Sunday Devotion: The right to be free is an inalienable right.

History will tell us that since October 1st, 1961 when La Republique crossed over and colonised Southern Cameroons, our people have been complaining. Our great great grand parents and early Statesmen wanted the best. In fact, they went into the “Union” with good faith hoping to get the best out of both Cameroons. But La Republique with the cunning attitude came into the union with all intention to colonised, steal and annexed the people of Southern Cameroons. That is why, each step they did/do was/is geared towards destroying the foundation and all institutions linked to our country Southern Cameroons. They intended to assimilate us into their dream of a certain one Cameroon.

Yes, the struggle did not start in October 2016. Our parents since October 1st, 1961 have been complaining. They wrote numerous proposals on how to make the country work. The only part of the country who put in and are continuously putting in work to see the best of the Cameroons had/have been Anglophone Cameroon. La Republique and her citizens and most especially the political class have just been sitting, sipping wine, eating fat from Southern Cameroons, believing in a so called one and indivisible Cameroon without putting much work to see that the union is perfected. Yes, from Foncha, Endeley, Muna, etc they all believed in a country where both states could lived side by side. Muna had to resigned from the constitutional committee, Foncha had to resign from CPDM. Foncha even went back to UN to complain. He thereafter apologised to the people of Southern Cameroons before his death. He tried to right the wrongs but could not. We have as responsibility to right the mistakes of the past and it begins with you.

What have we not done to perfect the “Union”? Is it the All Anglophone Conference that held in 93/94? Is it the various letters from our chiefs, politicians, teachers, lawyers , students etc over the years to the government requesting for the return to a two states federation as was originally agreed? What else can we do? Who says La Republique is interested in Federation, two states federation or worst still independence? Either ways, we must push them beyond our current limits. The French man hates when power rest with the people. By all ramifications, our culture and way of life is different from these people in La Republique.

However, what do we receive when we complain? They call us extremists, enemies of the state, terrorists, le biafrans, les Bamenda, le macabo des Ambazonia etc. They give us death, kill our people, rape our girls, jail and imprison our people, send our people to exile. What else have we not seen? Currently, they are mocking at us etc.

Yes, for over 56 years we have been complaining daily and we still do. Yet, they provide(d) us with cosmetic solutions. Are we suppose to beg to have good roads, good hospitals, airports, seaports? Are we suppose to beg to see our courts with common law judges? Our schools free of francophonisation? Our professional schools lacking our people etc? Are we suppose to beg to have a place in a country we voted to join? Yet, everyday they plunged our resources while maiming our people. They steal from us, they exploit our lands etc.

This generation has decided to put an end to it. I refuse to leave it for my children to fight. I want to get old and let my children live a more comfortable life than I did. I refuse to allow my children go through similar experiences as we are going. We now have the opportunity to make history and yes if we must destroy to develop, if we must destroy to build then let the heavens open and let fire burn the hell out of Southern Cameroons so that a new nation is born. As far as I am concern, distance has never been a barrier. Collectively, we shall march to Buea and no matter which road you take, let us march to Buea and begin singing freedom songs.

Happy Sunday

Mark Bareta
Bui and Manyu Counties
Southern Cameroons
Follow the struggle and not individuals