Cameroun must leave XXII Commonwealth Games of Shame

For over five years, Cameroun Republic, a member of the Commonwealth has been killing tens of thousands of English Speaking Cameroonians (Ambazonians), for simply using their constitutional right to assembly, free expression, and protest for a recognition of their unique identity and nationhood. More than 75,000 people have been killed, over 850 thousand driven into exile, millions displaced across the Cameroons, and over 500 communities razed to the ground.

It is because of the historic relation with the English speaking world and culture that people in the Former British Southern Cameroons decided in 1991 and pushed for admission of the Cameroun Republic into the Commonwealth in 1995. Our hope then, was to gain protection for the Anglophone minority from the gentlemen's club. We were convinced the Commonwealth would rally to the defence of all the peoples of its member countries. We were charmed to the Commonwealth because of its cardinal principles among which are human rights, governance, democracy and the rule of law.

Added to these cardinal principles, the Commonwealth games are expected go promote civil liberties, equality before the law, free trade, multilateralism and world peace. We are surprised that the Commonwealth has remained neutral, and has elected wilful blindness and deafness while massacres and a genocide is ongoing in the Former British Southern Cameroons. The only reason Cameroun President Paul Biya declared war on the people of Ambazonia is because they called for respect of their unique identity through peaceful means. When this failed and because of the continuous abuse of their civil liberties, and Cameroun government resolve to kill rather than grant these rights, Ambazonians decided to use their right to self defence to tackle Cameroon government.

As a Rotary Peace Fellow, imbued with Positive Peace values, which were originally a hallmark of the Commonwealth, we wish to invite all members of the Commonwealth to shun the participation of a country perpetrating massacres and genocide of the English Speaking minority of Cameroon. If Cameroon must participate in the XXII Commonwealth Games, the organizers must;

1. Observe a minute of silence for the tens of thousands killed in the Former British Southern Cameroons, also known as Ambazonia.

2. At the beginning of each game, organizers must read out a statement calling for END OF GENOCIDE in Amabzonia. Rwanda, a recent victim of genocide must lead the way in making this call.

3. Allow Ambazonians to protest peacefully with their flags in Birmingham, venue of the XXII Games.

4. Call on Commonwealth to review the membership of Cameroon in this club of gentlemen, to which it is not qualified to belong.

Unlike the Cameroun Republic, Ambazonia will be a country that subscribes to The Commonwealth Charter, which documents the values and aspirations which unite the Commonwealth. It is an expression of the commitment of member states to the development of free and democratic societies and the promotion of peace and prosperity to improve the lives of all the people of the Commonwealth. Cameroun Republic works directly against all this, hence the Secretariat General of the Commonwealth should note with dismay Cameroun's disregard for an elegant charter which states that;

We the people of the Commonwealth

Recognising that in an era of changing economic circumstances and uncertainty, new trade and economic patterns, unprecedented threats to peace and security, and a surge in popular demands for democracy, human rights and broadened economic opportunities, the potential of and need for the Commonwealth – as a compelling force for good and as an effective network for co-operation and for promoting development – has never been greater,

Recalling that the Commonwealth is a voluntary association of independent and equal sovereign states, each responsible for its own policies, consulting and co-operating in the common interests of our peoples and in the promotion of international understanding and world peace, and influencing international society to the benefit of all through the pursuit of common principles and values,

Affirming that the special strength of the Commonwealth lies in the combination of our diversity and our shared inheritance in language, culture and the rule of law; and bound together by shared history and tradition; by respect for all states and peoples; by shared values and principles and by concern for the vulnerable,

Affirming that the Commonwealth way is to seek consensus through consultation and the sharing of experience, especially through practical co-operation, and further affirming that the Commonwealth is uniquely placed to serve as a model and as a catalyst for new forms of friendship and co-operation in the spirit of the Charter of the United Nations,

Affirming the role of the Commonwealth as a recognised intergovernmental champion of small states, advocating for their special needs; providing policy advice on political, economic and social development issues; and delivering technical assistance,

Welcoming the valuable contribution of the network of the many intergovernmental, parliamentary, professional and civil society bodies which support the Commonwealth and which subscribe and adhere to its values and principles,

Affirming the validity of and our commitment to the values and principles of the Commonwealth as defined and strengthened over the years including: the Singapore Declaration of Commonwealth Principles, the Harare Commonwealth Declaration, the Langkawi Declaration on the Environment, the Millbrook Action Programme, the Latimer House Principles, the Aberdeen Agenda, the Trinidad and Tobago Affirmation of Commonwealth Values and Principles, the Munyonyo Statement on Respect and Understanding, the Lake Victoria Commonwealth Climate Change Action Plan, the Perth Declaration on Food Security Principles, and the Commonwealth Declaration on Investing in Young People,

Affirming our core Commonwealth principles of consensus and common action, mutual respect, inclusiveness, transparency, accountability, legitimacy, and responsiveness,

Reaffirming the core values and principles of the Commonwealth as declared by this Charter:

1. Democracy, 2. Human rights, 3. International peace and security, 4. Tolerance, respect and understanding, 5. Freedom of Expression, 6. Separation of Powers, 7. Rule of Law, 8. Good Governance, 9. Sustainable Development, 10. Protecting the Environment, 11. Access to Health, Education, Food and Shelter, 12. Gender Equality, 13. Importance of Young People in the Commonwealth, 14. Recognition of the Needs of Small States, 15. Recognition of the Needs of Vulnerable States, 16. The Role of Civil Society

Is this club of gentlemen still committed to ensuring that the Commonwealth is an effective association, responsive to members’ needs, and capable of addressing the significant global challenges of the future?

Does the club still aspire to a Commonwealth that is a strong and respected voice in the world, speaking out on major issues; that strengthens and enlarges its networks; that has a global relevance and profile; and that is devoted to improving the lives of all peoples of the Commonwealth?

For the Commonwealth to remain relevant and appealing, it must seek to enforce the respect of its charter and cardinal principles by its member states. Consequently, Cameroon must urgently be summoned to respect the rights of Ambazonia to Nationhood, human dignity, rule of law, and the right to choose its own leaders, and establish its own institutions and governance system.

The Right Honourable Patricia Scotland, the Commonwealth scribe under whose watch, The Cameroons degenerated into total chaos without her taking measured action to forestall it, must urgently reclaim her lost relevance by tackling the genocide of the English Speaking minority of The Cameroons. It is unfortunate that she visited Cameroun Republic in December 2017, at the beginning of the conflict without taking action to arrest the breaking violence.

I humbly call on Queen Elizabeth, Head of the Commonwealth and all principal actors to urgently act now to save the people of Ambazonia, former British Southern Cameroons from genocide.

Christopher FON ACHOBANG (Rotary Peace Fellow).