04-20-2017, 09:23 PM
*** 21-Apr-17 World View -- Cameroon's president finally caves in, restores internet to English speakers
This morning's key headlines from GenerationalDynamics.com
****
**** Cameroon's president finally caves in, restores internet to English speakers
****
![[Image: g170214b.jpg]](http://Media.GenerationalDynamics.com/ww2010/g170214b.jpg)
During protests earlier this year, Anglophone protesters used catapult against police in Bamenda, Cameroon (RFI)
Cameroon's president Paul Biya on Thursday finally gave in after 93
days and restored internet access to the "Southern Cameroons," the
region of Cameroon populated by English-speaking or Anglophone people.
Biya shut down the internet to Anglophones in November of last year,
following clashes between English-speaking (Anglophone) protesters and
police. The protests were over discrimination and marginalization of
the Anglophones by the French-speaking (Francophone) majority.
The protests were initially led by Anglophone lawyers in the city of
Bamenda to protest that the legal and court systems are biased toward
Francophones, with many laws passed without even being translated into
English. That demonstration was dispersed by security forces using
tear gas.
Two weeks later, the demonstrators were joined by Anglophone teachers
who were protesting that the government was deploying Francophone
teachers teach the French language in Anglophone regions. The
government decided was appointing French-speaking teachers and judges
who barely understand English to Anglophone schools and courts.
Thousands of Anglophone Cameroonians brought coffins to the
demonstrations, proclaiming that they were ready to die and be burned
in their coffins. The demonstrations turned violent when security
forces fired tear gas and live bullets to disperse the demonstrators.
At least six protesters were shot dead and hundreds others arrested by
security forces.
With teachers and lawyers on strike, shutting down the internet was
apparently Biya's method of bringing the Anglophones to heel.
However, shutting down the internet has been disastrous for Cameroon's
economy. It was particularly disastrous for businesses in the
Southern Cameroons, which had no internet access, and so could not
conduct business. But individuals were hurt as well, since they
couldn't pay bills or make online purchases.
Shutting down the internet was a really dumb thing to do, but
Cameroon's economy has lost some $3.1 million because of the internet
blackout, according to the French NGO, Internet sans Frontières
(Internet without Borders). Furthermore, with the schools shut
because of the teachers' strike, Cameroon was threatened with an aid
cutoff from UNESCO.
Biya's ending the internet block will not solve the underlying
tensions between Anglophones and Francophones, which date back to
colonial times when there was a British Cameroon and a French
Cameroon. The two colonies were pasted together in what was supposed
to be a federal system where the Anglophone and Francophone regions
were equal. But, Paul Biya came to power in 1982 and, as usual in
African countries, Biya has turned into a dictator. He had hoped that
shutting down the internet would make everyone happy and peaceful
again, but instead it impoverished and infuriated many people,
especially Anglophones. Cameroon Concord and Africa News and Anadolu (31-Mar)
Related Articles
****
**** With violence in Venezuela's streets continuing, Maduro confiscates GM factories
****
Venezuela continued to be a showcase for the disastrous outcome of
every Socialist government in history, as violence in the streets of
Venezuela continued on Thursday, leading protesters to clashes with
security forces who used tear gas, beatings and other violence.
The protesters are demanding that president Nicolás Maduro hold
elections so that he can be replaced, but like almost every Socialist
leader in history, Maduro prefers to have the streets filled with
rivers of blood than give up power.
As the economy continues to crash because of his Socialist policies,
Maduro is forced to adopt increasingly desperate measures. Last
month, he ordered the arrest of bakers because there wasn't enough
break available.
Previously, Maduro ordered the jailing of factory owners, but on
Thursday, Maduro's Socialist government seized a General Motors plant
in Valencia. GM sales have been down in Venezuela because the
Socialist government requires that they be paid for in near-worthless
bolivar currency, rather than dollars. GM says that it will fight the
seizure in Venezuelan courts, but since Maduro controls the courts, GM
is unlikely to succeed.
Venezuela's Socialist government has nationalized a number of US
companies, or otherwise forced them out of business. Other companies
that have cut back or ceased doing business in Venezuela include
Kimberly-Clark, Exxon Mobil, Ford Motor Company, Clorox Co. and
Bridgestone Americas. It has been a policy of Socialist Venezuela to
destroy as much of economy as possible, in order to be able to
nationalize businesses. As the old Socialist saying goes, you have to
crack a few eggs to make an omelet.
As violence increases in the streets, fears are growing that Maduro
will call out the army for a full-scale assault on the protesters.
However, some reports indicate that there's a growing split within the
army, with many soldiers reluctant to attack ordinary Venezuelan
citizens including, in some cases, their own family members. Detroit Free Press and Miami Herald and AP
Related Articles
KEYS: Generational Dynamics, Cameroon, Paul Biya, Francophones,
Anglophones, Southern Cameroons,
Internet sans Frontières, Internet without Borders,
Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro, General Motors
Permanent web link to this article
Receive daily World View columns by e-mail
Contribute to Generational Dynamics via PayPal
John J. Xenakis
100 Memorial Drive Apt 8-13A
Cambridge, MA 02142
Phone: 617-864-0010
E-mail: john@GenerationalDynamics.com
Web site: http://www.GenerationalDynamics.com
Forum: http://www.gdxforum.com/forum
Subscribe to World View: http://generationaldynamics.com/subscribe
This morning's key headlines from GenerationalDynamics.com
- Cameroon's president finally caves in, restores internet to English speakers
- With violence in Venezuela's streets continuing, Maduro confiscates GM factories
****
**** Cameroon's president finally caves in, restores internet to English speakers
****
During protests earlier this year, Anglophone protesters used catapult against police in Bamenda, Cameroon (RFI)
Cameroon's president Paul Biya on Thursday finally gave in after 93
days and restored internet access to the "Southern Cameroons," the
region of Cameroon populated by English-speaking or Anglophone people.
Biya shut down the internet to Anglophones in November of last year,
following clashes between English-speaking (Anglophone) protesters and
police. The protests were over discrimination and marginalization of
the Anglophones by the French-speaking (Francophone) majority.
The protests were initially led by Anglophone lawyers in the city of
Bamenda to protest that the legal and court systems are biased toward
Francophones, with many laws passed without even being translated into
English. That demonstration was dispersed by security forces using
tear gas.
Two weeks later, the demonstrators were joined by Anglophone teachers
who were protesting that the government was deploying Francophone
teachers teach the French language in Anglophone regions. The
government decided was appointing French-speaking teachers and judges
who barely understand English to Anglophone schools and courts.
Thousands of Anglophone Cameroonians brought coffins to the
demonstrations, proclaiming that they were ready to die and be burned
in their coffins. The demonstrations turned violent when security
forces fired tear gas and live bullets to disperse the demonstrators.
At least six protesters were shot dead and hundreds others arrested by
security forces.
With teachers and lawyers on strike, shutting down the internet was
apparently Biya's method of bringing the Anglophones to heel.
However, shutting down the internet has been disastrous for Cameroon's
economy. It was particularly disastrous for businesses in the
Southern Cameroons, which had no internet access, and so could not
conduct business. But individuals were hurt as well, since they
couldn't pay bills or make online purchases.
Shutting down the internet was a really dumb thing to do, but
Cameroon's economy has lost some $3.1 million because of the internet
blackout, according to the French NGO, Internet sans Frontières
(Internet without Borders). Furthermore, with the schools shut
because of the teachers' strike, Cameroon was threatened with an aid
cutoff from UNESCO.
Biya's ending the internet block will not solve the underlying
tensions between Anglophones and Francophones, which date back to
colonial times when there was a British Cameroon and a French
Cameroon. The two colonies were pasted together in what was supposed
to be a federal system where the Anglophone and Francophone regions
were equal. But, Paul Biya came to power in 1982 and, as usual in
African countries, Biya has turned into a dictator. He had hoped that
shutting down the internet would make everyone happy and peaceful
again, but instead it impoverished and infuriated many people,
especially Anglophones. Cameroon Concord and Africa News and Anadolu (31-Mar)
Related Articles
- Brief generational history of Cameroon (15-Feb-2017)
- Cameroon: One person killed in English-speaking vs French-speaking civil unrest (23-Nov-2016)
****
**** With violence in Venezuela's streets continuing, Maduro confiscates GM factories
****
Venezuela continued to be a showcase for the disastrous outcome of
every Socialist government in history, as violence in the streets of
Venezuela continued on Thursday, leading protesters to clashes with
security forces who used tear gas, beatings and other violence.
The protesters are demanding that president Nicolás Maduro hold
elections so that he can be replaced, but like almost every Socialist
leader in history, Maduro prefers to have the streets filled with
rivers of blood than give up power.
As the economy continues to crash because of his Socialist policies,
Maduro is forced to adopt increasingly desperate measures. Last
month, he ordered the arrest of bakers because there wasn't enough
break available.
Previously, Maduro ordered the jailing of factory owners, but on
Thursday, Maduro's Socialist government seized a General Motors plant
in Valencia. GM sales have been down in Venezuela because the
Socialist government requires that they be paid for in near-worthless
bolivar currency, rather than dollars. GM says that it will fight the
seizure in Venezuelan courts, but since Maduro controls the courts, GM
is unlikely to succeed.
Venezuela's Socialist government has nationalized a number of US
companies, or otherwise forced them out of business. Other companies
that have cut back or ceased doing business in Venezuela include
Kimberly-Clark, Exxon Mobil, Ford Motor Company, Clorox Co. and
Bridgestone Americas. It has been a policy of Socialist Venezuela to
destroy as much of economy as possible, in order to be able to
nationalize businesses. As the old Socialist saying goes, you have to
crack a few eggs to make an omelet.
As violence increases in the streets, fears are growing that Maduro
will call out the army for a full-scale assault on the protesters.
However, some reports indicate that there's a growing split within the
army, with many soldiers reluctant to attack ordinary Venezuelan
citizens including, in some cases, their own family members. Detroit Free Press and Miami Herald and AP
Related Articles
- Venezuela's Socialist government arrests bakers because of bread shortage (20-Mar-2017)
- Venezuela's economic crisis is hitting Cuba hard (06-Aug-2016)
- Hugo Chávez dismantled Venezuela's businesses on purpose to create Socialist Paradise (29-May-2016)
KEYS: Generational Dynamics, Cameroon, Paul Biya, Francophones,
Anglophones, Southern Cameroons,
Internet sans Frontières, Internet without Borders,
Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro, General Motors
Permanent web link to this article
Receive daily World View columns by e-mail
Contribute to Generational Dynamics via PayPal
John J. Xenakis
100 Memorial Drive Apt 8-13A
Cambridge, MA 02142
Phone: 617-864-0010
E-mail: john@GenerationalDynamics.com
Web site: http://www.GenerationalDynamics.com
Forum: http://www.gdxforum.com/forum
Subscribe to World View: http://generationaldynamics.com/subscribe
