WCA and WCMC strongly acknowledge and welcome the return of Honourable Joseph Wirba to the National Assembly of the State of La République du Cameroun (LRC).
The West Cameroon Association (WCA) and the West Cameroon Movement for Change (WCMC) jointly welcome the timely return of Honorable Joseph Wirba, the SDF Member of Parliament (MP) for Jakiri, to the National Assembly of LRC on 21st of June 2017.
Despite the imminent danger faced by Honourable Joseph Wirba and the threat of a baseless warrant for his arrest that was issued following his exercise of free speech on 12th of December 2016, in which he clearly articulated the systemic injustice and dismantling of West Cameroonian Anglo-Saxon institutions, culture and heritage over a period of 55 years by LRC, he has put his life and personal safety at risk by returning to the LRC capital, Yaoundé in order to continue addressing the plight of the people of West Cameroon in the National Assembly.
WCA and WCMC note with grave concern, the derogatory attitude and arrogant tone of the Francophone National Assembly Speaker (Hon Djibril Cavaye) during Hon Wirba’s appearance in the National Assembly, and would strongly advise that this complex situation be approached with caution and due care in order to maintain a healthy environment for parliamentary discussions around the pertinent and legitimate issues that Hon Wirba tried to table for the attention of the Parliament. Unfortunately, he was hushed down from doing so by the speaker of the Assembly.
WCA and WCMC strongly commend these efforts by Honourable Joseph Wirba, as that is the fundamental role that an MP should be playing in Parliament representing his or her constituency, instead of paying lip service to the head of state in return for perks.
Given that a warrant of arrest was already issued to this MP for doing what he was elected to do, disregarding his parliamentary immunity, WCA and WCMC urge the President of LRC, H.E Paul Biya to personally guarantee the safety and security of Honourable Joseph Wirba. It is known that the President of LRC is able to effect this protection by ‘Hâutes Instructions’ to his subordinates; therefore the government will be held fully responsible if anything happens to his safety or fundamental freedoms.
It is extremely alarming that the government of LRC could issue a baseless warrant of arrest for a sitting MP – without stating the reason for the arrest or follow due process. That warrant should indeed alarm ALL the MPs in the National Assembly in LRC as they have effectively been culpable for instituting decades of dictatorship where the Executive, Judiciary and Legislature is ruled by ‘Hâutes Instructions’ from the President, Mr Paul Biya. This implies they are not serving the interests of their constituencies or the nation but that of the one man, the President.
As cautioned in earlier WCA Press Releases, the opinion of the people of West Cameroon against LRC is increasingly hardening with the delay by LRC and H.E Paul Biya to commence meaningful dialogue to resolve the Anglophone crisis. WCA is reiterating that the best way forward is for H.E Paul Biya to convene a constitutional conference and dialogue with West Cameroonian representatives to return Cameroon to its founding 2-State Federation to guarantee the integrity of Cameroon for the long term, and safeguard the rights and freedoms of the minority English Speaking West Cameroonians. This action will avert a national catastrophe which is currently brewing at pace.
The WCMC is a Coalition of West Cameroonians worldwide who are campaigning for the restoration of the lost dignity of the people of West Cameroon.
The WCA is a Think Tank and a collective of English-speaking Cameroonians based in Cameroon and the Diaspora.
Long live Honourable Joseph Wirba and God bless West Cameroon.
The Secretariat,
The West Cameroon Association,
Email: secretariat[at]westcamassoc[dot]org
Weblink: http://www.westcamassoc.org/
