Wednesday, 27 June 2018

To:  Hon. Members of the U.S. House

       Hon. Members of the U.S. Senate

       cc. Congressional staffers

 

Your Excellency,

 

Common Position on Ambazonia on the Occasion of the Hearing Before the

Congress of the United States this 27th day of June 2018

 

On behalf of the Sovereign People of the Republic of Ambazonia, we, leaders of six frontline Ambazonian liberation movements regrouped under the Ambazonia Recognition Collaborative Council (ARCC) write to:

 

Present our compliments to the Congress, the People and the Government of the United States of America;

To thank the U.S. Congress for organizing today’s hearing on what is clearly the failure of an unfortunate colonial experiment of which Ambazonians have been guinea pigs for over 100 years and consisting of attempts to legalize the colonial domination of the people of Ambazonia by Nigeria (for the 44 years until 1953) and similar domination by the Republic of Cameroon (for the 57 years since 1961);To renew our gratitude for America’s vote on 21st April 1961 before the United Nations General Assembly, along with 63 other countries, in favor of independence for the former United Nations British Trusteeship Territory of Southern Cameroons aka Republic of Ambazonia;To thank Congress for its historic proclamation of the independence of America from Britain which has inspired colonially dominated people the world over, including inspiring Ambazonians when they declared their independence restored on 1st October 2017;To thank the Congress of the United States for the leadership it has provided over the years in rejecting all forms of colonial domination, including its outstanding support leading to international sovereignty for peoples living under colonial domination, including the Sovereign Peoples of Timor Lester, South Sudan, Kosovo, etc.

 

We do so fully

 

• Aware of the constraints in time and logistics that impose a limit to the number of witnesses that can be admitted to one oral hearing;

• Anxious, however, to ensure that Congress is hearing directly from the most important stakeholders in this crisis – the Sovereign People of Ambazonia and their leaders;

• Deeply concerned by what we consider a growing and worrisome trend of bypassing Ambazonian organizations in favor of inviting organizations which have demonstrated a limited knowledge of the crisis to speak on behalf of our people;

• Disturbed by a track record of under-reporting the ongoing crisis, of misunderstanding or misrepresenting it and of distorting the historical demands of our people by some of the organizations invited to serve as witnesses during this hearing; and

• Keen to ensure that the Congress, the People and the Government of the United States of America are accurately, adequately and fully briefed on what the nature of the crisis is; on what this crisis is not; and anxious to ensure that the humble prayer of the People of Ambazonia is heard loud and clear;

 

We kindly request that this written statement be admitted as an integral part of

the oral hearing before Congress on this 27th day of June 2018.

 

This is what the ongoing crisis is and what it is not

 

• Contrary to oral statements provided in reports and during the most recent oral hearings by Amnesty International and the International Crisis Group, it is important to clarify the following:

• The ongoing crisis is, in effect, a territorial dispute between, on the one hand, the Republic of Cameroon (formerly the United Nations French Trusteeship Territory of Cameroon, which won independence from France and the United Nations on the 1st of January 1960) and, on the other hand, the Republic of Ambazonia (which was granted independence by Britain and the United Nations on the 1st of October 1961 under the appellation Southern Cameroons).

• This is, therefore, not an internal or domestic affair, involving citizens of one and the same country. Rather, and consistent with a 2009 landmark ruling by an African Union-accredited court based in Banjul (The Gambia), this crisis is the based on the refusal by the colonial government of the Republic of Cameroon to abide by that court ruling which recognizes Ambazonians as a people, different from the people of the Republic of Cameroon, with an inalienable right to selfdetermination.

• The root cause is a crime against humanity: the colonial domination of the Republic of Ambazonia by neighboring Republic of Cameroon in much the same way as the colonial domination of Southern Cameroons by Nigeria which lasted until 1953.

• As important as human rights are, their violations in Ambazonia as elsewhere around the world sadly, are only a tip of the iceberg. Of even greater concern to Ambazonians are the war crimes, Atrocity Crimes, crimes against humanity and crimes bordering on genocide that the spotlight being put on human rights by organizations like Amnesty International unintentionally undermine.

• Contrary to claims by Amnesty International and the International Crisis Group that this crisis is one of economic and political marginalization of an English-speaking people (Ambazonians) by their French-speaking neighbors (Cameroonians), this crisis is one of resistance (by Ambazonians) of annexation, military occupation, colonial rule and colonial domination by neighboring people of the Republic of Cameroon. Marginalization is a mere symptom; not the disease.

• While agitation for outright independence has been a non-violent political movement for over 100 years – for 44 years until 1953 under colonial domination by Nigeria and for the 57 years since 1961 under colonial domination by Cameroon – it degenerated into violence in late 2017 when the Republic of Cameroon chose violence (a declaration of war and the adoption of a policy that since then treated all Ambazonians as terrorists). No less than 3,000 Ambazonians have been killed in the war marked by a scorched-earth policy in which over 500,000 Ambazonians have been rendered homeless or been driven from their homes and villages – nearly 90 of which have been burnt to the ground.

 

The humble prayer of the Sovereign People of Ambazonia to the Congress of the United States is summarized in the following 38 points:

 

1. We request that Congress uphold the vote of the United States

Fifty-seven years ago, on 21st April 1961, the United States (along with 63 other

Member States of the United Nations) cast a historic vote during the 994th

Plenary Meeting of the United Nations General Assembly Fourth Committee on

Decolonization. Chaired by Mr. Frederick H. Boland (Ireland) with Mr. Tsiang

(China) as Vice-Chair and Mr. Boeg (Denmark) in the role of Rapporteur, that

session terminated Trusteeship Agreement No.118 of 1946. As the successor

state of Southern Cameroons, the Republic of Ambazonia declared the

restoration of the independence granted under United Nations General

Assembly Resolution 1608(XV) which was passed by 64 YES votes; 23 NO

votes and 10 abstentions.

2. What is Good for Israel is Good for Ambazonia

Israel gained admission to the United Nations and was recognized by the

United States as soon as the United Nations General Assembly adopted UNGA

Resolution 181 of 11th May 1949. A total of 37 countries voted YES for Israel’s

independence; 12 countries voted NO and nine countries abstained. That

means that it is a total of 58 countries which participated in the vote granting

independence to Israel, being six countries fewer than voted YES for the

independence for Southern Cameroons aka Ambazonia. We pray Congress to

act in a way that confirms that what is good for Israel is good for Ambazonia.

3. Ambazonia’s annexation predates its Independence Referendum

The annexation of Southern Cameroons occurred before our people voted in a

United Nations-supervised Independence Referendum on 11 February 1961.

Determined to annex Ambazonia, the Republic of Cameroon imposed its

Constitution of 21st December 1960 on our people way ahead of our

independence. It then voted not only against our independence but also against

the so-called “union” that the United Nations ended up imposing on our

Homeland. The annexation continued to be perfected when the Republic of

Cameroon imposed an illegal and unconstitutional referendum on 20th May

1972 to end the right of our people to self-government.

4. Decry atrocity crimes and genocidal violence

We implore the Congress to denounce, in the strongest terms, the war crimes,

atrocity crimes, crimes bordering on genocide and crimes against humanity

perpetrated since last November by the Republic of Cameroon (independent on

1st January 1960) in a war of annexation, recolonization and illegal military

occupation of Southern Cameroons (independent on 1st October 1961 and

renamed the Republic of Ambazonia on the occasion of the restoration of its

independence on 1st October 2017. We pray Congress to call for an immediate

and unconditional liberation of thousands of our people wrongly detained,

charged under a law on terror, unjustly condemned to long prison terms by a

military tribunal; as well as the unconditional liberation of thousands taken

hostage, abducted, deported to and held in prisons, dungeons and illegal

detention centers in neighboring Republic of Cameroon as well as the

unconditional liberation of Ambazonians leaders abducted in Nigeria on 5th

January 2018, “renditioned” to Cameroon and unjustly held incommunicado

ever since – without access to lawyers, their doctors or their families.

5. Give meaning to the “Never Again” Campaign

We plead with the Government of the United States to provide leadership in

implementing the “Never Again” pledge which world leaders made after it was

horrified by the Holocaust. That commitment was not upheld in the 1990s,

leading, unfortunately, to the 1994 Rwanda Genocide. The genocidal violence

on Ambazonians by armed and security forces from the Republic of Cameroon

needs to be stopped before more people are unjustly slaughtered.

6. Uphold self-determination and help end Annexation

We appeal to the Congress to speak up in defense of the inalienable right of the

sovereign English-speaking people of Southern Cameroons aka Ambazonia to

self-determination; to peaceful and legal separation from the failed “union” of

the two Cameroons. The “union” envisaged was to be known as the Federal

Republic of the Cameroons – with an “S” – and has failed in a manner similar

to the defunct union between Senegal and The Gambia and the failed Union of

Soviet Socialist Republics. Additionally, we kindly request Congress to lead the

rest of the world in recognizing and upholding Ambazonia as a sovereign

nation, with a right to full Membership of the United Nations, and with

diplomatic relations with the U.S. and all other sovereign nations.

7. Debunk claims that the two Cameroons were always one

We plead with Congress to uphold the historical truth that the Cameroons are

not “one, and indivisible”, but “two, and perfectly divisible” former United

Nations Trusteeship Territories, each with a full right to independence under

International Law. Both trusteeship territories are equal in status. The two

have internationally recognized boundaries. The two are constituted by two

peoples, separate and distinct. Each of the two Nations obtained independence

separately; on different dates; and each in their own right. Below are more facts

about the “two and perfectly divisible” Cameroons:

 

1858-1887: The British “discovered” and colonized Ambazonia, naming the

territory Victoria, after the then Queen of England. The territory does not

include French-speaking Cameroon.

1888-1914: German colonizers took over the colony and renamed it “Neue

Kamerun” (New Cameroon or Kamerun, as it was written in German). German

Kamerun was vast. Its entire territory included not only Ambazonia, but also

all of present-day Chad, Central African Republic, Congo Republic, Equatorial

Guinea, Gabon, all of French-speaking Cameroon, and parts of Nigeria.

Claiming Ambazonia as a part of the Republic of Cameroon is a first step in an

expansionist agenda that the United States Congress must help stop.

1914-1953: The two Cameroons are League of Nations Mandated Territories

first before becoming United Nations Trusteeship Territory, with Southern

Cameroons administered as part of Nigeria.

1953-1961: Southern Cameroons breaks away from Nigeria to become

(effective 1954) a separate, self-governing British United Nations Trusteeship

Territory.

1st January 1960: French-speaking Cameroon obtained independence from

France under the name “Republic of Cameroon” and within international

boundaries that did not include Ambazonia.

1st October 1961: Southern Cameroons is supposed to gain independence by

forming a “union” of two states, equal in status with French-speaking

Cameroon. Article 47 of the Constitution imposed on Southern Cameroons by

Colonial Republic of Cameroon bans the making of any law that infringes on

the nature of the federation.

1961 – 1972: The Federation of two states, equal in status, each with its

government is in effect, to some extent, until it is scrapped through an illegal

referendum held on 20th May 1972. The colonizer imposes a unitary state.

1984: French-speaking Cameroon reverts to its name at independence and

before the so-called “union of two states, equal in status”; leaving Ambazonians

with no choice than to recognize the colonial conquest and begin a resistance

that is still going on to this date.

1st October 2017: After numerous warnings about reverting to independence

(Option Zero), the Sovereign People of Ambazonia declare their independence

restored. Millions joined in peaceful street protests all across Ambazonia to

celebrate independence restored. This act from a sovereign people triggers the

ongoing war of recolonization against Ambazonia.

4th February 1984: The colonizer promulgated Restoration Law 84/001 of 4th

February 1984 effectively breaking up whatever “union” ever existed. By

reverting to its name prior to independence, the Republic of Cameroon left

Southern Cameroons – which was no junior partner in whatever “union” was

supposed to have been concluded - with no choice than to reciprocate.

8. Congress should denounce violations of international law

The Congress decry the ongoing annexation, illegal military occupation and the

colonial domination of Ambazonia by the Republic of Cameroon. The

expansionist policy of Cameroon in Ambazonia is in violation of Article 4(b) of

the African Union Constitutive Act on the sanctity of borders inherited from

colonization. It violates many United Nations Resolutions against colonization

and external domination of other people. It violates Articles 19-24 of the African

Charter on Human and Peoples’ Right. It violates the 2002 International Court

of Justice ruling on Bakassi ordering both Nigeria and the Republic of

Cameroon to withdraw to their borders inherited from colonization.

Additionally, Cameroon has refused to comply with the ruling handed down by

the African Court on Human and People’s Rights, recognizing Ambazonians as

a people different from the French-speaking people and recognizing their

inalienable right to self-determination.

9. Provide leadership in ending poorly veiled colonial arrangements

We appeal to the Congress to demonstrate its commitment to the rule of law by

upholding Article 76(b) of the United Nations Charter and United Nations

General Assembly Resolution 1541(XV) of 15th December 1960 affirming that

independence was the inherent and inalienable right of all colonies and Trust

Territories.

10. Congress would not be the first to recognize Ambazonia

Under the legal system of the Republic of Cameroon, Ambazonia has already

been recognized as a separate and sovereign nation. On 18th May 1992, the

High Court in Bamenda (provincial headquarters of the Northern Zone of

Ambazonia) issued a historical ruling known as HCB/28.92 of 28 May 1992.

That ruling, which was handed down by a court set up by decree of the

colonizer; staffed by the colonizer and fully under the beck and call of the

annexationist president of the Republic of Cameroon, effectively recognized and

restored the sovereignty and statehood of the Republic of Ambazonia.

11. The United States should have listened to its own warnings

Alas, the United States did not listen to its own warnings. During the 896th

United Nations General Assembly on 6th October 1959, the Ambassador to the

United States to the United Nations, Clement J. Zabloiski, argued strongly for

outright independence for Southern Cameroons and against imposing any “union” on our people. “The results of a hurried choice imposed on the population of the Trust Territory would be catastrophic for their political future,” argued Zabloiski. His prophetic words have come to pass as the consequences have, indeed been “catastrophic.”

12. Former colonizer, Britain, did not listen to its own best advice

Two months before independence, Hon. G. M. Thompson (M.P. Dundee East)

forewarned the British House of Commons on 1st August 1961 of the

“extremely complex problems” that would arise by “bringing these two

countries together within one National State.” The British House of Commons

is debating Ambazonia recently, recognizing what an “extremely complex

problem” they saddled Ambazonians with by ignoring their own best advice.

13. There is no “union” between the two Cameroons

The terms of the Plebiscite Treaty between the two Cameroons were subverted

and have been long subverted. Had a “union” been ever formed between the

two Cameroons, it would have been duly signed and registered with the UN

General Secretariat (in keeping with Article 110 of the UN Charter).

14. An international conspiracy to annex Ambazonia

There is evidence that an international conspiracy to deny Ambazonia

international sovereignty has always existed. Nigeria struggled to absorb

Southern Cameroons as part of its territory until 1953 when Ambazonia broke

free to form a self-governing nation, effective from 1954. At United Nations

General Assembly session of 19th April 1961, chaired by Adam Pachachi (Iraq),

with Miss Silvia Shelton Vilallon (Cuba) as Vice Chair) and Eamon L. Kennedy

(Ireland) as Rapporteur, 50 countries, including the United States, voted YES

in favor of separate independence for Southern Cameroons. Only two countries

voted against and nine others abstained from voting. (See page 381 paragraph

110 of the official records of UN General Assembly-Fifteenth Session-Fourth

Committee of 19th April 1961). The Congress of the United States can

demonstrate its opposition to such a conspiracy.

15. A legal “union” does not foreclose an independent Ambazonia

Even if a “union treaty” existed, it would not be sufficient to prevent Ambazonia

from enjoying the international sovereignty it won through that vote of the

United Nations General Assembly on 21st April 1961. Ukraine, which reached a

union treaty with Russia, enjoyed the sovereign right of being represented at

the United Nations despite being a member state of the now defunct Union of

Soviet Socialist Republics. Even if there was a “Union Treaty”, it would not

have foreclosed the right of Ambazonians to pull out. The Gambia pulled out of

a union with Senegal. Eritrea broke out of the union with Ethiopia. South

Sudan is independent of Sudan. Timor Lester is a free country from Indonesian

domination. The Czech and Slovak republics were once in a union. Countries

like Estonia and Ukraine were once part of the now defunct Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR).

16. Uphold peaceful separation

Peaceful separation is consistent with International Law, including the right to

self-determination, and Principles VII and VIII of United Nations General

Assembly Resolution 1541 of the 15th of December 1960 which uphold the

right of Southern Cameroons to separate.

17. Congress should lead negotiations and dismiss unworkable solutions

We appeal to Congress to become the first country to break with the many calls

for dialogue with the colonialists of Cameroon as well as for solutions that are

doomed to fail, including calls for federalism or confederation between the two

Cameroons. Our people would appreciate the Congress leading in the

convening, hosting, and facilitation of negotiations leading to peaceful

separation from the Republic of Cameroon. It is a role that Congress played in

the run-up to independence for South Sudan, Timor Lester, and others.

18. Let none put together what colonialism has put asunder

We appeal to Congress to recognize, from history, that those nations that

colonialism has put asunder, no conspiracy has forced into a “union”. The

Soviet Union failed for that reason. So, too, did Eritrea. Forcing this former

Italian colony into a union with Ethiopia led to decades of war, culminating in

independence for Eritrea. An attempt to forge a union between Englishspeaking

Gambia and neighboring French-speaking Senegal failed for the same

reason. Fifty-seven years of colonial relations between Ambazonia and

Cameroon should not prevent a bold, durable solution which is independence.

Forty-four years of association with Nigeria did not stop a breakaway in 1953.

Ukraine and Russia went their separate ways despite sharing over over 1,000

years of common history.

19. Insecurity in Ambazonia works against U.S. national interests

Situated in the Gulf of Guinea, Ambazonia is of significant economic, security,

political and trade interests to the United States. It lies on a major

international trade route and is believed to hold vast untapped mineral and gas

reserves of its own. Recognition of Ambazonia by the USA will create lasting

peace and a more stable Gulf of Guinea. It will also curb further radicalization

of the situation and lower the risks of both full scale civil war or genocide.

20. Stop violence, protect U.S. trade interests, national security

Global oil and gas supplies go through the Gulf of Guinea, including no less

than 4.8m barrels of oil a day from Equatorial Guinea (2m), Nigeria (1m),

Angola (1m), Congo (600,000), Cameroon (80,000), Chad (100,000).

21. Ambazonia will be as close to the USA as Israel has been

On 14th May 1948, U.S. President Truman recognized the new nation of Israel on the same day the head of the Jewish Agency, David Ben-Gurion, proclaimed its establishment. America can do the same for Ambazonia and build goodwill from our people who are already favorably disposed to America. What we know for sure is that Ambazonia will be a partner in counterterrorism, becoming a friend and ally of the USA in much the same way – if not more – than Israel. This should include the possibility of the USA establishing a permanent military presence in Ambazonia similar to the Camp Bondsteel military base the USA runs out of Kosovo and that might be needed for counterterrorism

work in the sub-region. Also, and despite the absence of detailed geopolitical maps, Southern Cameroons’ potential in untapped mineral and gas reserves is described as stunning.

22. Further radicalization can easily reverse counterterrorism gains

More radicalization of pro-independence groups in Ambazonia would spread

anarchy in the Gulf of Guinea sub-region. This has the potential to reverse

some of the very important counterterrorism gains that the USA has made

against Boko Haram (in Nigeria, Cameroon and Chad); against incursions of

and presence of the Lord’s Resistance Army of Joseph Kony (in the Central

African Republic), etc.

23. Congress should stop diversion of resources to attack civilians

Photographic and video footage is all over social media showing armored

vehicles provided by the American taxpayer being diverted from the fight

against terror to the massacre of civilians in Ambazonia. Cameroon will not, on

its own, end such diversion. We, therefore, appeal to Congress to end financial,

logistical and military support to Cameroon’s colonial forces. We call, notably,

for an end of support to Cameroon’s elite “killer squadrons” within the Rapid

Intervention Brigade abbreviated BIR. The recent supply of CESNA fighter jets,

of other weapons and video of American marines training some of the

colonizer’s terrorist squads in Ambazonia’s Southern Zone, generate the same

kind of horror and fear that many denounced when the French provided

weapons to the regime that perpetrated the 1994 genocide in Rwanda.

24. There is a risk that some other power could offer support

Once war breaks out – as is now the case in Ambazonia – it is usually only a

matter of time before some super power or some mercenary force offers military

and financial support to the parties to the conflict. It would not be in the

economic, geostrategic or national security interests of the United States if

Congress were to allow other countries (China or Russia, for example) to

become the go-to partners of any Ambazonians.

25. The USA has international treaty obligations to recognize Ambazonia

So long as Ambazonians continue to fight for independence and to the extent

that they have rejected Cameroonian nationality, they constitute a stateless

people. They are exactly in the same position where Israel was before the USA

worked so hard for the adoption of the Balfour Declaration. We believe that the

United States has the obligation to intervene under “the doctrine of collective

security” or The Atlantic Treaty under which Washington, DC, ended its

isolation during World War II and entered the war in order to prevent evil from

triumphing over justice. Such a calling beckons to the United States in

Ambazonia at this moment, as it did in Kosovo, Kuwait (during Desert Storm)

South Sudan and in Timor Lester, among others.

26. What is America did to King George Ambazonia must do to King Biya

Ambazonians have a lot of faith in America and have relied heavily on the

assumption that America will have their backs as they fight for freedom.

America’s struggle with independence has inspired Ambazonians and their

emulation of what America did places special obligation on Congress to work

with them. The United States cannot pride itself of having rejected King George

of England and yet expect the sovereign people of Ambazonia to accept abuse

from King Biya of the Republic of Cameroon. The USA proclaimed

independence, breaking away from Colonial Britain and rejecting the “one and

indivisible” British empire over which the sun never set. That is exactly what

Ambazonians are doing, by breaking away from the “one and indivisible” slave

house that the Republic of Cameroon seeks to hold them prisoners in.

27. There is no better midwife of new nations

The USA played the role of chief midwife in the birth of Israel and its

recognition; in the birth of Kosovo and its recognition; in the birth of Timor

Lester and its recognition; in the birth of South Sudan and its recognition; in

the birth of Eritrea and its recognition, etc. We would like to argue that the

time has come for America to attend to the birth of Ambazonia.

28. The cost of delaying intervention will be high

Delayed intervention in Eritrea’s War for Independence and in South Sudan’s

Independence War led to each of those countries losing one million lives. The

USA can stop carnage in Ambazonia by acting sooner rather than later. The

price is not only in blood, although it is the price in blood that must worry the

most. There is also a huge price in terms of the costs to American taxpayers.

The delay in intervening in South Sudan’s Independence War made the

humanitarian emergencies so expensive that by 2014, for example, the USA

was spending $1.2 billion in emergency relief. Swift action now can help avoid

such a catastrophic situation in Ambazonia.

29. A violent revolution has swallowed the once peaceful approach

An armed approach to restoring independence seems to have become the order

of the day. This could have been avoided. The demands since 1993-1994 were

for a federal system of government in line with the 1961 deal. Many believed in

federalism for some time. Alas, by making peaceful revolution impossible, King

Biya has ended up making violent revolution inevitable. Recent calls for

French-speaking citizens to evacuate English-speaking regions and vice versa

raise fears of widespread communal violence along linguistic lines.

30. Thanks to Congress for starting work on the Cameroons

On behalf of Ambazonians, please accept sincere thanks for meeting with us

and for the attention you have paid to our petitions so far. What we seek and

hope Congress can grant is action in support of the freedom and dignity that

our people seek, deserve and are ready to die for. Not freedom as granted by

the benevolence of tyrants and colonialists, but freedom and dignity as

deserved by every Sovereign People. We hope that the Cameroon Caucus in

Congress will recognize that its work needs to focus also on establishing an

Ambazonia Caucus, working diligently to seek a lasting solution, not just to

preserve a status quo that is clearly no longer tenable.

31. No Permanent Friends, Only Permanent Interests

In supporting the Balfour Declaration of 1917, President Franklin D. Roosevelt

insisted on reassuring that he will not act without taking all views into

account. In 1945, he reiterated the pledge, committing to consult both Jews

and Arabs before intervening. However, after Britain, which held the colonial

mandate for Palestine until 1948, opposed the creation of a Jewish state and

an Arab state, the U.S. Government broke with its traditional ally (Britain) in

favor of upholding independence for the People of Israel. That is what we

appeal to the Congress to do with respect to its ally, France.

32. Form Special Committee in Congress, and at UN

We appeal to the Congress to designate a team of American experts as well as

request that the United Nations create and staff a similar team to study “The

Ambazonia Problem”. We appeal to Congress to lead the negotiations between

the Republic of Cameroon and Ambazonia. We argue that for any negotiations

to be meaningful that they must include the right to self-determination and the

right to peaceful separation.

33. Reject annexation, federalism, decentralization, any union

Federalism – even on a two-state basis, as agreed to in 1961 – and/or

decentralization as outlined in the 1996 Constitution are unacceptable to

Ambazonians. Our people tried federalism before and it failed. We do not intend

to put ourselves through trying the same thing and expecting a different

outcome. Our people have very loudly and at great loss of life rejected any

continued association with a colonial system that has treated us like slaves

and a people conquered in war. A “one and indivisible Cameroon” can only be

possible at the expense of independence for Ambazonians. Congress should

decry any consideration of such a proposal, given the fact that recolonization is

a crime against humanity. It would only be right for Ambazonians to accept

annexation by Cameroon if the U.S. would demand of the people of Crimea to

accept federalism as part of Russia.

34. Independence is a matter for the sovereign people of Ambazonia

Independence for Ambazonia must be a matter solely for Ambazonians to

decide. Neither the United Nations, France, Britain nor the United States

should dictate a solution if this violates the Sovereign Will of Ambazonians.

Our forebears voted in a referendum in 1961, deciding – very cleverly - not only

to join, but most importantly and in advance of joining, to obtain independence

(first) by joining (second). By that act, the Sovereign People of Ambazonian

earned the full sovereign right to decide their destiny without babysitting from

a neighboring, colonial people. We urge Congress to recognize our right to

decide in all sovereignty.

35. Independence by joining violated the UN Charter

Besides, and as indicated earlier, “independence by joining” was a shameful

violation of Article 76(b) of the United Nations Charter and of the inherent and

inalienable right of all colonies and Trust Territories to independence (see,

UNGA Resolution 1541(XV) of 15th December 1960). It is time for our people’s

aspirations to be upheld and for the commitment given by the United Nations

to be honored.

36. Punish the colonialists

We call on Congress, the People and Government of the United States to deny

and/or revoke visas as well as impose travel bans on key members of

Cameroon’s ruling elite. We call on Congress to freeze any assets belonging to

them and their families in U.S. banks, other financial holdings as well as in

“retirement accounts” in other countries. Those targeted should include

members of President Biya’s Cabinet, his deputy ministers, other senior

government officials, members of the Central Committee of the ruling CPDM

party, members of country’s Communication Council, senior police, security

and military officials as well as individuals and business or corporations and

their leaders who have bankrolled past and ongoing acts of repression and/or

are accessories to them.

37. Deploy UN Peacekeepers or Apply Second Amendment

We appeal to Congress and the U.S. Government to call for and support the

deployment of United Nations Peacekeepers between the Republic of Cameroon

and Ambazonia to help prevent another Rwanda-type genocide.

38. Uphold the right to self-defense

Given the massacres ongoing in Ambazonia, we also kindly call on Congress to apply the Second Amendment of the Constitution to Ambazonia. That amendment forbids any infringement on “the right of the people to keep and bear arms” needed in self-defense and defense of the sovereignty, freedom and dignity of our people. “A free people ought not only be armed and disciplined, but they should have sufficient arms and ammunition to maintain a status of

independence from any who might attempt to abuse them, which would include their own government.”

 

With very best regards,

 

Ms. Catherine Nformangum

Chair, Ambazonia Recognition Collaborative Council (ARCC)

1250 Connecticut Ave. NW,

Washington, DC 20036, USA

Email: ctumchia@hotmail.com

Dr. Lucas Cho Ayaba

Chair, Ambazonia Governing Council (AGC)

Marc Chebesi

Rep., Republic of Ambazonia Nationalists (RoAN)

Frida Mambo

Chair, Southern Cameroons Women’s Movement, SCWM

Mr. Edwin N. Ngang

Rep. Ambazonia People’s Restoration Movement (APERM)

Dr. Ebenezer Akwanga

Chair, Southern Cameroons Youth League, SCYL

Ntumfoyn Boh Herbert

Spokesperson, Movement for the Restoration of the Independence of Southern Cameroons, MoRISC

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