2011 presidential:Civil society forecasts Post-elections violence in Cameroon

Says loopholes in Electoral body (ELECAM) pave way for flawed elections and endangers peace

By Yemti Harry Ndienla

A platform of civil society organisations in Cameroon better known by its French language acronym (CSPD) has said that only a revision of the law creating the body to manage elections in the country Election Cameroon (ELECAM), can assure free and fair elections and forestall post-elections violence in the country in 2011.

To CSPD, the law creating ELECAM, which Cameroonians should rely on for democratic elections, contains serious pitfalls and cannot assure post-electoral peace in the country, talk less of elections void of irregularities.

Members of the platform used the occasion of a coffee-forum at the headquarters of an NGO, Nouveau droit de l’homme (NDH), at Nkoleton, Yaounde,to call for an intensive and all encompassing lobby for the amendment of the ELECAM law.

Platform members said it was worthwhile and better to attempt a solution now, than to wait for the consequences of an imminent catastrophe which they say promises to be long-lasting and far-reaching.

Addressing participants at the forum, NDH president Hilaire Kamga who doubles as permanent secretary and spokesperson of the civil society platform, said the present leadership in the country has failed and should hand-over peacefully in 2011 to a new generation of leaders who are free of neo-colonial trappings.

“There is need for the complete renewal of the social and political landscape,” Hilaire Kamaga said. Adding that the activities of the present system and its projects and programmes are intended to satisfy and impress the colonial masters to whom they continue to pay allegiance.

Also speaking at the occasion, Tonteh Walters, national coordinator of Cameroon Youths Confederation, said the powers of the director of ELECAM as provided for by the law, require him to act only in accordance with the whims and caprices of the president of the republic who appointed him. And that the said provision should be amended to ensure checks and balances.