28 February 2008
«Our country is witnessing a situation which brings back unpleasant memories of a period we thought was long gone.
While it may be understandable that when negotiations fail, the demands of a group are sometimes expressed through strike action, it is unacceptable that such action should serve as a pretext for outpourings of violence against people and property. Besides, it is now established that any industrial dispute can always be solved through negotiation.
In actual fact, that is not the problem. What is at issue is the use, not to say exploitation of the transporter's strike for political ends. For some people, who by the way, did not hide their intentions, the objective is to obtain through violence what they were unable to obtain through the ballot box, that is to say, through the normal functioning of democracy.
They therefore did not hesitate to throw into the streets bands of youths who were joined by delinquents lured by the possibility of looting. The results are there: public buildings destroyed or burnt down, shops and business looted or devastated.
Be it State property, I mean our common heritage, or private premises, these are years of efforts thus reduced to nothing.
The demons who manipulated these youths behind the scenes, were not bothered about the risk that they made them to run by exposing them to confrontations with the forces of law and order. As a result, several of them lost their lives, which, of course, cannot but be deplored.
When the human and material toll of these dark days will be taken, it will probably be very heavy. Those behind these manipulations definitely did not have the good of our people in their mind. A country cannot be built through destruction.
It should therefore be made absolutely clear that Cameroon is a Constitutional State and intends to remain so.
It has democratic institutions which are functioning normally. It is within this framework that the nation's problems are addressed. It is not in the street that they are resolved.
The vast majority of our people long for peace and stability. The last elections proved this. Cameroonians know that disorder can only bring about calamity and misery. We cannot allow that to happen.
To those who are responsible for manipulating the youths to achieve their aims, I want to tell them that their attempts are doomed to failure. All legal means available to Government will be brought into play to ensure the rule of law."
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If for 26 years a president cannot be proud of a single step towards the development of his country, but still has the nerve to point an accusing finger when there a cry from the suppressed majority, then i wonder. Despite the aparent explotion of this nation, all king Biya can see is the thread to his crown. God have mercy upon us Cameroon is Doomed