Street demonstrations have characterized different parts of the North West Region Friday 22 September 22, 2017.
Tree
Branches and peace plants carrying youths stormed the streets of Bamenda before
9am chanting songs depicting captivity and need for freedom.
While
combat ready riot police could be seen around the city looking on, the demonstrations
where void of violence. While in their numbers on the street from Foncha
junction towards Nkwen rural, the demonstrators could be seen providing the
right of way to those who were with automobiles.
But
for Kumbo and Santa where on the ground reports confirm gun firing and possibly
shootings, the protest has remained peaceful.
Some
demonstrators who spoke to this reporter at mile four Nkwen say they are passing a message to
the ongoing UN 72nd General Assembly to be addressed by Cameroon
President Paul Biya this same day about the ongoing Anglophone crisis which has
been characterized by school and courts boycott, arrest and shootings, Ghosts
towns, burning of public and private property and of late; explosions.
The
crowd grew bigger as they matched on with many others watching.
A
Demonstrator on a bike could be heard calling those watching by the road side
as traitors. According to this demonstrator, the crisis requires an urgent
solution and everyone should be involved.
The
latest demonstration followed an explosion that seriously injured three police
officers in Bamenda Friday September 21, 2017.
Following
the explosion which is the fourth in two weeks, the Governor of the North West
Regioh Lele L’Afrique Tchoffo Deben Adolph who described the act as terrorist
in nature singed an order prohibiting inter-divisional movements in the region
for 24hrs (midnight Thursday 21 to Friday 22 midnight).
On
his part the Divisional Head for Mezam SDO Songa Pierre Rene ordered a night
curfew from 10 pm to 5 am with no movements of people and cars as well as no
opening of public places or gatherings.
Sporadic
gun shots and cases of teargas are being reported with images circulating on
social media with persons being rushed to hospital and others said to be dead. We cannot independently
confirm any case of death.
Palaces
and major junctions have been assembling points though with no commanding leader.
The demonstrations come ten months into an ongoing crisis that has been baptised the Anglophone crisis.
While government officials say government has taken measures to provide solutions to the preoccupations of lawyers and teachers that laid the foundation for the ongoing crisis, many still think otherwise.
Voices demanding a review on the form of state in Cameroon have become more louder than ever. While some think Federalism is the best form of government that can address the current crisis, others are of the opinion that outright separation from formerly La Republic du Cameroon giving independence to Southern Cameroon is the solution as it forever solves the over bearing marginalisation of anglophones in Country.
The popularity of this day's demonstrations puts to question the effectiveness of government measures to solve the problems raise.
Updates here
The demonstrations come ten months into an ongoing crisis that has been baptised the Anglophone crisis.
While government officials say government has taken measures to provide solutions to the preoccupations of lawyers and teachers that laid the foundation for the ongoing crisis, many still think otherwise.
Voices demanding a review on the form of state in Cameroon have become more louder than ever. While some think Federalism is the best form of government that can address the current crisis, others are of the opinion that outright separation from formerly La Republic du Cameroon giving independence to Southern Cameroon is the solution as it forever solves the over bearing marginalisation of anglophones in Country.
The popularity of this day's demonstrations puts to question the effectiveness of government measures to solve the problems raise.
Updates here
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