Despite condemnations: Mfoundi SDO insists order move to avert chaos, ensure respect of freedoms.

The senior civil administrator says his decision is a preventive action in the phase of what he says are increasing threats to public peace and order.

Contrary to the reading, which many among them political actors have been making of the move, Djikdent said he acted within the ambit of the law and the powers bestowed on him as guarantor of public peace and order in Mfoundi Division.

The reaction of the SDO is contained in an interview he granted the national bilingual daily, Cameroon Tribune. 

In the interview published in its edition of Thursday July 18, the SDO said he has rather acted to ensure the freedoms of citizens are not in jeopardy.

“The Prefect cannot be an obstacle to the exercise of freedoms. On the contrary, he ensures that these freedoms are exercised without hindrance,” Djikdent stated.

According to the administrator, the SDO “is the guarantor of public order in the Division…the maintenance of law and order is first and foremost a preventive action. The idea here is that it is better to prevent disorder than to have to restore law and order”.

He intimated that it is impossible to turn a blind eye to rising calls “for uprisings against the institutions of the Republic”, adding that: “It is very indecent to make statements of this kind against the man who embodies the said institutions. Out of modesty, I wouldn't want to talk about insults”. 

Freedom of expression shouldn’t give room to calls for insurrection

To those who argue that the decision is a threat to freedom of expression, the SDO said freedom is not synonymous to calling for insurrection.

Djikdent explained that in recent times, some individuals have made a mockery of freedom by using insulting language in the media. He cited television and radio programs wherein, the impression one gets is abuse of freedom.

“Being free to express oneself does not mean to call for uprisings and insurrection,” the administrator indicated. 

In the meantime, he said no one has been affected but maintained that anyone who acts contrary to the July 16 order would “have voluntarily invited himself to be banned from Mfoundi Division”. 

No freedom when institutions are attacked

The Mfoundi SDO reminded those talking about freedom that once state institutions are attacked, there won’t be freedom for anyone. He insisted that: “It's a question of reconciling public order and public freedoms, because without public order, public freedoms are impossible”. 

Decision doesn’t proscribe criticisms

In the thinking of the SDO, those criticising his order are not being honest. “If people were honest, they would see that the decision does not prohibit criticisms. Someone needs to explain to me whether there isn't a difference between criticising and insulting,” Djikdent explained.

He maintained that it is impossible to force people to have the same thinking. “You can't force everyone to think the same way. Some people simply want to move the subject around to make it clearer. Am I to believe that those who engage in dangerous behaviour want disorder? Would they like to leave a legacy of contempt for institutions, disorder and contempt for their elders to their children?”, he questioned.

He sounded unshaken that he is doing his job. “My job is also to ensure public order, which extends to questions of ethics and morality”.

Need for calm climate 

The administrator said his command unit “is doing relatively well,” but said what happened during the last Governors’ Conference in Yaounde was hierarchy reminding them of the need to step up the safety of people and their property.

He declared that his fiat is to ensure a peaceful atmosphere and avert any form of unrests. As the seat of power, he said Yaounde needs peace and security for the good of the nation.

He was also emphatic that: “No one would survive if disorder takes hold, since its repercussions would not spare its perpetrators”. 

Djikdent then insisted that nobody has been barred from entering Yaounde but said there would be no room for attacks on state institutions. He invited critics “to look at the moon and not at the finger pointing at it”.

The SDO recalled that when he banned the carrying of bags to frustrate the rising explosion of Improvised Explosive Devices, IEDs, there were criticisms as well. Today, he said, everyone is safe, thanks to the forces of law and order.

To note that Tuesday’s decision of the SDO had threatened to ban anyone who: “Calls for an uprising against the institutions of the Republic, dangerously offends the institutions or the person who embodies them by any means of communication used in Mfoundi Division and undertakes maneuvers likely to cause serious disturbance to public order”.

This story was first published in The Guardian Post issue N0:3173 of Friday July 19, 2024