By Ikome Christie-Noella Eposi
Religious leaders of the Protestant, Islamic Superior council, and the National Episcopal conference of Cameroon (the National council of religions for peace in Cameroon), have during an inter-religious prayer service organised at the Presbyterian Church Buea Station, bowed their knees in prayers to God, interceding for peace to return to the North West and South West regions and the nation at large. Under the theme ‘Christians and Muslims together for dialogue, Peace and reconciliation in the North West and South west regions’’, the all inter-religious prayer service was organised to promote the course of peace as a result of the present crisis.
The leaders unanimously, on behalf of all believers and people of good will denounced;
The arbitrary and indiscriminate killings of Cameroonians by the armed forces and separatist fighters; the physical, emotional and psychological attacks and abuses on local population, the looting and wanton destruction of public and private property, the forced displacement of individuals and families from their homes and sources of livelihood and the rampant attacks on educational institutions and the deprivation of children of their rights to education amongst other ills.
After having denounced the aforementioned ills, the leaders arrived at the subsequent declarations:
Cameroon Government
The Government of Cameroon has been called to redefine and control the mission of the armed forces in the two regions in crisis; to punish in accordance with the law all persons, military or civilians who commit violent attacks, burnings and destructions of property or extra-judicial killings and to promptly initiate and announce the national plan for resolving this crisis taking into account its real and profound causes, in view of establishing veritable peace.
Political Parties
Political parties have been called upon to prioritize, within their agendas, the resolution of the current crisis and return to normalcy of life in the North West and South west regions.
Cameroonian Diaspora
The Cameroonian Diasporas have been told to stop the hate-speech communication that promotes violence, suspicion and fear among the people of Cameroon, those who finance the activities of armed groups to stop this ‘dirty work’ that aims at destroying the natural fabric of Cameroon and the diaspora should participate in the political process of Cameroon using democratic and non-violent means.
They should equally respect the sacredness of human life and children’s right to education and put an end to the trivialization of human dignity and the hostage taking of schools.
The Separatist Fighters
They have been called to value and respect human life-be it their personal lives or that of others, turn their backs on any groups, individuals or agendas that encourage the destruction of their health and well-being and the common good of the communities, stop all forms of violence and extortion committed against the people and they should allow pupils, students, their brothers and sisters to return to school.
The Cameroonian population
The Cameroonian population was not left out as it has been reminded of the fact that the crisis concerns everyone and they should participate actively in the search for a just and lasting solution, make rational, critical, responsible and prudent use of social media through which violence is promoted, and to make an objective analysis of ideologies and situations before acting and exercising the right to self-determination by not allowing shady groups and individuals to manipulate and destroy the communities.
Present to pray and intercede for dialogue, peace, reconciliation and social cohesion was the Moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Cameroon who doubles as the President of the Council of Protestant Churches of Cameroon (CEPCA) Rt. Rev Dr Fonki Samuel Forba, the Chancellor Greek Orthodox Church of Cameroon Rev. Pere HEMOGA Elepterius, the Islamic Superior Council of Cameroon SHEIKH OUMARou Mallam and the President of the National Episcopal conference of Cameroon in the person of Bishop Abraham Kome.