:::Cameroonians Boycott the 2016 Africa Women Cup of Nations:::

The “Common Law Lawyers” of Cameroon are still maintaining their position, a position that calls for change, a practical change that aims at keeping the history of Anglo-Saxon institutions in Cameroon intact, a change that is aimed at bettering the lives of Anglophones in Cameroon!

Gradually, well-read Newspapers have decided to make the struggles of the Common Law Lawyers available to the public; at the national level and to those in the diaspora too.

 Moreover the Supreme court judge, calls on all Cameroonians to boycott the 2016 Africa Women cup of Nations, which is gradually taking place in Cameroon. Teachers, Students, Clergies etc. are called upon to join this movement, in other to effect “change.”

TheTeachers Trade Union Leaders, have also decided to call off their talks with government officials , which was suppose to take place on Friday in Yaounde.

The Common Law lawyers are TOTALLY AGAINST the unchecked excesses of the administration which qualifies as the marginalization of Anglophones, particularly under the guise of regional integration:

-          - The continuous hijacking, disregard and contempt for the English Common Law system by La Republique

-        -  The complete gradual eradication of the Anglo-Saxon educational system amongst other major acts of assimilation and discrimination

-          - Non-respect for the fundamental enactments enshrined in the Constitution as to the bilingual, bi-jural and bicultural state of Cameroon as agreed upon federation.

Demonstrations in Bamenda were peaceful but at one point, gendarmes who had been trailing the protesters decided to disrupt the crowd by shooting countless teargas cartridges in a bid to silence the lawyers and disperse the supporting and cheering crowds. The situation was far worse in Buea. Undemocratic measures were put in place with the use of the police and the military force to disperse the lawyers. Chambers and law offices were desecrated, wigs and robes were seized, cellphones destroyed and hotel rooms ransacked by ruthless military men. Many lawyers were wounded and some were arrested. Roads were blocked and they were denied access to the Court.

"It is embarrassing that over 1000 lawyers are in crisis. Attacked and gazed by gendarmes after a peaceful protest march. Not one member of the Bar council or colleagues on the other side has bothered to ask if any one was injured, or how we are faring. Yet they sit in seats of judgment to look low on us and talk about the lawyers ROBE? Such hypocrisy!!!!” – 
a Common Law Lawyer of the NWR.

Since May of 2015, Common Law Lawyers tabled their grievances to government and copied the President of the Bar (Barrister Jackson-Francis Ngnie Kamga) but both ignored their petitions and grievances and since then, have made no allusions to same. In February of 2016 they sent another memorandum after reasonable time had elapsed. And again, they received the silent treatment.

It’s been five weeks lawyers in the two English speaking Regions have been on strike. The Minister of Justice, President of the Bar have not, till present, shown any form of concern or bothered about their concerns. Neither have MOST of their francophone colleagues. Allegations have been made about the secessionist and political nature of their actions based on hearsay and petty gossip while the petitions and demands made in the interest of all Anglophones remain clear. And the majority believes in it merely because the government via its fourth arm, CRTV is distorting information and influencing popular opinion.

“We have duly constituted associations with leaders. We have representatives of the Bar President in our towns. They have never been summoned nor asked to explain what the situation is. Yet our leaders have appeared on the media and posted on this same forum the reasons for our strike action. Despite all these efforts, some persist in their hypocrisy and pretense.” – a Common Law Lawyer of the NWR.

According to majority of the Common Law lawyers, the silence of the entire Bar and its leaders together with other renowned Anglophones who have headed the Bar is deafening. The silence of those considered to be the most influential Anglophones particularly those who have held high offices such as Achidi achu, Peter Mafanyi Mussonge etc amongst other considered educated elite is also frightening. Anglophone Lawyers are clearly on their own. By staying silent and indifferent, it is justified to conclude that the Bar President has demonstrated that he is President for the Francophone Lawyers ALONE. 

“He has time to visit one colleague in hospital. But he is too busy to visit over 1000 aggrieved and striking colleagues. We now understand that the Bar is not concerned with the plight and that most of our other colleagues value the ROBE over our LIVES.”

“WE NOW KNOW WE ARE ALONE IN THIS STRUGGLE TO REDEEM THE ENTIRE ANGLOPHONE REGIONS FROM THE SHACKLES OF ASSIMILATION AND DISCRIMINATION. THE GOVERNMENT AND THE BAR DO NOT CARE.” 

WHAT CAN BE SAID OF THE LEGALITY OF THE STRIKE AND PROTEST BY LAWYERS?

“Our move is legal and political. Laws do not exist in a vacuum. It exists in a political framework. Laws cannot be discussed in isolation of politics. To some, Lawyers SHOULD NOT dare talk about politics but Teachers should. Lawyers should remain within the confines of the court room and work hard to enrich themselves and turn a blind eye to the anguish of the society. This is the very mind set we are challenging. I was born a political being. I was born with fundamental rights of freedom of thought, expression, opinion and political affiliation. And I have the right and owe myself the duty to protect and defend these rights. I don't need to be told how, when and where to do so”.

Author

- SS- 

http://www.cameroonpostline.com/riot-police-bir-brutalise-demonstrating-common-law-advocates/