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Saturday, July 23, 2011

How Biya Gets His Support From Cameroonians In The Diaspora

A law was recently passed in Cameroon that allowed Cameroonians in the Diaspora to vote in the upcoming presidential elections. The ruling CPDM party passed this law not because it wanted to enfranchise Cameroonians in the Diaspora but because it has been campaigning by stealth in the Diaspora for the some years now. Anyone who has been watching the recent political activity of Cameroonians in the Diaspora, especially in the United States, would concede that there has been remarkable organization in support of the CPDM. For some years now, some Cameroonians in the United States have been forming cells in support of the CPDM in Cameroon for cash reward. This means that, if one can show that they have formed a CPDM cell in the United States, they get cash from the CPDM party in Cameroon. This has been the case in places like Boston, Houston, Minnesota, Washington, D.C., New York City, etc. These Cameroonians do this not because they are in agreement with Biya's vision for Cameroon but because of the cash. Thus, in recent years, the Biya regime has been bribing its way into the Cameroonian Diaspora, especially in the United States. The law that allowed Cameroonians in the Diaspora to vote in the upcoming presidential election was passed because Biya has been campaigning by stealth in the Diaspora and is now comfortable that he has the connections necessary to demonstrate a CPDM base in the Diaspora. This base does not contribute to the CPCM coffers; instead, the CPDM pays money to this base. Where the money used in paying these cells comes from remains to be investigated.

But who are these Cameroonians who take bribes from Biya in return for a feigned support for the regime? Some of them are those who worked for the government back home in Cameroon. Because they worked for the government before leaving the country for the Diaspora, they are still listed on the government payroll. Some of these people were teachers, policemen/women, etc. Because they are still on the government payroll back in Cameroon, they have an interest in supporting the Biya regime. Others are Cameroonians who, even though they are in the Diaspora, run businesses in Cameroon. These people import things into Cameroon and because of the massive corruption at the Cameroonian ports, they need a good connection in order to reduce the bribe money they need to give to facilitate safe passage. One way of securing such connection is to join the ruling CPDM party. Others yet are those very educated ones who, even though they are living in the Diaspora, nurse hopes of being called upon to participate in the rot that is the CPDM government. By feigning support for Biya while in the Diaspora, they improve their chances of being offered a high level government position in Cameroon, affording them the opportunity to steal more money from the state. Some of these people live in the Diaspora as asylees who claim to be running away from the autocracy of the Biya regime. This is especially the case in United States. Thus, it is necessary for the FBI to check the residential status of those who march in support of the Biya regime in the United States and those who are found to be in the country as political asylees should be deported for contradicting their claims. Perhaps the best place to start will be with this video.

1 comment:

Manguele Tonye said...

President Paul Biya has always had support from the diaspora, they have just been given an opportunity by the law to express their support more practically by allowing them to take part in the elections. President Paul Biya is not doing this only for him but for all the Cameroonian leaders who will come after him.