CCDHR’s Reaction to President Paul Biya’s 2007 End of Year Address to the Nation
Once again, CCDHR comes across to the Cameroonian and the international community as an independent non-profit organization committed to the building of a sustainable democracy in Cameroonian. In line with our responsibilities as a civil society organization, it is incumbent upon us to provide a fair and constructive reaction to the President’s address to the nation as most Cameroonians, other civil society organizations, and the press have, or will do. Overall, CCDHR is astounded at the President’s appraisal of the year 2007 and plans for the future.

The President did well to extend the country’s sympathy to the families of the 21 Cameroonian soldiers killed in Bakassi on November 13, 2007. CCDHR would like to use this opportunity to express its deepest concerns for the families as well, and support the commitment of both the Cameroon and Nigerian governments to fully investigate the killings and bring those responsible to justice.

It is interesting how the President cites international financial institutions as the source of his assertion that the management of the State budget improved considerably in 2007 without specifically naming these institutions. Regardless of the recognition of international financial institutions, the realities of the situation of ordinary Cameroonians remain deplorable. The President stated that hundreds of new schools were opened in 2007, but the fact remains that most of these schools operate in name only, without classrooms or teachers. He stated that new university faculties were created; and indeed Cameroon universities are graduating thousands of students each year into a jobless market and a society completely ridden by state-perpetuated corruption, where academic merit is of little or no significance. It is also a shame for the President to publicly assert that new public infrastructures such as roads and urban sanitation sectors were created and defective ones rehabilitated when in actual fact the entire country continues in dilapidation.

It is pity for a country’s President to state in a national address that the peoples’ purchasing power was enhanced by “salary advances granted to state employees”. CCDHR notes that Cameroonians need a better economy which can transcend to increase earning power and not salary advances which actually indebt employees and guarantee tough times ahead. Every Cameroonian with a job needs to earn a descend salary capable of taking care of him/herself and family. CCDHR therefore notes with regret that on December 7, 2007, the National Assembly which is made up almost entirely of the President’s party members disapproved of a preliminary motion by the Parliamentary Group of the opposition party, the Social Democratic Front (SDF) calling for a readjustment of the 2008 budget to make provision for an increase in the salaries of civil servants. It is therefore unquestionable that the President, his government, and 'worshipers' in the National Assembly actually care less about the plight of ordinary Cameroonians. The President is therefore not making any efforts to improve the day-to-day lives of Cameroonians or ensure their chances of a better future as he claims.

The President unashamedly stated that:

“As you know, my main concern for nearly Twenty Years now has been to move our institutions towards a modern democracy that is adapted to the current state of our society and that meets international standards. In this regard, little by little, we are making progress”.

It is doubtful how many Cameroonians actually belief that the President has been making efforts for democratic change. If change has been his prerogative, Cameroonians have lost confidence in him for his inability to institute any real change in the country throughout his twenty five (25) years rule, which conversely, has been marred by repression and resistance to democratic reforms. Most changes that have occurred in the democratic scene in Cameroon has come about either because of international pressures or as a natural consequence of the wind of change that swept across Africa from the 1990s, and not out of the volition of Mr. Paul Biya or his ruling party. Claiming credit for any democratic reforms is therefore disingenuous because he has been the main impediment to democratic reforms and progress in the country.

The President’s statement that the Municipal and Legislative elections of July 22, 2007 in Cameroon were transparent was repulsive. It was equally distasteful to hear him state that the majority of observers acknowledged the transparent nature of the elections. Every Cameroonian knows that the elections were anything but free, fair, or transparent. Civil society organizations including CCDHR had decried undemocratic pre-elections practices. Investigations and observations from all corners of the country pointed to extensive fraudulent networks during the registration process, the voting process, and the counting of voting results. CCDHR notes here its post election press release. Meanwhile the position held by many Cameroonians about the fraudulent nature of the elections were further validated on August 16, 2007 in a joint statement by the British High Commissioner and the US and Dutch Ambassadors to Cameroon that the July 22, 2007 Municipal and Legislative elections in Cameroon were marred by massive fraud.

If it were just speculation as the President insinuated, it is now clear that he does not see himself to be on his way out of office anytime soon. From the perspective of many Cameroonians, it is sickening to even think of this possibility. While constitutional amendments are by no means a novelty, amending a constitution to satisfy the greed of a President has never been, and will not become a democratic practice. Little wonder therefore that the President rigged the July 2007 elections to get his people into Parliament so that he would face no resistance on any vote on a constitutional amendment. CCDHR strongly condemns any move to amend the constitution in any way that grants Mr. Paul Biya the ability to run for re-election in 2011. After more than 25 years in power, Cameroonians are tired of his inability to bring any positive change to their lives. CCDHR is also calling on Cameroonians across the globe, national and international civil society organizations, intergovernmental organizations, diplomatic missions, and foreign governments to bring enough pressure to bear on Mr. Biya and his associates by actively engaging in the Cameroonian process to prevent the transformation of the Republic of Cameroon to the Kingdom of Cameroon.

The President recognized that among the many impediments to progress in Cameroon is the dreadful scourge of corruption, given its consequences, difficulty in eradicating it, its hindrance to development, and smear on the image of the country. He promised to continue the fight against corruption, assuring Cameroonians that it will not be limited to the few symbolic cases so far witnessed. While CCDHR recognizes that some meager efforts have been made in this regard, CCDHR is calling on the President to relieve himself as the main overseer of the National Anti-Corruption Commission in favor of an independent Commission capable of carrying out autonomous corruption investigations to include the President himself and members of his past and current administrations.

Finally, CCDHR is calling on the government to proceed to improve the business environment by providing economic operators with adequate legal security, better guarantees for investment, and fair and predictable customs and taxation policies. This is central to economic growth and development in Cameroon as it could encourage Cameroonians, previously shunned by bad economic and taxation policies to reconsider investing in the country. CCDHR is also calling on the government to put into practice its commitment to revitalizing the energy sector, and the major industries in the country so that Cameroonians can experience genuine economic change. The government must also continue efforts at controlling the prices of basic commodities and services by persistently seeking to forestall unwarranted and speculative price hikes. CCDHR notes with regret that the President failed to mention how much Cameroon has received up to now in both recovered corruption money and from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank through the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative (HIPC), and how such money is being used for the country’s development.