On Saturday 16 April 2005, Mr. Nicola Dell’Arciprete and Mr. Jeroen Zandberg from UNPO participated in a debate with representatives from the Dutch Foreign Ministry and the Southern Cameroons political parties.

The debate was part of the annual Africa Day, organized by the Evert Vermeer Foundation, an independent foundation to promote international solidarity in politics, and with liaisons to the Dutch Social Democratic Party. More than 1,200 people were present during this yearly event, which featured dozens of debates and workshops on numerous issues facing the African continent. A broad range of topics, ranging from micro-financing, African culture, war and poverty, to the impact of climate change on the food situation in Africa, were debated.

The debate on the Southern Cameroons focused on what the international community could (and should) do to help solve the political situation in Southern Cameroons. The question was addressed from several angles, aided by the different panel members, to encompass as much of the political spectrum as possible.

Mr. Dabney Yirima, representative from the Southern Cameroons National Council (SCNC) gave the audience a clear and comprehensive insight into the origin of the conflict as well as the history of the Southern Cameroons itself.

Mr. Lantam F. Jack, representative from the Social Democratic Front of the Republic of Cameroon, who gave his vision on how the Southern Cameroons case should be handled, complemented this view. His argument focused on the granting of more rights to the Southern Cameroons within the republic of Cameroon, and that these rights should be more individual rights, rather than collective rights for the English speaking Cameroonians as a group.

Mr. Norbert Braakhuis, from the Africa-Desk of the Dutch foreign ministry, also shared this view. He also shared his twenty years experience in international politics relating to African-European relations, and gave a clear picture of how decisions regarding Africa (including the Southern Cameroons) were made on the national and European level.

The contribution of the two UNPO representatives, Mr. Dell’Arciprete and Mr. Zandberg were largely focussed on the influence that civil society and the principles of non-violence can have on the promotion of human rights. The two panellists explained what an organization like UNPO can do for its members and gave detailed information on UNPO activities regarding the Southern Cameroons. The human rights situation in the Southern Cameroons was highlighted; pointing out that the greatest injustice done to the people of Southern Cameroon was the increasing discrimination of the English speaking community in Cameroon.