The National Union For Democracy and Progress (UNDP) party of Tourism Minister, Bello Bouba Maigari, has threatened to take legal action against the ruling Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (CPDM) over what it termed defamation of the party and its President.
In a release issued by the UNDP’s head office in Yaounde, the party accuses CPDM elites in Bum, in Boyo Division of the North West Region, of political intimidation.
The release said CPDM elites in Bum “mocked and defamed” the UNDP and its leader and are whipping up anti-democratic sentiments, using hate speech as a political strategy.
The verbal abuse by CPDM elites in Bum was reportedly captured in a video that circulated online.
“The party hierarchy wishes to draw the attention of the administrators of Bum to desist from all forms of political intimidation and defamation,” the UNDP release said.
“Should such demeaning and tribalistic remarks reoccur, we will not hesitate to pursue legal action,” it warned.
Reports of political intimidation by President Paul Biya’s 41-year-old regime are not new among opposition political party militants in Cameroon.
Opposition elements like the Social Democratic Front (SDF) party and the Cameroon Renaissance Movement (CRM) have repeatedly cited cases of intimidation of their militants by the pro-CPDM administration in a bid to keep the regime in power.
On May 5, CPDM militants in the South Region mounted road blocks against the SDF’s Chairman Joshua Osih and other militants of the party, disrupting Osih’s tour.
Surprisingly, Gendarme officers who were on the scene did nothing and the local Divisional Officer took no action against the perpetrators, despite a complaint from the SDF.
The SDF described the act as uacceptable and likened it to political intimidation by the regime.
The PCRN party as well, led by the charismatic Cabral Libii, has, for several months now, suffered from administrative intervention which has divided the party, with the government recognizing a faction led by Robert Kona.
The UNDP said the CPDM government and its militants are not only intimidating political parties, but have also turned to civil servants as well.
The party said the government is intimidating and coercing teachers who are under the state payroll to support the CPDM in a build up to next year’s Presidential, Legislative and Municipal elections.
“Such actions are against republican values and should not be encouraged. Cameroon belongs to all Cameroonians, and the government is owned by its people, not any single party. It is essential to be educated on these principles,” the UNDP said.
