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Cameroon: Constitutional Amendment - Even Hardliners Now Understand
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Cameroon Tribune (Yaoundé)
22 February 2008
Posted to the web 22 February 2008
Tche Irene Morikang
More and more, opinion leaders in the country are unanimous on the need to amend the constitution.
The debate is on. And a very passionate one indeed! The teaser was the interview which President Paul Biya granted the French television Channel, France 24. And in his New Year address to the nation, the President did not mince words on his stance with regards to a possible revision of the constitution. "We are therefore going to reconsider, in this spirit, those provisions of our constitution which need to be harmonised with recent development in our democratic system so as to meet the expectation of the vast majority of our population", President Biya said.
This statement flung open the gates of a heated national chit-chat that is almost taking the country hostage. Surprising? Not at all! That people should be so vocal and even emotional in issues concerning the constitution, is but normal. It is an indication that Cameroonians are politically alert. And what more, we are talking here about a law that defines the fundamental principles and establishes the structures, powers and duties of a government, as well as the rights of the people.
The intriguing aspect of the on-going debate, which has kept media men busy for over seven weeks now, is the inconsistency and at times obscure intention of some opinion leaders to deliberately divert Cameroonians from the issue in hand; that of changing the constitution. Some people have put on ridiculous arguments like "a constitution should (can) never be changed". Funny. For, constitutions, like life itself, are subject to change. Proof of this is the fact that within the last couple of months, not less than five countries have changed an aspect of their constitution. Similarly, if the constitution were a static entity, it will not carry provisions and procedures for its adjustments. Between 1972 and 1996, for example, Cameroon's constitution has been amended nine times.
We also have people, trapped in the web of perpetual disagreement and confrontation, who have been quick to reduce the present wish by the President of the Republic for a constitutional amendment to the prolongation of the mandate of an individual. Plummeting the whole issue to one man; the President. This, however, is far from the issue, as President Paul Biya puts it himself: "The procedures (of revising the constitution) are of a general nature and do not concern anybody in particular".
Easy therefore to understand why more and more, opinion leaders in the country are unanimous on the need to amend the constitution. It is for the interest of all Cameroonians as the changing times have brought to light some of the shortcomings of our present constitution. Let's take the case of the famous Article 6, Paragraph 2 which limits the mandate of the President to a term of seven years renewable once. How can we talk of democracy and yet keep certain individuals out of the race to the presidency? Besides this article, there are several other aspects of our constitution which Cameroonians, like Issa Tchiroma, National President of the "Front pour la salut national du Cameroun (FSNC)" think should be addressed. In a press conference last Wednesday, he cited the time limit needed to organise an election in case of vacancy at the helm of the State. "45 days is too small to organise a presidential election. It is an impossibility", he said.
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Issa Tchiroma is not the only opposition figure who has taken a public position in favour of the revision of the constitution. Some emblematic faces of Cameroon's hardcore opposition have said they see no reason why the present constitution cannot be changed. The discrepancy is on what to change and how to go about it. Before Tchiroma last Wednesday, we had Antar Gassagay, President of "Union pour la République". The politician gave his points on why the constitution has to be changed. He even suggests that the next constitution should make provisions for a Vice President, to protect social peace in case of vacancy at the helm of the State.
Last week, it was the chairman of the Social Democratic Front, Ni John Fru Ndi, who, in a press conference in Douala said he is not fundamentally opposed to the amendment of the constitution if such revision is meant to meet the aspirations of the entire nation. However, his problem is with the method. Going by him, a constitutional amendment could only be done through a Constitutional Conference. But we are certainly not at that yet.
And that is what Cameroonians should know. Our people should understand that there is nothing strange in changing a constitution and that the present move goes beyond an individual. For, if elections are free and fair, a people will always have the leaders they want. It is the interest of the nation that is at stake here; that of making it possible for Cameroonians to have a law that meets their aspirations.
why do I have the feeling that anybody who works for Cameroon Tribune thinks CPDM? I think Cameroon Tribune needs to be privatized so that can stop reading this ridiculous pro-CPDM articles.
Cameroon Tribune and CRTV are structures that have help Paul Biya and his ruthless regime to destroy Cameroon. People like Isa Tchiroma who are political prostitutes and have no grassroot backing can support Paul Biya because they are hungry. He proves his stupidity by claiming that foreign investors are scared if another person is head of state. Only corrupt foreign investors can be scrared. Secondly, how many foreign investors are in Cameroon presently, very little you know that because the evironment is not attractive. We are telling you people that the 98 % of Cameroonians are against the... [Read Full Text]
We totally understand how the pro-government media operates in this country. Just that at the end of this lip service only one thought creeps into the mind; our media landscape has been eroded beyond repair. First, there has been no debate "that has flung open the gates of heated national 'chit chat'"-watch your English What we have seen is a few self minded people orchestrating media practitioners like your self into convincing the nation towards a disastrous cause. Life itself is subject to change(you claim)-you should first change from this ego massaging and apparently payole journalism. Change must not come... [Read Full Text]
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