCallum, Immigration lawyer based in Glasgow said " The Home Office always forget that people in immigration removal centre around the country can and have access to the European Court of Human Rights document and can easily use them in order to stop any legal action being taken against them in the country. It will be another long battle and time waiting for the government and a slightly gain for the illegal immigrant in detention.."

 Jock, one of  Glasgow Campaign to Welcome Refugees` chairperson believes that " there is always a way to be engaged and acted in coordination with our legal team and experts on immigration law to help those in need and members of our organisation. We have to defeat any action  taken by the Conservatives". 

This bill will lead to a real risk of a widespread discrimination warned Margaret Woods, chairwoman of Glasgow Campaign to Welcome Refugees.

Under the same bill, power have been given to the Immigration and Police Officers to use the " stop and search" power at certain location where intelligence has been provided.

General elections: Cameroon opposition turns their weapons on one another

The coalition of rebel groups within the main political party and the opposition fighting to remove Paul BIYA from power has always been a loose one. Its has been held together by the hatred of common enemy.

The rag-tag group is  made up of brigades and battalions, each with different ideologies and visions for what a future Cameroon will look like from radical traditionalists fighting any kind of international intervention to secular nationalists in  favour of real democracy with the departure of Biya and his inner circle of close friends.

With such unassailable visions it was perhaps inevitable that these groups would eventually fight each other. That moment appears to have arrived and the opposition has now turned their weapons on each other. 

Hafis Ruefli for a stronger and United Cameroon

On September 30, 2013 more than 5.1 million of registered Cameroonians on a real potential of more than 12 million will decide on who to represent them in the parliament and in councils around the country. 

There are 180 seats for the parliament and more than 320 positions for the councils. Biyas administration has been involved in a bitter row over his plans to overhaul the party's links with businesses. There is still time to chance all that within an united vision from the opposition. The most immediate effect will be a weakening of the coalition where rebels inside parties are battling against each other.

Britain and Us have been forthcoming in expressing their desire to support moderate elements in Cameroon, but have been constrained by fear that any military equipment they send might easily been used to crack down political opponents and abuse human rights.

A national convention including the RDPC must be formed after the September 30 general election to offer " Cameroonians" the chance to decide their future as part of the Central of Africa. If the coalition of rebel groups wins the election, the RDPC and his coalition partners should see a National convention as a constructive way to decide on the country's future, Hafis Ruefli leader of the CCC and also seen as the " candidate president" in waiting  is proposing.

 Hafis thinks that " after 23 years of divided opposition now is the time to consciously ask deeper questions about who we are, what we want for future generations and what kind of nation we want to be". He will say in a  major speech that the convention he advocates could set out the path of Cameroon for the next 10 years.

Biya needs to stand up for what he really believes in

The politically motivated arrest of some public figures who may have diverted CFA billions of public funds for their own selfish personal interest was a humiliation for the Cameroon most conservative political party. 

It is a humiliation for Paul Biya as the leader of the party. It is so disastrous that party spokespeople are not even pretending there are silver linings in their dark clouds of despair.

Paul Biya still enjoying public support while deceiving voters

 The question now is whether the leadership is learning the lessons of this crushing humiliation. If it fails to do so, then some voters may have to rethink twice before making their choice.
Since the launch of the politically and directly motived and orientated " Sparrow Hawk Operation" under the scrutiny and pressure of the International Community, the government has failed to provided any official figure about how much have been saved by the country in terms of recovering these CFA billions of public funds diverted by his own acolytes. Nothing has being said and government ministers when facing journalists always avoid to mention the subject or simply hide the so called " the respect of the independence of the judiciary system".

 Annoyed and angry voters have to term by just saying " The conservatives failed here because traditional CPDM voters look at Paul Biya and they ask themselves, Is he a conservative? and they conclude No he`s not". Strategically and politically motivated, youngest contenders of Biya`s leadership have been jailed for embezzlement of CFA billions of public funds under the " Sparrow Hawk Operation" and before by his own political cleansing of any declared challenger of his leadership.

Paul Nana, a Human Rights activist for more transparency said "Cameroonians have no idea where the money is and the country is going through some financial difficulties and economic crisis where the Banks still enjoy having CFA billions in cash in their treasury and not lending enough to customers"

There is a tendency in politics to get overexcited by the drama of events that rapidly fade into the distance.  Voters protest against governing party at every single arrest of a public figure. As one influential Conservative    told me last week, the party " Cameroon People Democratic Movement" is not just fighting to win the next general election but for survival in a volatile world.

Right-wingers from inside the party protested that, under Mr Biya the party had lost its rapport with its natural supporters over such issues as the Sparrow Hawk Operation, Youth unemployment, Economy recovery and financial boost for small businesses . He is out of touch with the party and his own people, said former Education minister, Prof Joseph Owona.

Paul Biya needs to offer voters authenticity, competence and consistency, which means being true to himself as an optimistic modern Conservative rather than listening to siren voices of the misanthropic right and undecided centre left opposition leaders. 

If voters want the opposition, they choose the real thing. It is time for the Conservative to focus on the electorate`s daily concerns above all, the economy, but also the cost of living, housing shortage, the greedy behaviours of some bankers and salvaging the education and health system.

We know now the opposition cannot be written off and will still be in the game. Indeed they might well still hold the balance of power in a next general election. There`s a long way to go yet, but i wouldn`t bet against it.

Mr Biya had a sensible strategy that united the party at the last party`conference in Yaounde couple of months ago since. Biya must face the future and not the past, governing in the name of the hard-pressed majority rather than seeking to win over a shrill disaffected minority.

12.5 million people are living in extreme poverty in Cameroon

Some 12.5 million people, including 5 million children are living in poverty in Cameroon, an independent compiled report claims this week.

The independent report to be made public and commissioned  by several different church groups and non governmental organisations working with children and disadvantaged people around the country, says evidence and statistics have been misused, misrepresented and manipulated by politicians to create myths that blame and stigmatise the most vulnerable in society.

" It would be comfortable for many if we live in a society where poverty only visited families that were lazy or made bad decisions" said Jean Bosco Talla, one of the author of the report. " That is the story these myths lead us to believe, but that`s not the Cameroon we live in today. It`s convenient to believe that government handouts are too generous. It`s convenient to believe that job seekers, unemployed, self-employed, pensioners and farmers are on the fiddle or even more absurdly caused our economic troubles. But it`s just not true"   

Aliou Salim`s story, included in the report is typical. A long standing Biya`s supporter from the Far North in Cameroon in Mora for over 20 years and father of four struggles to find money to send his children at the only public school in the area. 

There is no public funding or even government grant available for him and his family as nothing in the actual budget has been planned for it.

 In the same time down South the border, bonkers and greedy public officials are diverting CFA tens of thousands million of public funds. People like Aliou have lost total confidence and trust in the  government and now only rely on private donations from foreigners. Thousands of children don`t have access to a simple free public school. In the Northern part of the country most of these children spent more of their valuable time learning from their parent`s aptitude as farmers and labourers.

Pr Akam, coordinator of the report warms " The very least the most vulnerable in our society deserve is to be spoken of truthfully and with respect. Anything less is to be complicit in a great injustice". Once against the government is failing to provide simple basic and primarily necessity to his own vulnerable people.

Biya keeps Yang in spite of.....

Paul Biya declared last week that Philemon Yang will continue to be his Head of the Government at the 2013 General Election.

The National Chairman of the Cameroon People Democratic Movement ( CPDM) and Head of State spoke out according to an insider after rumours Mr Yang could be ditched.

The ruling party insiders had suggested Nkwelle Ekaney High Commissioner in the United Kingdom and Anu`a-Gheyle Solomon Azo-Mbi, High Commissioner in Canada could be drafted in to boost the party`s economic credibility. While Joseph Bienvenu Charles Foe, the High Commissioner in the Us to succeed Yang will be a bad choice, some insiders think.

Pals of Mr Yang warned according to some reports last week that he would not accept another job in Biya`s regime if sacked. 

Mr Biya finally ended the speculation couple days ago by insisting he had no plans to axe Mr Yang.

Asked if he would be the Head of the Government at the next General Election, he told the CRTV; " There is no doubt and absolutely, we have said that we will go  into the next  general election as a team in spite of growing rumours. He (Paul Biya) is doing a great job for the social and political stability of the whole country  and not only for a group of friends as usually and continually reported by some sensational media..."

Paul Biya: We are failing

Paul Biya will launch his most blistering internal attack yet on what it said could be called the " New CPDM" in a keynote speech that is being prepared by some of his closest advisers in time of crisis.

The undisputed leader of the Cameroon People Democratic Movement (CPDM) and variously challenged within the party leadership is to claim successive government teams failed to change the economy to help millions of hard-working families and children. 

A presidential circular shall be communicated as usual to all members of the government and Biya will vow once again to end the scandal that sees nearly half of the population stuck in an extreme poverty.

He will also blast the New CPDM`s bids to woo the economic capital city, Douala, including Pr Maurice Kamto`s claim he was " intensely relaxed about some groups of people getting filthy rich while millions continue to sink deeply into the severe poverty".

Paul Biya: More needs to be done and we are working on it....

Biya will say " Our party did not do enough to bring about structural change in our economy to make it work for the many, not the few, and much remains to  be done and perfect.."

He will also tell the party`s central committee " Our future success can`t be built on allowing a few at the top to flourish and retrying to redistribute the rewards of their efforts..."

Paul Biya and his successive government teams are failing to deliver what they promised in their manifesto long time ago and they are playing on a field where the entire opposition is lacking real alternatives.

Frail Biya in a rare first hint of a successor

Cameroon`s President Paul Biya was due to return to the Research Foundation of Cardiology University of Geneva, department of Cardiology  couple weeks  ago as an outpatient for more scrutiny and an exploratory surgery to his heart about a recurrence of severe fatigue.

It is said that last week, sustaining a black out during a meeting with close senior government ministers led him to name a successor for the first time, in a sign that the disease may force and end his 30 year reign.

Fears Paul Biya is showing sign of serious and severe fatigue are growing inside his own inner circle of friends and close collaborators.

Biya had considerably reduced his public appearance and the message from the Prime Minister`s office is " comfortable and in good spirits" is the " boss" and " any unofficial statement about the state of the Head of State`s health would only as usual be a machiavellian rumour".

The entire government is under pressure to keep quiet about the " boss"`s health situation. It has always been the rule and millions of supporters have been kept without accurate information regarding his health, a matter of " high level of national security".....

Even though Biya on his private holidays most of the time in Geneva usually undergo routine tests about his heart condition and the level of his blood pressure, blood sugar, heartbeat and show signs of being in good spirits, nowadays he is getting actively reduced.

Unnamed relative last week revealed in a private conversation " our brother-in-law is showing signs of severe fatigue and has even reduced some family`s activities around the house.."

The 79 year old communist-liberal leader made what it looks like a surprised announcement to his inner circle of the army general`s council.from the Presidential Palace.

In the clearest indicator yet that health problems could spell and end his tumultuous 30 years in power, Mr Biya it is suggested, may have said that  party members and sympathisers should show their full support to the secretive and most reserved Ayang Luc,( pictured greeting President Paul Biya) the  incumbent President of the Social Affairs and Economics Council  , if a new election had to be held..