Tuesday, 27 December 2016 – Representatives of Southern Cameroonian teachers have finally walked out of one of two meetings convened Tuesday to discuss possible solutions to strikes that have paralyzed courts and closed schools all across the former British Southern Cameroons.
The teachers were briefly held hostage and prevented from leaving the hall where the meeting was holding in Bamenda, capital of the North West Region of Southern Cameroons.
For several hours, the situation remained extremely fluid and fast-moving, with news breaking, fast and furious every few minutes, thanks to participants, citizen journalists and observers posting instant messaging and constant updates on social media.
On one posting, a citizen journalist noted: “Prof. Ghogomu and his delegation from Yaounde take teachers hostage… insist they must work with them”. The update cited an SMS message from Wilfred Tassang, one of the leaders of the teachers’ unions, writing from the meeting hall in Bamenda to let the world know that he and other teachers had been “forcefully locked in the hall as they attempted to stage a walkout”.
Informed of the unfolding situation at the Bamenda meeting, one of the leaders of the lawyers, Barrister Felix Agbor Nkongho, who was attending the other meeting in Yaounde, capital of La Republique du Cameroun (LRC), fired off an update on social media, putting on blast, an SMS he had received from one of the teachers held hostage.
“We have been locked in the hall as we attempted to walk out,” the SMS read in part. “We have been taken hostage. Fame Ndongo is presently insulting us with lies. When he finishes, we shall attempt to forcefully walk out”.
In an interview posted on social media, Wilfred Tassang said he and the other teachers had been held hostage for a total of four hours.
The teachers’ leader slammed the ad-hoc committee constituted by the colonial Government of LRC without consulting with the teachers, for being bias against teachers of the South West Region (with fewer representatives), charging that LRC is intentionally trying to paint the matter as “a North West issue” and struggling to show teachers from the North West Region as the troublemakers.
A second demand from the teachers is for all the mostly “young people who were arrested and detained, or kidnapped and detained – we hear some are dead – the community wants that the children be released (brought back)” and the corpses of those killed in detention or “disappeared” brought back “before we can get into any discussions”.
The Douala-based Radio Equinoxe aired reports in its early afternoon English language newscasts outlining the main areas of disagreement between the striking teachers and lawyers and the colonial government of LRC.
Ahead of the meeting in Bamenda, LRC heavily militarized the town and, for no apparent reason, the colonial Governor of the North West Region gave orders to cut off circulation from 4am to 6pm on the miserable dirt road that is the only link ferrying travelers and goods from the towns of Nkambe, Kumbo, Jakiri, Ndop and Bambili into Bamenda town. According to reports, thousands of travelers have been stranded, including patients who were being rushed for medical attention in hospitals.
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Before the above article, here is what came on the wire as it happened.
It appears there is
Deadlock In Bamenda
The different Teachers’ Unions:
TAC
PEATTU
BATTU
CEWOTU
CATTU
Are DEMANDING INCLUSION OF SOUTH WEST REPRESENTATIVES
BEFORE DIALOGUE.
Just in: Alert ! Alert! Alert!
Prof Ghogomu and his delegation from Yaounde take teachers hostage at Ayaba, insist they must work with them in the direction they want! In an SMS exchange with Mr. Tassang Wilfred five minutes ago, he told me they were forcefully locked in the hall as they attempted to stage a walkout! Meantime the town is heavily militarized and it is certain the military were brought in to coerce the teachers to call off the strike. Their safety is henceforth doubtful. Source: Witheld
Still Developing:
Teachers Trade Union Leaders have finally left the meeting. Tassang submission got Fame Ndongo pissed off who angrily left the meeting also. It is now deadlock. Press conference soon. Personally as far as I am concern, these teachers have now seen what we have been saying. They should maybe hence make the declaration we have been waiting for. Take the hard stance NOW. CREDITS TO : Bara Mark
God does not approve the oppression of his people,that is why he sent Moses to deliver the Israelites from Egypt.One thing is sure, God will harden the Heart of Pharoah(Biya)until the Southern Cameroon Go. My people Our fight is not in flesh and blood. We should be engaged in a Spiritual Warfare Prayers, and see the Results in the Physical.(qoute) Though we pass through the valley of the shadow of death, again and again,as a Resolute People,we would surely reach the Mountain top of Our Desire–Mandela. LRC will eat their own flesh and drink their own Blood, like in the days of Egypt. Let us all be on the Lord’s side,as we start and end all strategy meetings in Prayers. Ours is the Promise Land in Africa and the World. Ours is the Land that will Give,A shinning light on a Hill.
Fellow Southern Cameroonians:
We need Funeral Videos of ALL our fallen Heros in Southern Cameroons since this fight began. We need them ASAP
Please log on to Morisc.org and submit your videos. This is very urgent please. Share, Share, Share.
Thank you.
“He who fights and run, lives to fight another day”. If we fail to get what we want today, we may be asking same things in the next 50 years during which we shall continue living as beggars in our own home filled with milk and honey. Our leaders, be mindful that it is out of trust that we have invested our hopes and aspirations in your guts to stand out bold before any bully. We are with you and we shall overcome someday. God bless you!
LRC has not yet seen anything. One thing is sure now is the time for our independence. Even if they successfully corrupt our chieves and all Southern Cameroonian individuals working in their government, God is going to raise up one little David that will kill Goliat. This is the time.
dont give up my bother for shall see the beautiful end of the journey.
50 years is a very long of slavery the time is now or never
It must be sounded loud and clear to LRC that Southern Cameroonians want nothing else but Total Independence. This is the only concrete solution to all our problems as LRC has continued to prove itself as the all-day villain. We have had enough of its oppression, brutality and forceful occupation of our beloved land. We have been patient enough for over 50 years.
What were they thinking that we will just give up like that? We’ve lost lives in this struggle non of it was francophone so we are ready to spent the whole academic year off
Bravo to the trade union representatives
Keep the pressure on. F*** fame ndongo..him and his family will rotten in hell.f*** that b**t***d.