Sammy Kum Buo
17 March 2008
opinion
Following the recent turbulence in our country, some compatriots jokingly asked me if it was not time for the UN to intervene in Cameroon. I replied instantly and firmly in the negative.
Cameroon, I insisted, can resolve its problems by itself, and through compromise, NOT through civil war.Cameroon has long enjoyed a well earned reputation as a land of peace. Its rare stability in conflict-prone central Africa has attracted nearly 100,000 refugees fleeing war and destruction in neighbouring countries, in particular the Central African Republic and Chad.
Cameroon's hospitality in welcoming fellow Africans in need of refuge, has further enhanced our image and standing in the community of nations, while strengthening, in concrete terms, the sense of solidarity that we Africans so often espouse.
Although our efforts at nation-building are neither perfect nor complete, we have already succeeded in positioning a unique and very promising experiment in the heart of Africa. Not only are the people talented and enterprising, Cameroon's immense potential remains largely untapped and underutilised.
I am, therefore, concerned that despite being a proud and intelligent people, we seem constantly to overreact to the slightest hint of criticism. Why can we not simply engage in dispassionate dialogue or refute what we may view as unwarranted and false accusations, without being defensive?
Above all, as a country that constantly reaffirms its respect for the rule of law and has signed various international conventions on civil, political, socio-economic and human rights, Cameroon should seek to ensure that the enjoyment of these rights by its population is unfettered and protected. In that way, we can reduce criticisms and continue to build an even stronger nation.
Most Cameroonians were born after independence. They have, therefore, known only peace. Those who remember the violent conflicts of the 1950s, 60s and 70s, certainly do not want to relive the nightmare of those dark years. We, therefore, are capable of pulling back from the brink, on our own, and consolidating the precious, even if still fragile stability we have achieved.
That is why I am very proud of the spontaneous and categorical rejection by the overwhelming majority of Cameroonians of recent unpatriotic statements which sought to incite hatred and divisions among Cameroonians under the pretext of defending the government.
It is significant that the government dissociated itself from such a dangerous fringe. After all, the government is for all Cameroonians. As we all may know, since the Cold War ended in 1989, and following the lessons learned from the shaky response to the Rwanda Genocide in 1994, the international community has become increasingly resolute in opposing and punishing egregious malpractices, such as genocide,
war crimes and other massive violations of human rights, in particular through prosecution by international tribunals. We should, therefore, not allow our country to be dragged into or otherwise become associated with such an ignominious pool.
A strong democracy is built by free, independent and responsible citizens. The freedom of the press that we enjoy is both a symbol of and a tool for our nascent democracy. So is the freedom of assembly. There was a time when Cameroonians needed a laissez-passer to travel from one town to the next.
That was a reflection of the unstable and insecure period at the time. Today, we have the constitutional right to travel and to speak freely. It would be regressive to attempt to pull us back. What is especially important, however, is for us to exercise our rights with a high sense of responsibility and, above all, patriotism.
A true patriot will not violate a fellow compatriot's rights, destroy public property, loot private businesses or otherwise undertake or promote actions or policies that diminish his/her country.
Patriots are found at every level of society, but the expectations for patriotic deeds are understandably higher for those who are entrusted and paid by their people to lead them. After all, in a democracy, the government is, in the final analysis, accountable to the people. It takes all of us working together, the government and the people, to build a better Cameroon.
In fact, to paraphrase President John F. Kennedy, we should "ask not what the country can do for us, but what we can do for the country."In my many years of professional involvement in conflict resolution and the restoration of peace in war torn societies in Africa, I have learned many important lessons, including the following:
The cost of conflict, not only in terms of loss of lives and the destruction of property, or the divisions and polarization within the society is higher than any possible benefit that could be derived from resort to violence; dialogue and negotiation are the most effective tools for the peaceful settlement of conflicts.
Again, to paraphrase President Kennedy, we, as a nation, should not negotiate out of fear, but mostly, we should not fear to negotiate"; while a conflict can explode in a second, it takes years to repair the damage; the peace that reigns in Cameroon has given Cameroonians greater credibility as peace facilitators or mediators; Africa's chronic instability has tarnished the continent's image, hampered its ability to attract foreign investors; and above all, severely degraded the dignity of Africans; societies which make peaceful demonstrations and freedom of expression impossible, make violent conflicts inevitable.
In a recent study published by a group of international NGOs, it emerges that 38 percent of the world's armed conflicts are being fought in Africa, with the continent accounting for almost half of all high-intensity conflicts in the world. The financial cost of those conflicts to the African economy is estimated annually at US $18 billion or over US $300 billion since 1990.
That is approximately 8 FCFA trillion a year. In addition to the direct cost in lives lost, infrastructure damaged and resources diverted from development to emergency humanitarian care, conflicts result in reduced economic activity due to insecurity, the brain drain, reduced investment and export, increased debt, loss of development aid and the increased diversion of national revenue to illicit, private use.
The intangible political and psychological consequences of war, resulting from divisions among the population due to heightened mistrust, also cast a heavy shadow and undermine prospects for prosperity and development.
I have chosen to highlight that somber background from other parts of our continent to underscore the need for us to cherish and nourish the peace we have enjoyed for decades, by learning from the mistakes of our neighbours in conflict. The fact that President Paul Biya responded to the people's strong expression of frustration over the high cost of living is an example of the way in which Cameroonians seek to settle disputes.
That example needs to be consolidated and faithfully replicated at all levels in our society if we are to avoid plunging the country into the bottomless pit of conflict.
The views expressed in this article are solely his personal views and do not necessarily reflect the position of the Organisation
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