By Christopher Ambe Shu
A two- day nation-wide strike launched by transporters’ syndicates in Cameroon to protest against petrol and fuel price hikes has been called off by the organisers after the prices were reduced last night, following the instruction of President Paul Biya.
The strike, described as the most successful in recent years, exposed the growing anger of Cameroonians against the Biya régime.
The Recorder learned on good authority that, the Government had thought the call for the strike would not be heeded as previous ones, but was shocked that people heeded the call.
But the resumption of traffic up to the time of posting this article is rather too timid, for fear of the unknown especially as the strike was largely characterized by violence, looting of shops, vandalism, gunfire, the burning of vehicles and road barricades.
The destruction of private and public property in various towns- especially government offices during the strike is valued at hundreds of millions of Fcfa
"We cannot understand that our country produces petrol and we still buy petrol at the same price as people in non oil producing countries,” Jean Collins Ndefossokeng, president of the national taxi drivers' union SYNATA,reportedly said.
Following the price reduction, a liter of petrol now sells at 594 Fcfa, down by six francs; one liter of diesel now sells at 545Fcfa, down by five francs and kerosene sells at 375Fcfa.The prices were hurriedly reviewed at a meeting that assembled government officials and transporters trade unions’ representatives, so to restore peace and order.
But some transporters have described the reduction as too insignificant and provocative, insisting that reasonable price reductions be done. It was an increase of up to 16 Fcfa per liter of petrol that sparked the strike ,but pressured ,the government added only six francs .
“I don’t know why our representatives at the meeting accepted such an inconsequential price reduction. I have a feeling that the Government must have bribed them to accept their proposal and call off the strike”, one transporter fumed in a chat with The Recorder in Buea
A worried Christian Cardinal Tumi, archbishop of Douala, has condemned the wanton destruction of property and the killing of citizens .He urged the Government to have a meaningful dialogue with the protesters for a lasting solution.
The strike, on Monday and Tuesday, paralyzed the major cities of the country causing untold hardship to citizens; prices of other basic products also sky-rocketed. Lives were lost in various towns during clashes with anti-riot police. For example, at least four people were killed in Douala last Monday by armed police in a bid to disperse protestors barricading the streets.
"Two persons were pulled out of their car and beaten to death at Bonaberi neighborhood. One man was burned to death when the Douala Five Council was set ablaze and another young man suffocated after inhaling too much tear gas," a senior police officer, who asked not to be named, told Reuters.
Shaken by the strike, the Cameroon government, widely believed to be insensitive to the cries of the population, was forced to reduce petrol and fuel prices last night when it dawned on it that the strike was becoming something else: a war against the regime. The Government had failed to take measures to avert the strike despite an early warning by the transporters’ unions.
Irate Cameroonians now were not only protesting against the price hikes in petrol but against the general high cost of living, high unemployment rate and even against the ruling party (CPDM) proposed constitutional amendment to make it possible for President Paul Biya to run for a third term when his current mandate ends in 2011.
Biya, now 75 years old, has ruled Cameroon since November 1982 and many are of the opinion that, his 25- year rule has done very little to bail citizens out of poverty and misery.
But even before the two-day strike started last Monday, opposition supporters protesting plan by the ruling CPDM to amend the constitution to prolong President Biya’s rule, last Saturday in Douala clashed with anti-riot polce.One person was shot dead.
Earlier, there was also a mass demonstration in Douala, calling for the reopening of Equinox TV, a private television station .Equinox TV, barely three years in existence but very popular, was shut down for not complying to regulation, according to Communications Minister Jean Pierre Biyiti bi Essam .
But it is widely held that the closure was prompted by the fact that the TV station was too critical of the Biya regime. Police shot at the stone-throwing protestors calling for the reopening of the TV station. During the confrontations two persons were reported dead.
Unconfirmed reports say at least 12 people were shot dead by armed troops during the strike in the various towns.
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