Portugal's prime minister, Jose Socrates

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Portugal's prime minister, Jose Socrates, is embroiled in an alleged corruption scandal over permission granted for a British development on protected land outside Lisbon.


Police searched the home of Mr Socrates's uncle this week in connection with the affair, which is said to have taken place when Mr Socrates was environment minister in a previous socialist government. Britain's Serious Fraud Office is said to be investigating the unexplained transfer of some 4m euros to bank accounts in Portugal at the time of the deal, press reports say.

Mr Socrates is alleged to have waived environmental restrictions in 2002, following intervention by his uncle and cousin, to grant the British company Freeport a licence to build the Alcochete mall or "village outlet", a gigantic emporium of designer shops south of the Portuguese capital.

The English royal family is reported to have a large stake in Freeport, which was taken over by the US conglomerate Carlyle in 2007.

Mr Socrates denies having misused his ministerial position to allow the shopping mall to go ahead, or having taken bribes from Freeport. In a rare television appearance at the weekend, he scorned the storm of media allegations, which was spearheaded by Lisbon weekly "Sol".

"The reports and the way they are presented are meant to target me personally and weaken me politically in an election year," Mr Socrates said. "Those who think they can beat me this way are wrong, because I'll fight to defend my honour, my integrity."

The Alcochete project was one of a number of major schemes that carved through Portugal's virgin lands, sometimes in defiance of environmental protection orders, in a drive to modernise the country.

The scandal has re-emerged at the worst possible moment for Mr Socrates, who faces general elections this autumn battered by the economic and financial crisis sweeping Portugal.

Environmental approval of the Freeport Outlet project met all legal requirements at the time, Mr Socrates said. He denied that the go-ahead, granted three days before general elections in 2002, was given with "unusual haste". The shopping complex, built in an environmental protection area along the Tagus estuary, needed cabinet approval for regulatory changes.

Ministers reportedly approved the changes just three days before the polls, which Antonio Guterres's Socialists lost to Jose Manuel Durao Barroso's conservative Social Democratic Party. Portugal's environment secretariat subsequently granted planning permission.

"I never gave any instructions to give the case urgent treatment," Mr Socrates insisted. "I reject all insinuations and slanderous allegations that involve my name regarding this case."

The media spotlight focuses on the prime minister's uncle and cousin, Julio and Hugo Monteiro. Hugo Monteiro is alleged to have held meetings with Charles Smith, a Scottish intermediary contracted by Freeport to ease the deal. Julio Monteiro is then said to have used his kinship with Mr Socrates to set up a meeting with the erstwhile environment minister for Mr Smith.

Mr Socrates vaguely recalls meeting Mr Smith in 2001, but "only to present to him the government's environmental requirements," after his ministry had twice blocked the building project. He says he has nothing to do with his uncle's business operations.

THE INDEPENDENT

" If you want to serve people ,use every opportunity have"

-Dr Amos Namanga Ngongi, President of Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa

Dr Amos Namanga Ngongi is a former Deputy Executive Director of the World Food Program. He dutifully served the United Nations for 19 years in various capacities and retired in 2003 while in Democratic Republic of Congo as the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-Genera. Upon his return to Cameroon, President Paul Biya recognized Dr Ngongi’s drive for transparency and good governance and appointed him a member of the country’s national commission to fight corruption. But After serving for several months, Dr Ngongi resigned to take up a much more challenging job as president of Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) with residence in Kenya. During a brief stop in his village in Buea, Dr Ngongi talked about his new job and more to Recorder Editor Christopher Ambe Shu. Excerpts:

You are president of Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA). What is it all about and what prompted its creation?

It was created as a response to persistent calls by African leaders for assistance from the international community to support its agricultural development.

The African Union met in Maputo in 2003 and resolved to make every effort to increase their own budgetary support for agriculture from the low level of 3-4% that was at that time to 10% of their national budget. Regrettably, very few countries have reached that 10% targetBut in any case, Bill and Melinda Foundation and the Rockefeller Foundation decided to create an alliance with African governments, farmers and African institutions to be able to make a contribution to develop agriculture in Africa, though a program for productivity increases, small holders farmers’ scheme

How do countries benefit from AGRA?

First of all, AGRA does not just give money to countries. AGRA at its initiation carried out studies in Africa and identified 13 countries out of the sub-Saharan countries that it could start with, which include Malawi, Zambia, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Ethiopia.Ghana, Nigeria, Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso. Those are the initial countries in which AGRA is working .It will expand to other countries as need arises or as countries enter into the AGRA program. But that decision is taken by the board of directors of AGRA, who meet regularly and examines the potentials of expanding the programs of AGRA.

For how long has AGRA been operating and so far what are its achievements?

It has been operating now-unfortunately, for two years with the 13 countries that I earlier mentioned. It first program was that of improving African Seed systems, to train African plant breeders, to support in providing new crop variety, to support African seed companies and help establish them so that they can produce and multiply those seeds and to set up a distribution system through agro-dealers who will bring the seeds to small holder- farmers.
There are about 60 students who are doing masters degrees and PhD in about eight African universities; we have plant breeders who have been supported in African research institutions to produce seeds.
Last year alone there were some 53 varieties of seed, which were released in the countries that we are supporting. We are also supporting the seed companies in which our initial stage-one full year, last year was 1500 metric tons of improved seeds of maize, rice. That is already a phenomenal increase in African Capacity to produce seeds.

And some 2000 agro-dealers have been trained and even empowered to access loans in credits institutions so that they can stock sufficient quantities of agricultural products-seeds, fertilisers, insecticides, and pesticides to be able to have them accessible to farmers.

And also we have worked with commercial banks to be able to leverage financial credits in banking systems to give loans to farmers.

In fact, in Kenya alone we and the International Fund for Agricultural Development we put together a guarantee fund of five million dollars and we leveraged $50 million from Equity Bank to be able to put bit at the disposal of agro-dealers and farmers. In Tanzania, we started with one million dollars and we leveraged five million dollars in the national finance bank to give credits to their farmers.
In March we will be making a major announcement. We have negotiated with a major bank in South Africa to leverage up to $200million.I think it is a lesson for us in Africa to be able to use our own resources in Africa to finance African agriculture rather than only running round the world asking for help. Of course, donors will continue to help Africa but Africa should also use its own resources to help itself.

When you retired from the UN you came back to Cameroon and expressed your readiness to help develop Cameroon. One of the ways you wanted to do this was to contest election for the post of mayor of Buea, but unfortunately you were denied the opportunity. Now that you have got another international job with residence in Kenya, how do Cameroonians especially Buea residents benefit from you?

Oh, there are many ways to serve a population. You can serve in a public office or you can serve in your private capacity. There are many to serve a population. It is not just occupying a political office, through which you can serve.
So if you are to help people you can put ideas together, bring people together to be able to achieve a common objective without necessarily being in a political office. At least in my little village of Bonalyonga here in Buea, we have formed a development committee, which has been registered and approved by the administration. We are looking forward to pooling our resources together to establish our own community center, to bring people together, to have indoor games, to have access to computers and other little things that can improve and give dynamism to a community.You don’t have to be in a public office before you do that, but public office gives you an opportunity to be able to do it at a larger scale. If you want to work for people you use every opportunity wherever you are to do that. Where I am now if AGRA is able to extend its activities to Cameroon that would be an achievement-a great help to Cameroon.But that is not my individual decision, but that of the board of directors of AGRA. So there will be missions coming to Cameroon to see the conditions of intervention. And if their recommendations are approved by the board then that will bring some additional benefit to the country, including Buea.

When you retired from the UN and came back to Cameroon the head of State Paul Biya recognized your drive for transparency and governance and appointed you one of the members of the national commission to fight against corruption. Now that you are resident in Kenya how do you help this fight to succeed?

Well, first of all, I was honored by the appointment made by the head of state. For the eleven months that I was there I did discharge my duties as best as I could. But unfortunately by accepting an appointment out of the country I had to resign from the anti-corruption commission.But no body can stop the efforts made by the government to try to fight corruption.
The intentions are clear.

But as you all know it is more the implementation that depends on human beings like you and me that can really bring results. It is more on the dynamism of implementing those decisions taken by the president; he has decided to fight corruption and has made several public pronouncements on that. I don’t think any body can fault those pronouncements.Now, how to be able to turn it into reality, you can see that many people at high places have been arrested, tried and imprisoned. Whether the pace is fast enough is another question. May be it is not just the arrest of people but the institutionalization of the notion of probity –that is having people who discharge their duties for public interest.
For Cameroon to have been declared two- time champion of corruption meant that we were really high at the corruption index list.Hopefully, with all these efforts people will be more conscious of the public need for probity and the judgment of the population at large of their actions. What you journalists are doing is also helpful by naming and shaming people. At least it helps to reduce the degree of corruption.

In as much as you are out of the country you are a CPDM militant and patriotic .I understand, you follow with keen interest events in Cameroon. Recently President Biya appointed ELECAM members and has since been drawing sharp criticisms from home and abroad for not respecting legal provisions in the his appointment. What is your reaction to the ELECAM appointment?

When I came to the country in 2003 every body was calling for the creation of an independent electoral body. The body, ELECAM, has been created. Now the criticisms are on the membership of ELECAM.Let us separate two things.
The creation of ELECAM is a wonderful opportunity. It creates an environment that potentially should lead to transparent, free and fair elections.

We should first of all be thankful that this body was created. Virtually, there is no Cameroonian who does not belong to a political party. We have over 100 political parties in Cameroon, so it will be difficult to find a Cameroonian who does not belong to a political party. Once you appoint people who are prominent in a party into ELECAM it is for them now to take the oath of office and it is their own personal integrity that would make them respect their oath of office. In fact, that is what we should judge.
We should not judge from where people are coming. Let us hope that the people who have been appointed will live up to the aspirations of Cameroonians. No body quarrels with the duties. So if they are able to live up to the spirit of the duties as stated by the law, then wherever they come from will not be something to be questioned. People should judge it from the results rather than before.

Cameroon is classified as a rich country both in terms of human and natural resources, but Cameroonians are poor. What do you think is the problem?

Well, potential is potential until it is touched, transformed and developed. We have the potentials-we have the land, good climate, geograpic differences, sufficient water for most of the country etc, but all of that have to be developed. If you are living where is diamond but you don’t realize that it is diamond, then it is worthless. Until somebody discovers it and starts using it then you will realize it is wealth. Until we (Cameroon) transform what we have into wealth we will remain poor. We have to set ourselves up to use our resources properly. It is not by accident that some other countries are able to move ahead. It is by orgainisation, structural changes -by putting people in place who are able to transform potentials into realities.

NB:First Published in The RECORDER newspaper,Cameroon,of Jan.29,2009

Cameroon :English Newspaper Publishers to Form Association

By Christopher Ambe Shu

The existence of Anglophone Publishers and Editors Association (APEA) based in Bamenda and Cameron English Newspaper Publishers Association (CENPA) based in Buea, has not in any way stopped publishers of English Newspapers from creating another one.

That is why during the last general assembly of the Cameroon Association Of English Speaking Journalists (CAMASEJ) that held in Buea on July 18 -19, 2008, members expressed the strong need for another publishers’ association that “ could help find solutions to the numerous problems facing the journalism profession, in general and the Newspaper industry in particular.”

Consequently on January 23,publishers of English Newspapers from Yaounde, Bamenda, Limbe and Buea met at the Star Media Group Office in Limbe and brainstormed on on their difficulties and decided to form another association that would have a national character and attract broader membership. It was believed that, if the yet -to -be formed association would be strong enough it would cause the other associations to join its fold. Francis Wache, National President of CAMASEJ, chaired the Limbe publishers’ meeting

Before the publishers, who deliberated for several hours rose they resolved: to create an association that will look for solutions to their common problems. A steering committee was set up, chaired by Nhon Zachee Nzoh Ngandembou, Publisher of Eden Newspaper and The Sunday Eden, to come up with a draft constitution and by-laws within six weeks.

Other members of the committee include: Norbert Wasso Binde of The Sun as Secretary, Francis Wache of The Post, Charles Endeley of CAMASEJ Echo, Christian Ngah of The Guardian Post, Paul Nkemanyang Foanyi of The Star and Lucas Teneng of The Reporter.

The Committee was charged with convening a general assembly by April 2009 during which members would deliberate and adopt the name and constitution of the association.
Other publishers in attendance were Christopher Ambe Shu of The RECORDER, Ako Kingsly of Cameroon Express, Eric Motomu of The Chronicle, Eugine Nforgwa of The Quail, Gerald Ndikum of The Horizon, Fon Yembe of ……and Henry Njalla Quan, General Manager of CDC and Publisher of the CDC News.
Njalla Quan used the meeting to stress the need for professionalism by the media practitioners.

NB: first Published in The RECORDER newspaper, Cameroon, of 29 January, 2009

Cameroon:Is Biya soliciting Pope’s Blessing to cling to power?

By Chritopher Ambe Shu

Pope Benedict XVI will next March 17 come to Cameroon as part of his first pastoral visit to Africa since he became pope in April 2005, it has been confirmed. The confirmation was made January 26 during a press conference in Yaounde by the president of the National Episcopal Conference and Archbishop of Yaounde, Victor Tonye Bankot.
On arrival, President Paul Biya will gladly receive the pope at the Yaounde Airport
The German-born Benedict is scheduled to have audience with President Paul Biya at Unity Pace, during which, it is widely hoped, there will be frank exchanges between the Pope and the President on matters of good governance, human rights, moral and democratic values.
The Papal visit to Cameroon is coming at a time when President Biya’s image is badly battered and soiled for socio-economic and political reasons, begging for cleansing.

The Presidency of Cameroon had earlier announced that, the Pope’s coming to Cameroon was also at the invitation of the Head of State, suggesting that President Biya, himself a staunch catholic, may, after all, want to confide in the pontiff and seek his blessings in his leadership and apparent bid to stand for reelection in 2011.

Many political pundits consider Biya’s leadership as “undemocratic and anti-people” even though the president has always claimed he is bent on modernizing and democratizing Cameroon.

Biya, who has ruled Cameroon for some 26 years, for example, still got his crushing majority in Parliament last year to amend the country’s constitution, removing term limits, against popular protest at home and abroad. The move was interpreted as Biya’s intention to become life president. His current and second seven- year mandate is expected to end in 2011.Again, late last year Biya appointed several CPDM diehards as members of ELECAM and has since been widely criticized for not respecting the law which calls for the appointment of independent personalities. But the president does not seem to bother about the criticisms.

In Cameroon, the pope will also meet with bishops, Muslim authorities and celebrate an open-air mass at the Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium in Yaounde.
The Pope leaves Cameroon on March 20 for Angola’s capital, Luanda. Benedict XVI will not be the first pope to visit Cameroon in recent memory.

Pope Benedict’s predecessor Pope John Paul II had visited Cameroon twice -in 1985, and in September 1995 at the celebration phase of the African Synod.

And in his departure speech at Yaoundé airport on 16 September 1995,after his three-day visit, Pope John Paul II had called on Cameroonians “in positions of authority in public life and business… to contribute to removing the obstacles, which still impede the development that ought to benefit their compatriots”. He strongly remarked, “My visit to Cameroon has enabled me to see the many material and spiritual gifts which the Almighty God has poured out upon your country”
But despite Cameroon’s abundant natural and human resources a majority of its citizens still live in abject poverty as corruption, emblezzement of public funds by holders of public office, unemployment are at record high.
Cameroon recently emerged twice as the most corrupt country in the world, according to Transparency International, a Berlin –based good governance watchdog.

These social ills that are so rife in Cameroon are not unknown to Pope Benedict XVI
That is why on receiving Cameroon’s Ambassador to the Holy See last year, Pope Benedict XVI seriously warned the Biya regime to contain corruption, which has eaten deep into the fabric of this central African country

The Pope is coming to Cameroon at a time when even the country’s Catholic Church is known to be critical of the Biya regime, for not doing much to improve the lot of citizens The Catholic Church in Cameroon has in the last two decades had several of its priests murdered in mysterious circumstances, prompting the Vatican to call on the Cameroon government to carry out investigations so to prosecute the killers, but results of such probes are hardly made public.
Also Visit: www.recorderline.blogspot.com

St. Paul Winter Carnival

In the northern reaches of the USA, there are snowy places. Places where the people enjoy the piled high white stuff. Where they get out and play in it. One of those places is St. Paul, Minnesota, where they have had a winter carnival, with a 'King of the Winds', since 1886.
For a week in late January, they celebrate with many activities, including an ice sculpture contest: photo gallery
Many of us in the southern states are content to see the snow on the internet and wonder about these people who enjoy the cold so much.

The Fists of a Nation.

A well worldwide known figure from Panama is Roberto "Manos de Piedra(Stone Hands)" Duran. His awesome sporting career and his numerous achievements and victories have been the inspiration for writers,screen players,athletes and all his fans and followers. However, for us, Panamanians, he is more than an athlete or a celebrity, for those what have grew up parallel to his career. I remember when I was a child, and a Duran match will be held, I couldn't stand in front of the TV, watching the event! It was crazy! I ran to hide in my bed and put a pillow over my head, covering my ears, only when the cries coming from the collective euphoria, that happened only when Duran was one of the contenders, were made me get up and join the celebration.The anxiety and then the joy, after the victory I felt, is unique and incomparable. So, I grew up celebrating Duran's fights, championships, victories as a daily basis, as part of myself as the nationalism and Panamanian proud.
Now, he is retired,and I assure you,everybody miss his glory moments, because were not just for him, were for everyone who follow his career. Recently we have seen a very good short documentary, written and directed by a Panamanian movie maker, Pituka Helbron, titled: "The Fists of a Nation", and again the glory moments,happiness and joy we felt in the past came back and renewed the proud all us have inside. This documentary has been awarded in many international Festivals worldwide, but the best moment, as the director Pituka said, was when the documentary was presented by first time to the Panamanian audience in the Television. How come? Because she knows after she completed her masterpiece, the meaning and parallelism between Duran's fights and historic fights of Panama (The Canal, the Invasion,etc)and feelings like union and solidarity that only him can wake in the population. More than an fighter, athlete, humble and charismatic Latin American idol, Duran represents an unforgettable figure that involves all the temperament, character, thoughts and feelings that being simple and powerful at the same time, as dreams are born in the deep of a great small country called Panama. Duran is just a man, and we are a little country, but such a big heart we have!!Thanks Roberto!!

I invite you to look up the trailer in the link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1v09uDrIEM

Recibe Fidel a presidenta Argentina Cristina Fernández.

Santiago de Cuba. 21/01/09
jose@rrevolucion.icrt.cu

El líder de la Revolución cubana, Fidel Castro, recibió hoy a la presidenta argentina, Cristina Fernández, quien culminó una fructífera visita de tres días a Cuba.

Poco antes de partir rumbo a Venezuela, la mandataria informó que dialogó sobre diversos temas con Fidel Castro, a quien vio "muy bien". Agregó que hablaron sobre las relaciones entre Cuba y Argentina, y compartieron impresiones sobre el primer discurso de Barack Obama como presidente de Estados Unidos.

"Estoy muy contenta con esta visita, no podía terminar mejor", acotó la jefa de Estado, quien fue despedida en el aeropuerto por el mandatario Raúl Castro.

El presidente cubano consideró a su vez "magnífica" la visita de Fernández, quien viajó a Caracas para sostener conversaciones con su homólogo Hugo Chávez.

The new prez.....

Almost 2 million people swarmed into Washington DC to watch the inauguration of the 44th President of the USA. I only got to watch it on television, but I enjoyed it all the same :)


photo source

Cameroon:CDP urges Biya To dissolve ELECAM for lack of credibility

By Christopher Ambe Shu

Chief A .S Ngwana(pictured),Chairman of Cardinal Democratic Party(CDP) in Cameroon has called on President Paul Biya to dissolve ELECAM,which is supposed to be an independent Electoral commission but is not!

Biya recently appointed a majority of his ruling CPDM members to serve as Board of Governors of ELECAM contrary to the law which calls for the appointment of independent personalities.

According to sub-paragraph 11 article 13 of the December 29, 2006 law creating ELECAM, “the post of chairperson, the vice chair and members of the electoral council are incompatible to functions or quality…of a member belonging to a political party or a group supporting a political party, a candidate or list of candidates”. It states that the appointment of members into the electoral council of ELECAM are chosen from amongst Cameroonian personalities known for their competence, moral integrity, intellectual honesty, sense of patriotism and their spirit of neutrality and impartiality.

"ELECAM is not an Independent Electoral Neutral body to conduct any elections in Cameroon, but an organ of the CPDM, a tool in the hands of Paul Biya, to guarantee his life presidency",argued the CDP chair.Chief Ngwana was addresing a press conference on January 6, 2009 in the Conference Hall of Akwa Palace,Douala-Cameroon ,in reaction to the appointment of ELECAM management team. He also nailed Biya and his ruling party in his speech.
Below is his speech to the independent and state-owned media which was sanctioned by a question -and answer session
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Distinguished members of the media,
I welcome you here today to wish you a Happy and prosperous New Year and to ask God to bless you in your difficult task of decimating information accurately, enlightening and educating the public and exposing crimes fearlessly. In fact, as the fourth organ of the realm, after the Executive, the Legislature and the Judiciary, you are indispensable to any democratic dispensation.
Since 1960 when French Cameroon achieved Independence as the Republic of Cameroon, and 1961 when British Southern Cameroon united with the Republic of Cameroon to form the Federal Republic of Cameroon, Cameroon has never practiced democracy or understood what free and fair elections means.

Southern British Cameroon which later became West Cameroon, understood and practiced democracy. In a free and fair election there was a change of Government from the CPNC Government of Dr. E.L.M. Endeley to the opposition KNDP government of Dr. J.N.

Foncha From 1961 to 1972 When Cameroon was a Federation, West Cameroon, practiced democracy with all its attributes of fair and free elections, respect for human rights, the rule of law, and enjoyed economic prosperity.
Since the abolition of the Federation in 1972, the United Republic of Cameroon under Ahidjo and later the Republic of Cameroon under Biya, Cameroon has never enjoyed democracy. Under Ahidjo, Cameroon suffered the one-party dictatorship, with all the atrocities of press censorships, BMM, exit visas, arbitrary arrests etc. No opposition Parties were allowed. See the book “ The struggle for Political Pluralism and Democracy in Cameroon”.

In 1982, Paul Biya was appointed president of Cameroon, by Ahidjo, when he decided to resign voluntary. No elections.On the departure of Ahidjo. We challenged the one-party dictatorship, which Biya inherited by launching in 1983 the first opposition Party, “The Cameroon Democratic Party”, for which I was forced into exile for six years. (see above).

In 1992, Biya was forced by the Cameroon people and the International Community, to allow multi parties in Cameroon. The Cameroon Democratic Party, protested that multi parties cannot operate under the one party rules and asked for the Constitution to be amended to reflect the multi party state of the country. Biya refused, and conducted the first multiparty elections under the one part rules. The elections were conducted by the CPDM Minister of Territorial Administration ( no Independent Electoral Commission, See the recommendations of the NDI report in the above book)
We said we would not contest the elections unless there was an Independent Electoral Commission. The SDF party under John Fru Ndi contested the presidential elections against Biya, and Fru Ndi actually won the elections, because all Cameroonians wanted a change of government at all cost, but Biya was declared winner by the Minister of Territorial Administration and confirmed by the Supreme Court, said their hands were tied.

After this surprising defeat, Biya decided to perfect the art of rigging the elections. He still refused to appoint an Independent Electoral commission, instead Biya appointed NEO to observe the elections, with no powers to conduct the elections, his appointed Minister of Territorial Administration still conducted the last elections and gave his party more than 80% of the present Parliament, in his preparation for the final coup on the Cameroon Democracy.The opposition parties which took part in the elections cried foul, but Cameroonians did not mind because by the Constitution proclaimed by Biya himself limiting the tenure of the president to two terms of seven years each, Biya’s tenure would end and he would be barred from contesting any further elections. Biya would finally go.

Then the bomb shell fell. Biya amended the Constitution, to make himself life president. He would be re-elected with monotonous regularity, as many times as he would like to stand the elections, until his death and if he resigns he would enjoy immunity from all crimes committed during his life presidency. Cameroonians and the International Community cried foul, but his hand clapping Parliament amended the Constitutions and gave him the immunity he asked for.

Now the only hope Cameroonians had was the Independent Electoral Commission, which he had promised the world (Common Wealth) that he would set up. With an Independent Electoral Commission, Cameroonians saw a flicker of hope of changing the Government through the democratic process of the ballot box.According to sub-paragraph 11 article 13 of the December 29, 2006 law creating ELECAM, “the post of chairperson, the vice chair and members of the electoral council are incompatible to functions or quality…of a member belonging to a political party or a group supporting a political party, a candidate or list of candidates”. It states that the appointment of members into the electoral council of ELECAM are chosen from amongst Cameroonian personalities known for their competence, moral integrity, intellectual honesty, sense of patriotism and their spirit of neutrality and impartiality.

The Prime Minister, Inoni conducted extensive consultations with the opposition parties represented in Parliament and they made suggestions as to the type of people they wanted to compose ELECAM. ELECAM was to be made of outstanding men and women of high integrity, Politically neutral, and transparently honest. Men and women who would inspire confidence in the electoral process. But what has Biya done?

Distinguished members of the media, on the 30th December 2008, President Paul Biya signed “Decreet No.2008/463 du 30 decembre” appointing members of ELECAM.

He appointed all of them from his CPDM party, a party ridden with corruption and embezzlement, a party which has produce the most corrupt government, winning twice the trophy of the world’s most corrupt governments.

Biya appointed from a corrupt party, men and women of questionable characters, men and women some who had headed organizations where innocent blood of Cameroonians had been shed, to guarantee that he and his party will always win any election conducted in Cameroon.

ELECAM is not an Independent Electoral Neutral body to conduct any elections in Cameroon, but an organ of the CPDM, a tool in the hands of Paul Biya, to guarantee his life presidency. Distinguished members of the media, we reject ELECAM and call on President Paul Biya to disband the present ELECAM he has appointed and appoint a true INDEPENDENT ELECTORAL COMMISSION.

We, the Cardinal Democratic Party will not contest any elections conducted by the present ELECAM. We call on all political parties to boycott all elections conducted by the present ELECAM. We call on all Cameroonians to boycott all elections organized or conducted by the present ELECAM.

Let all Cameroonians and the whole world know that Cameroon is a ONE PARTY STATE, and that there is NO DEMOCRACY in Cameroon. Biya has killed Democracy in Cameroon.

Of course some stupid money mongers will be quick to say that if we boycott the elections, the CPDM Party and Biya will be declared winners, but the truth is that if we contest the elections, the CPDM and Biya will still be declared winners, so why then, give them that legality by contesting the elections. Let us not deceive our selves for love of money, and destroy Cameroon. Any person or party who or which contests any election under the present ELECAM is an enemy of democracy, is an enemy of Cameroon, is a traitor to Cameroonians..

The CPDM and Biya will buy people with money to contest the elections, but that will only help them to be there for a short time. Biya knows, unless he is deceiving himself, that if he contested an election against a monkey, an Election conducted by a true Independent body, the monkey will defeat him.
Men and women of the media, the truth is that the CPDM government and President Paul Biya cannot be removed through the democratic process of the ballot box. We must wait for Biya to resign voluntary or die through the natural process of all mortals.

I am ready to bet 50 million francs in cash or kind with any person who proves that the CPDM or President Paul Biya can be defeated by any party or person in an election conducted by the present ELECAM.

However we must not forget the wise council of President Kennedy who said that those who prevent peaceful change must be ready for violent change. No condition is permanent.

Under the CPDM government headed by life President Paul Biya, Cameroon has no Constitution, but a set of laws which are changed by Biya at will, at his convenience.Biya is the law. Biya is in full control of the Executive, the Legislature and the Judiciary (no separation of powers}. As commander in Chief, Biya is in full control of the army and all security forces. Biya is all powerful in Cameroon.

Under Biya’s long tenure in Office (26 years already} Biya must be responsible for all our miseries and hardships and sorrows. We are a rich country, but we are now among the poorest countries of the world. Cameroon has sunk to the lowest depths of corruption, winning the World corruption trophy twice.Under the CDPM government, justice is no longer guaranteed, since with money you can manipulate the judiciary.

Our criminal Code provides penalty for many crimes, but under the CPDM government the laws are no longer enforced. Prostitution is an offence punishable under section 343 of the Cameroon Penal Code. The punishment ranges from six months to five years imprisonment or a fine of 20,000 to 500,000 CFA.Yet we see on our television screens, University girls in Yaounde, advertising that they charge 5,000 CFA for sex without condoms and 3,000 CFA for sex with condoms.
How many times have we read in the papers about aborted babies dumped in latrine pits or abandoned on railway tracts after abortion, yet abortion and murder are criminal offenses under the Penal Code, but the culprits are never arrested.Homosexuality, punishable under section 347 of the Cameroon Penal Code, is widely practiced by “big men” and now Students in colleges and universities practice it, but no legal actions taken. Adultery and bigamy are offences punishable under sections 361 and 359© respectively, but Biya say that all these offences are private matters for which the press must not be involved.Ahidjo was no doubt a great dictator, but under Ahidjo these laws were enforced. Police and gendarmes paraded streets at night to arrest prostitutes.
If a person stole more than two million francs CFA, he went to jail for life. Today, billions of francs are looted , stolen or embezzled and the culprits move about freely. Civil society is so fed up with the legal system, that when a thief is caught, they take the law into their hands and apply jungle justice. They put tyres on the person and roast him. We fear that they will soon start roasting the “big men and women” who have stolen billions of francs.

The collapse of morality and probity in our society is affecting not only the young people in schools and universities, but even God’s consecrated Servants. Despite the preaching by the hierarchy, some consecrated servants of God, have been corrupted by the rotten society and some are guilty of the crimes committed by the criminals of our decaying society.

Distinguished members of the media,
our society is rapidly driving down to chaos.My Party and myself have written to President Paul Biya several times about the Anglophone problem which borders on the corporate existence of Cameroon, but to no avail.
The Anglophones complain of marginalization, discrimination and treatment as second class citizens. They are fed up with Cameroon and want to Separate from the Republic of Cameroon. The only lasting solution to this problem is to return to the Federal Republic of Cameroon
Constitution.
A Constitution which guaranteed equality of States, equality of all Cameroonians, and the rule of Law.
We must never lose sight of the fact that unification was based on federalism. Ladies and Gentlemen of the media,I employ you and all Cameroonians to invoke God’s mercy on our Country.
We are economically bankrupt, democratically bankrupt, and morally bankrupt. We are drifting fast into Chaos, anarchy and doom, and only God can safe us.

Thank you.
Chief A.S. Ngwana,
National Chairman. CDP
ALso Check www.recorderline.blogspot.com

Christmas...!

Today, the 7th of Jan., the Christian Egyptians celebrate their holidays, it's Christmas time here!

A warm morning it is....with all Egyptians kindling candles in prayer of peace...!


May Church bells ring merrier than the sound of bullets over in Palestine! The Famous Beitlahm..and the fellow Christians in Palestine can hardly celebrate due to the increasing death toll that has exceeded the 600 , all of children and women!!

May peace prevail....! and Merry Christmas for all!

The end of an era

This Christmas has seen the end of what used to be a very important shop in England - maybe in Wales, Scotland and Ireland too. When I was a child, Woolworths used to have a shop in every high street. And a lot of very good premises they had too.

Before my time, they used to have a policy that nothing cost more than, I think, one shilling. Presumably some pounds in today's money. But so as not to restrict their stock too much, some things were sold in bits. So if you wanted to buy a carpenter's plane, the three parts were sold separately.

In my time, they used to sell quite a lot of dry goods. Cheese, bacon and biscuits. The interesting part of the biscuits being that as well as branded biscuits in packets, they also sold biscuits loose, from tins, a tin cube with sides a bit less than a foot, the sort of tin which I still know as a biscuit tin, although I have not seen such a thing for many years. And if you were really short of money they also sold broken biscuits for half the price of whole ones.

More recently, in Epsom, Woolworths has sold little more than sweets, DVDs and a selection of the sort of junk you can pick up in market stalls. I think they also sold their buildings and leased them back - an arrangement perhaps designed to reduce their tax liability. Or perhaps just to free up funds for expansion. Or to transfer funds to their holding company.

This last being relevant now that they have gone into administration, the word we use now for going bankrupt. Gone into administration, with the shops selling everything, down to and including the shop fittings. In one store, I even saw them stripping the shelving off the walls, taking them down to the bare bricks. We are told that the administrators, one of the big firms of accountants, will make lots of millions out of doing the job - while the staff, never well paid in the first place, will probably not get their redundancy. The way of the world we live in, I suppose.

As a footnote, I record that, as a child, Woolworths was bottom of the premier league shops in Cambridge when it came to girls' employment. First Joshua Taylor, then Eaden Lilley, then Robert Sayle, then Marks and Spencer, then Boots and last of all Woolworths. They took the bottoms of all the classes. On the other hand they lasted longer than Joshua Taylor and Eaden Lilley, both old style, independant department stores which are long gone.

Change.gov

I don't know that it is a first, but I think it is: US president-elect Obama has a blog.

Not surprising since Mr. Obama is supposed to be addicted to his Blackberry and is requesting a laptop computer on his Oval office desk. The security folks are having problems with the whole electronic idea- worries about hacking and leaks and .....people sharing silly pictures? It will be interesting to see how the security concerns play out against the march of technology.

Portuguese Scientist Silvia Carvalho

ENVIRONMENT: "True" Conservation Progress

Eve McDonald-Madden, Ascelin Gordon, Brendan A. Wintle, Susan Walker, Hedley Grantham, Silvia Carvalho, Madeleine Bottrill, Liana Joseph, Rocio Ponce, Romola Stewart, and Hugh P. Possingham
Science 2 January 2009 323: 43-44 [DOI: 10.1126/science.1164342] (in Policy Forum)

......Susan Walker, Hedley Grantham, Silvia Carvalho, Madeleine Bottrill, Liana Joseph...3 Susan Walker,4 Hedley Grantham,1 Silvia Carvalho,1,5,6 Madeleine Bottrill,1 Liana Joseph...Susan Walker, 4 Hedley Grantham, 1 Silvia Carvalho, 1 , 5 , 6 Madeleine Bottrill......

Summary »

A Happy New Year from JAPAN

We exchange new year greeting cards each other.
2,089,000,000 cards are delivered on January first only.

I found the digital greeting card at Google Japan.
It is made on their spreadsheet application and it's amazing!
You can see the file here

Happy Hollydays

A happy new year and best wishes from Romania :)

Here are some images from Bucharest, Romania from last night New Year's party celebration. Lots of fireworks, lasers, lights, sounds.. It was great. One of the nicest shows I participated in the last years.



There was 20-30minutes of good quality show: fireworks, lights were related to the sound of music.. Although it was quite cold it was worth it! Congratulations for the organizers :)




More photos from the event on www.iloveyouromania.com