By NOELA EBOB BISONG
Some 16 Roman Catholic Bishops, (including two Archbishops and a Cardinal) across the world have through a letter addressed to Cameroon’s president, Paul Biya, implored him to participate in the proposed Swiss-led peace talks aimed at ending the violence in Cameroon’s North West and South West regions.
Dated February 17, 2020, the letter, also copied His Holiness Pope Francis reads as follows:
“We stress that we are impartial. We are motivated by our concern about the suffering of unarmed civilians, and the stability and prosperity of Cameroon. Violence and atrocities on all sides have forced 656,000 Anglophone Cameroonians from their homes, kept 800,000 children from school (including 400,000 from Catholic schools), caused 50,000 people to flee to Nigeria, destroyed hundreds of villages and resulted in a death toll of at least 2,000. Each of these lives is precious, and we mourn their suffering and wish to prevent more loss of life and innocence.”
The letter furthers that “There will be no military victory for any side. A lasting solution to Cameroon’s problems must come from a mediated process that includes Anglophone armed-separatist groups and nonviolent civil-society leaders. If all parties treat each other as they wish to be treated, a solution is possible.”
While applauding the Major National Dialogue organised by government last October 2019, the clergy hold that “However, it did not stop the violence. We believe the proposed Swiss-led talks offer the best path to an appropriate political solution through inclusive negotiations. The success of these talks will be critical in Cameroon’s journey towards ensuring peace and your legacy as an effective leader in a troubled region.
They also state in the letter that “It is our sincere hope that all interested stakeholders will join these talks and show a spirit of cooperation, pragmatism, and realism to ensure these negotiations succeed. This is what the people of Cameroon, your sons and daughters, God’s children, expect and deserve. Only true peace will allow Catholic dioceses, clinics, and schools to once again minister safely to the blessed congregants and citizens of Anglophone Cameroon.
The letter has as signatories:
Bishop Siegfried Jwara, Vicariate Apostolic, Ingwavuma, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Bishop John Keenan, diocese of Paisley, Scotland
Bishop Noel Simard, diocese of Valleyfield, Quebec, Canada
The Most Reverend Charles Hammawa Jalingo, diocese of Tabara State, Nigeria
Bishop Mark Davies, diocese of Shrewsbury, England
Archbishop Peter Loy Chong, archdiocese of Suva, Fiji
Bishop Bart van Roijen, diocese of Corner Brook and Labrador, Canada
Bishop Thomas R Zinkula, diocese of Davenport, Iowa, USA
Bishop Terence Drainey, diocese of Middlesborough, England
Bishop Antonio R Tobias, Emeritus of Novaliches, Philippines
Bishop Albert Thevenot, diocese of Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, Canada
Bishop Ray Browne, diocese of Kerry, Ireland
Bishop Jose Cabantan, diocese of Malaybalay, Philippines
Cardinal Soane Patita Mafi, diocese of Tonga, South Pacific
Archbishop Donald Bolen, archdiocese of Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada
Bishop Alphonsus Cullinan, diocese of Waterford et Lismore, Ireland