Way Forward Network

August 2009 Progressive thinking and united action in the Southern Cameroons Struggle for selfdetermination

Way Forwards Network

August, 2009

Southern Cameroons 2.0

THE WAY FORWARDS NETWORK "In the gulf of Guinea where the continent of Africa curves to the west, a storm is brewing. The question is whether the static created by the European caricatures of Africa--as a place in perpetual war--will blind peace-and-justice minded people to take a stand against the moral outrage that is fuelling the storm, or whether we are going to ask the victims to suck it up?" We are a network of organisations and individuals who signed the Dallas Agenda Contract to pool together our human and material resources to support communities struggling for the right to a life of peace, security and dignity, in what was the former British Ambas Bay Colony and later the Southern Cameroons; a people who have been robbed of their resources, deprived of their land and independence. First colonised in 1858 as the British Ambas Bay Colony, Britain gave the territory to Germany in 1887 as payoff for land in the Middle East that both countries were fighting over. The Germans promptly added the territory to their colony Kamerun. When Germany lost WWI France took over Kamerun which became French Cameroon and Britain regained control of the territory of Ambas Bay which was eventually dubbed the United Nations Trust Territory of Southern Cameroons under British administration (Anglophone Cameroon). Initially considered unimportant territory, Anglophone Cameroon was allowed to develop the necessary process of development of self-governing structures that eventually led to parliamentary elections and formation of democratic governments in 1954 and 1959. Things changed with the kickoff of the decolonisation movement. The British wanted to hold onto the newly discovered oil in Nigeria by imposing their lackey Tafawa Balewa as the first president of an independent Nigeria. They became suspicious that Nigerian activists could contemplate using an independent Anglophone Cameroon next

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door as a stage for prolonged resistance if Nigeria suddenly became unsafe for them. Leaders of the French Cameroon independence movement for their part were already using Anglophone Cameroon as a safe base from which to launch attacks against French troops in their country. It was through Anglophone Cameroon that renowned leaders of the decolonisation movement like Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana and Sekou Toure of Guinea provided support to the French Cameroon freedom fighters. With massive bomb raids and the assassinations of the first president-to be of an independent French Cameroon Felix Moumie and other leaders, France succeeded in destroying the French Cameroon independence movement. With colonisation legislated as illegal in international law, France imposed a former colonial cadre--Amadou Ahidjo--as the first president of the newly "independent" French Cameroon. He would later be replaced by Paul Biya, who was a militant against the independent movement and demonstrated against it on several occasions in Paris. Loïc Le Floch-Prigent, former chair of the French government owned oil conglomerate Elf said, "Paul Biya took over power with the help of Elf to hold-in Anglophone Cameroon." Confident of continuous French control of French Cameroon, France and Britain annexed Anglophone Cameroon to it. The democratically elected government in Anglophone Cameroon was disbanded. The discovery of oil in Anglophone Cameroon will make an already complicated situation worse. With repeated government led indoctrination the rallying cry for French Cameroon nationalism went from "Independence and Freedom from France" to “Resist Attempts by Anglophone Cameroon to Take Away the Oil!" With this have come scorn, hatred, discrimination and ever more determination to enforce a status of second class citizens on the people of Anglophone Cameroon. The public transportation infrastructure was left to rot. Public corporations that formed the backbone of the Anglophone Cameroon economy during the era of

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self-government like the National Produce Marketing Board, Santa Tea & Coffee Estate, the CDC, Powercam, and Cambank were broken-up; their reserves were pillaged and heavy machinery was either transferred to French Cameroon or left to rot.

The annexation has been followed by brutal repression against Anglophone Cameroon citizens. The victims of this struggle range from the assassinated former Prime Minister Augustine Ngom Jau to an unborn baby who died when a French Cameroon soldier kicked her mom in the stomach in the town of Kumbo in 1997. French Cameroon nationalism is today defined simply by its opposition to the quest of Anglophone Cameroon citizens for their rights to self-determination, freedom of expression and association. A handful of shameless, greedy, opportunistic Anglophone Cameroon citizens is allowing itself to be used as window dressing and public relations stunts in the wake of an ever inventive resistance to the blatant exploitation. It was against this back drop that independent activists and organisations in their struggle for the emancipation of the oppressed peoples of Anglophone Cameroon convened in Dallas-Mesquite from April 20 to 22, 2007 to create the Way Forwards Network (WFN) as an open space for collaboration on an equal footing to end the French Cameroon annexation, while building a modern movement that commits itself to the principles of consensus decision making and non hierarchical organising.

The Way Forwards Network (WFN) intends to 1. Serve as a catalyst to spur our people to end this pain-filled episode of our history, by restoring our right to independence and a life free of the specter of

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the French Cameroon neo-colonial regime. 2. Put to rest the cult of personality worship which has created the mentality of first stressing “who should be the leader”, rather than "what is to be done". For who can deny that for over 20 years since our struggle got out of the closet, we are still trapped in the muddy waters of “who should be the leader”? 3. Develop participatory structures to end the practice whereby some individuals make decisions in lieu and in the name of the people without the possibility for ordinary people to participate in the discussions or processes. To this end promote a culture of using consensus decision making processes within non-hierarchical structures. 4. Develop a movement that involves and respects the grassroots by empowering individuals and groups to develop their own voices and participate in deciding the destiny of their communities by using the consensus decisionmaking processes as well as non-hierarchical structures. We will serve as an antithesis to the power structure of the neo-colonial Cameroon regime as we struggle to liberate ourselves. We will develop and encourage new ways of conducting the business of our people’s emancipation. Ways that affirm the principles of democracy, transparency and grass roots participation in decision-making processes. Ways that will get rid of the static hierarchies which have served only the few who --sometimes through treachery--managed to get themselves to the top of these hierarchies.

PRINCIPLES OF UNITY 2.1. We considers the participation of ordinary citizens in the decision-making processes a prerequisite for building a durable, free and just society. WFN 2009

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2.2. We consider consensus decision-making the most democratic form of decision making, as it takes away the sly practice of imposing ones view by attacking those of others. As opposed to proposing better alternatives. 2.3. We recognise that a prerequisite for participation in the decision-making process of any affiliate group involved with the WFN is the contribution of an individual's efforts and resources to the affiliate group. 2.4. We shall be committed to the development of non-hierarchical and antiauthoritarian relationships: to develop a pattern and practice, consistent with the mission and purposes of the WFN, and to be each others’ keeper. Sacrifice for the struggle is about the ideal and not about leverage to lord it over the others. Each person’s role is a duty and not a position of authority to exact obedience. 2.5. We will be committed to the principle of human equality, and shall not discriminate on the bases of tribe, place of Birth, place of origin of parents, sex, religion or any such criteria. Concomitantly, all shall work together, collectively to decide policy in regards to dealing with those who spread hate based on tribe or any of the above. People shall be judged by the content of their character and not their background. 2.6. While taking threats to members’ security into consideration, we shall strive to be open to everybody in the community who wishes to participate in our work. 2.7. Cognisant of the vast and varied cultures and traditions practiced within our communities, we shall be committed to building diversity along broad socio-cultural lines. ARTICLE 3: Membership Criteria

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3.1. Membership in the network requires individuals to AGREE to the words and spirit of the Network's Mission and Principles of Unity. 3.2. Membership in any affiliate group of the Network shall be determined by the members of that particular group, as they know their locality/group better.

ARTICLE 4: NETWORK STRUCTURE 4.1. The WFN is made up of the People’s General Assembly and five Standing Committees. Except for the Networking Committee, each committee shall comprise 5 persons. The Committees shall each choose a liaison for the Networking Committee. The liaison serves like a bridge between their committee and the networking committee, taking information to and fro from their committee. ARTICLE 5: PROCESS 5.1. We shall strive to make all decisions in the WFN by consensus both in the Peoples General Assembly, Committees and temporary Working Groups. All decisions made by consensus within the Network can only be changed by another consensus. 5.2. But if the Peoples' General Assembly falls short of consensus on an issue, a simple majority of the Assembly shall decide that issue; however, anyone in the proceedings can write and append his or her strong objection to the written majority decision on the issue, and that shall become part of the consensus on the issue. 5.3. When proposed, the People's General Assembly may quickly appoint a Working Group to investigate any particular issue and report the findings to the People's Assembly later. The Assembly can then make a decision based on that

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report. 5.4. Each Committee is expected to confer and select a scribe and a facilitator, and to rotate these roles amongst the members every six months. 5.5. Each Committee shall update the People's Assembly mailing-list at least once every six months on its work. This update shall be due on June 30 and December 30. ARTICLE 6: THE PEOPLE'S GENERAL ASSEMBLY (PLENARY) 6.1. The Peoples General Assembly shall meet once a year at the Annual Convention in a series of plenary. The Assembly shall be composed of all members of the Way Forward Network (WFN). The PGA shall be the venue where all major decisions of the Network are made. The PGA shall define the tasks of the Networking Committee for the coming year. ARTICLE 7: THE NETWORKING COMMITTEE 7.1. The Networking Committee shall have the task of the day-today running of the network between the Annual Conventions. 7.1 (b) Each organisation involved in the network shall delegate a Liaison to represent the organisation or group in the Networking Committee. The PGA shall delegate independent delegates to the Networking Committee. 7.1 (c) Each member of the Networking Committee, whether independent or affiliated to an organisation, shall make the necessary $500 ground payment. 7.1 (d) The Networking Committee shall assist cities hosting the annual Convention. 7.1 (e) The Networking Committee shall decide the projects to be funded and authorise the Finance Committee to release the funds. However the projects and their priorities will have been authorised by the PGA, except for unpredictable ones. So applications for funds shall be made to the Networking Committee by WFN 2009

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organisations, other Committees or Sub- Committees. The PGA shall identify WF tasks for the coming year, and then organisations or Committees shall submit applications to the Networking Committee to fulfill the task. 7.1 (f) The Networking Committee shall store records of projects that it has funded, including evaluation reports, receipts, etc. 7.1 (g) Applications for funding shall be written to include a budget with criteria for measuring success or progress of the project. Each application shall describe (a) the background of the project, (b) its relation to the Way Forwards Network (that is to independence), and (c) a time frame for completing it. 7.1 (h) when an organisation requests funding, it shall indicate the amount it has already raised for the project. After receiving the written application, the Networking Committee shall assign one of its members to serve as a Sponsor for the project. The Sponsor makes contacts with the organisation and learn/ understand the feasibility of the project. The Sponsor shall then file a feasibility report with the Committee which will decide by consensus if the project should be funded. If the decision is to fund the project, the Scribe of the Networking Committee shall send the approved application to the Finance Committee which shall then disburse the funds. 7.1 (i) The group or Committee presents a written evaluation report at the end of the project and submit it, with supporting receipts, to the Finance Committee. ARTICLE 8: THE FINANCE COMMITTEE 8.1 The Finance Committee's tasks shall include raising funds, mobilising other resources, keeping the accounts of the Network and ensuring transparency through good book keeping. 8.2 The Finance Committee shall disburse funds as approved by the Networking Committee. 8.3 The Finance Committee shall coordinate fund raising initiatives. For example, it shall appoint sub-committees as needed; such as a sub-committee

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for reaching to cultural groups etc. 8.4 The Finance Committee shall manage WFN bank accounts. ARTICLE 9: THE INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS COMMITTEE 9.1 In broad terms, the International Relations Committee shall create relationships between the WFN and organisations, cultural groups, student groups, and individuals. 9.2 The International Relations Committee shall appoint (a) to identify international entities who are natural allies of struggles like ours; (b) to identify the ways in which the WFN must support such allies in developing reciprocity; (c) sub-committees to generate actions by international entities. Such actions could include resolutions against the culprit regime in Yaoundé, the cutting off of support to that regime, and international demonstrations of solidarity with victims of that regime -- like students the regime routinely shoots at peaceful demonstrations, civilians the regime routinely kills and brutalises, and activists the regime assassinates. ARTICLE 10: THE COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE 10.1 The Communications Committee shall word and phrase documents -especially press releases-- to achieve specific objectives of the WFN. 10.2 The Communications Committee shall produce a monthly newsletter and an on-line audio/video news blast (news reel). 10.3 The Communications Committee shall handle relations with the press-issuing press releases, delegating WFN members to talk to the press (after preparing them in committee), etc. 10.4 The Communications Committee shall delegate an Outreach SubCommittee. Its tasks shall include to (a) mobilise our public and the international public to become involved in our struggle (aggressively distribute WFN 2009

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media content produced by the Communications Committee), (b) move us into events likely to expose our cause to groups and organisations involve in the global social justice movement. ARTICLE 11: THE TRACK & TRACE COMMITTEE 11.1 The Track & Trace Committee shall pursue; accountability from the French Cameroon regime by (a) Monitoring the movements of members of this regime; (b) Documenting assassinations by agents of this regime; (c) Investigating the financial holdings of members of this regime in accomplice foreign corporations; (d) Documenting torture and other human rights abuses of our citizens by agents of this regime; (e) Documenting this regime's shootings of students, citizens, and others; (f) Bringing law suits against this regime's perpetrators of crimes against our people; (g) Sustaining pressure on this coloniser. The Networking CommitteeThe coordinating Committee of the Way Forward Network (WFN).

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August, 2007