Two Catholic Priests have held the Minister Counselor at the
French Embassy in Cameroon to a tight corner during consultative talks in
Bamenda.
Meeting Tuesday, April 03, Philippe Larrieu who is also the security officer at the French Embassy was briefed on the origin and growth of the current crisis in the North West and South West regions.
Meeting Tuesday, April 03, Philippe Larrieu who is also the security officer at the French Embassy was briefed on the origin and growth of the current crisis in the North West and South West regions.
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| French Diplomat in Bamenda |
According to the priests, the honest and legitimate problems
of the people were badly presented, badly understood and badly managed.
The banning of the consortium at the time talks were on to
calm down the issue escalated the crisis; the priests said adding that the
problem in the region is about the
disrespect of the culture build on education and laws of a people.
The responsibility for the escalation of the crisis was
placed squarely on the soldiers of the Military that failed to be responsible
and professional, Politicians who are afraid of the truth and government
workers who think they need to protect their jobs thus hiding the reality.
After observing the likelihood of criminal gangs emerging in
the concerned regions and taking people hostage for ransoms to be paid, the
French diplomat maintained that his government has always stood for dialogue
and respect for human rights.
This however did not go down well with the priests who
seemed to have understood public opinion on the fact that the French government
was an accomplice to the poor treatment of Anglophones and immediately
challenged the diplomat on the presence of French troops in Cameroon. In
response Philippe Larrieu indicated that there are only 14 French Military
officers in Cameroon and all of them work in Yaounde in different capacities
with different specialties with specific directives.
The consultative talks also revealed that there has been a lot of pretends around the
crisis in the region with lots of lies about effective schooling when is
nothing for almost two academic years, fictitious celebrations of National
feasts and the silence of France over the crisis. The diplomat however
justified to the satisfaction of the priests that his government has always
been for a developed West Cameroon though raising worries over the neglect of
pre independent history in Cameroon by those accusing his country of silence.
On the way forward Rev Fr Tata Mbuy Director of
communications in the Archdiocese of Bamenda who attended the close door
session recommended acceptance of crimes committed against the people and
apologies made, the speedy trail of
those arrested within the crisis both from within and without country, granting
of presidential amnesty where possible and dialogue which he said must include
members of the Southern Cameroon governing Council, leaders of civil society
groups, Political leaders with equal representation, Teachers and lawyers
representatives and church leaders from both English and French systems with a
possible neutral moderation or facilitation.
According to Rev Fr Tata Mbuy, the discussions were frank
with the French diplomat exceptionally open and educative with the readiness to
also learn and accept the issues revealed to him.
At press time the French security officer was preparing to
meet with some members of the civil society.