"CPDM is intimidating PAP militants" - Ayah Paul, PAP Chairman

Ayah

Hon. Lord Justice Ayah Paul Abine, National Chairman of the Popular Action Party, PAP has urged members and sympathisers of his party to not be intimidated by the CPDM.
He says ahead of a "Unity March" organised by the CPDM this December 6 in Buea, members of his party are being froced to turnout to swell CPDM ranks.

His words:
"DO NOT BE INTIMIDATED

I have been briefed by the intelligence unit of my party - PAP - that some so-called CPDM elites are threatening Tole Tea Estate and CDC workers (some of whom are PAP members) with dismissal if they failed to attend the CPDM rally billed for today December 6, 2016.

In 2008, all of Biya's weapons were pointed to my head. But I stood my ground as the lone voice that argued that removal of presidential term limit is/was immoral. I did it alone ... what about you - the CDC workers? You are in your thousands.

By this notice, I call on all of you to massively boycot any such rally. The times are too serious for you to succumb to such pettinness. The carpet has already shifted from beneath their feet.

Stay home! Justice4all is watching... the world is watching..."

Gov’t Stops Chief Ayamba’s Funeral!

-        Corpse Locked Down in Mortuary

-        All Entries to Mamfe From Ekok, Kumba and Bamenda Under Military Siege 

Chief Ayamba

By Atia Azonwhi, July 26, 2014

Cameroon Journal, Mamfe, July 26 – It was meant to be a state funeral of its kind. But all plans appear to be on hold now pending when the Paul Biya’s regime decides to release the corpse of Chief Ayamba from a Mamfe mortuary and remove the security blockade of Kumba-Mamfe, Bamenda-Mamfe and Nigeria-Mamfe roads.

Yesterday Friday, July 25, The Journal gathered that over 300 mourners attending the planned “State Burial” of the late Southern Cameroon’s statesman and former Chairman of  the Southern Cameroons National Council (SCNC), Chief Ayamba, were arrested in Mamfe, Friday, July 25.

The arrests were made by a mixed contingent of gendarmes, elements of the Rapid Intervention Battalion, the traditional military and the police.

Dependable security sources told The Journal that over 2000 troops were deployed to Mamfe and along all the entry points into Mamfe from Kumba, Bamenda and neighbouring Nigeria.

“We’re trained to work and we don’t care what we are asked to do. Arresting a few hundreds of people is no big deal,” a security officer on the Mamfe mission was reportedly overheard saying in a phone conversation.

“Truck loads of heavily armed forces have taken siege of Mamfe. Movement is near impossible,” an SCNC sympathizer told The Journal.

Though we have been unable to reach the Vice Chairman of the SCNC, Nfor Ngala Nfor by phone, reports have it that his delegation from Bamenda was denied entry into Mamfe.

At about 4:30AM, this morning Cameroon time, we spoke to Ayah Paul Abine, Secretary General of the People’s Action Party (PAP) who was supposed to have left Akwaya to attend the funeral today in Mamfe and to participate in an SCNC reorganization conference.

He spoke to the Journal from his hotel room in Bamenda after he couldn’t make it to Mamfe owing to the blockage of the Bamenda-Mamfe road. Ayah told the Journal that on Friday, security operatives got news that he was lodging at Abunaw Hotel in Mamfe and invaded the premises arresting many innocent people. Asked how he got to Bamenda from Akwaya, he said he used a road track that stretches from Akwaya through Wum to Bamenda.

Ayah served for two terms as Member of the National Assembly for Akwaya on the ticket of the ruling Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (CPDM) party and served as president of the High Court in Cameroon for over 18 years. He recently declared his interest to take up the leadership of the SCNC during its constituent assembly that was due for Mamfe this weekend.

Sources in Bamenda say that John Fru Ndi, National Chairman of the opposition Social Democratic Front (SDF) party was also supposed to be in Mamfe to attend Chief Ayamba’s funeral.

Ako Abunaw, former PAP Secretary for Communication and now a diehard member and supporter of the SCNC said security forces swooped on SCNC militants in their hotel rooms in Mamfe.

His words: "...about 30 security agents in combat gear armed to the teeth as though in a war zone from La Republique du Cameroun invaded my hotel premises without any search warrant, intimidated and arrested my customers. They've put me under house arrest. Currently, I cannot go beyond my living room..."

The Senior Divisional Officer (SDO) for Manyu, Peter Tieh Ndeh has reportedly sealed the Mamfe Mortuary where the Mortal remains of Chief Ayamba lie.

Asked whether he ordered the sealing of the morgue and the several arrests, Tieh Ndeh retorted: "... what am I doing with the corpse of late Chief Ayamba? I was not invited to the funeral and only heard that there was some misunderstanding between the family members and friends. I don't know the details. Why should I seal the mortuary? ... I did not order the arrest of anyone. There were some thieves in town who burgled the post office and a credit union. We had to arrest some suspects. Did they tell you I issued a statement ordering the sealing of the morgue and for people to be arrested?" The SDO asked rhetorically.

However, Raymond Akoson, a resident of Mamfe wonders aloud “Why would the SDO need several truckloads of mixed contingent of heavily armed forces from neighbouring Bamenda to arrest a few armed robbers? Mamfe has, through the years, hardly experienced armed robbery of any such magnitude. Why would this only coincide with the eve of the funeral of late Chief Ayamba? While Boko Haram is giving Biya sleepless nights in the North, why not concentrate the 'military might' on this Islamist group from neighbouring Nigeria?” Akoson asked.

Thousands of Southern Cameroonians had made plans to converge at the funeral of late Chief Ayamba. The burial ceremony was slated for today, Saturday, while a forum to reorganize the SCNC and the entire struggle for the statehood of the Southern Cameroons was due for tomorrow, Sunday, July 27.

   

However, with the new developments of events, it is difficult to tell whether the funeral and SCNC conference will go on as scheduled. Ayah told the Journal from his Bamenda Hotel room that it is obvious that nothing will go on on account of the fact that the corpse of Ayamba are still locked down in the mortuary and all important dignitaries who are supposed to be there have been stopped from entering Mamfe. Asked whether there has been a formal announcement cancelling or postponing the event, he said no, but added that the blockade of all entries into Mamfe practically makes it impossible for anything to go on.

Some have argued that the SCNC provoked the military incursion of Mamfe by making a public statement to the effect that Chief Ayamba was going to be given a state funeral. “Is this a surprise? The SCNC announced publicly that it was holding a

"state funeral" for the late Chief Ayamba in Mamfe. So how can it be taken unawares?” Wrote Tikum Mbah Azonga, lecturer, in a social media post We will bring you developments as they unfold.

State Burial for SCNC's Chief Ayamba July 26

The Southern Cameroons National Council (SCNC),which is fighting for the restoration of the statehood of Southern Cameroons, recently  held an extra-ordinary session in Bamenda, dedicated to the State Burial of the former National Chairman, Chief AYAMBA ETTE  OTUN, and national security in general. 

Find below the statement following the meeting of the SCNC national Council:

                                 

                             

STATE BURIAL

     Considering the passing into eternity of Chief AYAMBA ETTE OTUN, the former National Chairman of the SCNC; 

    Cognizant of his dedication and commitment to the Restoration of the Statehood of British Southern Cameroons;

    Highly appreciative of his exemplary sacrifices to bequeath a rich legacy and give our descendants the human dignity they deserve and as ordained by the Creator;
   Determined to remain faithful to the struggle for Restoration of our sovereign homeland, British Southern Cameroons, till the colonial occupier is chased out;

The National Council declares:
1.      A STATE BURIAL for Chief Ayamba Ette Otun to be held on July 26, 2014 in Mamfe, the cradle of British Southern Cameroons nationalism. He was a  Grand Patriot.
2.      A week of National Mourning from Monday July 21 - 27, 2014 throughout the national territory of British Southern Cameroons and for all SCNC Diaspora Chapters and patriots. 

    Within this period the British Southern Cameroons Flag shall fly at half-mast both at home and abroad. Even the occupier of our land is called upon to give peace a chance in honour of the grand old man and leader as he joins his ancestors and other patriots gone before after having done his utmost.

The National Council Calls:
On all SCNC members in particular and patriots of our land in general, to mobilise massively and give Chief Ayamba, Ette Otun a befitting State Burial.
    The National Council mindful of the fact that Chief Ayamba, EtteOtun as the National Chairman was the lead representative of the SCNC  in Banjul in the case - Communication 266/2003 - against annexationist la Republique du Cameroun;
    Painfully horrified by the fact that the people's enemy bought some among us who behind our backs held talks with Vice Prime Minister Ahmadou Ali and were ferried several times to Banjul to withdraw the case against la Republique du Cameroun for annexing and colonially occupying our land and making us slaves ;
     Believing that this treacherous crack has strengthened the enemy's policy of divide and rule giving the regime the audacity to, with impunity ignore the Constructive Dialogue as approved by the AU Summit
in Libya since July 2009; 

    Mamfe is declared NO GO ZONE within the week of National Mourning culminating with the State Burial for the traitors, their collaborators and anyone who participated in the discussions that sent the trio - Isaac Oben, Theodore Leke and  Mr. Tita - to Yaounde for the Satanic dialogue.
    They should stop shedding crocodile tears and await the NATIONAL TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION COMMISSION when the right moment comes.
   Mamfe is equally declared a NO GO ZONE within the week of National Mourning culminating with the State Burial to the architects of the infamous Press Release of 9th June, 2014 published in The Median Newspaper No. 119 of Monday 16 June 2014, page 4 by a so-called Interim Administration of the SCNC. 
   These fortune seekers and opportunists should know that the SCNC has never been rudderless, it is not for sale, it has enough room for faithful loyal patriots and not greedy fortune seekers. The SCNC belongs to British Southern  Cameroonians and not a bunch of greedy-mindless clique.

ON NATIONAL SECURITY IN BRITISH SOUTHERN CAMEROONS

    The National Council frowns and energetically condemns the increase in cost of petrol which has influenced hike in prices of basic commodities and the growing insecurity in the country. The 5 percent salary increase for civil servants is meaningless. If not the tactics of a government that cares less about the common man,what fraction of the population is made up of civil servants? What contribution to the national economy do they account for as compared with the farmers and buyam-sellam that make up a large chunk of the population?
     Such astronomical increase in prices of basic commodities only subjects the growing army of the unemployed, the under employed and farmers to greater misery, on the one hand and rise in crime wave on the other - a direct fuel for unrest.
    The National Council is alarmed at the recent murder of a teenager by name Julius Chai, a bread hawker, on Wednesday July 2, 2014, at the Foncha Street Junction on his way to buy bread for sell.
    Disturbed by the fact that the said soldier has not yet been arrested for necessary interrogation and charge;
    Mindful of the fact that President Paul Biya has declared war on Boko Haram and recalling that we have been victims of states of emergency, curfews and economic blockade, periods within which la Republique du Cameroun occupation forces without restraint maimed and sent unfortunate British Southern Cameroonians to their early graves;

The National Council calls on:
President Paul Biya to put an end to the killing of unarmed and defenseless British Southern Cameroonians.

The authorities to arrest the murderer who is said to have escaped and prosecute him for extra judicial execution of innocent Julius Chai. This soldier has like Boko Haram killed a harmless youth. Any failure  to arrest and prosecute him is tantamount to collaboration with the agents of evil or vandalism to teach the "Anglofool" the unforgettable lesson and perpetrate colonial occupation and subjugation.

President Paul Biya to order adequate compensation to be paid to the family that lives in abject misery and has lost its source of hope.

Considering the growing insecurity in the country and the recent brutal murder of Julius Chai aimed at inciting the population, the National Council frowns at and strongly condemns the provocative establishment of a Gendarmerie Brigade in the Ntambessi Quarter, few meters away from the SCNC National Chairman's residence. This will not in the least force the SCNC and British Southern Cameroonians in general to surrender to annexation and colonial occupation.

The National Council in the supreme interest of fighting for a common destiny calls on all British Southern Cameroonians to avoid giving the occupier of our land the open door to intensify the policy of divide and rule, greater repression and exploitation.

Consequently the National Council calls on the YIVE and OLITI tribes of Akwaya, Manyu County (Division) that have suffered much human casualty and destruction of property and all other communities in
conflict to put an end to all hostilities.

Done in  Bamenda  this 13th Day of July, 2014.

For the SCNC and on behalf the British Southern Cameroonian people,

NFOR, NGALA NFOR
National Chairman, (SCNC)

SCNC funding: Fru Ndi, Ayah Paul under investigation

Fru Ndi, SDF National Chairman

Cameroon Headlines, Buea, June 29 – Hon. Ayah Paul Abine, Secretary General of the People’s Action Party has revealed that security forces are investigation to establish whether or not he and John Fru Ndi, National Chairman of the Social Democratic Front (SDF) are funding the secessionist movement, the Southern Cameroon’s National Congress, the SCNC.

After a visit to the Buea Central Prison, June 27, to see an SCNC activist, Maxwell Oben, Hon. Ayah revealed that “… the military are busy twisting Oben’s arm to find out whether Ayah Paul and Fru Ndi are funding the SCNC.”

The investigations are probably due to the fact that the two opposition leaders have made statements in the past that insinuate that they are sympathising with the course of the SCNC.

Hon. Ayah, PAP Secretary General

Hon. Ayah insists that “there never has been any reunification, and so nothing can be more facetious and farcical than talking about secession when there never has been a whole.”

“We are just back from Buea Central Prison. Mola Njoh Litumbe, accompanied by Ayah Paul Abine, Mami Mbiwan, a barrister, a man of God and a host of local SCNC leaders, went there for a visit of solidarity to a detained SCNC leader, Oben Maxwell,” Ayah writes.

“During today’s visit, SCNC had lengthy exchanges with Oben Maxwell and resolved on the spot to take his case to national and international human rights bodies. In all, there were over a dozen SCNC members at the prison but only half were allowed to meet Oben. We were all stunned by Oben’s bustling health, and particularly his high-spiritedness,” he adds.

The genesis

Maxwell Oben was reportedly arrested on January 29, 2014 for reading Ernesto Che Guevara’s book on Urban Guerrilla and for educating the youth on the ideals of SCNC. He was arrested at the Buea Mile 17 Bus Station.

Oben was charged for preaching secession, civil war, armed insurrection, and planning to disrupt President Biya’s visit to Buea.

“Without allowing Oben to say whatever in his defence, the officer (at the Military Tribunal) ruled that Oben would be in prison custody for a year, renewable. It would be noted that all along Oben was without legal counsel. His family and SCNC now briefed counsel who lodged an appeal against the order of the Buea Military Tribunal. The Court of Appeal has since ordered the military tribunal to forward to the court the records of proceedings all in vain. Rather the tribunal in manner most preposterous has now started hearing a case against Oben… While the case before the Buea Court of Appeal is stalled, the one before the military tribunal is equally stalled on the flimsy ground that the Yaounde military tribunal should make available its records of proceedings to the tribunal in Buea. And of course no such records there are,” Ayah narrates.