By NOELA EBOB BISONG
The Cameroon English Language Newspaper Publishers’ Association, CENPA, has outlined a total of 20 points, as proposals and presented to the Prime Minister, Head of Government, Chief Dr. Joseph Dion Ngute, in line with the major national dialogue which begins today, September 30-October 4, 2019. The dialogue it should be recalled was announced by President Biya on September 10, 2019, as a means to bring lasting solutions to the Anglophone crisis.
CENPA headed by Ngah Christian and being an association which fully understands the situation on ground, has classified its proposals into political and media solutions, with hope that the proposals are considered, for a lasting solution to the crisis.
In terms of the political solution, CENPA highlights the following:
1. Change of form of state – the institution of a federal system of government with elected representatives;
2. Amendment of the constitution to permit the rotation of the presidency between Francophones and Anglophones;
3. The revision of the constitution to limit presidential terms to five years renewal once;
4. The redistribution of parliamentary seats according to the recent population census;
5. Respect the quota system in appointments and admission into professional schools;
6. Appointment of Anglophones to key positions like the ministries of defence, external relations, national security, finance, secretary general at the presidency;
7. Consider the importance of appeasing Anglophones by appointing one of theirs as General Manager of SONARA;
8. Anglophone representation to the national dialogue should be at least 80%;
9. Free all those jailed in connection to the Anglophone crisis, declare a general amnesty and provide an enabling environment for Diaspora Ambazonia activists to take part in the dialogue;
10. Reparation for the victims of the crisis in the North West and South West region;
11. Revisit the electoral code, reduce voting age to 18 years and put in place a truly independent electoral commission;
For the Media solution, CENPA continues that:
12. Give preference and support to the English media to adequately cover the dialogue before, during and after;
13. Give the same attention that is given to the military and administration to the English language media; to permit them adequately and responsibly cover the expected rebuilding process after the dialogue;
14. The decriminalisation of press offences;
15. Repeal the repugnant 1995 Prime Ministerial decree instructing state institutions to give adverts only to the state media;
16. Appeal for the release of all journalists detained in connection to the practice of their profession;
17. Government subvention to private media should be voted by parliament like any other state budget;
18. Considering the role the media plays in conflict situation, government should think of compensating English language newspapers for responsible coverage and reporting of the crisis in the North West and South West regions.
19. Appointments into the National Communication Council, NCC, should be done after consultation with media associations;
20. Scrap the National Press Card Commission.