By Ignatius Nji
Guest writer
Hilltopvoices
According to over 700 common law lawyers who met in Bamenda this May 9, 2015 the only way to protect the Anglophone and common law values
is to turn Cameroon to a Fedearal system of government. This is one of many recommendations made public at the close of the meeting that held with "The Security and Future of the Common Law in Cameroon" as theme.
According to the lawyers meeting as The All Common Law Lawyer Conference (ACLLC), reflections by the government on this resolution after submission by the Bar Council are expected to last for just six months after which their next plan will be unveiled.
Speaking at the event Barrister Eta Bessong Jr. questioned what is wrong with the Federal system which to him is a
calculated move to wipe out Common law values which are being cherished by some
of the Francophone. Proof of this he added is that they keep sending their children to
Anglophone schools yet stifling the system.
The Educational and off course judiciary sectors where of interest to the lawyers.
Education
The Lawyers note that:
-The English Subsystem of Education has been tampered with.
-Anglophones should have their education in English exclusively from primary to tertiary levels
-Regional balance in public examinations into public professional schools do not benefit anglophones
- All such examinations should be written in two separate centers one for English the other French with no translation.
Judiciary
The Lawyers say
- The Supreme Court be separated to respect the bi-cultural nature
of Cameroon
- Francophones should not be appointed to head
courts in the North West and South West Regions.
“We have also
highlighted to government that fact that there is a constitutional fissure in
the union of Southern Cameroon and La Republique du Cameroun. As a Pana-frican
perspective and from peace loving disposition, we invited the government of
Cameroon to revisit the foundation of that union because Foumban was a safari.
Now we are not dealing with Teachers who don’t know how to handle
constitutional issues but lawyers that you saw out. We should go back to the
drawing table where we can fashion out the proper foundation. It happened in
the case of Sene-Gambia if it doesn’t work, it doesn’t work and if it works,
fine.”Barrister Bobga Harmony told the Press at the end of the conference . "We are expecting the government to call for
dialogue and if the government dares not to respond within the six months
period as has been the case in other issues, common law layers would seize the
constitutional council for whom the Supreme Court deputizes for now. This shall
be done by exploiting the closure by the common law lawyers’ conference before
the constitutional council and even seek international fora. We
have adequately exhausted all local legal frame work in the country." Barrister Bobga added.