Hello all,
The good news is: all who marched today are stronger morally and mentally than when we started the day. In addition, there are no broken bones, or grave injuries.
Kah Walla gives victory sign at police truck firing a water cannon
Most of the people participating in the protest were doing so for their first time. In spite of the extreme and completely unnecessary brutality exhibited by the police, all of us feel stronger than ever in our resolve to bring about change in Cameroon. We are also confirmed in our strategy of non-violence in spite of having very violent forces of law and (dis)order before us.
So what happened?
Last night 2:30 a.m.
We left our strategy room feeling quite good. We were convinced we had a surprise itinerary which the police did not know about and we would be able to march for at least a half hour before they fell upon us. We were also thrilled with the symbolism of our start point: Um Nyobe’s house in Nkolmondo (one of Douala’s poorest neighbourhoods) was full of both historic and current day symbolism and would get us off with the type of energy we needed for the day. We had met with the family and they were in full agreement. Off we went to catch a few hours of sleep before our scheduled start time of 9:00 a.m.
Today 8:00 a.m.
The first part of our organization team arrived the site. Water sachets and 200 t-shirts in tow, they were busy setting up things for all to march non-violently and determinedly. The gendarmes show up, arrest 6 of our members and 1 journalist from AFP and confiscate our 200 t-shirts and our water. Our close to 300 protestors panic. The march has not even started and people are being arrested. The majority of them desist. A handful of about 20 diehards persist. We start figuring out possible new itineraries. On the spot we decide to print 50 new t-shirts.
11:30 a.m.
We get a call from our colleagues at the P.U.R.S. political party. They are still willing to march and they are a good 2-3 dozen as well. We decide to make sure we mark this day. We set off to “Feu Rouge Bessengue” new red t-shirts brandishing “Ca Suffit” on them, in tow. We meet up with our colleagues of P.U.R.S. and don the t-shirts.
About 12:15 p.m.
We occupy Boulevard de la Republique at Feu Rouge Bessengue. No traffic can move on one of the busiest streets in Douala. Amazingly, not one single car driver or motorbike driver protests. Those who support join us in our chants. Others turn their vehicles around quietly and go. Some passerby’s grab a red tee, don it and join our ranks.
About 12:45
The forces of law and order show up. An armada. About 70-80 policemen, two water cannons, riot gear and shields. We remain firm and as previously decided, sit, to show we are non-violent. J These boys (and a few girls) do not have that word in their vocabulary. They use their clubs to begin seriously hitting on some of our protestors. To their grand surprise, I walk up to ask them to stop. The chiefs then realised they had Kah Walla, “l’oiseau” as one of them called me, right in front of them. For a few minutes they could not figure out what to do with me and had me walking back and forth while they decided to put me in a truck or in a car.
Finally a big boss in civilian clothes shows up. He wants to “teach me a lesson” as he said. He asks that I be put on the median in the middle of the street. Then he turned the entire water cannon truck on for my personal benefit. Note my two fists up in a victory symbol under the water cannon. That’s the lesson I learnt. The power is within us. No amount of violence and hysteria can remove it.
The icing on the cake is that as we choked and burned from the chemicals on the water, they then asked us to climb onto their truck. As we climbed up, with our backs turned, they hit us with their clubs. The only feeling I had was sadness that those whom you and I’s taxes pay to protect us show such extreme cowardice and meanness. After climbing onto the truck they let us catch our breaths then set us free. What was the point of climbing onto the truck? Just so they could beat our backs? Sad.
13: 40
The team and I head to Muna Clinic to make sure everybody is ok, a few wounds, some serious, some not too bad. Some serious welts on the backs of a few of our members, my back and eyes are still burning and I smell of hydrogen even as I write this. The amazing result though is a profound feeling of accomplishment:
- They wanted to stop us from protesting, we protested
- We have a non-violent philosophy, which we maintained in the face of extreme violence. I could not believe it when the Cameroon Ô’Bosso guys were walking over to stop the population from throwing stones at the police. An incredible force of young Cameroonians.
- We started out almost 300 and ended up less than 50, but that nugget has banished fear, for ourselves and for many other Cameroonians.
- The population did not join us in droves, but they did the following:
- Not one person out of hundreds complained about the blocking on the road.
- When the violence broke out they started throwing stones at the police
- They doused us with water as soon as the police let us go. They also refused water to a few policemen who had been accidently sprayed by the water cannon.
- If we ever doubted it, we now have extreme clarity on the absolute need for change and the absolute need for unwavering determination in bringing it about in our country.
THE TIME, MY FRIENDS, IS RIGHT NOW!
keep the spirit patriots, we are all behind u. The reign of terror must stop biya and his gang of embezzlers must fall. this is the time, fight or die.
Posted by: maxi | February 23, 2011 at 07:40 PM
My respect to all those brave people who join you. Hope more will copy your example. Let us go for Biya. Sparow Hawk will settle score with the men in uniform.
Posted by: Kene | February 23, 2011 at 09:35 PM
woman of substance,woman of spirit,courageous woman keep fighting our struggle is here and is now we are behind you.
Posted by: man | February 24, 2011 at 05:19 AM
Hydrogen has no odour. The odour could be oil leak from pump in water cannon.
Posted by: Kumbaboy | February 24, 2011 at 05:20 AM
Solidarity from Virginia, USA!
Posted by: Amyton | February 24, 2011 at 07:37 AM
We should not stop here. One day event successful but not enough. Proper planing with plan b&c as backup are key if we want to succeed. The time is now. Biya
Must go
Posted by: MBAkwa | February 24, 2011 at 08:08 AM
my respect!!!!!
Posted by: ousman | February 24, 2011 at 09:45 AM
Aahhhhhh keep which spirit? Trator.
Posted by: o bosso | February 24, 2011 at 10:45 AM
Nothing can stand on the way of million of voices calling for change. Kah Walla will forever be great. Boston USA.
Posted by: Ambrose Lasco | February 24, 2011 at 11:01 AM
yes Kah Walla,we are all with you,obosso!enough is enough,all my life ive known one president!he most leave,biya go!you are a great person GOD is with you.
Posted by: Grace | February 24, 2011 at 11:52 AM
Keep up Kah Walla. The world is watching
Posted by: emmaa | February 24, 2011 at 11:59 AM
My dear Kah Walla, God has placed you there for a reason. He will equip you with the necessary tools. Keep up the Faith and rely on His wisdom and judgment..
Stay Blessed
Posted by: Vennessa | February 24, 2011 at 07:10 PM
Ms. Walla, keep up your energy and spirit, God will bless you. You are our voice. The sea is rising.....Love your American Sisters and Brothers
Posted by: KS | February 24, 2011 at 08:35 PM
Am surprised it came as a shock to Kah Walla that when she arrived feu rouge, there were no protesters... this lady is dreaming, she things a numerous sponsored media outings automatically make such a very popular and commanding person. Poor thing. Egypt can never be Cameroon.
Posted by: Douala Mbengue | February 25, 2011 at 02:05 AM
keep up we are with you. from Ukraine. is he not tired .let him go peaceful and enjoy the money he has stolen with his family abroad
Posted by: che | February 25, 2011 at 02:32 AM
KEEP UP. WE ARE WITH YOU FROM OUR SAFE AND SECURE APARTMENTS AND HOMES IN THE USA AND EUROPE!!!!!!!!
Posted by: s | February 25, 2011 at 04:35 AM
Huuraay from Colorado. I think the first step towards liberation will be to free all political prisoners including Lapiro and others. The peaceful protests should continue because its how it all starts and until they are ready to bring change, we should not stop until we have achieved our goals. We should organize a match here in the USA to impact the outcome in Cameroon!
Posted by: Liberate Cameroon | February 26, 2011 at 12:45 PM
To Douala Mbengue. Hello Mr Mbengue, your kind is the reason why our society will never prosper. From your name, your father is probably part of the "Embezzlement Committee" and you steal Tax Payers money so you don't really know how it feels to be part of the lower class in this country. No wonder all the young brains are leaving the country. As she said, Cameroon is not poor! But we are poorly managed.
Posted by: Liberate Cameroon | February 26, 2011 at 12:53 PM
Bravo. keep it up. Big hugs to my brothers and sisters who were out there in the street on the 23 feb you guys are a winner. SHAME ON YOU BIYA u. Love u all.
Posted by: Tracy williams | February 27, 2011 at 01:28 PM
Liberate Cameroon,
sorry, but from your tone of voice I can sense some frustration.Too bad, you re from a lower class, not my fault hein. well dont get me wrong, in so far as i agree cameroon has some problems and that something must be done to remedy the situation, change unfortunately will never come from the likes of Kah Walla, Anicet Ekane and co, am so sorry to say that but its the truth.
The problem is that most of you guys live millions of miles away and are disconnected from the realities of the country, so much so thta any piece of gossip from men like these is some precios info for you.
Moreso; when you say all the young brains are leaving the country i dont agree with you, for its real exaggeration. I you want change get organised as polical leaders and confront the realities in the ballot, as you know, egypt is not cameroon. That was quite daring Kah Walla, but was really being foolhardy.
Posted by: Douala Mbengue | February 28, 2011 at 11:25 AM
Douala Mbengue, change will not come from the likes of Kah Walla so should we fold our amrs and wait for the perfect individual, the messiah that will take us to the promised land? No! Change does not come from one person; it will come when everyone does their little bit, no mnatter how insignificant. So whatever we think of Kah Walla, she has answered to the call of destiny and history to play her small part. Have you played yours? Have you answered the call of history of simply given in to that lengedary cameroonian passivity and indolence that leads to paralysis? Give the devil his due, my dear friend...
Posted by: Hongla Duke | March 02, 2011 at 05:32 PM
Kah Walla has started a very good fight. I hope she is not bought over along the way by the Biya regime. 29 years in power, its just natural Biya should not run for re-election. The change coming to Africa cannot be stopped by the use of police and the army. I support peaceful change, not change marked with violence and destruction of personal property and infrastructure. It is very difficult to rebuild anything destroyed during the change process.Indeed, Cameroon OBOSSO !!
Posted by: Sango Mboa | March 09, 2011 at 07:45 AM
You are a true example of a leader. Move on!!! In the final phase this struggle will lead us to a another New South Sudan and why not Libya. Hahaha. We are behind U Kah Walla!!! Enough is Enough and the time is now. We don't need Maginalised Hand Clapping Leaders.God will show us a way.
Posted by: "Asegah" Douala Cameroon | September 30, 2011 at 04:34 AM