Government Attempts to Silence the Cameroonian Diaspora with Flawed Accusation

CCDHR is very concerned at the effort of the Cameroon Government and its emissaries around the world to silence the Cameroonian Diaspora. Although the Cameroon authorities have always demonstrated their resentment to public criticism, their admonition of concerned citizens of Cameroon in the Diaspora has never been so noxious and misplaced. Speaking at the fundraising event of the All Cameroon Cultural and Development Foundation (ACCDF) on May 23, 2008, Cameroon's Ambassador to the United States, Jerome Mendouga impugned the Cameroonian Diaspora for being unpatriotic and the main obstacle to the development of Cameroon.

Born on August 15, 1938, in Yaounde, Cameroon, Ambassador Mendouga has held various positions within the Cameroon foreign and diplomatic services from 1961 before becoming the Cameroon Ambassador to the United States in 1994. Ambassador Mendouga would be succeeded by a new CPDM associate later this year. Among the various problems that have surrounded his 14 years tenure as Cameroon’s Ambassador are increased monitoring of Cameroonian critics in the United States, and accusation of embezzlement of funds that were intended to renovate the embassy building and ambassador's residence.

The above notwithstanding, Ambassador Mendouga has remained a faithful servant of the Cameroonian dictatorship. Little wonder therefore that he publicly shared the perspective of the Biya regime; that of a resolute effort to silence both internal and external criticism of the regime’s abysmal human rights record, corruption, embezzlement, and sinking of the country’s economy. CCDHR holds that Cameroonians have the right to stand up to the atrocities of their government, whether they are in Cameroon or abroad. CCDHR recognizes that the call for government accountability is a patriotic responsibility of every citizen and the exercise of this duty is based on love for one's country and the need to foster development within a democratic framework. As such, it is outrageous for Ambassador Mendouga to label the Cameroonian Diaspora as haters of their country merely because they question the actions of their government.

CCDHR strongly condemns the allegation of Ambassador Mendouga that Cameroonians abroad who criticize the Biya autocracy are spoiling the name of the country and are the main impediment to development in Cameroon. It was also ridiculous for the Ambassador to state that Cameroonians cannot claim to support the objective of the ACCDF on the one hand and prevent the development of the country which ACCDF is trying to promote. CCDHR denounces the use of the ACCDF event as a platform to launch a political assault on hardworking Cameroonians of the Diaspora, who invest themselves tirelessly everyday to provide a better life for millions of Cameroonians who have been deprived of their basic needs and opportunities by the authoritarian and failed regime which Ambassador Mendouga represents.

The ACCDF has as one of its objectives, the promotion of the Cameroonian culture. CCDHR recognizes that in pursuit of its goals, the ACCDF may maintain a positive relationship with the Cameroon Embassy. However, it is unacceptable for the Ambassador to insinuate that if you support the mission of the ACCDF then you have to remain blind to the realities in Cameroon, and refrain from criticizing the abuses of the Cameroon government. CCDHR recognizes that culture is a way of life of a people, not just their traditional practices. As such, CCDHR would like to draw attention to the cultures of tribalism, nepotism, corruption, and repression which Ambassador Mendouga’s government has instituted in Cameroon. If anything, Ambassador Mendouga should be discussing with his associates ways to eradicate these negative cultures that they have established in Cameroon, and replace them with positive aspects like a culture of democracy, rule of law, and independence of the judiciary, which he has hopefully learned throughout his 14 years stay in the United States.

Ambassador Mendouga also called on the Cameroonian Diaspora to learn from the example of Israelis living in America, who despite their differing political opinions on events in Israel, do not publicly criticize their country of origin. True as this may seem, CCDHR would like to draw the attention of Ambassador Mendouga to the legitimacy of the Government of Israel. From every indication, the Government of Israel is a responsible government, working for the good and development of its people, and conducting business in a democratic fashion. CCDHR is therefore calling on Ambassador Mendouga to redirect his advice to this associates in Yaounde by calling on them to learn from the example of the Government of Israel how to conduct free and fair elections; to tolerate  independent media, political dissent, and government critics; to establish independent electoral and human rights commissions; and to respect the human rights of its citizens.

Throughout his 26 years in power, Mr. Paul Biya, the boss of Ambassador Mendouga, has systematically destroyed every positive aspect of the Cameroonian society. He has turned Cameroon that used to be full of hope into a dungeon of absolute poverty and lack of simple means of subsistence. The struggle for daily survival has reached its apex among ordinary Cameroonian. Labeling Cameroonians of the Diaspora who have the conscience and love for their country to decry the current deplorable situation in Cameroon as unpatriotic is offensive to common sense. CCDHR believes that Ambassador Mendouga’s judgment is clouded with misconceptions and deceitful intent, influenced by his erroneous believes that the Cameroonian Diaspora would fall for such a scheme. His comments were both shocking and insulting to the Cameroonian Diaspora in general. It is therefore sardonic for agents of the Biya regime to question the patriotism of the Cameroonian Diaspora, when these regime elements are chronic embezzlers, looters of the country’s wealth, and state sponsors of corruption; actions that clearly put to question their own loyalty to the country.

CCDHR recognizes the right of every Cameroonian to protest the actions and policies of the Government of Cameroon and calls on the Cameroonian Diaspora to be resolute in their struggle for democracy and respect for human rights in Cameroon. CCDHR is also calling on the Cameroonian Diaspora to be unyielding to the pressures mounted by the despotic regime in Cameroon and its agents around the globe. If change is to happen in Cameroon, the Cameroonian Diaspora would have to be unrelenting, remain engaged, and provide the necessary support needed by their fellow brothers and sisters in Cameroon. As such, the Diaspora community should continue to respond positively to calls by Cameroonian groups and associations aimed at discussing a better future for Cameroon and Cameroonians, including calls for peaceful demonstrations, which to a greater degree publicizes the plight of the Cameroonian people, while giving the Government of Cameroon the negative international publicity that is desperately needed to pressure for reform in the country.