Iya Mohamed Wrap in FCFA 9 Billion Mismanagement Scandals at SODECOTTON

 The General Manager of Cameroon Cotton Company, cum President of FECAFOOT has been indicted by the budgetary and financial disciplinary committee of the Supreme State Audit for managerial errors. According to a communiqué issued by Minister Henry Ayebne Ayissi of the Supreme State Audit, the all mighty Iya Mohamed in his capacity as the General Manager of SODECOTTON committed administrative errors that resulted to the state losing FCFA 9 billion from 2005 to 2010. The communiqué further states that Iya Mohamed will have to pay a fine of FCFA 2 billion as fine for the errors he committed. Besides, he was also fined to pay FCFA 1 million for errors committed as the President of the follow-up of SODECOTTON sports complex. These errors resulted to the state losing 16 million FCFA. At the time of writing this story, we also gathered that the Supreme State Audit also indicted two audit firms in the SODECOTTON saga. Sources say recommendations from the Supreme State Audit are rife at that Iya Mohamed shouldn’t be trusted any public office for the next seven years or so. Iya Mohamed who recently is at daggers drawn with the Minister of Spots and Physical education is likely on an exit. Sources say he defied a ban by Sports Minister to continue with the elections within the decentralized structures of FECAFOOT and the fact that police disrupted the elections in Yaounde is indicative of his departure from public office. Another confidential source hinted that SODECOTTON Board is likely to eclipse Iya Mohamed next month. Another authoritative voice hinted that an extraordinary Board meeting has been scheduled for mid April whereby Iya Mohamed will be ousted. Yet we were reliable informed that the doors of Kodengui are widely open for newcomers and Iya is likely to be another new catch.  

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NCC Expands Control Over Media, Dishes out Sanctions Journalists, Media Outlets

 By Fai Cassian

Censorship they say is just like a double-edge sword because if used properly, it serves as a valuable weapon, yet it can also be misused silence dissenting voices. Censorship may have many technical and legal repercussions. In other words, Governments and other regulatory institutions must learn to use it judiciously so as to control of the influx of information and ideas in society. Both democratic and non-democratic countries use it. With the explosion of communication technology, it has become all-pervasive for control mechanisms reasons why Cameroon government found it necessary to create the Communication Council. However, a recent move by the National Communication Council –NCC (Cameroon) leaves many wondering whether censorship is good or bad. It decision to suspend  programs on television, radio, and putting newspapers and online publications on guard as attracted a lot of public debate.

In its recent action, NCC dolled out sanctions on programs as well as some presenters of audio-visual private media houses in Cameroon. The suspensions according to a communiqué by NCC on March 28, 2013 range from three to six months depending on the gravity.  Canal 2, New Tv, Vision 4, Sky one Radio, Golden House, Arien TV, LTM, Youth FM were the first that fell on the hammer of the National Communication Council.  Sources say NCC is aghast with some of these channels for promoting the activities of tradi-practitioners yet another source hinted that NCC has been transformed into a slaughter house by some few individuals who are settling scores with their enemies. NCC however suspended two TV programs, namely IPP News and Canal Detective for lack of professionalism and social responsibilities.  NCC however places on guard the print media and the electronic media in Cameroon for their excesses. It is feared that the same sanctions will befall newspapers as well as electronic media. More so, TV channels advertising drugs (NEW TV, VISON 4, ARIANE TV, GOLDEN House, LTM and DBS TV) were warned to stop the broadcasting of such programs.
According to confidential sources, the council based on the constant drift observed in the broadcast by Canal 2 International and LTM of programs entitled "Canal detective" and IPP News that was projected on March 21 and 27, 2013 large extracts of mutilated and decaying bodies; violent and indecent images. Judging from the images, NCC we learnt decided to suspend the above referred programs and temporarily suspends their presenters of every media talk shows, the release that sanctioned the two day meeting states:
Awilo, presenter of the IPP News has been suspended for six months while Ruben Malick, presenter of Canal detective has been suspended for three months.
On violations of ethics and professional conduct perpetrated in daily programs broadcast by radio stations YOUTH FM, AMPLITUDE FM, and SKY ONE RADIO respectively entitled Deballage, la voix de sans viox, surface de verite, NCC also banned the programs mentioned above and temporarily suspended their presenters from every media talk shows, the release indicated.

It should be noted that at the end of the meeting, NCC also published a plan to screen and control the activities of the media during the April 14, 2013 Senatorial elections; it also includes a journalist guide and claims it will ensure that all political parties have equal time on public Medias.

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CPJ Condemns Conviction of Cameroonian Newspaper Editor

New York, March 28, 2013--An appellate court in Cameroon should overturn the defamation conviction and jail sentence handed to a newspaper editor on Monday, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

A November 2010 issue of Paroles features a story, seen bottom left, called "The antics of the couple Ngalle, from Socatur." (Paroles)

A criminal court judge in Douala, the commercial capital, sentenced Jean-Marie Tchatchouang, editor of the weekly Paroles, to two months in prison, and ordered him to pay damages of 2 million CFA francs (US$3,900) to Jean Ernest Ngallè Bibéhé, CEO of Socatur, a bus company in Douala, defense lawyer Alain Zogo told CPJ. The journalist was also fined 435,910 CFA francs (US$852), Zogo said.
On the judge's orders, Tchatchouang was jailed immediately in New Bell Prison in Douala, Emmanuel Ekouli, the head of the Association of Young Reporters of Cameroon, a local press group, told CPJ. However, under Cameroon's criminal code, defendants are eligible for bail in prison terms of less than one year, Zogo said. The defense has filed a petition requesting the journalist's release on bail, and intends to appeal the conviction, he said.
Bibéhé filed two criminal defamation lawsuits against Tchatchouang in connection with a series of articles published in Paroles in November and December 2010 that covered widely reported allegations of embezzlement and abusive labor practices against Bibéhé and his wife, Socatur's human resources manager, according to Zogo and local journalists. Bibéhé and his wife have denied the accusations.
Monday's sentence was a result of Bibéhé's second complaint. The first complaint led to a judge convicting Tchatchouang of defamation in March 2011 and sentencing him to a six-month suspended jail term in connection with different articles on the same topic. The judge also ordered Paroles to be banned. Tchatchouang appealed the sentence, and the trial will begin April 4, Zogo said. Paroles is still publishing.
"Cameroonian public figures have long used criminal defamation laws to silence their critics and Jean-Marie Tchatchouang is the most recent to be targeted," said CPJ Africa Advocacy Coordinator Mohamed Keita. "We call on the courts to grant him bail pending his appeal and to eventually overturn his conviction. Cases of defamation should be tried in civil, not criminal courts."

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Senatorial Elections: ELECAM Approves 182 Polling Stations

The Director of Elections at Elections Cameroon has published the list of 182 polling stations ahead of the April 14, 2013 Senatorial Elections in Cameroon. According to the release issued by Elections Cameroon-ELECAM, the 182 polling stations are located in the 58 divisional headquarters nationwide. The Press release signed by Mohaman Sani Tanimou, Director of Elections on March 26, 2013 comes after ELECAM Board rejected some nomination lists including four lists belonging to the ruling CPDM. The decisions by ELECAM continue to attract public admiration.

However, information from the field indicates that senatorial candidates are busy negotiating for votes even though campaigns have not been launched officially.  However, it should be recalled that all nomination lists from Far North and East Regions were rejected by ELECAM and if the Supreme Court confirms that decision, Far North and the East Region will surely have no elected senators.
However, only the SDF, CPDM, NUDP and CDU as of now will take part in the elections pending final decision by the Supreme Court sitting in lieu of the Constitutional Council.  Fonkam Azu’u and Co arrived at that decision last Wednesday March 20, 2013 in Yaoundé that scrutinized the 40 nomination lists submitted by political parties. 23 nomination lists were rejected for reasons of non-legalization of some application files, non-payment of caution fee of 1 million FCFA, non-conviction certificates signed by incompetent authorities, gender insensitivity ETC. However, the Supreme Court as of today March 28 is examining some 15 petitions from political parties including the CPDM, UPC etc

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No Headway for Homosexuals in Cameroon despite

 In a statement, the Public Affairs Department of the Embassy of the United States has expressed disgust at Cameroon officially to decriminalize homosexuality. According to the state, the US Embassy expressed it wish that if the diplomatic mission welcomes efforts that Cameroonian authorities continue to perform to boost socio-economic development and modernization of the economy, as reflected the vision in 2035, and approves very optimistic about the objectives contained in the Strategy Document for Growth and Employment (DSCE), especially as she thinks the process of their implementation requires a national effort, including the full participation of all Cameroonians. Which according to the statement needs significant contribution and participation of all Cameroonians, it is therefore imperative that everyone involved should enjoy in full measure all the fundamental freedoms enshrined in the “Universal Declaration of Human Rights”.
And be a little more clear: "As we approach the International Day against Homophobia date is not specified, note], we recall that human rights are a matter of everyone, without distinction of race, religion, ethnic origin or any other sensitivities, including sexual preference. " The Embassy of the United States subsequently adopts a threatening tone, even if done so secretly, as is customary in diplomacy.  A pluralistic society can truly prosper when each member recognizes and respects diversity. "...

Yet sources say two young men from Cameroon, who were freed from prison and acquitted from being convicted of ‘appearing homosexual’ in January, have been re-arrested. Jonas Singa Kumie and Franky Djome we gathered were re-arrested as they went shopping on Sunday March 24, at the Essos market in Yaoundé, dressed in women’s clothes.
It is also alleged that some suspected homosexuals in Douala were also on heat as the population almost melted jungle justice on them.

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Nelson Mandela (Madiba) Hospitalized

 Nelson Mandela suffered a recurrence of his lung infection and was taken to a hospital late Wednesday.

In a statement, the current South African President Jacob Zuma said “we appeal to the people of South Africa and the world to pray for our beloved Madiba [a nickname for Mandela] and his family and to keep them in their thoughts.”

“We have full coidence in the medical team and know that they will do everything possible to ensure recovery," he added. “The Presidency appeals once again for understanding and privacy in order to allow space to the doctors to do their work.”

 Mandela, 94, was taken to a hospital just before midnight local time (6 p.m. ET).

The statement said that Mandela had the “best possible expert in medical treatment and comfort.”

“I can’t say how serious it is,” a presidential spokesman said. “I know [doctors] will call me if there is an upturn or a downturn.”

Mandela spent nearly three weeks in a hospital in December for treatment of a lung infection and gallstone surgery.

This was his longest time he had been hospitalized since being released from captivity as a political prisoner in 1990.

He was also hospitalized earlier this month for what was described as a "scheduled medical checkup."

Mandela was president of South Africa from 1994 to 1999, the first president of the country to be elected following the fall of the apartheid system.

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Song, Webo Create Impact as Presidential Delegation to Turkey

 

Cameroonian footballers have occupied a special place as part of the delegation President Paul Biya took along on an economic mission to Turkey. Bahanag Rigobert Song, the former captain of the Indomitable Lions who played for a Turkish first Division side Galatasaray and  Achille Webo who plays for Feberbahce were part of the delegation. According to a Presidential insider, the two soccer stars will woo Turkish business magnet to invest in Cameroon.
Current team manager of the Indomitable Lions, Rigobert Song has spent six years in Turkey where he twice won the Turkish league with Galatasaray, where he spent four seasons. Rigobert Song has established business contacts in Turkey and with the support of the Turks he established his company specialized in construction, Soribat,  where he held the position of CEO.
The Cameroon striker Achille Webo plays for Fenerbahçe. Since the beginning of this season, he recorded three goals in five matches. He was transferred to the club early in the season, from another Turkish club Istanbul BB. The transfer fee is 3 million euros. Cameroon 31 years committed to Fenerbahçe until June 2015. During the two seasons he played for his former club, after 54 games, he registered 24 goals with the club. On the occasion of Cameroon's economic mission to Turkey, Achille Webo has the opportunity to give his jersey to two Presidents Abdullah Gul of Turkey and Paul Biya of Cameroon. This, public opinion holds is creating positive impact in Turkey and the world at large.
The presence of these two footballers in the Cameroonian delegation added more colore to Paul Biya's official visit to Turkey.

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Central African Republic: Rebel Forces Ransack News Outlets CPJ Says

Courtesy CPJ

At least two news outlets were raided in the Central African Republic on Sunday when rebel groups ousted the president from power, according to news reports and local press freedom groups. 
Rebel groups known as Seleka ousted President François Bozizé from power in the capital, Bangui, according to local and international news reports. Seleka leader Michel Djotodia proclaimed himself the new head of state. Rebel forces, which had conquered most of the country's eastern region over recent months, had swept into Bangui, clashing with government forces and South African troops sent to bolster the former president, according to news reports.

Seleka fighters raided the Banguistudios of Radio Ndeke Luka, an independent station managed by the Switzerland-based Hirondelle Foundation, and confiscated some of its equipment, according to local journalists and Journaliste en Danger (JED), a press freedom group based in neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo. The assailants seized a station vehicle and four motorcycles, and also confiscated two computers, Sylvie Panika, the station's director, told CPJ. Local journalists said the station stopped broadcasting that day, citing the region's instability and insecurity as reasons. The station resumed broadcasting today.
Panika also told CPJ that she had been robbed at gunpoint earlier Sunday by a rebel fighter as she exited a church. She said most of the money that was stolen belonged to the station.
Seleke fightersalso raided the Banguioffices of the private daily Le Confident on Sunday, according to local journalists and JED. News accounts and local journalists did not immediately say if any of the outlet's equipment had been seized. The paper has stopped publishing, local journalists said. JED reported that the paper's editor, Mathurin Momet, had gone into hiding fearing his own safety.
It was not immediately clear whether the rebels had targeted the outlets.
"We condemn the attacks by rebel forces on Central African Republic news outlets," CPJ Africa Advocacy Coordinator Mohamed Keita said. "We call on the rebel forces to recognize journalists as civilians protected under international law and return all equipment that has been seized."
Christophe Gazam Betty, a spokesman for the Seleka fighters, said he was aware of only slight damage to the Radio Ndeke Luka vehicle and denied any knowledge of a raid on Le Confident. Betty said authorities were taking measures to avoid such attacks.

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Yang Philemon, Achidi Achu and the 2013 Senatorial Challenges in NW

Ailing Rt. Hon Achidi Achu and PM Yang

I will consider here some of the main beliefs and schemes of the North West CPDM political elite, as they deal with dissenting voices ahead of the April 14, 2013 Senatorial Elections. As any philosophy graduate knows, the key statement in Machiavelli’s The Prince make it crystal clear that if a prince wants to maintain his state, he must “learn how not to be good” and then use that knowledge whenever it is necessary. In philosophy, this is known as the “dirty hands” problem. And in politics, it has no name since the entire game is dirty. The reason why it is necessary for a prince to sometimes get his hands “dirty” is that he will be overcome by those around him if he doesn’t. To cut it short, Machiavelli puts it: “A man who wishes to profess good at all times will come to ruin among so many who are not good”. Machiavelli did not have an impracticable analysis of people, calling them “a wretched lot” who in general are “ungrateful, fickle, simulators and deceivers, avoiders of danger, and greedy for gain”. Pretty much the opinion we have of all North West CPDM politicians today could easily be likened to the views of Machiavelli.

The fact that Machiavelli wrote that a prince needed to get his hands dirty in order to maintain himself in power, is equal to what the CPDM politicians in the North West Region today have learned to do well. The so-called “Yaounde Elite Group” under Prime Minister Philemon Yang are willing to do that which is “not good” and, as John Stuart Mill wrote, “Visit harm” upon their own citizens in order to keep anyone from questioning what they are doing. North West journalists have been victimized by these hawking politicians due to their pretending nature to “not do good”. A memo in that line addressed to President Biya and PM Yang Philemon speaks volume as journalists are quoted to have declared that they would prefer to support SCNC than a government that marginalizes. Even though it is widely acknowledged that a ruler should not keep his word when it’s not to his advantage, must not hesitate to employ cunning, faithlessness and deceit, and should know to be “a great pretender and dissembler”, the CPDM in the North West has been rated as being in the worst of shapes with people like Yang, Achidi Achu playing key roles. It has not just been transformed into a sinkhole for character assassination but made up of people master well the practiced in such vulpine ways.

On March 23, 2013, the Yaounde Group staged an in-camera meeting at the Ayaba Hotel in Bamenda under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Philemon Yang. The guests of honours were CPDM senatorial candidates. As usual, a team was dispatched to all CPDM run councils to meet councilors who made up the Electoral College.

Yet before the Bamenda meeting, sources linked to the Prime Minister’s office hinted that PM Yang summoned CPDM aspirants whose names were rejected from the lists. Ostrich-like, the attempted candidates were told to shot their mouths. They were told that some of them have been earmarked for appointment as senators. And before leaving Yaounde for Bamenda, they were told to work as a team with those who were selected by the Central Committee.

An atmosphere of stale familiarity reins in the CPDM run Councils in the North West Region ahead of the April 14, 2013 senatorial polls. Some CPDM Councilors we gathered have expressed their disgust on the maltreatment from Prime Minister Philemon Yang. According to the hint, the councilors have vowed to vote against the CPDM senatorial list. The reason being that of late PM Philemon Yang dispatched CPDM emissaries to the councils with chicken fees to buy their consciences, yet some of the councilors we learnt raised hell when they were told to sign 15.000 FCFA each. They are also aghast that PM Yang manipulated the Central Committee to impose his stooges on the list. The case in point is Bali in Mezam where councilors have vowed that none of them will cast a vote for the ruling CPDM. Bali Council according to what we gathered is the only CPDM run Council in Mezam, yet Yang maneuvered for Achidi Achu to surface as head of the lists. The most pathetic thing is that the names of the Fon of Bali as well as that of Prof. Doh Anderson were rejected and Fon Nana of Bawock preferred. “We will not vote the CPDM list”, one councilor told this reporter on phone.

In Bui, Yang Philemon is on a hot stole for selecting Eno Emma Lafon who according to the people of Nso doesn’t represent them giving that she is married in Mamfe. Sources say the choice of Eno Emma Lafon was masterminded so much so that PM Philemon Yang remains the only cock in the CPDM. More so, Noni people are aghast that Yang had angered them for long. An authouritative voice hinted that when PM Yang was appointed, everyone thought that his Director of Cabinet was to come from Noni, yet he ignored the Noni people in his choice. The Nkor Council we gathered is divided over who will vote for the CPDM.

In Menchum, the situation is pitiable. Sources say the choice of Wallang David continue to create cracks in the CPDM. Councilors of Zhoa, Wum and Benakuma have also said they are going for a void ballot. Furu-awa Council on the other hand is threatening to boycott giving it loyalty to the CPDM has never given them anything. It is alleged that the absence of Chou Cyprian on the list is becoming problematic.

In Momo, Awanga Zacharia sources hinted would have to face the reality of life giving that even though a business magnet, his charity begins and ends in Oshie. 

The "North West hunting practice of running in different directions" could not be disguised, given the limited time. Running in different directions, four CPDM lists emerged; headed respectively by Fon Chafah, Former PM, Achidi Achu, Former Minister John Ndeh and Dr. Nick Ngwanyam. Given the speed at which things are done in Cameroun, one would think that so many lists will complicate things for the CPDM Central Committee. In record time, the Central Committee came out with a North West list among others. The remarkable work of the Central Committee has in no way mask what is glaring of the North West CPDM. Fon Chafah had a more impressive list.

If the Kanyimi Ihmbru on the final list is the Ihimbru Kangeli on the Fon's original list, then the Fon's list has contributed to nine of the fourteen persons on the final list. Interestingly Achidi Achu whose list contributed a mere four to the final list, seems poised as the leader of the North West list; with Fon Chafah not featuring as even an alternate. If really there was a Central Committee meeting to produce the final CPDM electoral list, the heads of three of the initial North West lists (Fon Chafah, Fomer Minister John Ndeh and Dr. Nick Ngwanyam) unlike Former PM Achidi Achu are not members of the Central Committee.

The Fon might have had the Central Committee on his mind; which might be why he included the banker, Awanga Zacharia (Awanga Zacharie) on his list as a Central Committee Member. Mr. Awanga seems to have represented the Fon well on the committee but could not get past his "CPC Big" (Former PM Achidi Achu) to have the Fon on the final list. The Former PM other than his Mezam choice (Substantive and Alternate) had only the Nguketunjia choice to also defend from his list. In the possible "Big" and "Small" discussion the possibility of the Fon coming in and elbowing to lead the final list might have also been raised. Whatever the seeming CPC understanding, it remains a mystery that Awanga's alternate (Ndifor Raphael Usongo A.) from Momo appeared from the blue. He does not appear on any of the initial four lists unless he is the victim of a serious typographical mistake for the Raphael Nkuah on the Fon's list. If he is, then the Fon's list produced ten of the fourteen names on the final list; making the Fon's list even more remarkable. 

Whatever the CPDM game from the North West, the Central Committee might have schemed things into the promise or understanding made with the SDF Chairman. Mezam may be the more likely CPDM "sacrificial lamb" in the deal. It could be a reason why the Chairman wants to throw himself in the ring. In keeping the deal, the CPDM sees the opportunity to humiliate Former PM and Former Minister for having not worked hard enough to elbow the Chairman out of their native Santa. The Central Committee might have further noted that of all persons, the Former PM and Former Minister were least expected to submit incomplete lists.  For a start, the Former Minister's list was completely ignored as was Dr. Ngwanyam's. Dr. Ngwanyam can walk away as a seeming CPDM "outsider" in reserve for use further in the humiliation by being appointed senator. The eventual appointment of the Fon as senator for fishing out a CPDM list from a difficult North West will add to that humiliation by virtue of being the corner stone earlier rejected by the "builder".

Keeping the Former PM's choice for Mezam helps the CPDM to effortlessly keep its seeming assurance to the SDF Chairman. In terms of Mezam, the Former PM comes from peripheral Santa Sub-Division which shares a parliamentary constituency with Bali Sub-Division. Having Achidi Achu as substantive senator and the Fon of Bawock as alternate from the same parliamentary constituency is insulting to the rest of Mezam. However the initial Achidi Achu list came about, he owns it as head of the list. As a member of the Central Committee from Santa Sub-Division he should have known that the Fon of Bali and not the Fon of Bawock is the Central Committee member from Bali Sub-Division; and that the Fon of Bali brings with him at least two subjects that are also Central Committee Members; not forgetting the paper boss of ELECAM. The bitterness to be starred by the Former PM's list will help the SDF Mezam list headed by the Chairman win in ways that it will be suicidal for the CPDM locals to count on state agents to try the Santa thing again. This gives the Chairman something to savor regardless of what the CPDM does elsewhere; including in the rest of the North West.

The CPDM goes to the polls scared by the fact that two of its big wigs (Former Minister and Former PM) could not complete their lists having claimed in recent elections that the North West has become CPDM country. The Former Minister could not find any takers for his list in all of Menchum and Donga-Mantung and no alternate for Boyo? It is interesting that the Central Committee trashed his list without consideration for the great Fai Yengo Francis (Former Governor, Former Governor, Former Governor, Former Secretary General, Former SDO, Former SDO and Chairman of Rural Electrification) on it. The Former PM seriously could not find an alternate for Forgwe Alfred of Bui and JC Kangkolo of Menchum? The inadequacy of the two "big wig" lists notwithstanding, how does the CPDM feel about the fact of its four initial lists from the great North West, two were from persons sharing Santa origin with the SDF Chairman? Is Santa really the center of the North West? If the CPDM assumes it is, the incomplete lists from there should be an eye opener as to how the skewed center is out of touch with its periphery and leaves naked how the CPDM wins.

 By FC Junior with additional input culled from a write-up by the Political analyst Ndi Manjong

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