Brutal Suppression of Peaceful Protests in Cameroon by Biya THUGS

Wednesday, February 23rd 2011 saw a brutal suppression of peaceful protests against the repressive regime of Paul Biya. The oil rich nation of Cameroon has been ruled for close to 30 years by Paul Biya, regarded by many as a despot along the lines of Hosni Mubarak of Egypt and Ben Ali of Tunisia.

KAH Walla: Leading Presidential Candidate, CAMEROON

Opposition figures like Louis Tobie Mbida, who hopes to run in this year's presidential election against Paul Biya was attacked by Biya - sponsored thugs during a meeting with some militants of his party in the nation's capital city of Yaounde.

Elsewhere in Douala, leading presidential candidate Kah Walla was brutalized and doused with a generous amount of a high powered jet of water adulterated with a yet to be determined chemical by thugs hired by the regime. Members of her grassroots movement Cameroon O Bosso were beaten mercilessly with truncheons. The event, captured in low-res with a camera phone has a spooky look and reminds one of Tunisia and Egypt in the early days of popular uprisings in those countries.

Mboa Massock: Civil Rights Activist

Still in Douala, veteran civil rights activist, Mboa Massock once more came to a face off with the same thugs who have terrorized his family for years. He famously took them on in 2008 during a nationwide unrest to unseat Paul Biya that was unsuccessful. This time around, he had reason to fear for his life and ran for safety into the residence of Christain Cardinal Tumi, a highly respected member of Cameroon's Civil Society.

Cardinal Christian Tumi: Civil Society, CAMEROON

As a recap, February 23 marks the third year of a popular uprising to remove Paul Biya and his wife Chantal Biya from power. It didn't get any support from the West. But many youths lost their lives and leading figures wanted to peacefully mark the day in honor of those who died. Paul Biya and Chantal Biya once more showed the world that they will cling to power, no matter what it takes. Their day of reckoning, just like Ben Ali of Tunisia and Hosni Mubarak of Egypt is coming, much sooner, rather than later.

Saving Cameroon: How to get the word out.

With the brutal repression of a peaceful march led by presidential candidate Kah Walla in Cameroon's second largest city Douala yesterday, February 23rd 2011, many who witnessed these event firsthand have been clamoring for outlets where they can post pictures and videos they obtained as the population tries to free itself of 30 years of rule by Paul Biya and his clan.

So today, I compiled a short list of some websites that have friendly user interfaces and provide free storage for photos and videos. Also in the list are some microstock websites which pay the person who took the photograph when they will be used in the public domain. As an example, CNN may be running a story on events in Cameroon as the people struggle to push Biya out of power and they may need a photograph to illustrate the bad state of roads or just police brutality which is a fact of daily life in the country. Having photographs to illustrate the subject in question makes it easier to narrate the story.

The Biya regime used the reverse when it came to power by obfuscating any and everything pertaining to Ahmadou Ahidjo. Thanks to the Internet, Cameroonians are able to see the beautiful country Cameroon once was before Biya began transferring all the oil wealth of the nation to invest on the shores of Lake Geneva.

So here is my short list:

- Flickr.com

- Shutterstock

- iStockphoto

To submit photographs, just sign up with one of these websites, and then submit your photos. You would have done your own share, and with each passing day, we are getting closer to the moment when the streets of Yaounde, Douala and other towns and villages in the country will be full of men, women and children celebrating their liberation from 30 years of oppression by Paul Biya and Chantal Biya and their clan.