YAOUNDE, Cameroon—What originally began as a protest by Cameroon's Syndicate of Transport over rising fuel costs has degraded into civil unrest against the nation's leaders.
The trouble started when strikes were called in five of Cameroon's 10 provinces on February 25 in reaction to fuel prices skyrocketing to 2400 CFA ($5.20 USD) per gallon or $1.40 USD per litre. Protesters barricaded the streets with taxis and buses.
The situation was further exacerbated after President Paul Biya announced his intention to amend Cameroon's constitution to allow him to run for another seven-year term in 2011. Currently the constitution does not allow a President to run for more than two terms.
"What we have today is more likely to get worse if the Biya regime insists on pushing ahead with the constitutional amendment," one protester wrote on an internet message board. "Cameroonians have more grievances than the issue of price hikes."
Meanwhile Douala, Cameroon's economic hub and stronghold for the opposition party was ransacked by violent protests led by rebellious youth shouting slogans such as "Biya must go!" They set up roadblocks, burned old tires, destroyed and looted both public and private property, and threw rocks as police fired tear gas and bullets.
At least 20 protesters were shot by police during last week's events, with tear gas also being prolifically used by police. Apart from being admitted to hospital due to gunshot injuries, numerous people also were admitted to hospital after exposure to the tear gas. The situation was replicated in other cities, such as the coastal town of Limbe.
"We can't leave our homes," a man in Mile One, Limbe said. "I live near a school and can see teachers sending home all students that arrive."
Other unrest in Douala included policemen being allegedly briefly taken hostage by a mob of civilians, as well as burning of a police station and council building, and the looting of gas stations, bakeries and other shops. The streets were completely void of cars and motorcycles.
From all indications, this is the most paralyzing strike that has affected Douala in recent times. Unlike previous strikes, where vehicles involved in essential services such as medical deliveries and medical personnel cars could circulate freely, this particular strike grounded everything due to the sheer violence of the protesters.
President Biya held a press conference on the evening of February 27, in which only state-run media was invited, to address the nation where he blamed the rioting and protests on his political adversaries. "The objective is to obtain through violence what they were unable to obtain through the ballot box."
He also took a strong-arm approach to the protests and rioters, "All legal means available to Government will be brought into play to ensure the rule of law."
While the strike by the Syndicate of Transport officially ended February 27, clashes between demonstrators and police have only escalated.
Freedom of Speech at Risk
Reporters Without Borders issued a press release Friday criticizing forced closures of Cameroon's private radio and independent newspapers in Douala. Only state-run media is currently being distributed.
Cameroon Communications Minister, Jean-Pierre Beyiti Bi Essam summoned the editors of privately-owned newspapers to his office urging them to "show responsibility" and, "not to publish any news which could pour oil on the flames."
However on the same day in the capital city of Yaounde, security forces raided the offices of radio station Magic FM without a warrant and confiscated broadcasting equipment and computers, forcing the station's closure.
This came on the heels of the station's call-in show, Magic Attitude, which hosted callers that morning who criticized the tone of President Biya's statement to the nation as "more aggressive than appeasing" and that it did "not respond to the wishes of the people."
The Communications Ministry also ordered the suspension of the popular privately-owned Douala based Equinoxe Television and its sister radio station, Radio Equinoxe on the grounds that it had not paid a deposit to obtain its broadcast license on February 21.
Reporters Without Borders however dismissed the Communication's Ministry's reason as, "a pretext for harassing a news media that has criticized the government's decision to amend the constitution."
"The situation is deteriorating on a daily basis and becoming untenable for the independent media in Douala," the worldwide press freedom organisation said. "Since they cannot be printed they are no longer in circulation."
"Moreover, it is not for the communications ministry to give lessons to journalists. What will happen to those who do not observe the 'recommendations' and do not practise self-censorship?" it asked.
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