A one day
workshop aimed at reflecting on promoting a culture of peace has ended in
Bamenda with Fons selected randomly from villages across the North West Region
committing themselves “to privilege mutual dialogue and mediation in the
resolution of conflicts and to be fair and impartial” in their efforts to
negotiate peace.
Organised by
the Community Initiative for Sustainable Development COMINSUD, the one day
reflection platform according to the Director of the institution is a result of
“a rapid assessment” in February of 2015 which revealed that “over 40
communities” have experienced violent conflicts in the NWR.
“Some recent
violent escalations are the conflicts between Balikumbat-Bafanji, Oku-Mbessa,
Bali-Bawock, and Baligham-Awing. These conflicts left tens of people killed;
hundreds of homes and businesses burnt down; farms crops and livestock
destroyed; infrastructure of public interest such as water supply systems
damaged amongst others.” Fon Nsoh says adding that “bases on the conflicts
witnesses in the past quarter of the century, working for the lasting peace is
very imperative to avoid certain dehumanizing situations that results from
violent conflicts.”
In a bid to
search for ways to handle post violent conflict outcomes according to the Director;
COMINSUD decided to build efforts with a German Government programme Civil
Peace Service CPS an initiative that promotes a culture of peace on the line of
conflict prevention, transformation and management.
At the close
of intense In-camera deliberations on issues bearing on the concept of peace,
conflict violence, actors, roles and procedures, the eleven Fons who
participated in the workshop made public their resolutions amongst which
include their resolve to promote the culture of peace amongst the populations
they lead via organization of intergenerational dialogue. The Fons also made
clear their resolve to “commit to do all within the framework of our authority
to resolve conflicts in a pacific and non-violent manner” with the
administration and competent courts as the last option.
While
requesting for more reflection platforms for Fons to share and learn on
promoting a culture of peace, the traditional authorities also called “on the
state to respond promptly to complaints from Fons and view Fons not just as
local auxiliary of the administration but to legally incorporate traditional
authorities as the first step in the in the administrative ladder.
Citing the
crisis between his village and Ajong in Boyo Division, the Fon of Akeh Y. Mbah
III Solomon observed that if he had the knowledge acquired from the workshop
before, the crisis would have long been laid to rest.
A similar
remark from the Fon of Oku Sintieh II Ngum Martin insinuated that the long
crisis that turned terrible violent between his village and the people of
Mbessa is a now a thing of the past.
COMINSUD
hopes to reach a level where “communities in the NWR live in harmony, using
situations of conflicts as opportunities understand to their challenge as well
as manage them in a pacific manner using the most appropriate approach.