CAMEROON: FINGERS CROSSED AS CONSTITUTIONAL DEBATE RESUMES

By IPS Correspondents Reprint | | Print |

TANSA MUSA

YAOUNDE, Dec 15 1994 (IPS) - CAMEROON’S PRESIDENT PAUL BIYA HAS SHOCKED THE NATION WHEN HE ANNOUNCED THAT THE LONG-AWAITED CONSTITUTIONAL DEBATE WOULD FINALLY RESUME.

ACCORDING TO A COMMUNIQUE FROM THE STATE HOUSE, A COPY OF WHICH WAS MADE AVAILABLE TO IPS THURSDAY, BIYA HAND-SELECTED A CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE AND DIRECTED IT TO CARVE OUT A NEW CONSTITUTION AND A NEW FUTURE FOR THE CENTRAL AFRICAN NATION, BEGINNING DECEMBER 15.

THE DEBATE ITSELF IS THE CULMINATION OF TRIPARTITE TALKS HELD WITH GOVERNMENT, OPPOSITION AND CIVIL SOCIETY THREE YEARS AGO, WHICH ENDED THE OPPOSITION’S EIGHT-MONTH CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE CAMPAIGN THAT ALMOST PARALYSED THE COUNTRY.

THOUGH THE CONFERENCE ENDED IN DISARRAY, IT’S EXISTANCE HELPED TO LESSEN TENSION IN THE COUNTRY. IN JUNE 1993, BIYA APPOINTED A 32-MEMBER TECHNICAL COMMITTEE TO DRAFT A NEW CONSTITUTION AS DEMANDED BY THE PEOPLE.

THAT DRAFT WAS EXPECTED TO HAVE BEEN SUBMITTED TO A CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE AS SOON AS THE WORK WAS FINISHED.

BUT THAT DID NOT HAPPEN.

EVER SINCE THE RE-INTRODUCTION OF MULTIPARTISM IN THE COUNTRY IN 1990, CAMEROONIANS HAVE BEEN LOBBYING FOR A NEW CONSTITUTION AS THE FRAMEWORK FOR THE BEGINNING OF TRUE DEMOCRACY.

BUT INCUMBANT PRESIDENT BIYA, WHO TOOK POWER IN 1982 AT THE PERSONAL DECISION OF HIS DECEASED PREDECESSOR, AHMADOU AHIDJO, WAS FEARFUL OF LOSING HIS POSITION AND WOULD NOT HEAR ANYTHING OF THE SORT.

RATHER, HE AND HIS RULING CAMEROON PEOPLE’S DEMOCRATIC MOVEMENT (CPDM) DECIDED TO ORGANISE EARLY LEGISLATIVE AND PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS IN 1992, WHICH THEY EASILY WON.

BUT IN THE ABSENCE OF A NEW CONSTITUTION AND AGAINST A BACKGROUND OF POPULAR DISCONTENT — ESPECIALLY OVER THE HEAVILY RIGGED ELECTIONS — THE COUNTRY HAS REMAINED A SMOULDERING DOLDRUMS.

DONOR COUNTRIES AND INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS HAVE MADE MATTERS WORSE, BY SUSPENDING ASSISTANCE TO CAMEROON BECAUSE OF ITS POOR HUMAN RIGHTS RECORD AND A LACK OF TRUE DEMOCRACY.