102 sacked Gendarmes request to be reinstated

Some 102 Gendarmes, written off for presenting fake diplomas on recruitment, have stated their wish to return to the army in order to take part in the fight against the Islamist sect, Boko Haram, who has been rampant in Cameroon for months.

In a letter addressed to the head of state, the collective of the 2006 police contingent that called themselves "Abandoned in the neighborhood," ask for a presidential to permit them to ‘hold the gun’ again and to go to war against Aboubacar Shekau’s men.

According to Le Messenger, the former soldiers had pleaded with Paul Biya to reinstate them back to their function. In order to help with the situation, the dismissed gendarmes said they “are ready to answer at the beck and call of the nation to participate in the war that affects our country,” the newspaper quoted.

Also in their letter, they argued that with the training and diplomas they received from the School of Gendarmie army, their place is “not in the neighborhood.” They therefore implored the forgiveness of Paul Biya for reinstatement into defense forces to participate in the fight against Boko Haram.

According to the article, the 2006 contingent of 102 trained militaries at the Djoum, Ngaoundal and Ngaoundere training centers, where they passed basic common training and graduating the technical aptitude certificate 1, before being recruited by the Secretary of State for Defense (Sed) in charge of the gendarmerie.

They were assigned to different units disseminated over the national territory and according to them; they always served with honor and fidelity. But on May 4, 2009, a decision by the hierarchy ended their dream, reported Le Messenger.

The record showed that their fallout was due to an investigation by the Department of Secondary Education and the Embassy of Chad in Cameroon on the authenticity of diplomas of gendarmerie. The Sed discovered that they had presented forged documents at the time of recruitment.

Considering that the defense forces needed men of great value, with a sense of dignity, honesty, honor and justice, the Defense Ministry had asked for the immediate release of these personal they join to their respective homes.

They were stationed at the Central Prisons of Kondengui and Yoko in Yaoundé between January and July 2007. The same participation in the restoration of order took place in November 2007 in Kumba. Just as they had worked to stem the riots of February 2008, the newspaper added.

These exploits, are they enough to convince the President of the Republic or their direct hierarchy which is Mindef?, the newspaper questioned.