August 2009

Progressive thinking and

united action in the Southern

Way Forwards
Cameroons Struggle for self- Network
determination
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August, 2009
THE WAY FORWARDS NETWORK

"In the gulf of Guinea where the continent of Africa curves to the west, a storm
is brewing. The question is whether the static created by the European
caricatures of Africa--as a place in perpetual war--will blind peace-and-justice
minded people to take a stand against the moral outrage that is fuelling the
storm, or whether we are going to ask the victims to suck it up?"

We are a network of organisations and individuals who signed the Dallas

Agenda Contract to pool together our human and material resources to support
communities struggling for the right to a life of peace, security and dignity, in
what was the former British Ambas Bay Colony and later the Southern
Cameroons; a people who have been robbed of their resources, deprived of
their land and independence.

First colonised in 1858 as the British Ambas Bay Colony, Britain gave the
territory to Germany in 1887 as payoff for land in the Middle East that both
countries were fighting over. The Germans promptly added the territory to their
colony Kamerun. When Germany lost WWI France took over Kamerun which
became French Cameroon and Britain regained control of the territory of
Ambas Bay which was eventually dubbed the United Nations Trust Territory of
Southern Cameroons under British administration (Anglophone Cameroon).

Initially considered unimportant territory, Anglophone Cameroon was allowed

to develop the necessary process of development of self-governing structures
that eventually led to parliamentary elections and formation of democratic
governments in 1954 and 1959. Things changed with the kickoff of the
decolonisation movement. The British wanted to hold onto the newly
discovered oil in Nigeria by imposing their lackey Tafawa Balewa as the first
president of an independent Nigeria. They became suspicious that Nigerian
activists could contemplate using an independent Anglophone Cameroon next

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door as a stage for prolonged resistance if Nigeria suddenly became unsafe for
them. Leaders of the French Cameroon independence movement for their part
were already using Anglophone Cameroon as a safe base from which to launch
attacks against French troops in their country. It was through Anglophone
Cameroon that renowned leaders of the decolonisation movement like Kwame
Nkrumah of Ghana and Sekou Toure of Guinea provided support to the French
Cameroon freedom fighters. With massive bomb raids and the assassinations of
the first president-to be of an independent French Cameroon Felix Moumie and
other leaders, France succeeded in destroying the French Cameroon
independence movement.

With colonisation legislated as illegal in international law, France imposed a

former colonial cadre--Amadou Ahidjo--as the first president of the newly
"independent" French Cameroon. He would later be replaced by Paul Biya,
who was a militant against the independent movement and demonstrated
against it on several occasions in Paris. Loïc Le Floch-Prigent, former chair of
the French government owned oil conglomerate Elf said, "Paul Biya took over
power with the help of Elf to hold-in Anglophone Cameroon."

Confident of continuous French control of French Cameroon, France and

Britain annexed Anglophone Cameroon to it. The democratically elected
government in Anglophone Cameroon was disbanded. The discovery of oil in
Anglophone Cameroon will make an already complicated situation worse. With
repeated government led indoctrination the rallying cry for French Cameroon
nationalism went from "Independence and Freedom from France" to “Resist
Attempts by Anglophone Cameroon to Take Away the Oil!" With this have
come scorn, hatred, discrimination and ever more determination to enforce a
status of second class citizens on the people of Anglophone Cameroon. The
public transportation infrastructure was left to rot. Public corporations that
formed the backbone of the Anglophone Cameroon economy during the era of

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self-government like the National Produce Marketing Board, Santa Tea &
Coffee Estate, the CDC, Powercam, and Cambank were broken-up; their
reserves were pillaged and heavy machinery was either transferred to French
Cameroon or left to rot.

The annexation has been followed by brutal repression against Anglophone

Cameroon citizens. The victims of this struggle range from the
assassinated former Prime Minister Augustine Ngom Jau to an unborn baby
who died when a French Cameroon soldier kicked her mom in the stomach in
the town of Kumbo in 1997. French Cameroon nationalism is today defined
simply by its opposition to the quest of Anglophone Cameroon citizens for their
rights to self-determination, freedom of expression and association. A handful
of shameless, greedy, opportunistic Anglophone Cameroon citizens is allowing
itself to be used as window dressing and public relations stunts in the wake of
an ever inventive resistance to the blatant exploitation.

It was against this back drop that independent activists and organisations in
their struggle for the emancipation of the oppressed peoples of Anglophone
Cameroon convened in Dallas-Mesquite from April 20 to 22, 2007 to create the
Way Forwards Network (WFN) as an open space for collaboration on an equal
footing to end the French Cameroon annexation, while building a modern
movement that commits itself to the principles of consensus decision making
and non hierarchical organising.

The Way Forwards Network (WFN) intends to

1. Serve as a catalyst to spur our people to end this pain-filled episode of our
history, by restoring our right to independence and a life free of the specter of

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the French Cameroon neo-colonial regime.

2. Put to rest the cult of personality worship which has created the mentality of
first stressing “who should be the leader”, rather than "what is to be done". For
who can deny that for over 20 years since our struggle got out of the closet, we
are still trapped in the muddy waters of “who should be the leader”?

3. Develop participatory structures to end the practice whereby some

individuals make decisions in lieu and in the name of the people without the
possibility for ordinary people to participate in the discussions or processes. To
this end promote a culture of using consensus decision making processes within
non-hierarchical structures.

4. Develop a movement that involves and respects the grassroots by

empowering individuals and groups to develop their own voices and participate
in deciding the destiny of their communities by using the consensus decision-
making processes as well as non-hierarchical structures.

We will serve as an antithesis to the power structure of the neo-colonial

Cameroon regime as we struggle to liberate ourselves. We will develop and
encourage new ways of conducting the business of our people’s emancipation.
Ways that affirm the principles of democracy, transparency and grass roots
participation in decision-making processes. Ways that will get rid of the static
hierarchies which have served only the few who --sometimes through
treachery--managed to get themselves to the top of these hierarchies.

PRINCIPLES OF UNITY

2.1. We considers the participation of ordinary citizens in the decision-making

processes a prerequisite for building a durable, free and just society.

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2.2. We consider consensus decision-making the most democratic form of
decision making, as it takes away the sly practice of imposing ones view by
attacking those of others. As opposed to proposing better alternatives.

2.3. We recognise that a prerequisite for participation in the decision-making

process of any affiliate group involved with the WFN is the contribution of
an individual's efforts and resources to the affiliate group.

2.4. We shall be committed to the development of non-hierarchical and anti-

authoritarian relationships: to develop a pattern and practice, consistent with
the mission and purposes of the WFN, and to be each others’ keeper.
Sacrifice for the struggle is about the ideal and not about leverage to lord it
over the others. Each person’s role is a duty and not a position of authority to
exact obedience.

2.5. We will be committed to the principle of human equality, and shall not
discriminate on the bases of tribe, place of Birth, place of origin of parents,
sex, religion or any such criteria. Concomitantly, all shall work together,
collectively to decide policy in regards to dealing with those who spread hate
based on tribe or any of the above. People shall be judged by the content of
their character and not their background.

2.6. While taking threats to members’ security into consideration, we shall

strive to be open to everybody in the community who wishes to participate in
our work.

2.7. Cognisant of the vast and varied cultures and traditions practiced within
our communities, we shall be committed to building diversity along broad
socio-cultural lines.
ARTICLE 3: Membership Criteria

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3.1. Membership in the network requires individuals to AGREE to the words
and spirit of the Network's Mission and Principles of Unity.
3.2. Membership in any affiliate group of the Network shall be determined by
the members of that particular group, as they know their locality/group better.

ARTICLE 4: NETWORK STRUCTURE

4.1. The WFN is made up of the People’s General Assembly and five Standing
Committees. Except for the Networking Committee, each committee shall
comprise 5 persons. The Committees shall each choose a liaison for the
Networking Committee. The liaison serves like a bridge between their
committee and the networking committee, taking information to and fro from
their committee.

ARTICLE 5: PROCESS

5.1. We shall strive to make all decisions in the WFN by consensus both in the
Peoples General Assembly, Committees and temporary Working Groups. All
decisions made by consensus within the Network can only be changed by
another consensus.
5.2. But if the Peoples' General Assembly falls short of consensus on an issue, a
simple majority of the Assembly shall decide that issue; however, anyone in the
proceedings can write and append his or her strong objection to the written
majority decision on the issue, and that shall become part of the consensus on
the issue.
5.3. When proposed, the People's General Assembly may quickly appoint a
Working Group to investigate any particular issue and report the findings to the
People's Assembly later. The Assembly can then make a decision based on that

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report.
5.4. Each Committee is expected to confer and select a scribe and a facilitator,
and to rotate these roles amongst the members every six months.
5.5. Each Committee shall update the People's Assembly mailing-list at least
once every six months on its work. This update shall be due on June 30 and
December 30.

ARTICLE 6: THE PEOPLE'S GENERAL ASSEMBLY (PLENARY)

6.1. The Peoples General Assembly shall meet once a year at the Annual
Convention in a series of plenary. The Assembly shall be composed of all
members of the Way Forward Network (WFN). The PGA shall be the venue
where all major decisions of the Network are made. The PGA shall define the
tasks of the Networking Committee for the coming year.

ARTICLE 7: THE NETWORKING COMMITTEE

7.1. The Networking Committee shall have the task of the day-today running of
the network between the Annual Conventions.
7.1 (b) Each organisation involved in the network shall delegate a Liaison to
represent the organisation or group in the Networking Committee. The PGA
shall delegate independent delegates to the Networking Committee.
7.1 (c) Each member of the Networking Committee, whether independent or
affiliated to an organisation, shall make the necessary $500 ground payment.
7.1 (d) The Networking Committee shall assist cities hosting the annual
Convention.
7.1 (e) The Networking Committee shall decide the projects to be funded and
authorise the Finance Committee to release the funds. However the projects and
their priorities will have been authorised by the PGA, except for unpredictable
ones. So applications for funds shall be made to the Networking Committee by

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organisations, other Committees or Sub- Committees. The PGA shall identify
WF tasks for the coming year, and then organisations or Committees shall
submit applications to the Networking Committee to fulfill the task.
7.1 (f) The Networking Committee shall store records of projects that it has
funded, including evaluation reports, receipts, etc.
7.1 (g) Applications for funding shall be written to include a budget with
criteria for measuring success or progress of the project. Each application shall
describe (a) the background of the project, (b) its relation to the Way Forwards
Network (that is to independence), and (c) a time frame for completing it.
7.1 (h) when an organisation requests funding, it shall indicate the amount it
has already raised for the project. After receiving the written application, the
Networking Committee shall assign one of its members to serve as a Sponsor
for the project. The Sponsor makes contacts with the organisation and learn/
understand the feasibility of the project. The Sponsor shall then file a feasibility
report with the Committee which will decide by consensus if the project should
be funded. If the decision is to fund the project, the Scribe of the Networking
Committee shall send the approved application to the Finance Committee
which shall then disburse the funds.
7.1 (i) The group or Committee presents a written evaluation report at the end
of the project and submit it, with supporting receipts, to the Finance
Committee.

ARTICLE 8: THE FINANCE COMMITTEE

8.1 The Finance Committee's tasks shall include raising funds, mobilising other
resources, keeping the accounts of the Network and ensuring transparency
through good book keeping.
8.2 The Finance Committee shall disburse funds as approved by the
Networking Committee.
8.3 The Finance Committee shall coordinate fund raising initiatives. For
example, it shall appoint sub-committees as needed; such as a sub-committee

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for reaching to cultural groups etc.
8.4 The Finance Committee shall manage WFN bank accounts.

ARTICLE 9: THE INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS COMMITTEE

9.1 In broad terms, the International Relations Committee shall create

relationships between the WFN and organisations, cultural groups, student
groups, and individuals.
9.2 The International Relations Committee shall appoint (a) to identify
international entities who are natural allies of struggles like ours; (b) to identify
the ways in which the WFN must support such allies in developing reciprocity;
(c) sub-committees to generate actions by international entities. Such actions
could include resolutions against the culprit regime in Yaoundé, the cutting off
of support to that regime, and international demonstrations of solidarity with
victims of that regime -- like students the regime routinely shoots at peaceful
demonstrations, civilians the regime routinely kills and brutalises, and activists
the regime assassinates.

ARTICLE 10: THE COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE

10.1 The Communications Committee shall word and phrase documents --

especially press releases-- to achieve specific objectives of the WFN.
10.2 The Communications Committee shall produce a monthly newsletter and
an on-line audio/video news blast (news reel).
10.3 The Communications Committee shall handle relations with the press--
issuing press releases, delegating WFN members to talk to the press (after
preparing them in committee), etc.
10.4 The Communications Committee shall delegate an Outreach Sub-
Committee. Its tasks shall include to (a) mobilise our public and the
international public to become involved in our struggle (aggressively distribute

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media content produced by the Communications Committee), (b) move us into
events likely to expose our cause to groups and organisations involve in the
global social justice movement.

ARTICLE 11: THE TRACK & TRACE COMMITTEE

11.1 The Track & Trace Committee shall pursue; accountability from the
French Cameroon regime by
(a) Monitoring the movements of members of this regime;
(b) Documenting assassinations by agents of this regime;
(c) Investigating the financial holdings of members of this regime in
accomplice foreign corporations;
(d) Documenting torture and other human rights abuses of our citizens by
agents of this regime;
(e) Documenting this regime's shootings of students, citizens, and others;
(f) Bringing law suits against this regime's perpetrators of crimes
against our people;
(g) Sustaining pressure on this coloniser.

The Networking Committee-

The coordinating Committee of the Way Forward Network (WFN).

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