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DECLARATION
Since the 1st March, 1996, and following the appointment of Government Delegates to head Urban Councils with Special Status, most of which were won by Opposition Parties, especially the Social Democratic Front (SDF), Mr. Paul BIYA and his regime decided to use the army to fight the peace loving people of Cameroon who have rejected these undemocratic appointments and are manifesting their discontent through peaceful demonstrations.
People have died in Limbe, Douala, Garoua and Kumba. People have been arbitrarily arrested and detained in Mbanga, Nkongsamba, Douala and Limbe. Political activities of the SDF have been suspended in Bafoussam. Recently, Ghost Towns have returned in Bamenda, Limbe, Kumba and Garoua. In fact, the rest of the country is gearing up towards the resumption of civil disobedience in protest against this flagrant subversion of the democratic process in our country by the regime. This account is neither exhaustive nor definitive.
Urban Councils with Special Status were extended to Kumba, Limbe, Bafoussam, Ebolowa and Garoua since 1993. Yet, the Biya regime did not find it necessary to appoint Government Delegates in these Councils because they were headed by CPDM Mayors. The regime has now turned around to appoint CPDM militants as Government Delegates in these Councils most of which were won by the Opposition and especially the SDF, in total disregard of the Constitution, popular opinion and democratic principles.
In effect, when the decree in question was signed, the Opposition petitioned the Supreme Court to nullify it for its illegality in extending the Special Status to other Councils, other than those in Yaounde, Bamenda, Douala and Nkongsamba. The Supreme Court is still to decide the matter.
Moreover, Article 55 of the new Constitution of Cameroon promulgated on the 18th January, 1996, stipulates that regional and local authorities, which include councils, shall be administered by elected Councilors and not by appointed persons. Yet, Mr. Biya has by decree, placed at the head of the Councils, staunch militants of his party, the CPDM.
When in May 1991, the Cameroonian people under the leadership of the SDF called for Democracy, Freedom and a Sovereign National Conference, Mr. Biya said that these requests were "sans objet".
On each of these occasions Mr. Biya either violated the law, trampled on the popular opinion of the Cameroonian People or used the army against them. On each of these occasions, there has always been destruction of property, loss of life, contempt of the people and violation of the laws of the land.
In 1992, Mr. Biya was defeated in the presidential elections despite the massive fraud orchestrated by the Ministry of Territorial Administration.
The Biya regime has just lost the 21st January, 1996, Municipal elections despite the arbitrary use of the administrative machinery, the confiscation of the forces of law and order, the use of public media to intimidate the electorate and the falsification of the results and the massive rigging.
In 1996, like in 1992, he has used the army to suppress the popular revendication of the SDF stolen victory.
In Both 1992 and 1996, people have died, others have been wounded, there has been destruction of property and people have been arbitrarily arrested, tortured and detained.
Mr. Biya has diverted the army from its traditional role of defence of the national territory, the people and their property to one of repression of unarmed Cameroonians. In fact, Mr. Biya has not only used the army in place of the Police and the Gendarmerie to maintain law and order in the cities, but has also converted the military into a militia of his fascist CPDM Party.
This behaviour of Mr. Biya and his collaborators is a clear illustration of the fact that there is no democracy in Cameroon. Each election organised by Mr. Biya is an occasion for him to wage war against the Opposition and provoke the people of Cameroon. Like all fascists, Mr. Biya wants to provoke civil war after having squandered the national wealth, compromised national unity by setting tribe against tribe and facilitated the deepening and extension of the prevailing economic crisis.
At the same time while acting in this manner internally, he has provoked a war externally, which he knows he has neither the means nor the will to prosecute. This clearly shows that Mr. Biya and his regime are not there to serve the Fatherland.
The SDF has earlier predicted what now befalls Cameroon. Recently in Douala the SDF through the voice of its National Chairman, declared that Mr. Biya was preparing a war of repression against the people of Cameroon during the Council elections.
The Chairman, on that occasion, called on the Army Generals to take their responsibilities, for "ENOUGH IS ENOUGH".
That is why the SDF, which represents the political aspirations of the Cameroonian People, has always taken and continues to take its responsibilities.
CONSEQUENTLY,
- The SDF will not allow Government Delegates in any of its Councils. In all these Councils, democracy and the respect of the Constitution must prevail.
- Mr. Biya has manifested his diabolical intention to dissolve SDF councils, in order to continue to subjugate and impoverish the Cameroonian people, let him go ahead. The entire world will witness the fact that he is neither a democrat, nor a patriot. He is simply a dictator.
- All people violently suppressed by a fascist regime have the right to self defence. This right is stipulated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Articles 21 and 30, which has been ratified by Cameroon. The SDF calls on the Cameroonian People to prepare itself to act against an oppressive regime which has not only rendered them miserable, but has blocked the democratic process in Cameroon, through unconstitutional texts.
Since there can be no question falling in the trap of Mr. Biya to transform Cameroon into Rwanda, Burundi, Somalia, Liberia or Bosnia, the people's struggle shall be peaceful, democratic, permanent and nation wide.
The elected Councilors of the SDF are thus called upon to concern themselves with the welfare of the people. They must have nothing to do with Government Delegates, who represent only the interest of Mr. Biya and his regime. They must be isolated.
Faced with the Bakassi conflict, coupled with the war which the Biya regime is waging against the people of Cameroon, as well as the economic crisis and misery, weighing heavily on our people, Cameroonians should hence forth avoid unnecessary expenses on the one hand and on the other hand, ensure that they have adequate stocks of household necessities, accelerate under the leadership of the SDF and other forces of democracy and progress, the institution of solidarity groups and development committees in quarters and villages. They should handle food supply, health, sanitation, the fight against armed robbery, and the provision of basic education for the youths.
In this context the banks are encouraged to review and re-adapt their policies in order to face the political, social and military disorders which the Biya regime has brought to the nation.
Furthermore, the SDF calls on the people of Cameroon to observe the 15th and 29th April, 1996, as National Days of Democracy.
There shall be no rejoicing on the part of SDF members and the suffering people of Cameroon. There shall be no participation in the activities of 20th May, because the Fatherland mourns its dead of Bakassi and the democratic struggle.
When the people follow these directives, they will not be taken unawares by the chaos which Mr. Biya and his regime are preparing and getting ready to unleash on Cameroonians at short notice.
Done at Bamenda, 11th March, 1996.
NI John FRU NDI
NATIONAL CHAIRMAN
The end
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