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| Titus Edzoa |
Titus Edzoa, former Secretary General at the
Presidency of the Republic who spent 17 years in prison has opened a cane of worm exploding about his political ambitions. On Saturday March 1,
he was in a conclave with the media in Yaounde. Like Mandela who spent 17 years
in prison and came out to be the President of South Africa, commentators
contrast his release with that of Mandela. In a one-on-one with the Press at
his Simbock residence in Yaounde, this is what Titus Edzoa told the Press.
On political his political engagement, membership and
activism within the Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (CPDM)
Titus Edzoa: At the
moment I took a step back and declined, it means silence. I learned what it
means to remain mute, and silence is not a negative behavior. Please let me
breathe. Obviously, it is not excluded that in the months and years to come – as
I've already said - I may bounce back in politics. You know I'm a man of
action. When I have decided, you know (...) I resigned from the government, but
that does not mean that I also resigned from the CPDM ... its clear!
On his "rush to make declarations" over RFI
Titus Edzoa: Some of
you thought I waited too long because my voice was heard elsewhere on Rfi. But
it was more convenient and friendly way just to tell you that I'm here. You
must know, I'm doing quite well. For example: before going to prison, I weighed
62 kg. Yesterday [Friday, February 28, 2014, Editor's note] by chance I weighed
myself. You may be surprised: I still weigh 62 kg. So 17 years in prison did
not affect my mental health or physical health.
His feelings towards those allegedly responsible for his
arrest and Detention (Amadou Ali, Akame Mfoumou, etc.) and the Wiretaps phone
hacking of 1997
Titus Edzoa: I
followed all the schemers that have been igniting the terrible violence. For me
politics is not about that kind of stuff. Politics is not and must not be an
instrument of violence that leads to conspicuous enjoyment. For me, politics is
an instrument that provides opportunities for everyone to achieve an overall
wellness of the human being, whether on material, mental or spiritual. That is
why, although an apparent fight, I consider politics as a debate of ideas. This
is what gave me great serenity after 17 years to forgive. If I meet them today,
I will give them a hand shake with a smile not mocking, but with sincerity.
On the living conditions at the Secretariat of State for
Defence (Sed)
Titus Edzoa: I can
tell you that this will be another book. To describe the conditions here would
mean I am taking it lightly. I can just say that to live in these conditions
were terrifying; I had to fight against death at every moment. And each time
was different from another. You've heard the number of days: 6205 days, 17
years. That said, I will spare you all that. I do not want to appear as a
victim of anyone. I just want to say that violence can not be a virtue in
politics and elsewhere. That is why we must respect each other physically, mentally;
respect his/her ideas, his/her thoughts even if they do not conform to ours.
This will change the whole context in our country.
On the threat of new files charges against him
Titus Edzoa: When you
are in politics, if you are afraid, go into hiding. When doing politics in
Africa, especially in Cameroon, we must assume. New cases there have been so
many but none taken. Why? I give this message to young people. It is not only
in politics, when you live, be consistent with your own conscience. This is an
invaluable resource. So when you are attacked, especially when it is unfair
attacks, it is with confidence that you face these kinds of things.
On personal safety
Titus Edzoa: I am a
Cameroonian, why do you think I'm afraid to walk freely in Cameroon?, especially
now that I have my liberty. I even like these days go into town. After 17
years, I think things have changed a lot. And let me assure you that I am not
afraid of anyone. This is not a challenge. But it is a victory to be a free
man.
If he meets the President of the Republic, what would he tell
him?
Titus Edzoa: Why do
you want to know? What is interesting is not necessarily good for everyone. If
I had to find the president you know later. Let me have secrets. And if there were
any secrets, it would be one. The President, if I were to meet him tomorrow,
you'll know.
Titus Edzoa, statesman or politician?
Titus Edzoa: Before my
detention, I had a vision of a statesman and a statesman is formed. But today,
I have the vision of a politician and a politician is formed. The day I
resigned, I decided to declare myself as a candidate for the 1997 Presidential
election that was the day I decided to be a politician. If a politician is
formed, it is not overnight. It is prepared internally, externally. I can tell
you, I did not want the prison, but the prison gave me a unique opportunity. I
learned things that I could not learn elsewhere. So I will have all the time to
share with you my political thoughts. I can already assure you that my thoughts
are what they were 17 years ago but with much more powerful openings.
Is Paul Biya concerned with the message of peace?
Titus Edzoa: When we
make peace you do not choose with whom it is to be made. But it is especially
to all those who had hidden agendas vis-à-vis my feelings. It is an opening. I
should mention that this is not a sign of weakness. It is an opening of
awareness that self and other convergent even if you do not think the same way.
In politics, it is not obliged to have the same thought. It is this freedom
which must be built by otherness. I come back even more convinced of this
because I've had time to think and reflect over it.
Paul Biya, is he a political opponent?
Titus Edzoa: It goes
without saying that I am considered an opponent in Cameroon because I do not
know what is called opponent. There are times when the word
"opponent" is an insult. I have the right to have my ideas and I am
jealous of my political thinking. Let me be clear. To be the political opponent
of the President of the Republic does not mean to be disrespectful. We have to
learn how to break up these things.
Intends to continue to work as a Medical doctor?
Titus Edzoa: I am a
doctor for life. Even at Sed, I continued to work as a doctor but, in discretion
of course. If something happens to you, I have the ethical duty to assist you.
Maybe the dexterity of my fingers fell. I have not checked yet. It's like
riding a bicycle. Do not forget: I am a doctor and I am a teacher. The contacts
between students and old doctors have always been positive. To reassure you, I
have been all this time the only Cameroonians be a full member of the
International Society of Surgeons. Therefore medical and surgical knowledge
remains fresh and it does not bother me to help young people.
About his perception of Operation Hawk
Titus Edzoa: I had
already had the opportunity to say much on it. I would remind you that, when I
was thrown into prison, Operation Hawk did not exist. So I'm not part of
Operation Hawk. This does not mean that I consider myself superior to those who
were caught by it. Recently at the Supreme Court, I had to separate the two
things by making a trivial comparison between two birds; a hawk and another,
the phoenix. The hawk flies very low and catches only the chicks. The Phoenix
flies high around the sun and it has the ability to constantly reborn from its
ashes. Rather I am part of this universe. That is why you see me before you, I
think lucid enough, after 17 years. The phoenix lives in each of us, help us through
difficult tests and these tests are that I am free man. That is the philosophy
of the politician I am.
How he will continue a political career with a criminal
record?
Titus Edzoa: You think
the policy is less than justice? If justice had salience of politics, I would
not be released. It is not clear?
On his phone call to the President of the Republic that pushed
his adrenaline
Titus Edzoa: I urge as
professional that you are, you work with great respect, not on the rumor. When
working on the rumor you can not imagine the impact you have on public opinion.
In this case, it was a lot of fun. In 16 years how could I have the number of
the president? Maybe you have. By education, I think there are times when you
forget that this is a President of the Republic. We do not phone the President
of the Republic. It's more complicated than that. I know whereof I speak. I
think the president himself had to smile. Me in my cell, I laughed. The false
information has faded itself. As adrenaline President. I phone him in secret and
you see adrenaline. We call these fantasies which touts the people because he
has no real information. And this work is that you must do. Because the
information is not rumor.
His relations with Michel Thierry Atangana who denied being
his campaign manager
Titus Edzoa: These are
details. Whether he recognizes it or not. If you noticed, we were imprisoned
together. This is not because we were the best! This young man, I am the only
one who knew what was his ordeal. And believe me, wherever he went, he knows
who I am for him, even in silence. Send him always my encouragement. All that
could be said or done, keep it to yourself. He is now a free man. 17 years will
serve him to see the world in a different way. He was a son, he was a campaign
manager, he was a companion in misery, I have the duty to respect.
His vision on the political future of Cameroon
Titus Edzoa: I think
we should always look to the future with optimism. Everything that happens
though apparently it seems negative or tumultuous, there is always an
education. For our country right now is that everyone must be vigilant and
especially avoid violence. It will take anywhere physical strength. Often those
who want to show they are strong and there show their hidden weakness. I am a
martial, you know. It must be strong but what is important is power. When this
force is set in motion, we must know the master. It is not a question of
demonstrating that is stronger than the other. It was not until a move to a
collective interest. This is not a clan or a group of people. That's the hope
of Cameroon.
Whether there have been political reconciliations at Sed
between him and the other detainees, former members of the government?
Titus Edzoa: Isolated,
I wasn’t imprisoned. I was sequestered so that I could not meet anyone.
Otherwise one day going to court, we were put in the same car with some. It's
not the journey that would allow us to make political alliances. It's more
complicated than that. And again! What is important is that my political
beliefs are beliefs for social welfare, the welfare of the other. When the
welfare of the other succeeds, succeeds mine twice.
Contact with public authorities for his release?
Titus Edzoa: At the
moment I have not been contacted by anyone. As for the police, I have no orders
to give them. I found my safety then at some point they are distributed. I'm
free like you. I feel a free man, I'm not afraid of anything.
Whether he expects to be called up for state affairs?
Titus Edzoa: We are
growing position in our country. It is a feature of our system that I abhor.
How do you think we should live while waiting to be called? That's incredible.
This is why when one is appointed, whether in the right direction or the wrong
direction, we take provisions that have nothing to do with the collective
interest. So I would tell you exactly. I expect nothing, no post! And it does
not bother me. There are a thousand ways to be useful in the Republic. If the
item arrives, I can refuse or accept it but I have the duty to explain.
Whether he has forgiven his former "friend" Paul
Biya?
Titus Edzoa: A
president has no friends. This means that I have never been a friend of the
President of the Republic. You do me an honor to give me that title. But on the
other hand, I was a very close associate, available, honest. Will I forgive
him? Do not mix the President of the Republic to others. It's not about you.
This is not to you that I will say that I forgive. Who am I? For others, there
are many. They know that I have forgiven them.
To whom would you say thank you for your release?
Titus Edzoa: In the
political context things are complicated and it is very difficult to always
dichotomies. Certainly, there were interventions from the outside besides, I
can not control. These interventions are the compassionate field. As for the
president himself, it is in a rational context and amazement. But the two areas
are not opposites, they were complementary. Some people tell me "You say
thank you from the outside, but do you say thank you to the President of the
Republic?" The president does not need gratitude because politics does not
like genuflections, whatever you think. Must remain dignified, respect the
president because he had not authorized my arrest, I would never have been the
prisoner. On the other side if he had not signed a decree, I would not have
been released. It is not a question of friendship, loyalty ... Stop it! It
dishonors not only the president but also our political context.
What has become of the Committee for the Support of Titus
Edzoa?
Titus Edzoa: Those who
have read my book have seen that in the acknowledgments, the Committee for the
Liberation of my person was reported with much support. Because at that time,
there were not many who were willing to appear. God rest his soul, Mr. Mongo
Beti took my party. I had never met before. That's the great souls who live by
the values. One day he came to visit me at Sed, he was dressed in jeans and a
sweater. When I leave the cell, I see an unusual visitor. He gets up
immediately. He said, "Ah! Dear friend. I came to shake your hand. You had
the courage to fight in Cameroon. The only thing I regret is that I did
outside. But our beliefs meet. " Who was I next to this icon? This
occurred in five minutes. When jailers realized it was Mongo Beti, they told
him they regretted that maintenance could not continue. This is the last time I
saw this great man. I do not know what became of this committee. But I will
contact them to say thank you. I will send an invitation to Ms. Odile Tobner
[who prefaced his book "Meditations of jail," Editor's note], the
wife of Mongo Beti to say thank you.
On his property that were confiscated
Titus Edzoa: As regards justice, I always prefer to refer to
my lawyer. You remember there was some confusion. Sentenced to 15 years,
sentenced to 20 years. Some said that 15 + 20 = 35. But you should always go to
the bottom when you do not understand. It was an unspeakable aberrations. If
you've been looking for the bottom, you would realize that you made the
conviction of 20 years from a charge of 3 July 1997. It was the first. It is
this conviction that I have been referred. So it was not even a question of a
merger since the sentence of 15 years was high and I had already consumed. It
was a bit like Russian dolls. In fact the steamroller was a beautiful lie to
circumnavigate the world; the truth has time to tie his shoes.
On the conformity of release receipt from prison
with the presidential decree on the question of "influence peddling"
It is not because we are being accused that we
are guilty. The indictment of influence peddling was moot. It was beautiful to
see what happened in court because that court then I explained the facts. I
think you followed those events. And the right is the facts. That is why
remission of sentences handed to me all my rights. Not only for me but for you.
So you know that this man was innocent. The problem was not legal. It was the
crossbred political righteousness. What would happen happened. You read the
decree, it was not legal. Even those who accused me know that the man before
them can not divert. For young people, I repeat: politics is not haggling
equipment which is beyond that. So do not play with it because in the end the truth
always triumphs.
When News Breaks Out, We Break In. Minute by Minute Report on Cameroon and Africa
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