By Matthew Russell Lee, Video, 1st Person, this
UNITED NATIONS, April 16 -- The deference of the UN system's and many of its member states to Cameroon's corrupt 36-year president Paul Biya, and their complicity in his recent crackdown, continues. This extends to media like Voice of America and the BBC, among others. On April 17 Inner City Press got the change to asked UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres' humanitarian Assistant SG Ursula Mueller why, when she visited Cameroon, she did not address or venture to the Anglophone areas where Biya's troops have been burning down whole villages. Video here. Mueller replied that "I followed the advice of my program of my local partners and focused only on the Far North." Who are these local partners? Then she claimed that the UN Resident Coordinator is designing a response to the Anglophone regions. What, the burning down of villages? Today's UN is failing, and continues to restrict the Press that asks about these failures. We'll have more on this. Just as the UN through its envoy Francois Lounceny Fall has tried to equate separatists with extremists, so too the Biya government now says it won't have any discussions with "secessionists" in the Anglophone areas. So Inner City Press on April 16 asked UN Spokesman Stephane Dujarric, video here, UN transcript here: Inner City Press: about Cameroon. It has to do with the Interior Minister of Cameroon, Mr.… has said there will be absolutely no dialogue with “secessionists”. Whether or not violent or nonviolent, if you do not pledge allegiance to… to the full territorial integrity of Cameroon, no dialogue. Given that Mr. François Fall has been saying for the longest that he's committing to dialogue, that's what the Government should do, what does he think of this statement that, in 30 days, it will be a final crackdown?
Spokesman: Our position continues to be the same, is that the best way to address the situation in the Anglophone regions is through a genuine and inclusive dialogue with all relevant stakeholders." This while Antonio Guterres took Biya's golden statue, and has remained silent - a new low for the UN.
Spokesman: Our position continues to be the same, is that the best way to address the situation in the Anglophone regions is through a genuine and inclusive dialogue with all relevant stakeholders." This while Antonio Guterres took Biya's golden statue, and has remained silent - a new low for the UN.
