When You Are Hungry, You Will Go Back To Courts; Some Eight (8) Common Law Lawyers To Fall Prey; &qu
- Linda EYONG Suzy
- Oct 12, 2017
- 3 min read
After several letters issued by the Common Law lawyers of Southern Cameroons to the Minister of Justice, Prime Minister, and other government officials, requesting for some legitimate reforms in their field, the government kept quiet for close to a year, without issuing even an acknowledgement of receipt. To make their voices heard, these lawyers took to the streets in late 2016, to peacefully match, but unfortunately, were met with brutality from the forces of law and order, with most of their wicks being seized. With such brutality, the lawyers, through their regional associations declared Courts boycott till their problems were addressed.
As if the brutality wasn't enough, the colonial Minister of Justice, who would have responded to their grievances earlier enough to stop the protest, in a very oppressive and provocative language, told the lawyers that, and I quote, "Quand vous auriez faim, vous retournerez au travail", meaning, "When you will be hungry, you will go back to courts". Those were the exact words of a colonial administrator towards a people with legitimate claims. It was more than an insult.
With such attack from an administrator who is in the best position to address their grievances, the Common Law lawyers saw no good faith from the government. To therefore protect the extinction of Common Law within their jurisdiction (which many say is the sole intention of the government) and ensure unity and strength amongst themselves, the lawyers got to a conclave and formed the Common Law Bar Association, which is the umbrella association.
The Common Law Lawyers have been on strike since then, with the government, apart from translating the OHADA text into English (which was one of the lawyers' claims), being silent for close to a year now. The usual style of the government, as declared by Laurant Esso, has always been that, with time these lawyers will get tired and hungry and get back to courts. So far, though with some unsuccessful betrayals within the lawyers, they have been challenging the government's thoughts and colonial ideas, by going as far as now without with the strike.
However, lately, The Southern Cameroons Resistance Press has got some disturbing news of betrayal from the Common Law Lawyers whose names appear below;
Ekole Vernice
Mpako Jacob
Mbokeh Divine
Etape Linus
Malle Adolf
Awutah Philip
Meloko Pascal
Andy Tabi (Pupil Lawyer)
These eight (8) Common Law Lawyers, though a handful, sat to "call off" the strike called by the over 200 Common Law Lawyers, after purportedly collecting money (bribe) from the frustrated government (some say). We, at the SCAR.press have the impression that the eight have been paid to succumb the minister's statement (When you are hungry, you will go back to courts), a statement which, in a serious country will cause the dismissal of an administrator.
Southern Cameroonians must recall that this same style happened with the teachers strike and NEVER worked. A few teachers from some teachers associations and trade unions, after collecting bribe, held a public meeting to declare that the strike was called off, and that students could go back to school. TILL DATE, SCHOOLS HAVE REMAINED CLOSED. Now, we do not know why some hungry and selfish lawyers, whom the government has no intentions of addressing their problems, at least like they started with the teachers, will not want to learn from the past, and stay with the majority, rather than stand our as the eight Judas Iscariot.
We should also recall that unlike the teachers strike, the government has never started any form of dialogue with the Common Law Lawyers to see how their problems could be addressed.
We, at the SCAR.press call on you reading this post to share it on all your networks as many times as possible, to expose the betrayal.
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Bassona Nkeng
SC Blogger, Lebialem County
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