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PRESS RELEASE No. 5
In order to avoid any misunderstanding about the present political atmosphere in Cameroon and put things in their correct perspective, l, as founder of the Social Democratic Front will wish to put the following facts in their true perspective for the following reasons:
- It is quite clear from the activities of the Government since the programme for launching the SDF was published and after the peaceful launching of the Party that the Government is out to eliminate me and the SDF.
- It is quite clear that my life is at stake - a military helicopter today 30/05/90 circled my house and office several time at about 11 a.m. obviously for ulterior motives.
- The government is using the official media paid for by the tax payer including myself to mount up a campaign of calumny and character assassination against me and to distort the objects for which the SDF was founded.
- The government through the media in its control is carrying out a steady campaign of calumny and lies against North Westerners and Anglophones perhaps to prepare the ground for their systematic elimination.
- The government has given strict instructions to the official media and to the censorship board set up all over the country that nothing good should be said about me and the SDF. All these negative, even lies should be widely published against the SDF.
Therefore, have no doubt that this communique will never be regularly published by the Cameroon media controlled by the government but l will like to put down the following facts in order to correct the wrong impression being given by the government and its agents about the SDF and challenge any paper or other media in Cameroon to publish it.
- The application of the SDF was accompanied by its constitution in two copies and the list of responsible officers of SDF. If the one that the Minister of Territorial Administration saw had no annextures, these must have been deliberately removed by the Prefect of Mezam with whom the application was lodged or by another person in the Administration before it got to the Honourable Minister who clearly states he never saw the annextures. In any event, the Honourable Minister never replied to complain the application was incomplete.
- The SDF was never founded as a tribal party or tribal movement. It has supporters all over the country and the only way to prove this is for the government to democratise the system, call free elections and allow the SDF to prove that it is a national party.
- Contrary to what has been announced over Radio Cameroon and in the National Papers, l have never escaped to any place. Neither the SDF nor myself have anything to do with Nigeria.
- The Nigerian Anthem is unknown to me and has never been sung at any SDF rallies. There is no reason to sing any other anthem at the SDF rallies except the Cameroon National Anthem.
- The SDF does not stand for secession. Its constitution deposited with the government clearly states that the SDF stands for national integration of Cameroon, democratisation and an equitable distribution of the national resources, jobs etc. The SDF stands for practicing multi-party democracy in Cameroon not just talking about it in passing.
- The elites of the North West Province alleged to be from Douala who condemned SDF as published in the national media are no elites. ATANGA NJI Paul who signed first is a well known criminal now serving a sentence in Douala prison.
- The SDF applied for Police protection during the rally and this was refused. The Telex of the Head of State to the effect that if SDF insisted on the rally, the population should be allowed to go ahead, there should be no violence or use of arms was communicated only over the CRTV in one of the news items after the rally. The instructions of the Head of State were ignored and lives were lost through shooting and none of the SDF participants had any weapons.
The present attempt to intoxicate public opinion and the population with lies deliberately told by the government agents to discredit me and the SDF is regrettable.
The launching of the SDF in Bamenda passed on very peacefully, the SDF preached peace at its rally and the SDF stands for peace. The violence that led to loss of lives almost four hours after the SDF had been launched was the responsibility of those who armed their forces to come and confront armless civilians.
The campaign of lies and calumny against me and the SDF will continue seemingly in order to discredit me and the SDF and eliminate me after the minds of the people would have been poisoned against me and the SDF.
If the government is sincere and interested in peace, let it democratise, allow free elections on a multiparty basis and ensure by so doing that those who now shower encomiums on the government really support it.
The President of the Republic of Cameroon is a God fearing Christian who has welcomed the Pope in Cameroon, allowed freedom of worship, actively encourage religious activities but it appears he is deliberately misinformed about me, the SDF and its intentions.
Had he been accurately informed, he would have not sent armed gendarmes to come and confront unarmed civilians who were out to carry out a peaceful political rally in support of the SDF and by so doing allow six people to be shot to death many others injured on the 26/05/90 at Bamenda.
All avenues for dialogue seem to be blocked by the present machination of government agents and the use of force is preferred. The SDF completely disassociates itself from any violence and stands for peaceful evolution and change when need arises as is the case now.
The Governor, S.D.O., etc. know my residence and address and yet no one has ever bothered to hold any discussions with me on behalf of the SDF. They have chosen the path of intimidation, violence, tendencies propaganda, character assassination and have avoided dialogue which is what the SDF stands for.
Such attitude portrays the government unfortunately as not being willing to discuss issues and discussion rather than confrontation and use of force is one of the cornerstones of democracy.
The SDF looks forward to the birth of multi-party democracy in Cameroon.
Made at Bamenda, this 31st May, 1990.
NI John FRU NDI
For and on Behalf of the Front
The end
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