Internationally acclaimed UK-based human rights
activist and actress, Jackie Fearnley, has
called on the United Nation, UN, to organise a referendum so as to provide a
“just” solution to the current socio-political deadlock in the
North West and South West regions of Cameroon which has been christened the
Anglophone crisis.
The rights activist, in a letter published on the UK Guardian newspaper’s website, put the
blame of the escalating Anglophone crisis at the doorsteps of the United
Kingdom, France and the United Nations which she said had stood by and watched
the ongoing carnage without taking any concrete action.
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Antonio Gutteres: UN secretary general
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“Instead of standing helplessly by and watching the
escalation of a genocide, perhaps a helpful step would be if Great Britain could
initiate a resolution for a referendum to be conducted through the good offices
of the UN” she said.
To the human rights defender, it is high time Anglophones
were rescued from injustice, social and economic marginalisation, persecution
and the misappropriation of their resources. This, she said, could be possible
in a UN-organised referendum limited only to North West and South Westerners.
“Questions to ascertain how many Anglophones from NW
and SW Cameroon would like to remain in this union, how many would like a true
federation (of respected equals) and how many would like complete independence
should be included in the referendum” she urged.
To her, “France, Britain and the UN must bear some
responsibility for this unfortunate marriage which has failed so disastrously.”
She equally raised an alarm over the inhumane living condition of some
detainees whom she preferred to classify as “political prisoners.”
Her words: “I am in touch with some of those
enduring horrible conditions in the notorious, severely overcrowded prison of
Kondengui, many of whom have been there for over a year. Every few weeks, they
are brought before a military tribunal (which can impose the death penalty) but
each time they appear, no witnesses are present and no case is brought. Some of
them will appear again on 19 January and they are appealing for journalists and
human rights organisations to be present to witness this cruel charade.”
She however did not forget to pick holes in
Cameroon’s bilingualism which she says exists only in name and fuels the
divide. While recalling that after decolonization, former British territory of
Southern Cameroon has participated in two referendums, Jackie Fearnley, opined
that with the current trend of events, another referendum could just be a
stitch in time which saves nine.
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