CAMEROON: OPPOSITION TO CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 YAOUNDE 000121 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR AF/C LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA ACTION OFFICER EUCOM FOR J5-1 AND POLAD E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/07/2018 TAGS: PGOV PHUM CM SUBJECT: CAMEROON: OPPOSITION TO CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGE INCREASINGLY FRUSTRATED REF: (A) YAOUNDE 33 (B) 07 YAOUNDE 1478 (C) YAOUNDE 009 (D) YAOUNDE 112 Classified By: Pol/Econ Chief Scott Ticknor for reasons 1.4 b and d ¶1. (C) Summary: Civil society representatives and opposition parties in Cameroon continue to speak out against President Biya's proposal to change the constitution. (Biya announced in his New Year's address that he would "reconsider" a constitutional amendment that would remove presidential term limits.) Douala-based activists are becoming more frustrated, preparing for demonstrations and planning to pressure parliamentarians into voting against a constitutional amendment. Activists in Yaounde are more low key but talk about possible future confrontation. The GRC is actively seeking to manage the opposition: the Governor of the Littoral Province banned all demonstrations, opposition activists continue to be interrogated about their activities, the Minister of Communication is spearheading a government propaganda effort to drum up support for constitutional change, and the ruling CPDM is holding an extraordinary party meeting reportedly focused on preparing the base for amending the constitution. The Ambassador addressed constitutional change in a widely-publicized February 5 speech whose impact we are still assessing. End Summary. Douala Activists Ready For Action -------------- ¶2. (C) Poloff recently traveled to Douala, Cameroon's commercial capital and largest city, to take the pulse of the city's political opposition. On January 21, John Fru Ndi, President of the Social Democratic Front (SDF) held a press conference in Bamenda, inviting Cameroonians to sign petitions to signal opposition to a constitutional amendment. This was the first statement from Fru Ndi since President Biya's New Year's speech. The SDF had originally planned the press conference in Douala; however, on January 15, Littoral Province Governor Fei Yango Francis announced a ban on demonstrations in the province. In a January 24 press interview, Yango explained that he banned demonstrations, not because of an impending march opposing a constitutional amendment, but instead to keep order in Douala for the working class. As reported in ref D, Minister of Territorial Administration and Integrity Hamidou Marafa recently told Ambassador that he ordered the ban out of concern about a possible military reaction. ¶3. (C) Henriette Ekwe, Vice President of the Union of Cameroonian Journalists and a prominent Douala-based civil society activist, opined that even if Biya were to propose other constitutional amendments, he would only implement the removal of term limits. She said that SDF President John Fru Ndi's response to Biya's New Year's speech was "soft" because he felt he owed the GRC for its help when his wife received medical treatment in France three years ago. Anicet Ekane, President of the MANIDEM party, also expressed his reservations about Fru Ndi's motivation, given his weak response to the President's announcement. Despite Fru Ndi's weak response, Ekane thought that only the SDF could organize a large demonstration opposing a constitutional amendment. Cardinal Christian Tumi, the Archbishop of Douala, told Poloff that in principle he was not opposed to a constitutional amendment; however, the people must support an amendment and currently he thought they were against it. He has not spoken out publicly on the issue and reportedly will not do so until he meets with Biya and consults within the Church. ¶4. (C) Poloff spoke with a roundtable of activists, motor taxi operators (traditionally active in demonstrations),an SDF representative and NGO contacts to discuss their strategy for opposing a constitutional amendment. One of their plans is to heavily pressure (read: intimidate) Parliamentarians to vote against the amendment, telling them that the "people would be watching". "Dont be fooled by the calm in Douala" one SDF representative said, "underneath there is a boil". They discounted popular theories that societal violence would erupt should President Biya step down, although they thought such a move could trigger violence among CPDM members jockeying for power. They predicted that broader based YAOUNDE 00000121 002 OF 003 societal violence would occur if Biya tried to hold onto power. ¶5. (U) On February 2, Mboua Massock, a political activist, defied the Douala protest ban by staging a demonstration to oppose a constitutional amendment. Despite the police surrounding his home to prevent him from leading the march, Massock was able to lead a short demonstration with 600 participants. Observers noted that the police were very gentle when trying to stop the demonstration. Security forces have twice interrogated Massock about planned demonstrations in Douala. Yaounde Activists More Cautious -------------- ¶6. (C) Dr. Hilaire Kamga, a prominent civil society leader and head of Human Rights Movement, told us his organization's objective was to pressure President Biya not to change the Constitution and if he does, not to run for a third term in ¶2011. During a recent meeting with the Ambassador, Kamga outlined civil society's strategy as first working with Biya in good faith. He opined that perhaps Biya was unaware of the opposition and he hoped that the President would be open to hearing civil society petitions. Kamga added that now was not the time for demonstrations as there was no critical mass and it would play into Biya's hands. However, his Movement had requested a meeting with President Biya before February 10, when the President will give an annual Youth Day speech to the nation. If Biya does not meet with the Movement, Kamga's group is prepared to consider a more confrontational strategy. Kamga also told Ambassador he was concerned about the potential for civil unrest in the country if Biya continues down the path of changing the constitution. Kamga is going to Washington and New York in mid-February to meet with officials and democracy activists. ¶7. (SBU) Professor Tazoacha Asonganyi, the former Secretary General of the SDF told Poloff that people were frustrated and ready to demonstrate; however, they needed a leader, and the current candidates, including Fru Ndi, do not have the people's confidence, he said. According to Asonganyi, in order to lead a successful campaign against this regime there would need to be a strategic and sustained opposition, something he thought was not possible at this time. Other civil society contacts in Yaounde remain concerned about constitutional change but are somewhat discouraged about their ability to influence the debate. Comment: Government Containment -------------- ¶8. (C) The GRC is well aware of that there is opposition to a constitutional amendment and believes it can be managed with demonstration bans, low-key intimidation and clever handling of the media. In a recent meeting with Pol/Econ Chief, a senior Presidential advisor described the government's aim as "organized dialogue" designed to "avoid unnecessary tensions". The authorities are paying particular attention to Douala, which has a history of opposition demonstrations and where opposition passions are highest at the moment. Numerous opponents to a constitutional amendment have been questioned by security forces in the past few weeks. For example, Dr. Ntoko Mekole Epie, a CPDM District President, was reportedly questioned by security forces for two hours after he voiced his opposition to a constitutional amendment. After meeting with Poloff, one prominent Douala-based activist was called into the Prime Minister's office and told that the opposition should calm down and that they would be consulted about a constitutional amendment. As reported in ref A, Hilaire Kamga was interrogated by security forces in January about his opposition (although security forces have not bothered him since). The GRC is in the midst of an extraordinary meeting of the Cameroon People's Democratic Movement (CPDM),which has been reportedly been actively discussing constitutional change; the party Secretary General said the meeting would help mobilize SIPDIS members to work the issue with their constituents. The Minister of Communication has also planned a government media campaign to encourage a controlled discussion of the constitution issue. YAOUNDE 00000121 003 OF 003 ¶9. (C) On February 5, Ambassador gave a speech which addressed constitutional change and expressed USG opposition to changing executive term limits in a way which is perceived to benefit one individual or group. She encouraged broad-based dialogue on the issue. The speech received major news coverage and was well received by many in civil society. One CPDM contact told us the speech has also influenced the debate within the party about constitutional change. We will report septel on the speech and the reaction to it and will continue to monitor the interplay between the government and opposition. For the moment, Douala remains calm and the opposition elsewhere remains timid, but the growing signs of frustration and more combative rhetoric bear watching. GARVEY