Editorial: Biya's lesson for future generations.

In retrospect, 80 years ago, numerous fellow Cameroonian compatriots, along with others from French colonies, lost their lives fighting for "freedom and justice" for French citizens.

They were honoured at a ceremony in which President Biya, speaking for other French African countries whose citizens were forcefully conscripted, extolled the virtue of freedom, peace and justice for "a future generation".

He said the war was waged together to defend the universal values and ideals of peace and justice and expressed a vision of a common. 

"In its name, we fought together, side-by-side. This vision was respectful of our differences, respectful of the infinite diversity of men, cultures, religions, civilizations. This vision recognises each of us as having an equal right to dignity. The exemplary solidarity that thus prevailed remains a valuable lesson that we must perpetuate and pass on to future generations, in order to avoid the mistakes made in the past," he said.

He, however, conceded that those values are being respected only in their violations. 

"People are fighting again...Yes, the ghosts of the spirit of revenge; the flagrant violation of state sovereignty; the intolerable contempt for people resurfaces from the past to impose itself in our daily lives. International law variously interpreted; the exploitation of human rights; the forgetting or denial of other wars; the permanent desire to dominate; to exploit; to build a world to their sole advantage, are among others, the shadows that await us today and of which our presence here should reveal the light," he stated. 

He added that the commemoration must also be able to "highlight our collective responsibility in preserving peace and freedom in the world. We must find answers to the questions and causes which are the breeding ground of terrorism, of injustice, of the crisis of confidence which is observed vis-à-vis multilateralism…Almost everywhere, the big question remains and remains whether we should capitulate to the pessimism of the inevitability of war, or whether we can still build a hopeful future where wars will become history for good"

He added that: "For my part, I am convinced that international solidarity, and better consideration of the expectations of the interests of other countries, particularly those of the South, would bring greater peace to today's world".

When the "international" contest of peace, freedom, justice and dialogue which President Biya so eloquently rhapsodised in France is viewed in the Cameroon "national" perspective, crucial questions inevitably prop up.

How do Cameroon authorities fulfil the expectations of Cameroonians of the future generation to achieve the cardinal values of peace, justice, freedom and respect of human rights?

Have Cameroonian authorities address the root causes of the conflict that has been going on in the North West and South West Regions, in an inclusive dialogue with no issues barred for debate?

Have various human rights reports on Cameroon not been below the mark of respect?

Is the justice system not still being scathingly scrutinised with suspects held for months and even years without being charged, and some like former Justice Ayah Paul, later freed? Are tribalism, hate speech and geopolitics in Cameroon not still thriving?

At the risk of repetition, the president recognised the "...respect of our differences, respect of the infinite diversity of men, cultures, religions, civilizations. This vision recognises each of us as having an equal right to dignity. The exemplary solidarity that thus prevailed remains a valuable lesson that we must perpetuate and pass on to future generations, in order to avoid the mistakes made in the past".

Charity, it is said, begins at home. 

While The Guardian Post congratulates President Biya for telling the truth to the world at a ceremony to mark the liberation of France from an occupying force, he should translate those eloquent prescriptions into solving the problems in the country.

That, he can do, by reinvigorating the values of peace, justice, freedom, dialogue, equal opportunities and respect of human rights, which he acknowledged their violation at the international level have become like wilted leaves on the tree of life and triggers of war.

As former Liberian Head of State, Ellen Johnson Sirlea, once said, "future generations will judge us not by what we said, but what we did".

This story was first published in The Guardian Post issue No:3203 of Monday August 19, 2024