14/12/2009 - Local traditional and administrative authorities in the North West region of Cameroon have hailed the United Nations Human Rights team on mission to the conflict stricken communities of Bali/Bawock and Oku/Mbessa for their efforts towards the peaceful co-existence of their communities.

Fons Ganyonga III and Théodore Nana Wanda of Bali and Bawock respectively made the remark on Tuesday December 8th when the UN team visited their fondoms with the High Commissioner’s message of tolerance, non discrimination and respect for diversity. Bui Senior Divisional Officer Daniel Panjounou re-echoed this remark when the team passed on its message to councilors at the council session of the Ibal-Oku council on December 9th while giving a brief appraisal of the conflict between Oku and Mbessa. It was the same feeling shared by Fon Njong Gilbert of Mbessa during a community meeting with the visiting UN team at the Catholic primary school in Mbessa.

The mission took place within the framework of activities marking the 61st anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights celebrated this year under the team “Embrace diversity, End discrimination”. During the different meetings, the team sensitized the elite and the local population on discrimination and its consequences drawing examples from the causes of the conflicts that threatened their long time peace and harmony. Binding International instruments in relation to discrimination and the obligations of each authority to respect the provisions of these instruments were also made known to the communities.

Scaring away the pains of conflict
In February 2006, a land conflict broke out between Bali and Bawock, two neighboring villages in Bali sub division of Mezam division. The ensuing battle caused important material losses on both sides. Inhabitants of Bawock suffered most from the skirmishes and several of them lost their homes thus taking refuge in Bamenda and Pinyin. On 12 February 2007, the villages of Oku in Bui division and Mbessa in Boyo Division entered into disagreement over a portion of fertile land and a forest area. The toll of this dispute was catastrophic. In Mbessa, houses were destroyed, plantations burnt down leading to the displacement of some 500 Mbessa people who sought refuge at the catholic mission parish hall in Mbessa. If the Bali/Bawock conflict did not have any human casualty, it was not the case with the Oku/Mbessa conflict which left four death (1 Mbessan and 3 Okus).

Despite the calm that has been observed during the past months, a big climate of suspicion looms around the concerned communities. Balis and Bawocks are moving faster towards peace with the recent return to his palace of the Fon of Bawock Theodore Nana Wanda. His historic peace meet with the Fon of Bali Dr. Ganyonga III gave the impression that the two communities were engaged towards peaceful transitions and reconciliation. Local administrative authorities are also making efforts to return seized farmland to landless Bawock women. But in Oku and Mbessa, tensions are yet to calm. Mbessans hardly pass through Oku and have equally banned any Oku indigene passing through Mbessa. However, both communities do not want to be seen as perpetrators of a new stand-off. Peace, they have come to realize, is priceless.

The media and non discrimination
The conflicts between the afore mentioned communities in the North West region also brought to light the very important and sometimes disastrous role the media can play in such circumstances. For example in Bali, the Fon - Dr. Ganyonga III complained that the media had made it to appear as if his people hated the Mbessans. He said he wasn’t sure that such media reports never increased the gravity of the conflict.

For this and other reasons related to journalistic practice in issues of discrimination, the Centre organized a one day workshop with media professionals in the North West region on media strategies to combat discrimination. This workshop on Human Rights Day helped the journalists to understand the manner in which articles on discrimination should be drafted in order to avoid biased or prejudicial feeling on the part of the reader. The participants however decried corruption of the media by some top ranking officials for personal gains and called on fellow colleagues to respect the ethics of the profession no matter the pressure and the temptations they may be subjected to.

A mission long overdue
While local administrative authorities felt that the Centre’s team came at the right time to enhance the efforts they have already made on the field towards peace, the traditional authorities and members of their communities said the mission was long overdue. In their word’s “we thought the world never knew us, or never cared about our plight” – Mbessa king maker. The people of Bawock who turned out in good numbers appreciated the visit and expressed the need to be sensitized on their rights. Bali elite as well as participants at the council session in Ibal-Oku wished to know more about the Centre’s work and to receive training of how to manage conflict especially land and tribal.