Two days of violence and ugly scenes bring shame to opening encounters of Euro 2016

 UEFA and the authorities responsible for policing Euro 2016 have had great worries about the scale of trouble before and after England's 1-1 draw with Russia at Stade Velodrome in Marseille. 

Considering the important place UEFA holds in the world football family governed by FIFA, the violent and ugly scenes have brought shame to the opening encounters of UERO 2016. From the moment England and Russia fans started flooding into Marseille on Thursday and Friday, there was an undercurrent of tension and violence that was transformed into scenes that were a throwback to some of football's worst hooligan excesses of the past.

In the steamy, humid environment of this port city in the south of France, with alcohol flowing freely in searing temperatures and demonstrations of aggression from both sets of fans, all the ingredients were in place for events that unfolded in the Vieux-Port de Marseille.

 The beautiful scenery highlighted by the magnificent, sweeping curves of the Stade Velodrome contrasts so much with the disgraceful incidents that took place just seconds after full-time.

Frightened English fans struggling to jump over barriers

According to news reports flares had been lit in the Russian section at one end of the stadium as the clock ticked down and a firework flew high into the stand before the most serious trouble inside the stadium blew up after the final whistle moments after Vasili Berezutski's looping header deep into stoppage time had cancelled out Eric Dier's free-kick that had sent England a goal ahead.

At the end of the stadium that had been defended by England, hundreds of Russian fans broke through segregation that was flimsy to the point of being non-existent and charged their counterparts.

It was particularly disturbing given the high levels of security and policing that were in evidence around the stadium considering the fact that French authorities remain on high alert after November's Paris attacks.

Fighting broke out as frightened England fans retreated, many jumping over barriers as they fled and others stuck in hazardous bottlenecks at exits as they tried to escape what was a dangerously escalating violence.

The security cordon or barrier was weak and Russian fans blasted their way through one side of the stand to the other towards England supporters.

Many supporters involved in the charge had their faces covered to avoid identification and there seemed to be a slow reaction from police before the situation eventually calmed with England fans moving to the exits and Russian supporters either returning to their seats or leaving the ground.

The streets back into the city centre were still choked two hours after the game as local police and ambulances attempted to weave their way through static traffic to reach other flashpoints in Marseille as the trouble continued.

It was the sort of hooliganism Football governing bodies hoped had been stamped out but has ones more reared its head in sinister fashion less than 48 hours into Euro 2016. It demands a strong reaction, not just from European football's governing body UEFA, but also from those who saw the shortcomings of security exposed after the final whistle in Marseille.

UEFA has begun disciplinary proceedings against the Russian Football Union after what it called "totally unacceptable” and has threatened to disqualify England and Russia from Euro 2016 if there is any further violence by fans. Charges against Russia are for crowd disturbances, racist behaviour, and setting off fireworks, UEFA confirmed.

The football governing body affirmed that there were issues with segregation of fans, promising security would be "strengthened".

Meantime the UK government said it had offered to send extra British police to France ahead of England's next match in Lens on Thursday.

Russia's Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko said on Sunday: "We will have a fine from UEFA, so I understand. We behaved incorrectly," R-Sport news agency reported but he added that there were "many nuances" to what had happened, and that Russian officials would investigate.

The "big questions for UEFA here," are that the "Stampede appears to have been triggered by an explosion. How did such a device make it inside and where was segregation?" A police spokesman said the Briton who was injured in the clashes before the match had been resuscitated by officers, but gave no further details.

While a British Foreign Office spokeswoman said: "We are in contact with French authorities about a British national injured in Marseille and stand ready to provide further support."

Local police chief Laurent Nunez told AFP news agency: "Police intervened in a clash between English, Russian and French supporters in the Vieux Port district."

Some British journalists in the area have described the scenes on social media, and pointed the finger at a gang of black-clad Russians, who they said had entered the port city's main square from a side street apparently seeking violence.

edevnews.blogspot.com/ Email:francoeko@gmail.com/edevnewspaper@gmail.com/ Tel: +237696896001/+237678401408/ +237691755578/ +237653473540

People’s Action Party Saga : “The Noise from Kumba is by hungry boys seeking to secure public compassion”

-Hon Ayah Paul

By Francis Ekongang Nzante

In the wake of recent drama characterized by complains and demand for financial probing among other things by some Kumba based members of the  erstwhile People’s Action Party now renamed Popular Action Party, the National President Hon. Ayah Paul has referred to the complains from Kumba as noises from hungry boys seeking for public compassion. Commenting on the issue at the weekend during a press conference organised by the party in Buea, Ayah Paul quipped “seriously speaking, does it not beat the imagination that the state gives money to a candidate for campaign and some officious bystanders arrogate to themselves the prerogative to demand to know how the money was spent? It is clear that they are only hungry boys seeking to secure public compassion.” 

A Cross Section of the Popular Action Party National Executive

  The Press Conference was equally used by the Hon. Ayah Paul to declare that there was yet no legal document between Southern Cameroons and La Republique du Cameroun on reunification. What happened during the plebiscite was simply a declaration of intent he explained adding that the British Ambassador who exchanged notes with President Ahmadu Ahidjo had no jurisdiction over Southern Cameroons. The document of reunification he said was to be negotiated by the parties concerned. To do this, “we have to sit around a table and agree on terms of living together."

The National President of PAP also used the occasion to delve into the history of the party. “The People’s Action Party saw the light of day by expediency” he explained stating that “the idea materialized on the heels of the arrest and remand in prison custody of Barrister Yondo Black and others for wanting to launch a political party in defiance of the one party system President Ahidjo had imposed.” 

He said the international community cried foul at the double standards of the New Deal regime for denying that Yondo Black and others were being held in prison custody for wanting to create a political party. The New Deal regime he explained “asserted that the Cameroonian Law allowed for a multi-party system.”

Against this backdrop, Ayah Paul Abine said he immediately met with John Ndahne of Radio Buea and the duo reviewed the prevailing national political situation and its repercussions on the Southwest Province as it then was. “They agreed that the Southwest Province was most vulnerable from its disunity and cosmopolitan composition, with the consequence that it was going to be fertile ground for political hawks. Its protection therefore lay in the province belonging to a political party that would speak in the name of the province…” A few meetings later on lead to the creation of PAP.

Considering their backgrounds as active civil servants at the time in a hostile political atmosphere, they contacted Professor Victor Mukwelle Ngoh to head the party. “He was overwhelmed by our “bestowing confidence in (his) humble person” and expressed his gratitude superabundantly.” The party however was only registered in April 1991. When Ayah Paul resigned from the CPDM in 2010, he saw no better refuge than the political umbrella that was his brain child.

Addressing the issue of the party being part of the estate of the late Professor Ngoh, Ayah Paul said “ the family held the registration certificate of the party close to their chest until he agreed in writing to some dictates under the auspices of some national front bencher of the party from Limbe. A few months later, however, PAP national officials annulled the document in a resolution of May 14, 2011, that was signed inter alia by a prominent member of the Ngoh’s family.” Ayah Paul Abine however explained that such a document was bad at law and contrary to public policy as a political party is defined by Cameroon Law as an association. “Any theory that PAP is the property of late professor Ngoh’s  estate that can be hired; pledged and redeemed; or sold absolutely or on terms is merely fantastic and based on misinformation or uninformed miscalculations…”

The legal luminary further explained that with the upsurge of the party, at least 90% of the expenses of the party were shouldered by him especially considering the fact that the bulk of the party members were students, unemployed youths and rural peasant masses.

On how the party was run under these circumstances Ayah Paul said it was very difficult to cover the national territory during campaigns with just 15 million FCFA. By the time the money came, he was in messy debts “having received less than 150.000 FCFA from internal friends and supporters and under 500.000 FCFA from friends and admirers abroad!”

In an intense question and answer session, Hon. Ayah Paul Abine stated that he had no intention of remaining party president for ever explaining that he talked to the National Executive Bureau of the party on the difficulty for him to handle two offices and their stand was that he should first of all put in place the necessary structures before quitting the scene. He equally explained that the constitution of the party does not prescribe that the party President is automatically a Presidential candidate.

The hungry boys from Kumba he said have been expelled from the party adding that they could be reconsidered as members if they retracted from what they have been doing. The party constitution he said had provisions on how such issues could be sorted out.

The party name was changed during the press conference from People’s Action Party PAP to Popular Action Party. Quizzed on the raison d’être, Ayah Paul said “parties changed names all the time. This is not an issue; the CNU was renamed CPDM and it was not considered an issue. The word popular is better than people.”

According to the National Vice President of the party Ekabe Anita Besumbu, “Ayah Paul will stay in place and put party structures in place before leaving.” Dr. Ernest Folefack, the First Legal Secretary of the party on his part said things were being put in place to enhance sustainability of the party.  Meantime, dissenting voices Ayah Paul said usually contribute to the growth of a party. Ako Abunaw, the National Campaign Manager said “those in Kumba are totally misinformed and are not aware of the personal sacrifices that were made. They are not aware of the financial sacrifices that were made during the campaigns.”

Also present at the press conference were Akoson Raymond the Secretary General of the part, Caspar Franklin the North West Regional President, Elimpe Epie Emmanuel, First National Vice Secretary General amongst many others. 

edevnews.blogspot.com/ Email: francoeko@gmail.com/ Tel:+237678401408/ +237696896001/+237653473540/+237691755578

Stalemate over land to host HTTTC Kumba continues.

More than four months after the Vice Chancellor of the University of Buea, Nalova Lyonga matriculated the Batches of Peace and Reunification at the Higher Technical Teacher Training College, HTTTC Kumba, dust is yet to settle as to who owns the land that is to host the campus of the much awaited Higher institution of learning. The land given to host the institution located within the Kumba III Municipality has proven to be surrounded by very controversial circumstances.

According to elites of the Balung clan, one of the tribes that make up the Kumba City Council Area, they gave land for the hosting of HTTTC Kumba. This land according to HRH Chief Doctor Samuel Ebanja, Paramount Chief of the Balungs given to host this institution is undoubtedly Mokonje land and in no way subjected to any doubtful ownership. Documents testifying the boundaries of the clan dating far back have always been available and there has never been any room for such an eventuality the chief explained in an earlier interview.

Erstwhile Chairman and co where among those present at the deliberations

The volatile nature of the situation was again showcased on Monday June 5, 2016 at the Meme SDO’s Office. In order to get an inside story of the discussions that took place between elites of the Balungs specifically from Mokonje and the Bafaw Clan, this reporter caught up with Ekoke Simon Nkongo erstwhile Chairman of the Mokonje Traditional Council, elder Mukete Salle Kolo and Mongo Samuel former SG of the Traditional Council, some of those who accompanied His Royal Highness Chief Dr. Samuel Ebanja Traditional ruler of the Balungs and Otto Alexander, Chairman of the Mokonje Traditional Council among others to the office of the SDO for Meme.

Explaining the reason which took them to the SDO’s Office, Ekoke Simon Nkongo said “the issue in question is that the Bafaws are claiming that the land which has been given by us to host the Higher Technical Teacher Training College HTTTC is theirs which is not the case. In that respect we had the clarification using our GPS-Global Positioning System that gave the real location of the land in question.”

Ekoke Simon Nkongo further explained that this meeting which took place at the SDO’s Office was summoned by the Bafaws, the tribe that occupies a dominant part of the Kumba municipality with   HRH Senator Nfon V.E. Mukete as Paramount Chief. He explained that ccording to the summons by Nfon V.E. Mukete, the land in question is Bafaw land.

He posited that while at the SDO’s Office, the situation developed into a new twist and Nkongo Simon put it in the following words; “before now we never had any dispute with that land. So when we went into the field to asses and see what the problem was, our GPS proved us right.”

The bone of contention it has been noted is that both clans want to be identified as the ones who provided land for the Kumba Campus of the University of Buea; HTTTC considering the fact that it is going to have kick back effects or fall outs with regards to the accompanying socio-economic advantages that will accompany the installation of the infrastructures of HTTTC Kumba. Proving this view point right, Nkongo Simon said “it is very important that Mokonje gives this land for the university. HTTTC is not only for the Balungs nor is it only for the Bafaws. It is for all Cameroonians and its coming here will be of great value to Kumba as a whole. Since all land belong to the state and we are only custodians, the government should simply put that land in use for the HTTTC.”

Following talks that took place with the 2^nd Assistant SDO Nyankuma Nelson, a report was compiled and a final decision was to be arrived at in the days ahead. According to these individuals, the present state of things is clear. The land from their viewpoint belongs to the Balungs and not the Bafaws. The paramount chief of the Bafaws Senator Nfon V.E. Mukete sees the land in question as Bafaw land, reason for which the two parties had to go to the SDO’s office in the first place.

In an earlier chat with both the Chairman of the Mokonje Traditional Council, Otto Alexander and the Paramount Chief of the Balungs with Palace at Mokonje, HRH Chief Doctor Ebanja Samuel, this reporter was told that there was absolutely no room for a land dispute problem between them because there is no boundary between the two.

“At RAPHA Higher Institute of Health Kumba,we treat the body soul and spirit of man”

-Rev. Doctor David Njayo Njemo, Superintendent Emeritus of the Full Gospel Mission Schools in Cameroon.

What pushed you into the Health Sector despite your background?

When I retired though I must confess that I have not retired from evangelism, I thought the best form to serve humanity could take the form of a school for the training of medical personnel. The reason that prompted me to do this also stems back to the story of my family.  My mother had all boys and only one girl. This single girl when she became big died as a result of medical carelessness. She got sick and was taken to the hospital where she died of a boil. She was taken there by the husband but was later abandoned because the money they had was not up to the deposit that was demanded for treatment. She lay there for a number of days and the boil was eating her up. She eventually died in that hospital. I think people can save lives if they act compassionately. Working as a health or medical person is a vocation and not just a job. That’s what we should understand in Cameroon. This occurred in a renowned hospital. I only do not want to mention the name here.

These cases of carelessness on the part of hospitals abound in Cameroon. There was the case of Monique Koumateke who died at the La Quantainie Hospital in Douala and more recently, the case at the Hope clinic in Kumba. How are you contributing towards making the situation better?

Our institute is still very young for me to come to any conclusion on what we are doing towards making the situation better. We are doing our best in the school and you can see that the school is already fenced. This gives you an idea of how disciplined we want the children leaving here should be. The reports we’ve had from people working in hospitals where these children go on internship are very positive. People have given very glowing comments on how children from this school behave during internships in the various hospitals where we send them. I am very happy and I think we are moving towards the right direction.

How is RAPHA institute prepared from the point of view of infrastructure?

 We started the institute here at Buea Road in Kumba. We started in a modest structure but as time passed on we built the present storey building that houses the establishment. In the nearest future we will take the institution elsewhere with larger land. The land is enough and just located near here at Bombe waiting to be used when the time comes. Thinking of other areas like the teaching staff, we are trying by all means to get qualified staff. For now, our least qualified staff has a first degree. Some will have PhD degrees soon. Most of them including our Secretary have a Master Degree just like the Director.

On the other hand, we have got some partners and right now one partner is already planting something known as the school of technology. The partner who is based in Switzerland is carrying out some feasibility studies. We are trying hard to strengthen our foundation.

You certainly have a message for your titular ministries and the public generally..

We want to give our utmost service to the society. We want to treat man holistically. At RAPHA Higher Institute of Health and Biomedical Sciences, we want to treat body soul and spirit of man. When you come here in the morning, you think you are in a church since you find people singing and praying. We have Muslims here as well and everybody belongs and it is like family. That is what we are trying to do here and I will be more satisfied when the story has gone out and people are beginning to understand the excellent thing being done here. 

edevnews.blogspot.com/Email:franccoeko@gmail.com/Tel: +237696896001/+237678401408