Firstly, may I on behalf of the annexed and oppressed people of Southern Cameroons, widows, orphans and the amputees, all victims of la Republique du Cameroun brutal repression and impunities, sincerely thank you all for honouring our invitation at such short notice. We are indeed grateful.
Special thanks go to Av. Francesco Tartini who has made it possible for me to have this audience with you. May this be the beginning of long term mutual cooperation ties between our two peoples and nations, all free and equal.
The people of Southern Cameroons, a former UN Trust territory under UK Administration, are victims of annexation and colonial occupation by neighbouring la Republique du Cameroun, itself a former UN Trust under French Administration. The Southern Cameroons may be on record the only UN Trust annexed and colonised by another former trust that attained independence in conformity with Art. 76(b) of the UN Charter. Southern Cameroons in West Africa, annexed by its neighbour is a victim of neo-apartheid.
British Southern Cameroons attained self government in 1954 inheriting British system of parliamentary democracy, the rule of law, clear separation of powers, devolution of powers, respect and defence of fundamental human rights and freedoms, among other core values of good governance. Between 1954 and 1961, free and transparent elections were held and in evidence of a blooming democratic culture, in 1959 there was peaceful transfer of power from the ruling party that lost in the general elections to the opposition that won the elections. The two chamber legislature functioned well and socio economic development attained greater heights.
Also noteworthy is the fact that the struggle for independence in Southern Cameroons was peaceful. Within this period Southern Cameroons attained all the characteristics of nationhood, thanks to its state, political, judicial, and socio-economic institutions and participation of its respective two Prime Ministers at international fora, including the UN, where they respectively defended the legitimate aspirations of their people in consonance with international law and obligations.
Most unfortunately and incredibly, instead of granting sovereign independence to Southern Cameroons in 1961, “independence by joining” either Nigeria or la Republique du Cameroun was imposed. In spite of legitimate pleas for a third option by the Government of Southern Cameroons, this inherent and inalienable right to self determination was bluntly denied. Thus in violation of Art. 76(b) of the UN Charter and UNGA Resolution 1514 of 1960, the full measure of the right to self determination was denied the people.
To further complicate matters for the people, the UN failed to implement UNGA Resolution 1608 of April 21, 1961 whose purpose, following the UN Plebiscite, was to form a two state federation equal in status between Southern Cameroons and la Republique du Cameroun. This UN-envisioned nation, as it is conventional with all unions, was given a distinct name, vis, the Federal United Cameroon Republic.
The failure of the UN to implement this famous Resolution 1608 which should have produced a federal constitution and Union Treaty, coupled with UK’s sudden withdrawal of its administrative, security and defence personnel, facilitated the annexation and colonial occupation of the territory by la Republique du Cameroun. The Southern Cameroons problem has its genesis in the botched decolonisation process of 1961. This has been agravated by the evident consequencies of annexation, colonisation, assimilation and persistent brutal repression.
Determined to reduce the Southern Cameroons into an integral part of its territory, by Presidential decrees all Southern Cameroons state and political institutions were abolished while socio-economic infrastructures were simply either closed down or assimilated into those of la Republique du Cameroun. Southern Cameroons ceased to exist as a distinct territorial entity as it was balkanised into two provinces of la Republique territory. They are ruled by francophone proconsuls backed by an army of occupation. To nip resistance in the burd, this army of occupation conducts periodic raids, (kale-kales), arrest arbitrarily, torture mercilessly, murder with impunity, loot, rape and destroy what they cant carry. Even ordinary farmers and students on peaceful protests making legitimate demands are not free from this organised state terrorism.
The situation is fast becoming explosive if the right step is not taken to rid Africa of another inevitable human catastrophy as happened in Rwanda.
The mission of the SCNC Nonviolent struggle is to enable Southern Cameroonians within the confines of international law regain their right to self determination and restore their statehood. We believe in human equality and dignity. We love humanity. Our faith in the international system as the guarantor of peaceful co-existence and cooperation among peoples and nations is still firm. But we know, out of bitter experience, that man loses his self worth and dignity once he is in chains.
We also believe the best way to resolve conflict is by dialogue for it strengthens understanding and builds enduring peace and grounds for sustainable development.
Within the ambit of international law, Southern Cameroonians are determined to regain their rightful political space by restoring their statehood within the Anglo-French and Anglo-German boundary treaties and UN Trusteeship Agreement. We are seeking external self determination in fulfillment of UN Charter Art. 76(b) and UN GA Resolution 1514 of 1960 which declared independence for all dependent territories mandatory and an unquestionable right to enable the people shape their destiny and enjoy complete freedom. Our stand is in conformity with Art. 4(b) of the AU Constitutive Act and Charter of the ACHPR.
Committed to Nonviolence, Southern Cameroons under the SCNC and SCAPO sued la Republique du Cameroun for aggression, annexation, occupation and gross violation of their human and people’s rights in the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) in The Gambia. In its ruling in July 2009 approved by the AU Summit, the Commission declared Southern Cameroonians, “a people”, distinct from the people of la Republique du Cameroun, thus entitled to the enjoyment and exercise of all the rights due a people under international law. The Commission, among others, recommended the holding of CONSTRUCTIVE DIALOGUE to resolve the political conflict and offered its good offices to mediate.
Southern Cameroons leaders, faithful to their mission and commitment, declared their readiness for the Constructive Dialogue. Our declaration was communicated to Yaounde by the Commission. But Yaounde instead of respecting the Charters of the ACHPR and AU and honouring its obligations under international law of which it is signatory, is intensifying its military occupation by terrorising, arresting, torturing and murdering peace loving and law abiding Southern Cameroonians.
We believe in the effective transforming and mobilising power of the press. We believe in the invulnerability of mobilised public opinion against evil and injustice against a people by another. We believe in building bridges across nations and cultures. We believe in human equality, human dignity and common humanity. This explains our total and unconditional rejection of annexation, colonialism in all its forms and manifestations; foreign rule and alien domination of one people by another. Self determination and democracy must be seen and upheld as the inseparable twin partners of world peace, justice, human dignity and human progress.
We firmly believe through you here seated we can reach the entire Italian press core, human rights defenders and advocates, defenders of the right to self determination and global democracy-foundation of world peace, Italian politicians and statesmen and with your irrevocable stand and support arouse their collective conscience against the annexation and colonial occupation of Southern Cameroons by la Republique du Cameroun. Has the UN not declared annexation a crime against humanity and threat to world peace? How then can you be indifferent to this world monster?
Positive action from you, the Italian people and authorities within the EU and UN will be a logical contribution towards building a better world free of conflicts, wars, genocide and unbearable human suffering. In this positive action we plead with you to treat our nationals in your land as law-abiding, peace-loving citizens who have escaped from persecution and taken refuge in your free country. As a stateless people they are entitled to protection under international law.
Our appeal to you, Italian authorities and international community, at large, is legitimate for no occupied and oppressed people ever freed themselves without external support. Cognisant of this fact we salute the vision that led Italy and EU to recognise the right to sovereign independence of Estonia, Latvia, among others, once dominated by the defunct USSR and pray that equal measure of support and recognition be granted to Southern Cameroons.
In conclusion, we pray you to campaign for pressure to be mounted on la Republique du Cameroun to;
1) Release Simon Ngek and his colleagues who were kidnapped to Yaounde in 1997, tried in French by a kangaroo military tribunal under Napoleonic law and sentenced arbitrarily to various terms.
2) Put an end to persistent pro-longed adjournments of frivolous cases against SCNC leaders and activists for want of prosecution witnesses (the gun totting gendarmes) such as the one against Chief Ayamba et al in Tiko.
3) Put an end to organised state terrorism, arbitrary arrest, torture and constant extra-judicial killings of Southern Cameroonians to instill the reign of fear inorder to maintain colonial rule.
4) Understand that under international law Southern Cameroonians have full rights to meet freely and discuss matters that concern their destiny, thus the SCNC should no longer be treated as an illegal organisation.
5) Respect the AU Charter and international obligations and submit to the Constructive Dialogue in the interest of democracy, peace and justice in the sub region.
Thanks in advance for your support for the Southern Cameroons inalienable right to national self determination.
Thank you for your kind attention.
Montebelluna, TREVISO, June 07, 2010, by NFOR NGALA NFOR, National Vice Chairman, SCNC.
