A new constitution for Cameroon and Cameroonians themselves
Pour la prochaine élection présidentielle, que le président de la République respecte l’échéance de 2011, ou, comme à l’accoutumée, anticipe le scrutin, et l’organise en 2008, 2009 ou 2010, cela ne revêt aucune importance pour nous, nous sommes d’ores et dé-jà candidat sous le thème de la rupture, et de la refondation profonde et totale du Cameroun. Il importe de repenser, de fond en comble notre pays, de remettre tout à plat, de le reconcevoir, pour le rebâtir, sur des bases à la fois nouvelles et patriotiques. Il importe de rompre, résolument, et au plus vite, avec la somnolence et l’errance actuelles. Notre action portera ainsi sur 4 points, the first of which appears as follows: "Consolidation total Cameroonian institutions, with the adoption of a new constitution drafted by a constituent assembly and put to a popular referendum .
Cameroon, since it has relations with Europe, has had five articles, four constitutions. The five articles are: 1 / - Douala-German treaty of July 12, 1884, 2 / - status of 20 July 1922 transforming the Franco-British invasion from 1914 to 1916, the mandate of the League, League, 3 / - from the status of the trusteeship agreements of December 13, 1946, 4 / - status April 16, 1957, 5 / - the status of 20 December 1958. The four constitutions, in turn, are: 1 / - the constitution of March 4, 1960, 2 / - the constitution of a st September 1961; 3 / - the constitution of June 2, 1972, 4 / - establishment of 18 January 1996.
From these various statutes and constitutions, Cameroonians have been true-ment associated with the development as just two of the five articles. It is, Douala-only treated the Germans 12 July 1884, on the one hand, and the status of the April 16, 1957, on the other. Other statutes, namely those of 1922, 1946, 1958, were developed and adopted without in any way, obtaining their consent. Similarly, the four constitutions known as Cameroon to date, none have been, or developed, or adopted with the consent of the population.
The statute of July 20, 1922 due to agreements reached between the League, the forerunner of the UN, Britain and France. In that time, we Cameroonians, we did nothing, the eyes of Franco-British, like the lords of the League at Geneva. They saw us, neither more nor less, than like animals. Do we consult with animals when deciding their fate?
In 1946, when elaborated, then signed agreements on 13 December of that year, making our country a territory under United Nations trusteeship, although we enjoyed already, for the French part, civil liberties, the population of Cameroon was not been consulted. She had just learned one morning that Cameroon was sudden-ment went from being mandated territory of the League, that under United Nations trusteeship. Why? She did not know.
In 1957, the French government had tabled in the Region of Cameroon, ATCAM, a draft statute to be debated by elected representatives of the consultation of 23 December 1956. The latter, although carefully filtered by the colonial administration had, after all, brought no fewer than 60 amendments the project. This new status of Cameroon was enacted April 16, 1957, and gave birth to the State of Cameroon, as in his first government. This was the last and only truly fundamental law developed in association with Cameroonians.
This statute, which established a parliamentary system in Cameroon, of course, could not please the French, being born gift that was extensively modified by Cameroonians. Consequently, they did repeal by Ahmadou Ahidjo, December 30, 1958.
The Cameroon became independent on 1 st January 1960, it was proposed to develop its first constitution. One would expect that the Cameroonians are developing themselves. This has unfortunately not been the case. By October 1959, Ahmadou Ahidjo has been granted, the forceps, full authority by the Legislature and created a "Constitutional Advisory Committee", to develop the first constitution of Cameroon, instead of Cameroonians, themselves. Even better, Ambassador France, Jean Bénard, handed him a draft constitution prefabricated in Paris. This draft was presented to the famous "Constitutional Consultative Committee. Immediately, several members of it have slammed the door. Had that been the case for example, Bishop Thomas Mongo, Bishop of Douala. This was also the case of Theodore Mayi Matip, Dissaké Hans Mbottey Joseph, etc.. The famous committee has not changed the project finally made by the ambassador of France. This is the one that was submitted to a referendum of 21 February 1960, for which, ballot stuffing already in force during the colonial period to elect the proteges of the French, was monumental. It was necessary, whatever the cost, that this project be approved. It was, but how? Cameroonians on the morning of February 22, 1960, found themselves with a constitution they had rejected, in mass, but, despite this, would apply to them. This constitution has entered history as of 4 March 1960, the date of promulgation.
The 1 st October 1961, Cameroon realized, partially, its reunification. The northern part of the British Cameroons "being lost. It should therefore adopt a new constitution. However, this was not the interest of France, and his protege and forced, Ahmadou Ahidjo. The constitution of March 4, 1960 has just been amended by the Legislative Assembly of Cameroon, to include federalism. Cameroonians of the former Southern Cameroon, found themselves undergoing a prefabricated building in Paris for the Francophone Cameroon, and which they did not have any say. Was well, period. That is, without doubt, one of the immediate sources of the CSNA, the Anglophone secessionist movement. This constitution, come to watch, was, quite simply, absorption, pure and simple, the Southern Cameroon, the Republic of Cameroon, independent since 1 st January 1960.
In fact, the concern of France was to have the basement of Cameroon in its entirety, Ahmadou Ahidjo it has already granted the guardianship of the State of Cameroon, December 31 1958, in exchange for his remaining in power after independence, through the famous "Christmas agreements" signed at that date. Reunification led, ipso facto, the extension of this agreement to West Cameroon, namely, the ac-tual provinces of Northwest and Southwest.
In 1972, after the nationalization of oil assets in French Algeria, Ahmadou Ahidjo was summoned to end the federalism in Cameroon, the French government has decided to exploit oil with Cameroon sheet is in Western Cameroon. And as the war of secession, in neighboring Nigeria, had just ended, there was reason to fear that the English community does is inspired, once the oil in his basement would be utilized. We thus found undergoing the famous referendum of May 20, 1972, for which there was as newsletters and YES YES in the polls, and consequently, a new constitution. This is how the day has seen the 3 rd constitution of Cameroon, of 2 June 1972.
The 4 th constitution of our country, that de 1996, est un exemple unique au mon-de d’une constitution élaborée par appels téléphoniques, par fax et par courrier postal. Nulle part ailleurs cela ne s’est produit auparavant. Les Camerounais n’ont participé à son élaboration que de cette manière on ne peut plus cavalière. C’est cette constitution que le président de la République, à ce jour, désire modifier, pour s’éterniser au pouvoir.
TROP C’EST TROP !
For our part, we believe that Cameroonians need a constitution which they have themselves, like great people they are developed.
To do this, we plan the abolition, pure and simple, this Constitution that the president manipulated at will. A constitution is a document of national identity, not individual, even if it exercises the functions of head of state. The dissolution of the current parliament and the election d’une Assemblée Constituante , disposant d’un délai de trois mois pour élaborer un projet de constitution à soumettre au référendum populaire. Pendant que l’Assemblée Constituante planche sur le projet, renouvellement du Conseil Economique et Social , à qui sera adressé, au bout d’un mois, pour étude et avis, l’avant projet de constitution, pendant une durée d’un mois, également, et retour à l’Assemblée Constituante, qui disposera de nouveau d’un délai d’ un mois, pour sortir la mouture définitive du projet de constitution à soumettre au référendum populaire.
Le candidat que nous sommes, invite les Camerounais à adopter ce schéma, qui nous permettra de disposer, enfin, d’une constitution qui ne provienne, ni de Paris, ni d’un homme.
