VOA 慢速英语听力文章 Protests over the English language in Cameroon have grown violent. A strike, called to increase the use of English, has spread to schools and universities in Englishspeaking areas. Lawyers and teachers, supported by young people, refused to call off the strike as protesters clashed with members of the military. The governor of Cameroons NorthWest Region says at least one person has been killed in the clashes. Investigations are ongoing to establish the responsibilities, said governor Adolphe Lele LAfrique Deben Tchoffo. But media reports suggest that as many as four people were killed. The protesters are demanding greater rights for English speakers in a country that has both English and French as official languages. The roots of the strike The current strike has created more debate and caused more concern among government officials and local rulers than any other issue in recent years. The roots of this strike go deep. English speakers make up about 20 percent of Cameroons population. The constitution says that English and French languages that come from the colonial period should be equally important. However, many official documents are written only in French. Some government ministers give speeches in French, even in Englishspeaking areas. No English speaker has held an important position, such as minister of defense, finance, or territorial administration, in Cameroons nearly 60year history as an independent country. Lawyers and the Government Lawyers have been at the front of the strike. Harmony Bogda, spokesperson for the striking lawyers, says that after discussions lasting 72 hours, lawyers left with the idea that the government does not want to listen to them. As such, Bogda says, the strike will continue. Ben Muna is a lawyer and a member of the Cameroon Bar Council Association. He says his colleagues are angry because security forces increased tensions and beat them for demonstrating peacefully. Communication minister and government spokesperson Issa Tchiroma says the government is unable to approve some of the requests. He says the lawyers are responsible for the recent violence in Englishspeaking areas. Those who are responsible for such abuses must know that nowhere in the world, disorder has ever led to anything constructive. We therefore call on all our compatriots to show proof of reserve, selfcontrol, high sense of responsibility and citizenship in a spirit of dialogue. Schools have remained closed since the clashes started last Monday.
