When CPA sets trap for Biya

Apologists of the New Deal regime of President Biya have been beating their chests about Cameroon’s “diplomatic trophy” in hosting the 60th anniversary of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association.

As patriots, The Guardian Post cannot resist the temptation to join in the fiesta. But the victory goes beyond eloquent speeches skewed to favour diplomatic niceties and hospitality.

The Cameroonian parliamentarians and the head of state who becomes the CPA deputy patron owe their citizens and guests an obligation to set an example in respecting human rights, a credible electoral process, separation of powers, freedom of the press and association and good governance in the post 2015 development agenda.

To what extent can the host say it has lived up to that billing? Cameroon entered the Commonwealth in 1995 in very controversial circumstances.

Unlike Canada, the other bilingual country in the “club” whose majority is English speaking, the Cameroon English component is just some 22 percent in the minority. That explains why in Cameroon’s parliament of 180 members, only 38 are English speaking.

Anglophones, led by the Southern Cameroons National Council, were of the opinion that Cameroon at the time did not fulfil the conditions to be admitted in the union.

It found gracious defects in the electoral process and separation of power. Despite the opposition, the Yaounde diplomacy triumphed and some international reports claimed Cameroon “joined the Commonwealth through the back door”.

In responding to the allegation, the Commonwealth said it was better to bring the country in and cajole it to change than redress the issues when Cameroon was outside the door.

In fairness to both the Commonwealth and the Cameroon authorities, change, even if it is just for its cosmetic flagrance, has been effected in the electoral process, a joint criminal code and press freedom. But there is still much to be desired in judicial independence and parliament which is more answerable to political party hierarchy than to the electorate.

In opening the conference, President Biya said UN’s adoption of a post-2015 Development Agenda “reflects reckoning with past lapses as well as recognition of the need for immediate action, with greater determination and greater commitment in order to secure the future.”

Cameroon parliamentarians in particular must recognise their “past lapses” and be guided by their consciences rather than dictates of party leaders. Shouldn’t the president relinquish his chairmanship of the higher judicial council as advised by the African Commission so as to give the judiciary a free hand?

President Biya concedes that there is still much to be done in the Commonwealth and the world as a whole made a global village, thanks to advancements in communication and transportation.

He said “hunger has not been eradicated, poverty reduction is extremely slow, unemployment, especially among the youth remains a thorny problem while health coverage remains inadequate.”

Some of these tribulations coupled with bad governance are the root causes of “the persistence of many hotbeds of tension.

Several parts of the world continue to witness political, economic and social crises. Armed clashes abound. There are repeated and senseless terrorist attacks and acts of maritime piracy which challenge the international community.”

As a solution, the president said African countries have prepared a common position which “proposes the alignment of the Agenda with national and international development programmes, fully consistent with the African Union’s 2063 Agenda.

This common position also comprises new cooperation thrusts aimed at eradicating poverty, creating endogenous conditions for economic transformation, preserving peace and progressing towards prosperity and sustainable development.”

These are lofty ideals but they should not end at pretty words. Take the case of the Millennium Development Goals which the new CPA deputy chair said “raised new hopes for a world where peace, security and prosperity would be shared at last.” Launched in 2003 and due to end next year, the president admitted that it “must be acknowledged, unfortunately, that they will not be achieved by 2015 as agreed.”

What is the guarantee that going by the 60th conference theme: “Repositioning the Commonwealth for the Post-2015 Development Agenda”, success will be accomplished?

At The Guardian Post, we think success can only be achieved if each country’s parliament works to ensure the ideals of the Commonwealth are respected especially in the separation of power.

President Biya as deputy patron must set an example. He can do that by empowering parliament to set a judiciary commission which appoints, promotes and punishes erring members of the judiciary to replace the higher judicial council where he has the minister of justice as his deputy.

Parliamentarians should also have judicial commissions to investigate national indignities such as the infamous Fako land scandals where local government official grab community land in violation of the law and despite proofs published in the media, parliament remains mute.

The list system in electing parliamentarians should also be amended to avoid situations were unpopular people perch on the lists of credible personalities and are elected to the House and remain alienated from their constituents.

Would the Development Agenda, no matter how feasibly on paper it may look, succeed if corruption is not drastically curbed?

How will corruption and the circuit of impunity be eradicated if Article 66 of the constitution which stipulates that senior officials should declare their assets when they take office and at the end is not implemented?

Why has the text to make the bill parliament long passed not been signed to give it enforcement? Shouldn’t the National Anti-Commission, CONAC, be given the power by parliament to arrest and prosecute corrupt officials instead of being just a bull dog howling without teeth?

Those are some of the issues The Guardian Post urges the President Biya and parliamentarians to urgently address. As we have had the opportunity to say before, we congratulate President Biya again for his diplomatic victory to host the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association conference and take the chair of deputy patron. Charity, it is said, begins at home.

So the burden of success in rebranding the 2015 Agenda for Development is his and that of the Cameroon parliament for other less democratic members to emulate. Otherwise they will take the blame for failure because the patron who is “The Queen does no wrong”.