L'Effort Camerounais (English Version): Roman Catholic Priest querried over SCNC activities

Interviewed by Martin Jumbam

The Divisional Officer for Kumbo recently summoned the Rector of St. John the Baptist Quasi Parish Ngondzen, Rev. Fr. Peter A. Foleng, for questioning over allegations that the priest has been preaching the SCNC doctrine of secession in his parish.

L'Effort camerounais reached him to find out what this is all about.

Father, we understand there was a problem in Kumbo prior to the 1st of October over which you were called up for questioning. What actually happened?
I effectively took over residence in Ngondzen on August 1, 2005 and was quite busy with the First Holy Communions which led to the opening of the school year and then with the beginning of the pastoral year in the Diocese of Kumbo.
In my struggle to settle down in this new life and place, I caught a fever that kept me in the hospital for sometime. I returned from the hospital on September 24th and found an official summons on my table from the Divisional Officer for Kumbo Central Sub division, inviting me to his office on September 23 for "a matter that concerned me."
I was only able to honour his invitation some days later, on Tuesday 27th September. When I arrived, the gentleman received me and, to my surprise, he accused me of preaching in favour of SCNC in the Church.

What was your reaction?
I was visibly scandalised and shocked because I couldn't remember when I ever preached SCNC doctrine in my church. I told him that if I were standing accused of faulting the government on issues of social justice, thee I stood guilty because that is part of my daily bread as a pastor who stands like a sentry in the community.
However, I told him that since I had arrived in Ngondzen, I hadn't even had the time to make any statement that could be interpreted as anti-government, not to mention any pro-SCNC stance.
Of course, when the Gospel prompts one to talk on social issues, the government of Cameroon calls it politics. I told him that if his people were trailing me, I would not take it lying down.

Have you had any clash before with civil administrators or government officials?
If I were not overlooking some of their actions, I would clash with them daily because of their nonchalance, ignorance and exploitation of the people. In fact, after the 1997 debacle in Oku, I was targeted but it did not work as planned.
Since that incidence was still fresh in my mind, I did not want to take chances. For the many years I was in Nkambe, I did not find the last three or four years each with the administration. In fact, the summons from this D.O was the second from a government official.
The first was in Nkambe when the Commissioner of Internal Security summoned me to answer over a six counts.
The main accusation was my talk against the use of condoms by youth, video graphing of a CPDM anniversary celebration and non participation at the National Day Celebration of 2004.

February 2012