50 years ago on October 01, 1961, reunification of the territories of the former pre-1911 German Kamerun was realized (though partially) despite the odds (France's war against Cameroonian Nationalism that would eventually culminate in the deaths of hundreds of thousands of genuine Cameroonian souls). And the sector of Cameroon that eventually made that possible are unhappy about the treatment they have been receiving in the hands of the system put in place by France--- a system that is stifling the realization of the collective Cameroonian dream in general and the aspirations of English-speaking Cameroon in particular.
Anglophones in their different shades and in their overwhelming majority reject the Biya regime and agonize over the French-imposed system, just as the majority of their Francophone counterparts or the majority in all of Cameron's ethnic groups. But we as advocates of change in the Diaspora have failed to sell a collective idea to all the advocates of change (in the different regions, ethnic groups, religions and tribes) who see either the Biya regime or the system in general as a problem; we have failed to extend cooperation to all the forces for change; and we have failed to recognize the significance of our history as the ultimate determinant of Cameroon's current state and as a major tool that can be used in weaving together the forces that are for a NEW CAMEROON.
It is obvious that those contesting the masquerade called elections in Cameroon are posing as the biggest obstacles to change at the moment. They are helping to validate the fraud, deception and mockery against the Cameroonian masses by the Biya regime and the French-imposed system that has created the most efficient election-rigging machinery the world has even seen.
Still the shortcomings of the October 01, 2011 manifestations in Washington DC should serve as an eye-opener, a wake-up call. We want change but we have not yet harmonized our different desires for change. We still view anybody who does not support our particular idea of change as an enemy or opponent. While we view the Biya regime and the French-imposed system as the ultimate enemy, we even consider those who do not support but sympathize with our plights as enemies too. That is ludicrous.
October 10, 2011 will be the Dawn of the Fourth Phase of the Cameroonian struggle. This phase will end either with the salvation or the doom of our potentially great nation. Cameroon shall never be saved when we continue thinking tribal, ethnic, regional or linguistic. We can not found the NEW CAMEROON by ostracizing, ignoring and demonizing some of Cameroon’s ethnic groups, religions, and social groupings.We need to tap on the strengths and opportunities of every Cameroonian individual or group and help them overcome their weaknesses in order to establish a harmonious cooperation of forces for change. We need to plan in advance, organize, build alliances, win the world media on to our side, tap on the goodwill of world opinion and create a national ideal that every Cameroonian group can identify with. That way, any public manifestation will be taken seriously by every group of Cameroonians, and the final push for change would be a collective and overwhelming Cameroonian revolution that would take the six-decade-old yoke of oppression off our necks.
That would be possible only if we stop thinking tribal, ethnic and selfish, believing that we can benefit by excluding other groups from contributing or sharing in Cameroon's freedom, development, and prosperity.
October 03, 2011 Janvier Tchouteu-Chando
English speaking Cameroon does not need a messiah because she is not in bondage. There are idiots who claim to advocate for a free English speaking Cameroon, we all know their intentions, selfish ones of course. Both parts of Cameroon since their reunification have had no problem all these years they have lived as brothers. I wonder how people can claim to free others who in effect are free.
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