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From: Mishe Fon <mishefon@yahoo.com>;
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Subject: Fw: [camnetwork] ON THE UNREST AT THE UNIVERSITY OF BUEA
Sent: Sat, Jul 27, 2013 11:51:32 PM
Dr. Mbah Tikum Azonga Well Balanced approach at conflict resolution. I sincerely don't know who gives advice to the "Collective of UBSU" but some of their incendiary postings on the Internet in very murky and sometimes sub-standard English Language makes some of us doubt the credibility of these students. Crafting a reasonable and straight forward "Communique" should not be that difficult for Graduate and Under Graduate students of "Anglophone" Education. I personally find the verdict of the Court in this case to be extremely severe and out of place. Usually Student protests/riots that have ended in the Court system elsewhere saw maximum fines or penalties of at most three months or some kind of suspended sentence. Keep in mind that these are young Cameroonians (future leaders...that is, if the SHIDON TIGHT Oligarchs who have refused to retire even at 80 can decide to Shake Skin and allow Young Cameroonians to take over). I know Cameroonians who graduated from Ngoa with "Matrise en Quelque Chose" since 1982 when tonton chopped Ahidjo's chair WHO have never had to put their expertise at the service of their country. Some of them barely manged to become Ecole Normale TEACHERS posted and "oublier complement" to remote enclaves of Cameroon. Imagine sending a young graduate from Buea to go and teach in CES de Nguelemedouka (where is that???). Little wonder the gates of European and American Embassies are flooded on a daily basis with our young citizens, cooking up all kinds of "dokkies and mitives", fleeing the country in droves for greener pastures. Cameroon Government came up with Operation 1500, 2500 and most recently 25,000 massive recruitment into the Public Service which have all turned out to be a massive "Political Mirage and Fraud of gargantuan proportions". How could a Government under very strict PPTE (tight Financial restrictions from donor participants) boastfully talk of revamping its ailing Civil Service with an injection of twenty five thousand new RECRUITS. I am not an Accountant but any Mbutuku will want to know: What were the budgetary allocations for that Fiscal Year (when the President announced this magnanimous Gift to his Compatriots) that took care of these new supposed "Hires"? Did the National Assembly approve of that Budget? When was it passed into Law? How many were actually hired and how many are on Government Payroll as we speak. I honestly sympathize with UBSU but I agree with you intoto that the UBSU "Executives" are going about it the wrong way. They have to respect the Court decisions and seek redress as you brilliantly point out by consulting with Legal luminaries instead of rushing to the Internet with have baked uncouth diatribe. Sometimes I read some of their "Communique" and I ask myself who these fellows really are? The problems of the University of Buea are many and varied...from the Students, to you the Lecturers/Administrators and the Cameroon Government itself. For lasting peace to reign in that University, a lot of soul searching by all and sundry has to be engaged immediately. My Two Cents Mishe Fon Subject: [camnetwork] ON THE UNREST AT THE UNIVERSITY OF BUEA A WORD OF ADVICE TO UBSU (UNIVERSITY OF BUEA) 1. FIRST THINGS FIRST The court has handed down sentences on the students of the University of Buea who were awaiting trial for their alleged part in disturbances that rocked the university recently. Nonetheless, the details of the sentences are beyond the present piece of dispatch. The purpose of the epistle is to counsel members of UBSU and offer them advice on where to go from here; in other words, the way forward. UBSU members reading this may say there is nothing I am telling them that they do not know already. No, let them hold their horses, for there is a French saying that "Abondance de biens ne nuit pas". I urge them to read through this piece of writing carefully and reflect seriously on its content. By the way, what I say here is entirely my own creation, with no input from anyone else. 2. WHO AM I TO PREACH TO YOU? I have been a student and a student leader too. I have loved the time spent at the University of Buea teaching Journalism and Mass Communication as well as the two general courses, FRENCH 101 and FRENCH 102. I have been a college principal. When I taught French and Spanish in a London High School, I was made a Form Tutor, a Head of Year and Chairman of the school's Public Relations. At the same school, I was elected unopposed as the institution's Staff Representative. Once when as an international journalist I traveled to Brazzaville (Republic of Congo) to cover the first-ever Conference of African Scientists organized by the then OAU and UNESCO, my stay in Brazzaville coincided with the annual assembly of Cameroonian students in that country. They invited me as a guest of honour. When I got up to speak, I dissuaded them from going on a strike they had intended to use to have their problems solved. That was at the time when our government was sponsoring thousands of students in foreign universities. I advised them to contact the ambassador and put their problems directly to him. They did, and it worked. On another occasion, when the ENS the lone institution on the Bambili campus and I was a part time French teacher there, I arrived one day to find that support staffs were on a sit-in strike. After speaking briefly with them, I went to the director and asked whether he would allow me to talk to the workers. He gave me the green light and I spoke with them. They called off the strike and went back to work. So if I am advising UBSU, I where I am coming from. 3. A WORD TOO MANY Shortly after the court ruling of this week, UBSU through the Camnetwork discussion forum on internet reacted rather prematurely, rashly and hastily. It used language that was discordant and uncomfortable. The UBSU message was entitled: "Buea High Court Failed Justice". It said inter alia, "a strategic meeting is therefore billed on Sunday 28th July at the village behind the Buea Mountain". UBSU also warns: "We call on UB students wherever they are to prepare. Since the University Administration has decided to go on this way then War we declare unto UB....Peace will declare unknown in UB.....the reactions shall be spontaneous and it shall follow generations upon generations....It could not come now but it will eventually come". This is no doubt a call to arms; or if you prefer, sabre rattling. This meeting called for Sunday 28th July has already been announced. But has UBSU applied and obtained authorization to hold it? It calls on UB students "wherever they are, to prepare". How? More shocking is the reprehensible warning: "War we declare unto UB…Peace will declare unknown in UB". Some of these statements can clearly incriminate UBSU. If that happens then it means that UBSU has shot itself in the foot and sold itself short. 4. THE GAPING VACUUM One question that comes to mind is whether UBSU should have taken it upon itself to react. It was not a jurist speaking on their behalf; no, it was they themselves. But UBSU forgot that now that the court has stepped in and even handed down a sentence, the whole matter has shifted into a higher gear. It is now beyond the university and the vice chancellor. The statement of UBSU gives the impression that they are their own lawyers. Why so? When a French top ranking official was accused of sexual impropriety towards a woman and was insulted and humiliated, he said nothing but allowed his lawyers to do all the talking. Why did UBSU choose to go it alone? Why did it choose to be the lone ranger? 5. THE LAW IS SACROSANCT UBSU has described the court ruling as a "failure". By so doing, the union is questioning and challenging the authority of the law and the law courts, and by extension, the institutions of the Republic. Some pleas had been voiced in favour of the release of the detained students. That did not happen. Instead, the court went ahead and tried them and has now rendered its verdict. The court's decision must be respected. This does not mean that they can not disagree with what the court says. But there are ways of doing it, one of which is to lodge an appeal against the decision. That is best done by a lawyer. UBSU has not looked at that option. The decision taken by the court is surely one that is likely to be upheld by the authorities: the Minister, the Prime minister and the president of the Republic. This is because the law is the law, even if as someone described it, "the law is an ass". 6. SOME (UNFORESEEN) CONSEQUENCES UBSU must thread carefully because further action on their part henceforth may lead to the disbandment of the Union, as a way of enabling peace to reign on campus. In extreme cases, the university may be closed down perhaps for a week, a month, a semester or even a year. Nigeria is one example where universities have been closed down due to student unrest. Once that happens, a whole year can be lost and the authorities may now use methods of (re)enrolment which exclude unruly or potentially dangerous students. The university may also permanently exclude some students from the institution. If that happens, they may find it difficult to enrol elsewhere and may even find it difficult to leave the country and study abroad. So far, the minister of higher education has not reacted as such; neither has the prime minister nor president of the Republic. Once when there was a student strike at the then lone University of Yaoundé, the Head of State at the time, Ahmadou Ahidjo openly warned students: "L`ordre regnera à L`université par tous les moyens!" It was an angry voice, and so students immediately returned to class. UBSU must realize that the scenario has changed since their conflict began and consequently fine-tune their approach. 7. THE PUBLIC IMAGE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF BUEA News travels fast. UBSU should therefore not undermine the extent to which their action can damage the university. Repeated striking give the world the erroneous impression that Cameroon is insecure. Foreign investors will be discouraged and tourists will go elsewhere. Another point is that the University of Buea has been earmarked to host one of the institutions of the Pan African University, created by the African Union. Continuous unrest can either move it out of the University of Buea or out of Cameroon totally. So who loses? One question that should be asked is why it is that the University of Buea has topped the chart for student strikes and unrest, of all the state universities. Why? 7. THE CHEERING CROWDS People may have sympathized with UBSU. Some are no doubt still egging on the union to stay in defiance even of the court of law. That is not a good thing to do. Firstly, all such people can offer the Union is talk and nothing but cheap talk. When the union is in trouble, none of them will step forward to assist. If UBSU is banned, they will not be the ones to lift the ban. If students are dismissed, they can not readmit them. If the university is closed won, they will not be able to reopen it. This fan club syndrome reminds me of student unrests that took place in China some years ago. Western media and their politicians cheered the students and urged them to carry on. However, when the Chinese government ruthlessly clamped down on them and they capitulated, the West swallowed its tongue. When America invaded Libya, cheering crowds stood on roof tops and applauded. When the Iraqi president Saddam Hussein was executed, the same people rejoiced and some threw parties in jubilation. But today, many Iraqis regret it because life in the country has greatly declined, to a level far below that which obtained at the time of Saddam. UBSU must know that any event that is staged publicly will always have its share of spectators. But it does not necessarily mean that the act being performed is right. One head of state looked at the mammoth crowds that had come out for his installation ceremony and remarked that he was sure if he was about to be executed the turn out would be equally high. So, UBSU, do not trust appearances. Far off hills look green. 8. THE APOTHEOSIS Every conflict gets to a crescendo. After that the curb begins to fall. Let us consider the action taken by the court as the crescendo in this matter and start climbing down. UBSU must not insist on fighting because it wants to score the winning goal. Besides, it is difficult to fight the institution or even the republic. A French aphorism says, rather tellingly, "on ne gagne pas à tous les coups". In Baforchu, we say: "if you dig too deeply for a cricket, you may come up with a snake". 9. THE CAMEROONIAN STUDENT AS A RACE APART University Students in our country have it good and sometimes it is healthy for one to stop and count one's blessings. Cameroon is one of the few countries where university fees are so low. Even in Britain, British students still pay an amount that comparatively makes that paid in Cameroon look derisory. There has been a lot of talk about the need for government to loosen its grip on universities. I agree. However, there is a saying that who pays the piper dictates the tune. As long as funding universities is still a government activity, it will be difficult to get it to reduce its role it. If the government were to withdraw financially and make universities fend for themselves, would they? 10. THE WAY FORWARD Now that the saga has reached a point of no return, so to speak, if UBSU is wise, it should sue for peace. It should take the bull by the horns, swallow the bitter pill and undertake to restore peace on campus. If UBSU moves in that direction, the act may displease some observers and supporters. But in the end, the gesture will have won the admiration of the world community. That is because it is easier for the human being to say, "shut up!" than to say "I am sorry". Two of the world's greatest enemies to each other: Israel and Palestine, have realized the importance of dialogue. Warring factions in Apartheid South Africa realized it and set up the Peace and Reconciliation Committee where they each spoke from the heart, shed tears and forgave each other. Here in Cameroon, both President Paul Biya and Main Opposition Leader Ni John Fru Ndi have sat down and talked. One guest on the French national Radio, RFI commented recently that wars end up with the warring factions sitting down and talking. The world could in this way learn a big lesson from UBSU. Another point is that there can not be two masters on the same ship. The Vice Chancellor is the Head of the university and therefore boss over UBSU. It is not the other way round. UBSU, you can do it! Give peace a chance! -- TIKUM MBAH AZONGA PhD (Mass Communication), Mastaire ès Lettres (Journalisme), PG Dip. (French), Dip.Traducteur-Inteprète, Dip.(Prof Français Langue Etrangère), Certifcado de Profesor de Español Lengua Extrangera (DELE), Diplôme Chambre de Commerce de Paris, Cambidge Certificate of Proficiency in English. ------------------------------------ Camnetwork is the premier Cameroon/Cameroun forum since 1997.Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/camnetwork/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/camnetwork/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: camnetwork-digest@yahoogroups.com camnetwork-fullfeatured@yahoogroups.com <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: camnetwork-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com <*> Your use of Yahoo! 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