Political transition: Stand Up For Cameroon backs collective non-violent effort

The platform called “Stand Up For Cameroon”, a coalition of political parties, civil society groups, nongovernmental organizations and individuals is calling on Cameroonians to collectively adopt peaceful nonviolent means to liberate themselves from the regime of Paul Biya.

“Let us come together as oppressed Cameroonians without divides of tribe, language or culture to put an end to our oppressor President Paul Biya and his friends and family members,” said Edith Kabang Walla, leader of the Cameroon People’s Party, CPP and member of the platform “Stand Up for Cameroon”.

At a press conference in Douala Tuesday, September 29, 2020, Walla said no oppressed person in Cameroon should be indifferent to the flagrant violation of human rights and the extravagance of the government to the detriment of over 80% of Cameroonians that live below the poverty line today despite enormous natural blessings in the country.

Talking at the wake of a nationwide protest championed by leaders of the Cameroon Renaissance Movement Party, the platform says the regime further portrayed its highhandedness by using the military to brutalize beat,wound and arrest peaceful protesters and non protesters alike.

“…This should be a message and a warning signal to all Cameroonians that no one is safe; either you protest or not, as far as you are not in the ruling class, the regime considers you as an enemy for being a witness of their poor governance,” said Kah Walla.

Stand Up for Cameroon is asking for an unconditional release of four of its members arbitrarily arrested in Douala on the 19th of September 2020.

“After attending a meeting at the SUFC headquarters, the boys were arrested on their way home and taken to the gendarmerie legion in Bonanjo Douala. After some days, they have been transferred to New Bell central prison in Douala. Today, they are being charged for insurrection, revolution and conspiracy. How can armless Cameroonians, after attending a meeting be levied such charges?” An irate member of SUFC questioned in total confusion.

Given that hundreds of people were arrested on the 22nd of September 2020, the day of the nationwide protest, SUFC is calling for their release while stressing that it is their constitutional right to do so.
In a related view, they call for the release of all political prisoners in Cameroon including professor Maurice Kamto and other leaders placed under undeclared house arrest in Yaounde since the 20th of September.

Despite having initiated talks with leaders of Cameroon Renaissance Movement party and other progressive forces with a mission to ensure a peaceful political transition, Stand Up For Cameroon failed to take part in the September 22nd 2020 nationwide protest.

To Edith Kah Walla “We started discussions on the nationwide protests with the progressive forces on the 13th of September when the protest was already planned for the 22nd. Though we agreed on the point that President Paul Biya should be removed through peaceful nonviolent protest, the time frame for the protest did not favour members of SUFC.That notwithstanding, we are still in discussion with the progressive forces for a more collective protest to achieve our collective goal”.

SUFC celebrates that more and more political parties, civil society groups, nongovernmental organizations and Cameroonians are beginning to see reasons why a nonviolent protest should usher a political transition and serve Cameroon from bondage (the regime).

SUFC Cameroon calls on Cameroonians to henceforth take the habit of wearing black every Friday to denounce poor governance and call for a political transition.

“This Friday October 2nd is a special Friday in Black. Cameroonians should wear black and go about their activities.This is a nonviolent action but with a powerful message of indignation and change in the eyes of national and international community,” said
Frank Essi, secretary general of Cameroon People’s Party, CPP.

Mbatho Ntan.