[Ijaw_National_Congress] Southern Cameroons: History

[NOWAMAGBE OMOIGUI]

A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE
FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF SOUTHERN CAMEROONS

The Federal Republic of Southern Cameroons is located in the Gulf of Guinea, West Africa, and is bordered by Nigeria to the West and La Republique du Cameroun to the East.  

The German Era  


The documented history of the Southern Cameroons stretches as far back the sixteenth century, but the sense of Southern Cameroonian nationhood is rather recent, starting in the early part of the twentieth century when the Germans were thrown out of their African colonies.  The Southern Cameroons was then part of a large German colony in the Gulf of Guinea – the territory is now made up of the Southern Cameroons and La Republique du Cameroun, and parts of Chad, Central African Republic, Nigeria and Congo.  

Mandate and Trusteeship

In 1919 Britain officially grabbed part of this German territory, hitherto known as Kamerun, as a prize for her World War I victory over the Germans in the territory.  The British Cameroons, as the new-found British territory was then known, was further partitioned into the British Southern Cameroons and the British Northern Cameroons.  The British Cameroons were administered by Britain as a League of Nations mandated territory.

Between 1919 to 1945, the British Cameroons developed completely independent of the other parts of the former Kamerun.  The Second World War (1939-1945) ended with the collapse of the League of Nations and the birth of a new international organization – the United Nations Organization.  In 1946 the British Foreign Secretary, Ernest Bovin, announced to the General Assembly of the United Nations that Britain was going to place its mandated territory of the British Cameroons under the United Nations Trusteeship.  On December 6, 1946, the United Nations approved the Trusteeship Agreements for British Cameroons to be governed by Britain.

 

As a UN Trust territory under the British, the Southern Cameroons was administered as part of Nigeria – her Western neighbor.  Having balkanized her Cameroons territory into two parts, the British administered the British Southern Cameroons as part of the Eastern Region of Nigeria and the British Northern Cameroons as part of the Northern Region of Nigeria.  The result of this balkanization of the British Cameroons was that these two territories developed as separate nations.

 

British Colonization

The incorporation of the British Southern Cameroons into the Eastern Region of Nigeria made the Southern Camerrons to look more like a colony than a mandate. This was resented by British Southern Cameroonians and this explains why nationalism in the Southern Cameroons was more anti-Nigerian, than anti-British.  In July 1951, after several years of negotiations and discussions, a new constitution was granted to Nigeria and the British Southern Cameroons.  This was the outcome of the Ibadan Conference that held in 1950.
As a consequence of the new constitution, the British Southern Cameroons was able to conduct the first Parliamentary Election in the territory.  The election brought the first Southern Cameroonian representatives in the Eastern House of Assembly in Enugu, Nigeria, and in the Federal House of Assembly in Lagos, Nigeria.

The forced union between the British Southern Cameroons and the Eastern Region of Nigeria proved to be a failure.  Dissatisfied with the domineering attitude of Nigerian politicians, British Southern Cameroonian representatives in the Eastern House of Assembly in Enugu declared "benevolent neutrality" and walked out of the House in 1954.

At the London Constitutional Conference in 1954, the British Government agreed that British Southern Cameroons should separate from the Eastern Region of Nigeria and enjoy Autonomous Self Government within the Federation of Nigeria.  

The British Southern Cameroons Parliament was created in 1954 with Dr. Endeley becoming the first Premier.  The British Southern Cameroons Parliament had 13 elected members, six members selected from the Native Authorities, six Ex-Officio members and two appointed Special Members representing women and commerce.  The Kamerun National Congress of Dr. Endeley was the majority party in the British Southern Cameroons Parliament.  Another important political party was the Kamerun National Democratic Party (KNDP), which was founded by Dr. John Ngu Foncha.  Dr. Foncha was the first leader of Opposition in the British Southern Cameroons House of Assembly.  
 


In 1957, the British stated that there was a mature Parliamentary procedure in the British Southern Cameroons.  Following  the recommendations of the 1957 London Constitutional Conference, the number of elected members in the House of Assembly was increased from 13 to 26.  The House of Chiefs, consisting of 20 prominent traditional rulers carefully selected (not elected) from the various divisions of  the territory, was formed.  

 
Parliamentary elections were once again conducted in the British  Southern Cameroons in 1959.  This led to the emergence of the KNDP as the new majority party in the House of Assembly.  Consequently, Dr. J.N. Foncha, became the Prime Minister of the British Southern Cameroons.  The elections were, as usual, free and fare, making it possible for Dr. Endeley, not only to assume with dignity his new role as the leader of the opposition, but also to collaborate with the government in all matters pertaining to the well-being of the British Southern Cameroonians.  

In September 1959, Dr. Endeley accompanied Dr. Foncha to the United Nations Assembly's Trusteeship Committee to request the delay of the plebiscite on the future of the British Southern Cameroons until 1962. Unfortunately and surprisingly, this appeal from the representative of the British Southern Cameroons was not heeded by the UN General Assembly.  In 1961, Chief Nyenti of Batchuo Ntai (Mamfe Division) demanded independence for the British Southern Cameroons, but this suggestion, according to the United Nations, came in very late.

The Federal Republic of Cameroon

On 11 and 12 February 1961, two separate plebiscites were administered by the United Nations in the territories of the British Southern and Northern Cameroons respectively. Final returns announced on February 15 showed that while the people of the British Northern Cameroons favored union with the Federation of Nigeria, the territory of the British Southern Cameroons voted to attain her independence by joining La Republique du Cameroun. On 21 April 1961, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution accepting the results of the plebiscites on the future of the British Southern and Northern Cameroons.

In July 1961, a constitutional conference on the nature of unification was held in Fomban.  A guidelines for drafting the Constitution of the Federal United Republic of Cameroon were put together during this conference.  La Republique du Cameroun undermined the recommendations for a loose federation, and imposed a constitution on the Southern Cameroons.  This constitution was never ratified by the Southern Cameroons – it was never even discussed by either the Southern Cameroons House of Chiefs or House of Assembly.

On 1 October 1961, the British Southern Cameroons attained independence and immediately united with La Republique du Cameroun, which had attained her own independence from France on 1 January 1960.  The two countries adopted a two-state Federal system composed of La Republique du Cameroun (East Cameroun) and the newly independent state of the Southern Cameroons (West Cameroon).  The new country was called the Federal Republic of Cameroon.  

In 1966, all the political parties in the Southern Cameroons were coerced into dissolution in order to form one political party in the Federal Republic of Cameroon.  This was a significant development of dictatorship in the Federal Republic of Cameroon.

Honorable Augustine Ngom Jua, the elected Prime Minister of West Cameroon (Southern Cameroons), was dismissed by President Ahmadou Ahidjo in 1966 during a ceremony in the Cameroon House of Assembly. This was undemocratic, as the mandate of the people was not sought. To succeed in this diabolic plan, troops were massively deployed in the State of West Cameroon to crush any attempts to question this and other dictatorial acts against the people.  Ahidjo went ahead in 1970 to dismiss his Vice President, Dr. J.N. Foncha, who was duly elected by the people.  This was done without a mandate of the people of the Federal Republic of Cameroon.  Dr. Foncha had been the architect of a united Cameroons.

The Recolonization of the Southern Cameroons

In 1972, a state-controlled referendum was organized to find out if the people wanted to continue in the Federation or constitute themselves into a Unitary Sate.  The original objective of this referendum, as outlined by the United Nations, was to find out if Southern Cameroonians were satisfied with, and felt comfortable in a unified Federal Republic of Cameroon.  This was not done. Instead, the two federated states were engaged in the voting process. Naturally, Southern Cameroons views were overshadowed by the majority vote of  East.
On 6 February 1972, Ahidjo issued Proclamation 72-270, unilaterally abrogating the Foumban Accord abolishing the Federal Republic of Cameroon Constitution, and imposing a new secretly drawn constitution introducing a unitary state called the United Republic of Cameroon. This "new" constitution was not submitted to the two Federated State's House of Assembly and the Federal Assembly for approval.  This was contrary to Articles 18 and 47 of the Federal Constitution which was in force at that time.

La Republique du Cameroun Secedes

In 1982 Ahidjo suddenly resigned as President of the United Republic of Cameroon and hand-picked Mr. Paul Biya to succeed him.  In 1984, Biya signed a Presidential Decree No. 84-001 of February 4th abolishing the United Republic of Cameroon, and renamed the entire Federal Territory as La Republic du Cameroun, the pre-unification name of East Cameroon. Southern Cameroonians have argued that by this act, La Republique du Cameroun seceded from the Union and left the people of the State of West Cameroon (the Southern Cameroons) with only one options – to sought its sovereignty and assert its international personality.

The Rebirth of National Consciousness

In the 1980s, Southern Cameroonian nationalism grew stronger and it was during this decade that liberation groups like the Cameroon Anglophone Movement (CAM), now called the Southern Cameroons Restoration Movement (SCARM); the Ambazonia Republic, the Free West Cameroon Movement etc. were born.

On March 26, the Social Democratic Front (SDF) was launched by Ni John Fru Ndi in Bamenda. The ruling party in government sent in troops who opened fire and brutally murdered six innocent Southern Cameroonians. In 1991, the main opposition parties in Cameroon asked the government to summon a Sovereign National Conference for the restructuring of the country.  The government refused to submit to this demand, claiming that such a conference would lead to open confrontation and ethnic cleansing in the country. Alternatively, the government convened the Tripartite Talks – selecting all the delegates.  Consequently, most of the delegates sympathized with the government while a few of them were out for positive changes to take place in Cameroon.  Among them were His Eminence Christian Cardinal Tumi, former Southern Cameroons Prime Minister Dr. John Ngu Foncha and former Prime Minister of Southern Cameroons and Speaker of the Houston of Assembly Honorable Solomon Tandeng Muna.  The talks ended prematurely with nothing substantive to show off but for the creation of a constitutional drafting committee.

Members of this Committee included Dr. Simon Munzu who was serving then as the legal advisor of the ruling CPDM party Central Committee; Dr. Carlson Anyangwe who was considered by government as a neutral University professor; Mr. Benjamin Itoe, former Minister of Justice; and Barrister Sam Ekontang Elad, a successful and highly respected lawyer who represented the opposition parties in general and the Liberal Democratic Party in particular. These Southern Cameroonians found themselves working with Francophones at the table to decide the future of La Republique du Cameroun and the Cameroons. They conducted more research into the foundations a United Cameroon and argued (in the Constitutional Debate) that the country called Cameroon, is a merger of two countries each distinct geographically with internationally recognized boundaries, culturally politically, socially, historically and otherwise. It was in recognition of these distance characteristics that the founding fathers agreed to enter into a Federation, a structure that would guarantee and protect the survival of both entries in the new country. Professor Owona and Francophone component of the committee kicked against the proposal of "the return to the Federation", threatening the formation of the FANG country (made up of the Southern BETI ethnic group) if the wish of the Anglophones was granted. Perhaps Mr. Owona and his collaborators are not aware of the fact that the Southern Cameroons was an autonomous state before unification, whereas the Fangs were, and are still a tribal group (with no constitutional backing to transform into a country) in La Republique du Cameroun. The Anglophones protested in an extensive memorandum to the Head of State. There was no response as usual. The constitutional Talks simply broke down and the Commission members dispersed without notice.  


In November 1992, a presidential election was conducted in Cameroon. In spite of all the rigging mechanisms put in place by the ruling government, it was quite evident that the Chairman of the SDF, Ni John Fru Ndi, clearly won the election as certified by the National Democratic Institute (NDI) and some Diplomatic Missions in Cameroon. After "doctoring" the results for over two weeks after the election, the Supreme Court of Cameroon shamelessly declared the incumbent (Mr. Biya) as the winner. This stirred up riots in some strategic cities in Cameroon. Although there was sporadic rioting throughout Cameroon, Government forces flexed their muscles at the people of Bamenda in the North West Province, and arrested many innocent people.  

Consequently, a state of emergency was declared in the North West Province. Movement was restricted to and from the Province. Travel to the Province was only possible with a laissez passez issued by Divisional Officers or Provincial Governors. Ni John Fru Ndi (who was robbed of his victory during the presidential elections) and 250 people were placed under house arrest at Ni John Fru Ndi's Tarikon Residence. They were deprived of the barest necessities (food, water, medical attention, etc.) while under arrest and no charges levied against them. In another instance or human rights abuse, a Supreme Court Judge, Justice Nyo Wakai, was among the 173 detainees (including Mr. Mathias Atang) illegally imprisoned in the Bamenda Central Prison during the state of emergency. After deliberating on their case, the High Court of Bamenda discharged and acquitted them. Surprisingly, the government of La Republique disregarded a High Court Ruling, and kidnapped the "prisoners" to the maximum security prison in (Nkondengue) Yaounde, which is well equipped with the most modern torture chambers in the country. This illegal act further reveals the fact that the government of La Republique du Cameroun has consistently and frequently displayed callous disregard not only for the laws of the Southern Cameroons but also for those of La Republique du Cameroun which are of its own making. The detainees were again "discharged and acquitted" by a court in Yaounde, and the free people triumphantly rode in a motorcade throughout the city of Yaounde, and were received as heroes by the people of Yaounde, Bamenda and the villages along the Yaounde-Bamenda road.

The Fight for Self Determination Intensifies

In 1993, plans to summon all the sons and daughters of the Southern Cameroons to decide on their future at an enlarged conference was initiated by the Cameroon Anglophone Movement (CAM) under the Chairmanship of His Excellency Ambassador Martin E. Epie. A meeting of all pressure groups and opinion leaders in Southern Cameroons was summoned by CAM to plan for this conference. It was at this meeting that the four Southern Cameroonians , who were members of the National Constitutional Committee were asked to convene the first All Anglophone Conference (AACI). This Conference was held in the Mount Mary Maternity Hall from April 2 to 3 1993. This Conference brought together over five thousand (5000) sons and daughters of the Southern Cameroons. The AAC was chaired by Barrister Sam Ekontang Elad, Dr. Simon Munzu, and Dr. Carlson Auyangwe. Mr. Benjamin Itoe decided to play the role of spectator at the Conference. This conference "gave birth" to The Buea Declaration, and the formation of The Standing Committee (members selected from all the Divisions of the Southern Cameroons).

In May 1994, a Second All Anglophone (ACC II) was held in Bamenda. The government of La Republic du Cameroun attempted to disrupt this conference in vain. Additionally, a conscious effort by some Anglophones to derail ACC II was crushed and the event happened under the military gun. Notwithstanding, the conference issued the Bamenda Declaration and resolved that if after " a reasonable time" there was no statement from the government of La Republic du Cameroun, the Southern Cameroons National Council (SCNC) would transform itself into the Southern Cameroons Constituent Assembly and do all its power to protect the territory and citizens of the Southern Cameroons. It was after this conference that the general assembly of the Anglophones of Cameroon was re-christened The Southern Cameroons People's Conference and the Standing Committee also became known as The Southern Cameroon's National Council, and adopted the slogan: "The Force of Argument, Not the Argument of Force".

The United Nations Confronts her Mistake

In 1995, the Southern Cameroons National Council adopted the resolutions proposed by the Cameroon Anglophone Movement of 1 October 1995 on the Independence Program for the Southern Cameroons. The first All Anglophone Conference was held in Washington, D.C. under the Chairmanship of Barrister Sam E. Elad. He was supported by a very powerful delegation of dignitaries from the Southern Cameroons including Dr. John Ngu Foncha (former Prime Minister of the Southern Cameroons and vice President of the Federal Republic of Cameroon), and the Right Hon. Solomon Tandeng Muna, former Prime Minister of West Cameroon and President of the National Assembly).


This Conference  gave birth to the Southern Cameroons Advisory Council in the United States of America. A petition against the illegal annexation of the Southern Cameroons, and the exploitation of their natural and human resources by La Republique du Cameroun was submitted to the United Nations Security Council, Her Majesty's Government in Britain, The States Department in Washington, D.C., and some members of the Diplomatic Corps in Washington, D.C. On their return to the Southern Cameroons, the delegation was hilarious welcomed, and a United Nations Flag was hoisted by the Mungo bridge, signifying that the Southern Cameroons was once more a U.N. mandated territory. The Government of La Republique du Cameroun forces disrupted the many meet-the-people tour by the Delegation. However, the population defied the forces of law and order and met with their leaders.

 

A "Time bound program for the restoration of the statehood of the Southern Cameroons" was launched by the Chairman of the SCNC Barrister Sam E. Elad. The document mapped out the route to self-determination of the Southern Cameroons in compliance with the  Bamenda Proclamation. Following the intensification of the Time Bound Program for the restoration of Southern Cameroons statehood, an SCPC Delegation compromising the Chairman Barrister Sam Elad and the Treasurer Dr. Arnold Yongbang submitted an application for Commonwealth of Nations membership during the November 10 to 25, 1995 Commonwealth summit in Auckland, New Zealand. La Republique du Cameroun's recent admission was highly contested by SCPC.

In 1996, a constitution, likened to one of France's discarded 1958 constitution was hurriedly passed through the House of Assembly in Yaounde early this year. This constitution institutionalized dictatorship, and further marginalization of Southern Cameroonians and their Territorial integrity. The SCNC and opposition political parties, notably the SDF, protested against this obsolete constitution which was imposed on the Cameroonian people. In keeping with their duty as executors of the people's will, the Southern Cameroons Peoples Conference (SCPC) went to the people in 1995 to solicit their views on the future of their country the Southern Cameroons. The opinions of 75% of the adult population the Southern Cameroons were sought. Of all the signatures collected, slightly over 85% of the adult respondents opted for the Southern Cameroons to achieve independence through a peacefully negotiated constitutional divorce with La Republique du Cameroun. With regards to Southern Cameroonians in North America, 87.5% were of the opinion that the Southern Cameroons should assert her independence without delay.

Diasporan Southern Cameroonians

After the highly successful launching of the Southern Cameroons Advisory Council in North America (SCAC-NA) in June1995, a second Conference was organized in Washington DC from April 5-7 1996. The main objective of the Washington Leadership Meeting was to bring Southern Cameroonians in the United States together, to survey the possibilities of contributing their time, treasure and talents, and brainstorm on how to collaborate with the SCPC and actively participate in the struggle to liberate the motherland. This Conference also elected a National Executive of the Southern Cameroons Advisory Council in North America.

In 1997, the Cameroun government arrested hundreds of Southern Cameroonians claiming that they were terrorists. In 1999, about 60 of  them were finally brought to trial in the military tribunal in Yaounde, capital of Cameroun and charged them with separatist and terrorist activities. About 15 Southern Cameroonians were killed by government, while some were imprisoned and others were discharged.  The trial was condemned by many activists and international organizations as being unfair.

The trial of these Southern Cameroonian nationalists prompted the convening of a Conference on the Former British Southern Cameroons in Washington, DC, on 5 September 1999.  Since the Washington Conference of 1999, the SCPC-NA has been working hard to enhance the recognition of the Federal Republic of Southern Cameroons as a sovereign nation.

The State is Reborn

In the eyes of many Southern Cameroonians, the State of Southern Cameroons was reborn as the Federal Republic of Southern Cameroons on December 30th 1999 with the Proclamation of  the Restoration of Southern Cameroons Sovereignty and Independence from the annexationist government of La Republique du Cameroun by Chief Justice Frederick Alobwede Ebong.
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Please visit the following site:

www.southerncameroons.org

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PRESS RELEASES:
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FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF THE SOUTHERN CAMEROONS

Southern Cameroons National Council (SCNC)

Motto:The force of argument, not the argument of
force.
 
PO BOX 321 Victoria        
PO Box 297, Kumba      
PO Box 516
Bamenda
E-mail: pms...@bamenda.org


Proclamation of the First President and Head of State
of the Federal Republic of the Southern Cameroons

A Council session of the Southern Cameroons National
Council meeting in Bamenda on April 1, 2000, gave DUE
CONSIDERATION TO THE SOLEMN DECLARATION PRONOUNCED BY
Justice Ebong Frederick Alobwede on December 30,1999.

Considering that a Signature Referendum was conducted
in September 1995 and that notwithstanding the hostile
political climate and intimidation from the repressive
regime which resulted in the arrest of some of our
compatriots, five of who are still being held in the
Kondengui Maximum Security Prison, Yaounde since
September 30, 1995;

Cognizant of the fact that in spite of this hostile
political climate, Southern Cameroonians determined to
be free consciously expressed their right to
self-determination and that the overwhelming majority
favoured independence by peaceful separation from La
Republique du Cameroun;

Considering that copies of the report of the signature
referendum were addressed to the Secretary General of
the United Nations and the Secretary General of the
Organisation of African Unity;

Considering that the Southern Cameroons National
Council has adhered to its peaceful approach to
independence as embodied in its motto: THE FORCE OF
ARGUMENT, NOT THE ARGUMENT OF FORCE.
.
Considering the Buea Peace Initiative of 1994, which
outlined the proposals of the SCNC for peaceful
division of assets and liabilities between Southern
Cameroons and La Republique du Cameroun;

Considering that the December 30, 1999 DECLARATION OF
THE RESTORATION OF THE INDEPENDENCE was carried out
peacefully and without violence;

Considering the Resolutions of the March 3, 2000
Regional Conference of the Northern Region of the SCNC
which held in Bamenda and the March 19, 2000
Conference of the Southern Region, which held in
Victoria;

The Council-in-session, acting on behalf of the 6.2
million people of the Federal Republic of the Southern
Cameroons;

 Heartily congratulates Justice Ebong
Frederick Alobwede for his courage, determination and
vision;
 Recognizes him as the first true patriot of
the Federal Republic of the Southern Cameroons;
 Solemnly proclaims the Honourable Justice
Ebong Frederick Alobwede as the First President, Head
of State, Chief Executive and Commander-in-Chief of
the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of the
Southern Cameroons. And in pursuant of this
proclamation do hereby accord him the status,
privileges and respect of that office;
 Further proclaims that his mandate as Head of
State automatically took effect from the moment that
he declared the independence of the Federal Republic
of the Southern Cameroons and shall run for a period
that shall be determined by the Constituent Assembly;
 Enjoins him not to yield to intimidation,
torture, corruption or other forms of humiliation and
human rights abuses which the regime of La Republique
du Cameroun is well known for;
 Assures him of the full support of the entire
population of 6.2 million Southern Cameroonians at
home, abroad as well as those temporarily in the
service of La Republique du Cameroun;
 Awaits anxiously his release from prison in
La Republique du Cameroun and triumphant return to his
homeland not only as President and Head of State of
the Federal Republic of the Southern Cameroons but
also as a human being, free at last;
 Recommends that the population of the
Southern Cameroons comes out with a supportive
statement endorsing the December 30th Proclamation of
the Restoration of the Independence of the Southern
Cameroons and that the said statement be accompanied
by signatures. The respective Regions will handle the
collection of signatures;
 Resolves that the Vice Chairmanship of the
SCNC be zoned to the Northern Region and the
Council-in-session unanimously designated the current
Chairman of the Northern Region, Mr. Nfor Ngala Nfor
as the Vice Chairman cumulatively with his function as
Chairman of the Northern Region ;
 Decides that, in the absence of the Head of
State, unavoidably absent, the Vice-Chairman of the
SCNC takes care of the interim. The other positions of
the National Executive of the SCNC will be filled with
immediate effect;
 Resolves that a special warning be issued on
all threats to the arrest and torture of Southern
Cameroons Nationals made by officials of La Republique
du Cameroun;
 Informs all Southern Cameroonians that the
Federal Republic of The Southern Cameroons has
embarked on a massive fundraising exercise but only
receipt booklets duly signed by the Head of State,
H.E. Justice Ebong Frederick Alobwede are valid. All
former SCNC cards are hereby declared null and void.
Also the SCNC dissociates itself from funds being
collected through badges, calendars, etc;
 In view of the special significance of the
February 25, 2000 Human Rights Report by the US State
Department, the Council-in-session issues a special
resolution on the US Government Human Rights Report on
Cameroon;
 Creates a special committee to prepare for
the Constituent Assembly;

Done in Bamenda, this 1st Day of April 2000

Signed for and on behalf of the people of the Federal
Republic of the Southern Cameroons:

       
Nfor NGALA NFOR          
Dr. Martin LUMA             
Isaac M. SONA

Chairman, Northern Region        
Chairman of the Session              
Chairman,Southern Region
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FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF THE SOUTHERN CAMEROONS
Southern Cameroons National Council (SCNC)
Motto:The force of argument, not the argument of
force.
 
PO BOX 321, Victoria            PO Box 297, Kumba       PO Box 516
Bamenda
E-mail: pms...@bamenda.org


SPECIAL RESOLUTION ON THE UNITED STATES STATE
DEPARTMENT HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT

- Whereas in 1948 the United Nations adopted the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights which provides
us with the first internationally protected code of
human rights to which all unjustly oppressed peoples
can aspire;

- Considering that it was the United States Ambassador
Clement J. Zabloiski who had the foresight at the
896th United Nations (G.A) meeting on October 6, 1959
to predict with remarkable accuracy that the
consequences of "a hurried choice imposed on the
population of the trust territory [ of the Southern
Cameroons] would be catastrophic for their political
future;

- While noting with appreciation that presently, it is
the US government that regularly speaks out forthright
against human rights violations in its regular reports
and that this commendable action has had the effect of
drawing the attention to tyrannous rule;

- Further noting that the latest assessment by the US
State Department in its most recent human rights
report on La Republique du Cameroun issued on February
25, 2000, and taking into account the ruthless
repression that has characterized Southern Cameroons'
period of annexation by La Republique du Cameroun;

- Firmly convinced that the many citizens of The
Federal Republic of the Southern Cameroons languishing
in the jails of La Republique du Cameroun for
terrorist activities are, in fact, innocent and that
the trumped up charge by the Biya regime was faked to
set up pretext for the arrest of members of the
S.C.N.C who from the founding of the organisation, in
1993 and all along have adhered strictly to its motto:
THE FORCE OF ARGUMENT, NOT THE ARGUMENT OF FORCE;

- Considering the sections of the US States Department
human rights report that relate to the people of
Southern Cameroons, and firmly persuaded by the
accuracy and objectivity of the statements therein
contained;

- While noting that it was the U.S. in January 1991
that led the coalition forces of the International
Community in the Persian Gulf to disentangle the
Sheikdom of Kuwait from blatant annexation by a bigger
and more powerful neighbour, Iraq, and thankful to the
U.S. and the UN that Operation Desert Storm secured
the restoration of the independence and sovereignty of
Kuwait;
- Further convinced that in the case of the annexation
of the Southern Cameroons by La Republique du
Cameroun, and following the proclamation of the
Restoration of the Independence and the Sovereignty of
the Southern Cameroons in Buea on December 30, 1999
which was accomplished peacefully and without
VIOLENCE, it is now time for preventive diplomacy to
step in and effect the peaceful separation of the two
former UN Trust territories of the Southern Cameroons
and La Republique du Cameroun following 39 years of
unsuccessful cohabitation;


- The Southern Cameroons National Council Meeting in
joint and enlarged Session of the newly-elected
executives of the Northern and Southern Regions;

1. Vehemently condemn the recent attack on the person
of His Excellency Mr. John Milton Yates which attack,
we believe, was not unconnected with the recent US
States Department Report on Human Rights;

2.  Warmly congratulate the government of the United
States of America for the steadfast effort in
fostering human rights worldwide;

3. Urge the United States to continue this global
contribution to good governance, the fruits of which
fall to the world's oppressed peoples and captive
nations;

4. Fervently appeal to the United States government to
once more lead the International Community in a worthy
cause of the freedom of a people by supporting and
recognizing the Independence of the Southern
Cameroons;

5. Ardently appeal to the U.S. government and other
peace-loving countries supportive of the F.R.S.C to
use their acknowledged influence at the United Nations
as well as their positions at the UN to facilitate the
peaceful separation of the Federal Republic of the
Southern Cameroons and La Republique du Cameroun and
the admission of the Federal Republic of the Southern
Cameroons into membership of the United Nations;

6. Call on the Leadership of the emerging Federal
Republic of the Southern Cameroons to take early steps
to establish close cooperation ties with the U.S. and
explore assistance for developing constitutional
democracy based on the rule of law, the respect for
human rights which cooperation will serve as the
engine to accelerate the economic development of the
Federal Republic of the Southern Cameroons;

Done in Bamenda, this 1st Day of April 2000

Signed for and on behalf of the people of Southern
Cameroons:


   
Nfor NGALA NFOR            Dr. Martin LUMA          Isaac M.SONA
Chairman Northern Zone

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