ISSUES]Agriculture: The life organic > pp. 40-41

Insert N° 4 • Friday 12 November 2010 INTERVIEW] Jack Bizlall Editorial ] by Touria PRAYAG “Pressure from the me- dia played a part in the Of miraculous doctors decision to re-open the and breakfast skippers Tirvengadum case.” ot one but two scoops this week: fi rst, if you are pp. > 42-43 hoping for the Nobel Prize in medicine this year, forget it: your hopes have just been dashed by NHarry Tirvengadum’s doctors, whoever they are. Unanimously! And well-deserved too: less than three years ago, the chap was so sick that he could not face jus- tice. He allegedly suffered from ‘frontal lobe lesions’ and ‘vascular dementia’ resulting in ‘memory loss, anxiety The Rs 100 million and depression’. All charges against him having been sus- pended and his accounts unblocked as a result, he leaves the court on a stretcher --a free man. Today, thanks to the doctors we strongly recommend to rubber stamp presidency the Nobel Foundation, Harry Tirvengadum is so lucid that he gives advice on the affairs of Air Mauritius to…Mr. Bungraz, > pp. 44-45 the General Manager, no less! We don’t know exactly the de- tails of the advice so desperately sought and if our sick airline, which could do with a visit to Mr. Tirvengadum’s miraculous doctors instead, will feel better as a result thereof, but what we do know is that Harry Tirvengadum expressed his shock at the state that Air Mauritius has ended up in since it no longer benefi ts from the sound expertise of his good self. And, more shocking than the shock itself is the fact that his feelings were deemed worth an email to the employees of Air Mauritius! It looks as if shock is not the monopoly of Mr. Tirvenda- dum. If he was shocked by the bad health of our airline, public opinion is shocked by his good health. And it wants its pound of fl esh. The DDP has ordered the immediate re-opening of the case and the population is waiting for the shock waves. Another scoop: two guys in Richeterre have been skipping breakfast for a couple of days. Sorry, they are on hunger strike. The beauty of hunger strikes in this country is that you can initiate them on your own, to fi ght for a cause that concerns only yourself and decide on the duration at will. At the last count, three hours of not being seen eating were considered a ‘symbolic hunger strike’ which warrants the moral and phy- sical support of anyone who has nothing better to do. At this rate, we all go on hunger strike every day without realizing it. And, miraculously, there is always a spokesman in the vicinity. If Mr. Ramjuttun,who was so concerned, is now nowhere to be seen, there is always someone on standby willing to step in and take over. The sand extractors (not sure who they are or what their cause is) have taken a bit of time to decide whether to join the movement by skipping lunch, dinner or the evening gajaks. They have been looking for a place, a suitable time and pro- bably a cause to fi ght for. In the meantime, the other planters, the majority that is, having realized that the world owes no one a living, have taken the compensation given to them for land they did not own, put it to good use and have started getting on with their lives. Away from the cameras. While Mahatma Gandhi is turning is his grave, we should acknowledge that we owe breakfast skippers of all guilds a ‘thank you’ note for the great sense of heroism we now feel during the daily three hours of hunger strike we go through between two copious meals. Without the spinning wheel or the home-spun clothes. What a nation of heroes we all are! l’express [ Friday 12 Novembre 2010 • Insert N° 4 QUICKREAD] p. 38 The Week at a Glance] Events ] L’Ile en Vacances What faith in our institutions? Keep your kids busy during the holidays with a special pro- gramme for children aged six to twelve years old, which will run from 8th November to 22nd December. The programme, entitled “l’Ile en Vacances” (Holiday Island) is being organised by the company Crazy Frog and will give your children the opportunity to discover the island, including places like Trou aux Biches, Casela, l’Aventure du Sucre, Mahebourg and La Preneuse. Fees cost between Rs.500 and Rs.850, and children are picked up at 9am at the Municipality of Rose Hill. Transport, lunch and snacks are included. For more informa- tion, call 762 3226. Paws Fundraising

Do your part for our furry four-legged friends by joining in a special event orga- nised by PAWS, an NGO which works for animal welfare in Mauritius. To raise funds to cover the medical costs incurred for the animals, PAWS will hold a dinner followed by dancing at Big Willy’s restaurant in Tamarin. A DJ will entertain you with music from the 80s till today. The dinner will cost Rs.890. Call 4837400 for reservations. Bird Sculptures

LIBRARY PHOTOS LIBRARY Catch the exhibition of very unusual sculptures created Chavan Dabeedin, Director General of the CEB (left) and Anwar Hussein Subratty, former Chairman of the CWA. by Nirmal Hurry, which will be on display at the Four Seasons Resort Mauritius in any facets of and the ‘Maurice Ile Durable’ The atrocities committed at Beau-Champ as from 18th Novem- our lives are Committee. Rs. 23,4m wasted, Le Bouchon, where a 17-year ber. Nirmal Hurry uses a variety of old ruled by insti- just because they did not com- old teenager, Cédric Ma- objects like scissors, motorcycle parts, Mtutions; from municate with each other! tombé, was murdered and his and more to create sculptures of the provision of basic ame- girlfriend, also 17 years old, birds. His work spans over 20 years nities, such as water by the Rape and murder raped, brought up the issue: and this is his fi rst solo exhibition. CWA and electricity by the what are the prisons doing to CEB, to the knowledge that in one go better our society? The man we are living in security and As the CEB wastes public accused, Fleurino Calou, had that those who could harm money, the CWA wastes so- just come out of an 18-month Bollywood in Pailles us are taken care of in our mething just as important: wa- prison sentence for burglary. prisons. The past week has ter. The recent water shortages After serving his sentence, See Bollywood singer Mohit Chauhan in concert on Satur- triggered an uncomfortable – which are only doomed to he commits both murder day 13th November at 8pm at the Swami Vivekananda Centre question: how much faith do get worse, according to Harry and rape in one go. There is in Pailles. Mohit Chauhan began his career with the group our institutions deserve? Booluck, director of the CWA an obvious problem with our “Silk Route”. He is now also a playback singer and is best In the-not-so distant past, – are due to a large extent to jails. Do they punish people known for hits such as “Masakali” from the movie Delhi 6 and the CEB has been under fi re the outdated pipe system, res- who have broken the law and “Yeh Dooriyan” from the movie Love Aaj Kal. Tickets are avai- for using emergency procure- ponsible for leakages and thus improve them or do they turn lable at Rs.400, Rs.600, Rs.900 and Rs.1200 ment procedures for the ac- tremendous losses of water. them into something worse? through Rezo Otayo. Call 466 9999 for quisition of two motors for Rs. Anger and frustration at the What will be done to im- reservations. 1.7bn instead of the estimated water situation is already pre- prove our institutions? The Richard Beaugendre will also hold Rs. 1.2bn, and the controver- sent, but has been exacerbated problems of the outdated a concert entitled “Entretemps” on sial daylight saving time which by the declarations of the now pipe system of the CWA are Saturday 13th November, at 8pm at was supposed to save Rs 420m former chairman of the CWA, old news now. The CEB’s the Institut Français de Maurice. His but did not. Now, the CEB’s Professor Anwar Hussein Su- problem with following pro- music and poetic lyrics will take you on latest crisis involves the acqui- bratty. In his resignation letter, cedures is well documented a journey to the heart of Mauritius. Tic- sition of 660,000 counterfei- Mr. Subratty denounced that too. As for the prisons, they kets are available at Rs.200, Rs.100 and ted ‘energy-saving’ light bulbs. the priority of the CWA is not seem to be struggling with so Rs.50 for students. Contact Rezo Otayo The company from which the management of water but many problems of their own on 466 9999 for more information. the CEB bought those light that the managers have their that it is diffi cult to expect bulbs, Alternative Power So- own agenda. So what, exactly, them to improve and rehabi- lutions Ltd, had already been is happening at the CWA? litate offenders. previously discredited by the The same question may Mauritius Revenue Authority be asked about our prisons. Rachel LUCHMUN ILLUSTRATIONS : Stephane BENOIT p. 39 QUICKREAD] Insert N° 4 • Friday 12 November 2010 ] l’express PHOTO OF THE WEEK

Michael Sik Yuen, the holder of a best loser seat representing the General Population, among members of the Chinese community whose lifestyle he no doubt does not share, participating in the celebrations of 98 years of the Chinese Middle School. A great demonstration of cultural and culinary exploration in our rainbow nation.

Leading the way in tourism Light corner ] he award for the “World’s Leading HOW TO PROPERLY PLACE Island Destination” NEW EMPLOYEES Twas conferred on Put 400 bricks in a closed room. Mauritius for the second conse- Put your new employees in the room and close cutive year at the World Travel the door. Awards (WTA) this week. Karl Leave them alone and come back after 6 hours. Mootoosamy, the director of the Then analyze the situation: Mauritius Tourism Promotion a. If they are counting the bricks, put them in the Authority was at the gala event, Accounting Department. held at Grosevenor House Hotel b. If they are recounting them, put them in Auditing. in London, where he received the c. If they have messed up the whole place with the award from the hands of Gra- bricks, put them in Engineering. ham Cooke, the president and The director of the Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority, Karl Mootoosamy d. If they are arranging the bricks in some strange founder of the WTA. receiving the award at the World Travel Awards in London. order, put them in Planning. This year Mauritius surpassed e. If they are throwing the bricks at each other, put other popular tourist destinations and Hilton Mauritius Resort and mance comes at the right mo- them in Operations. which were also nominated in the Spa received the award for Mau- ment, as it coincides with the f. If they are sleeping, put them in Security. same category, such as Seychelles, ritius’ Leading Spa Resort. participation of Mauritius in g. If they have broken the bricks into pieces, put Maldives, Bali and Sanya, China The World Travel Awards are the World Travel Market 2010, them in Information Technology. amongst others. Mauritius also considered as one of the world’s also held in London. The annual h. If they are sitting idle, picked up several other awards most prestigious awards in the event brings together profes- put them in Human Resources. at the WTA, including the Indian fi eld of tourism and travel, being sionals from the travel industry i. If they say they have tried different combinations, Ocean’s Leading Beach Destina- described by Wall Street Journal as giving them the opportunity to they are looking for more, yet not a brick has been tion for Trou aux Biches, and the “the travel industry’s equivalent of present a diverse range of des- moved, put them in Sales. Indian Ocean’s Leading Desti- the Oscars”. The WTA focuses on tinations to their peers from the j. If they have already left for the day, nation. Our national airline, Air excellence in the tourism industry, UK and countries around the put them in Marketing. Mauritius won the Indian Ocean’s through a key aspect- the quality world. A delegation comprising k. If they are staring out of the window, put them in Leading Airline award, while the of the customer experience. The representatives from the MTPA Strategic Planning. Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam awards have therefore become an and 35 stakeholders from the lo- l. If they are talking to each other, and not a single International Airport received the indicator for travelers that their cal tourism industry were at the brick has been moved, congratulate them and put award for the Indian Ocean’s Lea- chosen destination has what it event to promote the country. them in Top Management. ding Airport. takes to meet their expectations. The latest edition of the WTA Finally, if they have surrounded themselves with In the category for the best The various awards won by will certainly have given them bricks in such a way that they can neither be seen hotels, Le Telfair Golf and Spa Mauritius will help reinforce the an extra advantage, as Mauritius Resort won the Mauritius’ Lea- country’s reputation as a leading tries to conquer more markets ding Golf Resort award. Le Me- destination not just for its beauti- in an effort to meet the govern- ridien Ile Maurice was awarded ful beaches, but also for golf, spas, ment’s target of attracting 2 mil- Mauritius’ Leading Hotel, while and its levels of quality customer lion tourists by 2015. Maradiva won the award for service in the hospitality sector. being Mauritius’ Leading Resort The country’s good perfor- Melissa LOUIS l’express [ Friday 12 November 2010 • Insert N° 4 ISSUES] p. 40

Left Field] By Nicholas RAINER

Plunging utilities

lowns to the left of me, jokers to the right; here I am, stuck in the middle with you.” The immortal lyrics of Stealers Wheel’s “Ccult song could’ve been written for the Mauritian population, which has the immense misfortune of being stuck between the Central Water Authority (CWA) and the Central Electricity Board (CEB). Although both utility companies count many competent and dedicated professionals in their ranks, they are managed by utter amateurs, people who are more interested in political cam- paigning and fl ashy cars than providing their customers Pesticides are a big worry for consu- with a quality service. Nothing new there then. Yet, there mers nowadays. Yet, the problem is are signs that Mauritians are fi nally becoming fed up with perhaps not as a serious as we often having to pay the cost of their inadequacy. think it is. What we really need to The question now is: what on earth is the supervising start fretting about is how to make minister, Rashid Beebeejaun, waiting for to do something the agricultural sector go organic. about it? In a country where it’s nigh impossible to dis- lodge the employees of parastatals from their cushy jobs, Anwar Subratty’s decision to step down as chairman of the CWA is to be commended, irrespective of whether it was imposed or voluntary. Some may argue that he’s simply abandoning a risibly leaky ship before it hits the iceberg of anger and indignation that is looming ever clo- ser as the country’s water resources dwindle ineluctably Agriculture to a trickle.

Yet, the fact that he had the courage to denounce the rot gangrening “every level” of this strategic utility com- pany should at least serve to stir its political masters from their ugly lethargy. Indeed, his scathing remarks will be The life organic certain to further infuriate a population that is already re- sentful at continually being taken hostage by incompetent political nominees. Mauritians can be extremely tolerant, ast week, several “sample surveys of local and concluded that organochlorine complacent even, but when it comes to their water sup- people fell ill after imported products have been pesticides could indeed have ply, they have been known to become positively fractious. getting a bad case carried out to determine the le- contributed to the decline of This issue being non-negotiable, government dillydallies Lof food poisoning. vel of pesticide deposits”. The Mauritius cuckoo-shrike and at its peril (not that it’s overly familiar with many other And what unhealthy fare minister indicated that 5% of kestrel populations. courses of action). did they consume to earn the 187 samples taken in the The emphasis nowadays their intoxication? Pattypan course of market basket surveys is on training planters in the The CEB is a different beast altogether. Because it has squashes (pâtissons)! In- carried out between 2007 and responsible use of pesticides never had the luxury of waiting for its raw materials to deed, having noted that his 2009 “were found to contain and promoting techniques like literally fall from the sky (a good thing too – a coal shower harvest had been attacked pesticides above the Maximum Integrated Pest Management would wreak havoc), the company has been obliged to by insects, a planter ignored, Residue Limits”. Although this (more resistant crop varieties, adopt a more proactive approach than the CWA. One of wittingly or not, every single percentage can undoubtedly non-chemical methods of pest the ways it has dealt with increasing demand has been basic health precaution and be lowered even further, it pro- control and biological control to outsource much of the production of electricity to the soaked his bounty in a che- bably won’t have people run- agents). For its part, the private private sector. It pays a premium for this service. As a mical concoction. Even if ning for the hills in panic. sector has begun taking the is- result, electricity cuts are an occasional nuisance rather this is a rather extreme case Contrarily to received sue seriously, albeit on a very than a fully-fl edged national crisis in waiting. of what can happen when knowledge, the situation has limited basis. In 2007, the Asso- abusive use is made of pes- improved considerably since the ciation of producers and expor- Yet, it too is showing signs of falling behind the times. ticides, Mauritians have 1980s when all sorts of noxious ters of horticultural products of It’s all very well and good to promote the use of low-en- long been preoccupied by insecticides and fungicides Mauritius (Apexhom) initiated ergy light-bulbs (as long as they’re not counterfeit), but the impact on their health of were being sprayed all over the a project that aimed to promote the CEB has been glaringly disinterested in promoting the chemicals they ingest via show. Indeed, the use of toxic the safe disposal of pesticide even the basics of demand-side management. By refusing their the food. Yet the reality organochlorine pesticides, such containers. to tackle our culture of energy profl igacy, the company is perhaps not as frightening as DDT, aldrin and dieldrin, is jeopardizing its ability to ensure a continuity of supply as certain scare stories would has either been banned or res- Legislation at grass- in the future. Also, to state that it’s unenthusiastic about have us believe. This doesn’t tricted. In their 1997 paper renewable energies would be a masterclass in unders- mean however that the agri- entitled “Did organochlorine roots level tatement. That says a lot about its commitment to the cultural sector should not pesticides use cause declines And although institutions country’s energy security. strive for more sustainable in Mauritian forest birds?”, R.J like the University of Mauritius practices. Stafford and Carl Jones explai- (UoM), the Agricultural Re- Both utility companies have one thing in common: The issue of pesticides as a ned, for instance, that “DDT search Extension Unit (AREU) Rashid Beebeejaun. The minister of Renewable energies health hazard once again came is still used occasionally, but it and the Mauritius Sugar Indus- and public utilities really should take his portfolio a bit to the fore in Parliament on is tightly controlled; in Black try Research Institute (MSIRI) more seriously, even if it’s already a bit late in the day. Tuesday, when the minister of River, spraying took place two are conducting campaigns on Hopefully he’ll fi nd some time in his hectic schedule to Agro-industry, Satish Faugoo, or three times per year even in pesticide management, there’s do just that. was quizzed about whether 1979-1980”. Incidentally, they a wide consensus that it’ll take p. 41 [ISSUES Insert N° 4 • Friday 12 November 2010 ] l’express

10 principles and compo- nents of organic farming 1. The land to be farmed organically must undergo a specifi ed conversion period to ensure that any residual synthetic fertilizer or pesti- cide in the soil is completely degraded (normally 2-3 years, but may be reduced or extended by the inspection body according to previous land use); 2. The area certifi ed as being organic must have well-defi - ned boundaries with buffer zones separating this area from land that is not organic; 3. Must have appropriate physical facilities, machinery and management practices to prevent mixing of organic and non-organic products; 4. Seeds, and other planting material, must be from an or- ganic source and must not be genetically modifi ed / enginee- red in any way, except through La Maison Familiale Rurale du Nord and Fondation Ressources et Nature have gone organic. When, if ever, will the rest of the sector follow ? natural breeding practices; 5. Only natural and / or non-synthetic, organic fer- tilizers and soil conditioners some time to change mentali- level.” Over a quarter of a cen- nic one. And although such a Encouragingly, the paper’s must be used ties. Planters have to contend tury later, his recommendation paradigm shift might sound authors believe that the country 6. Fertility and biological acti- with a raft of uncertainties and rings truer than ever. like a crazy pipe dream, the idea has many of the attributes re- vity of the soil must be main- pesticides are one way for them actually has quite a lot of merit, quired to go the distance in tained or increased by adding to protect themselves against Country has attributes especially in the current context terms of organic farming. organic material, composted unpleasant surprises. They of food scarcity, the inevitable Among the characteristics cited or not, and with or without need to be offered effective to go the distance decline of the sugar industry and are: a strong research and deve- the use of micro-organisms and, especially, cost-effi cient al- the search for new growth sec- lopment system, well-equipped and plant-based preparations ternative products, such as non- Yet as Dr Sunita Facknath tors. In “Organic agriculture: a labs, good infrastructure, easy for compost activation; synthetic, or organic, pesticides. of the UoM’s Faculty of Agri- myth or reality in the Mauritian accessibility to farmers, an es- 7. Fertility and biological Despite the fact that much culture explains, the overuse of context?”, Dr Facknath and her tablished marketing system and activity of the soil must be research is currently being pesticides is as much the fault colleague, Bhanooduth Lalljee, an educated public. maintained or increased by conducted in this fi eld, it’ll be a of consumers as it is of planters. dispel the myth that organic far- Yet once again, the challenge using green manures, natu- while yet before such products, “As the standard of living has ming is the agricultural equiva- will be to convince planters, es- ral sources of nitrogen and such as plant-based pesticides, gone up in Mauritius so have lent going back to the Stone Age: pecially the bigger ones, to give it deep-rooted plants in an ap- enter the mainstream. people’s expectations. Nowa- “A general belief in Mauri- a shot. They are usually hesitant, propriate multiannual rotation This dilemma is almost as days, everyone wants picture- tius is that organic agriculture not to say downright reluctant, to programme; old as the agricultural sector perfect fruits and vegetables. refers to a return to basic la- try new things. “The right politi- 8. Pests, diseases and weeds itself. As early as March 1983, If they see even the slightest bour-intensive, traditional far- cal will and backing can ensure must be controlled by using over a decade and a half be- blemish on the produce, they’ll ming methods, which give low establishment of the appropriate physical, mechanical, cultu- fore he was to become Pro sometimes refuse to pay the full yields and visually unappealing standards and legislation, as well ral, biological and biology- Vice-Chancellor of the UoM, price for it. As a precautionary produce. This is far from the as the necessary structures for re- based methods, and through Indurlall Fagoonee wrote the measure, planters often prefer to reality of present day organic search, development and marke- the use of resistant varieties/ following in “Pests, pesticides make liberal use of pesticides.” farming practices. Organic ting, and Mauritius can soon be species; and pesticide legislation in What this shows is that consu- farming today can be a highly ready to step into the internatio- 9. Natural enemies of pests Mauritius”: “Although the exis- mers need to be sensitized as technology-intensive enterprise, nal arena of the healthy, organic must be protected and/or aug- ting legislative and management much as planters. They’d pro- dependent on high-tech, state- market”. Sadly, political will is mented through provisions fa- mechanisms for pests and pesti- bably be surprised to know, for of-the-art methods of soil and even rarer than organic produce. vourable to them; cides control have departed on example, that fruits and vege- plant analysis, technical and So rather than worry about 10. Only natural and / or non- a sound footing, the prevailing tables with slight defects usually computerized systems of ferti- the impact of your food on synthetic pest and disease situation augurs for substantial contain less pesticide than their lization, sophisticated pest and your health, you should really control measures must be improvements. The main pro- impossibly perfect counterparts. disease control methods based be worrying about the ability of used. blem lies in the implementation In the long-term though, the on a thorough understanding Mauritian agriculture to adopt Source: “Organic agricul- of the legislation at the grass- real challenge will be to actuate of the organisms, the dynamics sustainable practices. ture: A myth or reality in roots level, whilst not forgetting a shift from a chemical-based of the agro-ecosystem and strict the Mauritian context?” by control at the pesticides import agricultural sector to an orga- scientifi c principles.” Nicholas RAINER S. Facknath and B. Lalljee. l’express [ Friday 12 November 2010 • Insert N° 4 [INTERVIEW]p. 42

Jack Bizlall, whistle blower ‘par excellence’, is back on the scene. The instigator of the court cases against the Air Mauritius person- nel involved in a huge scandal in 2001, he now hopes to see Harry Tirvengadum brought, at long last, to justice.

Interview WITH Jack Bizlall Trade Unionist “Pressure from the media played a part in the decision to re-open the Tirvengadum case”

■ The DDP has ordered the ■ Why do you say that? ■ But to be fair, Mr. Bungraz did legally penalized and so that he does reopening of Harry Tirvenga- Because any declarations from say that Mr. Tirvengadum was in not have to give back the money he dum’s case. Did you have any- them would risk upsetting matters, bad health. has taken. thing to do with this? sending the whole affair in a different If he had read the court judgment, No. I had planned to send a letter direction. he should have taken the decision not ■ Do you think that Tirvengadum to the DPP and I phoned him before- to go to visit Tirvengadum. What hap- might end up in prison one day? hand to request an indication as to the ■ Meaning ? pened in court would lead anyone to That’s an interesting question! procedure I should follow. He said, “I The whole question of Tirvenga- the conclusion that Tirvengadum is in The judge might want to take into am ahead of you. I have decided to re- dum’s illness might come back. Then a vegetative state. You would enquire consideration his physical condition fer the case to the police for enquiry.” any action against him would be to- about his health from his relatives be- when he appears in court. As far as I think that pressure from the media tally ineffectual. cause he cannot talk. You cannot go I am concerned, I am interested in played a part in the decision to re- to see him to then report the contents his mental state. He must face judg- open this case. ■ You do not believe in his sic- of a conversation. Now, he cannot say ment and accept the consequences kness, do you? that Tirvengadum is someone who of his acts. And the case is not just ■ Are you satisfi ed then with the I have never believed in his sic- cannot talk and then say that Tirven- about fraud and corruption. The Air way things are going? kness: it is impossible for a person’s gadum regrets what Air Mauritius has Mauritius case has several aspects: we Well, that depends on the good brain to be so badly damaged, from become. have the demands of the special com- faith of certain people-including the one day to the next, that he cannot mission, the ‘caisse noire’ of Air Mau- DPP, Yousouf Mohamed, Bungraz and even speak to his lawyer. And a few ■ Are you questioning the court’s ritius, the loans from Rogers to Air the Commissioner of Police. If eve- years later, he is capable of giving ad- decision ? Mauritius, the money which Rogers rything goes on as it should, we will see vice on the affairs of Air Mauritius! If I am to take what he said in still owes Air Mauritius, the case of Tirvengadum in court. But this case Remember that Mohamed told the court in good faith, what conclusions Air France – Europe, and even arms will damage the reputations of several court that his client was incapable of must I reach? That he is able to judge traffi cking dating back to the time of politicians. And civil servants especial- understanding anything at all. Then Air Mauritius today while not being apartheid in which Air Mauritius was ly are infl uenced by the stand of politi- it’s the same thing for Yip Tong –they able to confront justice? Secondly, I implicated. So, the Air Mauritius fi le cians. Ramgoolam has not commented both suffer from the same disease…. know that, deep down, this illness that is a very complex one. From 2001 to so far, and neither has Bérenger. And and both benefi t from this great ge- Tirvengadum presented in court is a 2010, for almost 9 years, this fi le has that’s the way it should be. nerosity on the part of the judiciary! simple conspiracy so that he is not been lagging behind. But neither in p. 43 [INTERVIEW Insert N° 4 • Friday 12 November 2010 ] l’express

the consciousness of the Mauritian that you are the owner.” He has be- population nor in the judiciary is the haved much more like an owner than case closed. a manager. So, in my opinion, there is no doubt that he has done a lot of ■ Is Harry Tirvengadum implica- damage to Air Mauritius. ted in all the cases you have men- tioned? ■ Why do you think Mr. Bungraz Tirvengadum is, in my opinion, went to meet him? responsible for the entire Air Mauri- When I learnt that there had been tius crisis since 1990 up to the fl are-up a meeting between Bungraz and Tir- over the ‘caisse noire’ in 2001 vengadum, I thought it was a joke. For two reasons: fi rstly, Tirvengadum is ■ But until the fl are-up of the too outdated, in terms of competence ‘caisse noire’ case, Tirvengadum to be able to judge and propose any- had a very good reputation! thing on Air Mauritius today. Tirvengadum’s reputation rests on the fact that he was a member of ■ Do you think that Air Mauri- the board of the MCB, a civil ser- tius has changed so much in such vant in Civil Aviation, he was in close a short time? contact with Rogers and he was trus- It is not that Air Mauritius has ted by both the late Sir Seewoosagur changed. The international context Ramgoolam and Sir Anerood Ju- has. The world has known crises that gnauth. So, he is someone who had, have had harmful effects on all the at that time, a very large network of companies in the world, from the big- contacts, which contributed to his re- gest to the smallest. putation. If we want to turn the page, we need to change the methods used and ■ It had nothing to do with his call on new people. We cannot return competence? towards a framework which caused so Tirvengadum’s competence can- much harm to Air Mauritius. I do not not be minimized for the sake of at- think he is the man for the job. tacking him. I would not say that he did not have any competence, but as ■ But why do you think Harry I have made much as he had the competence to Tirvengadum put himself in this run Air Mauritius, he also had the situation? enquiries competence to act against its interests. We need to understand that we are and if the He should be judged both for what he all human. We expect a human being did for Air Mauritius positively and to act with some rationality. In Tirven- information for the fact that he started the big- gadum’s case, his megalomania must gest fraud and corruption crisis in the have got in the way of his rationality. I have is country. He could never get rid of his idea that he is the creator and the quasi-owner confirmed, ■ If you admit that he was compe- of Air Mauritius. He probably thinks tent, does that mean that you un- that the question of the ‘caisse noire’ I will be ma- derstand why Mr. Bungraz went is a minor thing for the owner of a to see him for advice? company. king it public. I have told you that you need to judge Tirvengadum on three points ■ Now that the case has been reo- and I have explained the first point. pened, did you sleep better last The second point is that when the night? crisis started, and at that time it was Yes, I slept very well. I feel relie- Poonoosamy who was managing Air ved about the direction this affair is Mauritius, he conspired with other taking. people at the head of Air Mauritius to harm Poonoosamy’s reputation and ■ You are hopeful that you will good name. As a result, Poonoosamy see justice done? was dismissed, even though I per- It cannot be otherwise. Bungraz sonally think that he was the only has said that he had a meeting with person, at that time, who could put Tirvengadum and the latter even Air Mauritius back on track. So, I answered the telephone call of a pri- hold Tirvengadum responsible to a vate radio. A person who answers the lesser degree for having stopped Poo- telephone cannot be in a vegetative noosamy from doing his job and put- state. It’s grotesque… ting Air Mauritius back on track. And Tirvengadum’s biggest responsibility ■ Maybe in three years he got bet- rests in the fact that he has never ma- ter! naged to dissociate himself from Air Then he should face justice! It Mauritius. When he was put aside cannot be a short-lived miracle! He for justified reasons, he still wanted cannot get out of it this time. There to influence things at Air Mauritius is no doubt in my mind that he will from the back stage. be tried.

■ Is that because he spent too ■ What is going to be your next much time at the helm of Air move? Mauritius? During this short period of tribu- He always considered that he was lation since someone leaked Bungraz’s the owner of Air Mauritius and I have e-mail, I have got back into contact always told him, “You are not the with various people and it seems to owner; you are a simple civil servant. me that things are not going well at You have responsibilities and you Air Mauritius. I have made enquiries need to face them. It is possible that and if the information I have is confi r- you contributed to the creation of Air med, I will be making it public. Mauritius as you know it today, but that is not reason enough to think Touria PRAYAG l’express [ Friday 12 November 2010 • Insert N° 4 [COVERSTORY ] p. 44 The Rs 100 million rubber ststamp presidency

Elegance from a past age - the facade and gardens of the Chateau de Reduit, the seat of the presidency. Monique Ohsan Bellepeau has been he vice-president in question is unconstitutional or investment which does not benefi t has a salary of unfair. But then, this power that the country at all. “If I had a three- nominated by the Prime minister around Rs 225 000 the Mauritian constitution gives quarters majority, I would abolish to the post of Vice-president of the Ta month. His (or to them not to give their assent that constitutional post” he bluntly Republic, vacant since the death of her…) assistant who replaces is merely a joke. When assent is said. him when he is ill or out of the refused, Parliament can send the But the costly post of presi- Angidi Chettiar last September. She country – that is once in a blue same piece of legislation to the dent and vice-president have ne- looks set to begin her term following moon - also draws a very high president a second time. When vertheless their proponents. an oath-taking ceremony on Satur- salary. They do not pay any tax this happens, the president has no Ex-president Cassam Uteem and they do not do anything right to refuse his assent, even if has time and again said that this day. Both this offi ce, however, and productive or constructive for Parliament sends to him the same post should never be abolished. that of the president, have often been the country. Yet, their offi cers piece of legislation without having He has many arguments, the criticised for the huge sums of money cost the country’s taxpayers made any amendment to it,” says main one being that there should they cost taxpayers. How useful are Rs 100 million a year. They Rajendra Prsad Gunputh. never be a vacuum at the head such posts in reality, and should they are the president and the vice- of the state. “The vice-president president of Mauritius. Sacrosanct concept of replaces the president when the continue to exist? “I think that when we look at latter is out of the country or if he the lavishness surrounding the separation of powers is ill and temporarily cannot carry presidency and the vice-presi- out his duties. The vice-president dency, we should ask ourselves But according to the head of can dissolve the national assembly if Mauritius can afford such a the law studies department at the if he is asked to do so by the prime luxury at a time when more and university of Mauritius, the most minister,” Cassam Uteem once more people are unable to afford disturbing aspect of the Mauritian explained in the press. two meals per day,” says the head presidency (which is a copy cat of Ex-vice president, Raouf of the legal studies department of the Indian style of presidency) is Bundhun is another proponent the University of Mauritius, Ra- found in the fact that is can give and says that the post of vice-pre- jendra Parsad Dunputh. rise and has given rise to encroach- sident should never be abolished He says that Mauritius can ment on the sacrosanct concept of for the sake of ethnic representati- easily do away with the offi ces of separation of powers.(see insert) vely at the head of the State. “Each the president and vice-president, But then, if the post of presi- component of the Mauritian so- for their role is merely symbolic. dent is considered too costly to tax- ciety should have the feeling of The president and the vice-pre- payers, that of vice-president has being part and parcel of our so- sident are merely rubber stamps. been even more criticized by the ciety. What I can say is that it is not Their main duties are to appose Prime mininster, Navin Ramgoo- the post that makes the man; it is their signature on laws voted by lam, himself. the man who makes the post. It all the national assembly. They the- In a radio interview in March depends on the things you want to reby give their assent so that these 2007, Navin Ramgoolam brought do once you are in this post.” laws can be enacted. into question the post of vice-pre- True it is that some non-exe- Monique Ohsan Bellepeau,Vice president elect, with the Prime “They can refuse to give their sident. His main argument was cutive presidents and vice-presi- minister at an offi cial function. assent if they think that the law that this post constitutes a heavy dents have given another name to p. 45 [COVERSTORY Insert N° 4 • Friday 12 November 2010 ] l’express

High-Heeled]

The Rs 100 million rubber stamptamp presidency By Deepa BHOOKHUN

A Non-Executive Presidency

The position was created in 1992 after Mauritius was declared a republic. It replaced the previous role of the Governor General, Hello? representative of Queen Elizabeth II. Being the Head of State, the person accessing the post cannot be appointed but is normally Is Nita there? sworn to power by the constitution. He swears to fi ght for the country and also to honour the position. The president has the power to appoint the Prime minister. he intricacies of the negotiations that The role of this non-executive president is the symbolic represen- led to a quantum of wage compensation tation of the Nation, as is theoretically the case with the non-elec- are way too complicated for me to com- tive offi ce of the president around the world. In theory, the offi ce Tprehend and without belittling you; I’m should be above politics. But in Mauritius, the president is clearly sure the same goes for you. So let me summarize connected to one strand of political opinion. This state of affairs is what I understand. breeding opposition to this very costly and unproductive post for Government, especially when it has just been the country and the taxpayers. elected, promises that this time round, there will be more consultations with the trade unions. But when the time comes to put the money where the mouth is, suddenly a whole lot of “problems” crop up. But it takes a brave human being to take res- ponsibility for those “problems”. Our minister of Finance however, doesn’t trouble himself with such petty things. He made promises in the past? So what? Now that he’s in charge of the coffers, as he has always LIBRARY PHOTOS wanted to be ever since he was a little boy, he will do as he pleases. This entails that he will not disclose the date of the presentation of the budget, he will not make good on his promises to have real tripartite consul- tations for wage compensation, he will not call the already overdue meeting of the sub-committee on wage compensation even though we’re running out of time. this post. Cassam Uteem for one It doesn’t end here. Pravind Jugnauth also has been one such president with doesn’t have the decency to meet with all the trade his inspiring speeches and actions. unions to explain and justify his latest outrageous He went so far as to intervene per- decision - to pay wage compensation to workers of sonally in Quatre-Bornes during the public sector in January and postpone the com- the Kaya Riots to avert a blood- pensation to workers of the private sector to July. bath between two ethnic groups. Instead what does the great man do? He sends Ex-Indian president Abdul Kalam an offi cial of his ministry to meet with the unions has also shown the way during his one by one to inform them of the decision. term of offi ce and has been dub- You’re probably reading this and thinking what bed “president of the people”. the hell- what difference is Rs 135 going to make The president and vice-pre- in my life? Good point. Except that it’s not your sident have two choices – do life we’re talking about. We’re talking about those nothing apart from their symbo- people whose salaries only ever go up thanks to the lic tasks or go about the job like crumbs that are sent their way every now and then. Abdul Kalam and justify their Those people who have been the most hit by the very fat salaries. But whatever the surge in prices, those people who struggle everyday case, “the whole system should with their fi nances, hoping against hope that ends be reviewed,” says Rajendra will meet. Parsad Dunputh. Those people who every time they ask for a raise, The Mauritian fl ag, symbol of the state to which president and vice- not because they want to buy a new car but because Raj JUGERNAUTH president swear allegiance they need to buy a few extra bottles of water in case the CWA has to fi ll other people’s swimming pools, are told they need to be more productive. Confl ict of interest I don’t know what having liberal policies mean. What I do know is that we cannot continue to fa- “In any democracy, you have resigned as president, after refu- separation of powers,” explains vour a kind of development that makes the rich ri- what is called separation of sing to sign a controversial anti- Rajendra Prsad Gunputh. cher and treats the poor like they’re second class powers. You have the legislative terrorism bill namely PoTA into Ex-president Cassam Uteem citizens. We cannot keep focusing on this bloody which makes law independent- the constitution. Angidi Chet- has also spoken against this en- FDI, keep building shopping malls that sell stuff ly, the judiciary which sees to it tiar, the then vice-president croachment in the past. “The that the majority of the people in this country can- that justice is done in our courts also resigned. The then Chief demarcation line between the not afford even in their wildest dreams. We cannot of law without any hindrance or Justice Ariranga Pillay acted as Executive, the Legislative and keep encouraging rich foreigners to settle here, the- intervention from the legisla- president and he gave his assent the Judiciary should be maintai- reby enlarging even further the gap between the tive or the executive (that is go- to the bill. When you look at the ned. What would be the stand of damned and the fortunate. vernment). In Mauritius, when matter closely, you will see that the Chief Justice if ever he had But it seems we can. Wage compensation for there is no president or vice- the Judiciary was used by the to give a ruling on a piece of le- every worker? The country can’t afford it folks, nor president, it is the Chief Justice Executive and the Legislative to gislation which he had signed can the rich employers. who acts as president. On 15 enforce a controversial piece of into law himself ?” once asked Tough if you don’t like it. February 2002 Cassam Utteem legislation. “This is a blow to the Cassam Uteem. P.S I wonder what Nita Deerpalsing thinks of this. l’express [ Friday 12 November • Insert N° 4 THIS IS MAURITIUS] p. 46

A year after the atrocious murder of Marie-Ange Milazar, a pregnant sex worker and mother of seven children, social workers are making the same de- mands: the granting of human and citizen rights to those who work as prostitutes. Does this necessarily start with legalising prostitution?

Prostitution Would legalising it help? lthough men are landscape. Soliciting on the street through the persisting realities of of the practice more effi ciently by not argue as s/he will have to forgo also part of this well- is likely to increase as the network economic and social marginali- combining legal provisions with a potential client in the future. It structured network, of prostitution is becoming more sation, to act as a deterrent while the efforts of social workers. Thus, is diffi cult to use the law to protect Aprostitution, involving organised, with sexual tourism ignoring the human aspect of the better regulation of commercial sex them.” Also, how can we change mostly women and children is gaining ground on the coast, in problem. Over the last years, there may result in reduction of organi- the way they are regarded by regarded as a lucrative business our tourist-driven economy. has been a feminisation of HIV/ sed crime and allow for in-depth mainstream society? For instance, and is rampant in Mauritius. It The main causative factor is AIDS. It is no surprise that female structural reform of the covert despite the Police Training School is seen as a trap by many, as a poverty. According to Dhiren sex workers are those at greatest network of prostitution. conducting recent anti-traffi cking crime in the eyes of the law and Moher, social activist, the reasons risk. Also, from general observa- sessions for 182 senior police of- as a social ill with multiple facets differ. “While many women are tion, sex workers are not likely to fi cers, in practice, there is hardly a by others. How will its legalisa- forced to prostitute themselves to rely on the protection of the law Suspension of ethical change in their approach. Ragini tion help to better manage the feed their families, many others in case of abuse and violence. As and legal codes Runghen, in-charge of Lacaz A act instead of ignoring it? Does are forced to cater for their hus- such, according to Dhiren Moher, believes that “stigmatisation can be legalising prostitution mean bands’ or boyfriends’ drug supply. to start the long process of ending discouraged only with education.” there will be no underground Some even turn to prostitution human traffi cking in our society, Since violence is recognised as Hence, one cannot expect soliciting? Many questions need out of love.” Others resort to the commercial sex work should be the key reason for legalising pros- laws to give much protection to to be answered and the debate practice on an on-and-off basis recognised by the law. titution, it needs to be noted that sex workers as they form part of a has only just started. when in dire need of money or Yet, if the law provides for the violence does not occur in a one- world where there is suspension of Over the last three years, with to make easy money. Others still legal protection of sex workers, way channel. For if sex workers ethical and legal codes and where the increasing number of HIV/ are trapped by their own relatives will it act as an incentive to those often face violent acts, there are danger is a daily fact of life. This AIDS patients, sex workers have or step-relatives who act as pimps. who are ill-treated and exploited also instances where they are the was sadly proved by the cruel mur- entered the limelight. The under- Therefore, since the practice is here to come forward and denounce ones infl icting harm on the clients der of Marie-Ange Milazar. So, do ground existence of prostitution is to stay, why not legalise it? the culprits? We know about the and the police offi cers. Reality is we really need to legalise prostitu- the main reason why there are no fi nancial motivation of the sex wor- more complex as Mario Victor, a tion in order to give better medical reliable fi gures as to the number Feminisation of HIV/ kers… Nevertheless, by helping social activist responsible for sex facilities to sex workers? Isn’t the of sex workers in Mauritius. In to better frame those in the ‘bu- workers and drug addicts at Lacaz true solution economic and social 2003, Mauritius, together with AIDS siness’, such legal recognition will A, explains, “The law punishes empowerment while educating ci- 169 UN country members, sig- help social workers to group those anyone soliciting sexual services in tizens against stigmatisation? Here ned a protocol with a view to end Advocates for the legalisation women (and men) in an associa- exchange for money. When a sex is a social issue needing corporate human traffi cking. However, as of the practice have serious argu- tion that would provide medical worker is caught with a client, the funding. For, if factors shaping the much as we may want it, pros- ments to support their claim. The facilities and help them to step out client often accuses the sex wor- world of prostitution are multiple, titution – the main form of hu- existing law – the Combatting of of commercial sex to look for other ker of being the one who solicits so should be the solutions. man traffi cking in Mauritius- is Traffi cking in Persons Act (2009) avenues as a source of income. In money in exchange for sexual ser- not likely to disappear from our – is not incisive enough to work turn, this will enable the regulation vices. In turn, the sex worker does Majhegy MURDEN p. 47 [THIS IS MAURITIUS Insert N° 4 • 12 November 2010 ] l’express

Recent study by PILS Column]

The term “prostitution” ge- 2010 by PILS reveals that ling situation in Mauritius. It nerally refers to the offer of 30% of sex workers in Mauri- highlights the daily violence Iqbal Ahmed KHAN sexual services – including tius are HIV positive and that faced by sex workers from those which do not involve one client out of two refuses clients and the police force. copulation – in exchange for to use a condom. This fi gure The existing competitiveness, money or any other thing – though alarming – is far their fi nancial needs and of value. The practice takes from refl ecting reality as the the high demand of clients many forms and exists in survey was conducted only who pay for unprotected sex various circumstances: from on a handful of female sex added to their high propen- the “promotion canapé”, so- workers who are in the pre- sity to be drug addicts and The Great liciting on the street to high vention programme of PILS. alcoholics, all highlight their class prostitution. A recent Nevertheless, the study gives vulnerability when negotia- study from January to July great insight into the prevai- ting for safer sex. (non) Debate

ne can certainly be forgiven for thin- king that a proposal for a law banning conversion is the subject matter of a na- Otional debate. Certainly the president seems to be under that impression. You cannot blame him either. He is just a part of a vicious and self-perpetuating cycle that seems to come into operation every time something seemingly dramatic, though not necessarily profound, hap- pens to take place. There is a localized turf war going on between the Voice of Hindu (VoH) and Light Ministries Internatio- nal (LMI). Both are on the fringes of their respective religions, whether it be the aggressive proselytism of the LMI or the reactive violence unleashed on oc- casion by the VoH. In either case, none can claim to represent the dominant sentiments held by their co- religionists. The VoH subsequently calls for legislation to ban conversions. On the face of it, such a proposal, coming from a political non-entity with a relatively miniscule following, should not be taken all that seriously. Never- theless, this is where the cycle comes into operation. The print and electronic media, ever-hungry for headlines and sensationalist pap fl ocks to the VoH, who in turn oblige by assuming a maximalist position likely to raise eyebrows. They could have been rational about this and proposed legislation that restricts aggressive proselytism and religious exhibitionism in public but that wouldn’t have made headlines and, in addition, would have restricted advertising for their own brand. The Jardin de la Compagnie at Port Louis is a regular haunt of prostitutes and their clients. The infectious commotion that results from the artifi cial gravitas lent to the issue attracts politicians, in this case, none other than President Anerood Ju- gnauth himself. With a political party in terminal decline, able to survive only by clinging onto the coat- tails of larger formations, the temptation to appear Opinions statesman-like is irresistible. For Loga Virasawmy, director not seen much action,” she says. Thus, at the 85th Satya Sai Baba anniversary ce- of Gender Links, “due to the According to Marlene Ladine, lebrations, he weighs in and declares his opposition to negative moral and social im- Manager of Chrysalide, Centre such a law. What compelled him to intervene in what Some countries plications of the trade, many sex for the rehabilitation of female is, quite frankly, a non-issue, since no one else seems workers are afraid to go to see a drug addicts and alcoholics, “In to be demanding such a thing and needlessly giving where prostitution doctor.” They are, according to the Mauritian context, where publicity to motley formations, remains a mystery. has been legalised. her, afraid to meet social workers most resort to prostitution out An added twist is that, recently, it was this very same and to form part of the needle of compulsion, legalisation can- government that awarded a medal to the head of the Most countries that have exchange programme which is not be the solution.” For the in- organization. legalised the practice have of utmost importance to them. mates of the Centre, the answer Be that as it may, by this time the pebble has tur- made soliciting in public Legalisation can encourage sex to the question of whether to ned into an avalanche. The VoH, wary of commit- places and pimping illegal. workers to gain access to medi- legalise or not legalise is clear, ting lese majeste, respectfully begs to disagree, and Prostitution is legal in Cana- cal treatment. They can be given “How can you legalise a dog’s the LMI jubilantly declares victory. Kevin Permal of da, most of Europe including a health card. “There is a lot of life?” For that is the life of sex LMI, adds that he awaits similar statements from England, France, Denmark rhetoric in Mauritius but I have workers.” other political personalities in the country. and most of South Ame- Similarly, calls by the public and outraged bystan- rica. New Zealand passed ders for the execution of Fleurino Calou, the main the most comprehensive de- suspect in the murder of Cedric Matombe and rape criminalization acts in 2003. of a teenaged girl, does not constitute a national re- In Philippines, it is a very big ferendum on the death penalty. industry and supports many This, however, is how national discourse in our people especially in smaller rainbow nation is hijacked by feckless obscurantism. cities like Angeles. There is Voluble declamations and demands by miniscule no enforcement and no legal groups or individuals fi ghting for their own turf wars risk for the sex workers or the and agendas cannot dictate national debates and dia- client, unless it involves chil- logues. Let’s treat them for what they are - minnows dren. But then, legalisation without a mandate. Why give them the importance has not tampered on the rou- that they do not deserve? tine abuse and violence. Disillusion is the lot of these ex-addicts and prostitutes. Now if only somebody can convince the president. l’express [ Friday 12 November • Insert N° 4 [STRAIGHTTALK p. 48 Chagos Moves into the

Since 2003, commu- nity-based groups from all over the world have worked together to chal- lenge the current spread of U.S. and European military bases in various regions. The U.S. military base on the Diego Garcia atoll is but one of more than 1,000 U.S. and European military outposts around the globe. But it is, according to those who participated in Lalit’s Interna- tional Conference on Chagos, a cru- cial element in the campaign to free the world of foreign military bases...

Getting the Base out of Chagos Militarily, Diego Garcia tional interests. Especially in the fi rst years af- been able to make their col- plays a central role in the U.S. For the International No- ter the uprooting, many died. lective voice heard. Attention bid for domination of the In- Bases Network, Diego Garcia Some jumped off the ships for the issues surrounding fo- dian Ocean, the Horn of Afri- is an important base for ano- that took them away from reign bases has been growing. ca, the Middle East, Central ther reason too. It serves as a their land. Others died of ‘sa- In academia, in international Asia and South Asia. From particularly poignant example gren’ – grief, despair, hunger. civil society networks and in the base, attacks have been of the suffering and danger in- Most of them continue to live some cases also in politics. launched in the past decade on fl icted by U.S. and European in poverty until this day. Dis- The 40-year struggle of Iraq, Afghanistan, Yemen, So- bases on local communities. possessed, homesick, bereft of the Chagossians for the right malia and Pakistan. Politically, Bases cause pollution, health perspective, cut off from their to return to their land, and the military power of Diego hazards, uprooting, loss of ancestral grounds. Uprooted. for due compensation for Garcia is used as a threat to livelihood, high crime rates, the gross injustice infl icted Iran and other countries. drug use and drug trading, A collective voice on them by the UK and U.S. Diego Garcia also houses a rapes, human traffi cking and governments has served as Wilbert VAN DER ZEIJDEN powerful radar installation prostitution. The western de- Bringing into contact an inspiration to many others NO BASES Movement, Holland used for communication and sire to exert military control all people from all those commu- around the globe who – like for gathering intelligence. Nu- too often comes at the expense nities facing the ill effects of the Chagossians – fi nd them- clear armed submarines and of the local communities fa- foreign military bases serves selves at the short end of the other war ships dock and take cing the arrival of foreign several purposes. For the 350 neo-imperialist stick. The refuge at the atoll. Last but troops. Wherever the U.S. groups involved in the No- demands of the Chagossians not least, the waters around decides to plant its military Bases Network, it has been are therefore central to the the island have been used for ‘footprint’, the safety, lives liberating just to learn they collective effort of the groups ‘extraordinary rendition’, the and livelihood of people living are not alone in their struggle. gathered in the International kidnapping, interrogation and there is at stake. All too often, There are others, scattered Network for the Abolition of torture of hundreds of people their suffering is put aside as across the globe, who unders- Foreign Military Bases. We without due process. Diego ‘merely’ collateral damage. tand what your community will not relent until the Ame- Garcia, like Guam in the Pa- The Chagossian popula- is going through. The cam- rican base on Diego Garcia is cifi c Ocean, has become a tion paid the ultimate price. paigns also help each other. closed. We will continue until super-base, the backbone of Their archipelago of 64 is- Of course, no single strategy the illegally constituted British an extensive web of military lands stolen by the UK in the fi ts all local campaigns. There Indian Ocean Territory is dis- troops, fl eets, bases and mis- 1960s, they were all removed is no secret formula. But by mantled. We will not stop our sile installations that have un- from their homes and lands sharing experiences and ideas, efforts until the Chagossian settled – and will continue to and literally dumped in the communities do get new ins- people win the right to return unsettle - any regional military harbour of Port Louis in the piration for their struggles. to ALL 64 Islands that to- balance unless that balance early 70s. All that to make In addition, by joining their gether make their magnifi cent entirely favours American na- way for a U.S. military base. efforts, the local group have home: The Chagos Islands. p. 49 [STRAIGHTTALK Insert N° 4 • Friday 12 November 2010 ] l’express International Arena Torture and Human Rights Abuses

The new government in administration and the British Was it a lack of sensitivity towards uprooting the Chagossians from power in Great Britain must government. The accomplice or the Chagossians? These parties their homes, the islands of Diego keep the promises made while it consenting victim was the Mauri- still exist today: the Labour party Garcia and Peros Banhos. They was in the opposition and bring tian political class of the 60s, and and the Mauritian party. The only lied to the international commu- justice to the Chagossians. The the two victims are the people of witness of what happened at the nity, saying that the island was Mauritian government has been Chagos and the people of Mauri- time is the President of the Repu- deserted. Today, to prevent the clear about the matter and has tius as a whole. blic, who was the only member of people of Chagos from retur- shown its determination through the “IFB” after the recent death ning home, they have declared the Minister of Foreign Affairs The only living witness of Haroon Abdool, another parti- that the zone around the islands and his strong speech at the Uni- cipant in the constitutional confe- is a Marine Protected Area. ted Nations. It has also declared The Chagos community rence of 1964 at Lancaster House. The greatest culprit remains 3rd November as the day for was uprooted from its island and It is the president’s duty to speak. I the American administration, Cassam UTEEM national prayers and the com- exiled in Mauritius and the Sey- believe he must do so for the sake which chose Diego Garcia on Past President of the Republic memoration of the deportation chelles. They fi nd themselves in of the exiled Chagossians. We are the basis of military strategy, af- of the Chagossians. precarious jobs, plagued by po- all Mauritian in asking that our ter having visited many islands Let us put aside our diffe- verty, drugs, and alcoholism. Their sovereignty over our territory be and countries in the region. rences regarding the responsibi- inadequate compensation serves restored. We are all Chagossian in They paid a large amount of lity of the Mauritian leaders of the to reimburse their debts. Their asking for the right to return to the money to the British and insisted time in the excision of Chagos and basic human rights have been Chagos Archipelago. The Mau- that the inhabitants be removed stand together unanimous in our violated because they have been ritian state must make a commit- from these islands. They also struggle to get back our land. Lalit refused the right to return to their ment by assuring Olivier Bancoult built one of the most murderous was right to focus on issues such country. We demand that they be that once sovereignty is restored, military bases on Diego, which as the military base, the illegal oc- allowed to return to their native he and the Chagossians will bene- sheltered the B52 bombers that cupation of Chagos and the right islands, including Diego Garcia. fi t from autonomy in the adminis- were sent to Iraq and Afghanis- to reparations of the Chagossians. We demand an adequate com- tration of the Chagos Archipelago. tan in the recent wars. Mauritius These aspects are closely interre- pensation from the British and the would like to verify whether the lated and considering them sepa- Americans for the humiliation, the Americans greatest military base of Diego Garcia is rately would be a serious political diffi culties and the misery. used to stock nuclear material, mistake. The political class which nego- culprits or as a prison similar to that at In the saga of the Chagos- tiated the independence of Mau- It is a David vs. Goliath si- Guantanamo Bay, where torture sians, there are guilty parties, ritius became willing victims. Were tuation. The British, the second and human rights abuses take accomplices and victims. The they under pressure? Were they greatest culprits went against the place. We demand that the base two culprits are the American in a hurry to get things moving? United Nations Convention by itself be dismantled.

LALIT’s Timely International Conference on Diego Garcia & Chagos LALIT’s International guest speakers as well as local was now proven bankrupt. The sians within a unifi ed Republic. Conference on Diego Garcia ones joined Lalit militants in British proclamation of its ab- At the same time, a whole set of and Chagos was a cogent and giving strong speeches, remin- surd “Marine Protected Area” proposals on action necessary to lively event attended by some ding people of past street battles adjacent to a nuclear military move the struggle forward were 100 people on each of the four won against the Riot Unit, as base does nothing but proclaim agreed upon. These include get- days, including delegations from well as victorious court cases the existence of the BIOT colony, ting representatives of the State, unions, human rights groups, when Chagossian and LALIT confi rm its illegal occupation of including the President and women’s organizations, acade- women were on trial for illegal the whole of this Mauritian land- Prime Minister, to visit Chagos mics, artists, Chagossian-born demonstration. They told of the and-sea area, and ban the Cha- and Diego Garcia on the Tro- people and a number of very ‘Rann nu Diego Committee’ gossian people from the entire chetia, so as to give effect to the Ram SEEGOBIN young Mauritian-born Chagos- and of the LALIT Peace Flotilla Chagos. The MMM leader chose Constitution. They also include LALIT Militant sians as well as Mauritians loyal initiative that was so successful. not to be present, nor to send a key ways of assuring sovereignty over the decades to the Diego Artists were not at this replacement. by using a number of United Na- Garcia struggle. And the effect Conference to provide mere tions bodies and remedies. of the Conference, combined entertainment. They gave a No bartering The effect of the Conference with the Marine Protected Area different way of looking at the has been immediate. People actually going ahead at the same very same struggle: through the of rights in phone-in programs are all time, was instantaneous: the senses. Strong songs were cried After four days of rich de- speaking about putting the Mauritian Government as from out and readings were done by bate and discussion, the Confe- whole of the National Assem- the very next day began to an- local artists, some of whom also rence reached consensus on a bly into the Trochetia! While the nounce bolder, more coherent presented a ‘moving event’ du- number of fundamental points: Prime minister has fi nally called policies. ring the Conference. that the three issues of closing the British state by the names it The opening speech by for- On 1 November, it had down the base, dismantling the deserves: liar, deceiver, trickster. mer President of the Republic, already become clear that the BIOT, and assuring the right of Not only that - he now proposes Cassam Uteem, was hard-hit- Government, represented by Fo- return for all Chagossians to all fi nally having recourse to the ting on all three aspects of the reign Affairs Minister, Dr. Arvind the islands and not as colonized kind of UN strategies suppor- struggle: base closure, de-colo- Boolell, was already stepping up people be kept in close articula- ted by the LALIT Conference nization and the right to return political, diplomatic and legal tion and not bartered one against and has begun to put in place of the Chagossians. He set the measures on the issue. Lindsey the other; that the British impe- the kind of democratic struc- bar very high in terms of both Collen, speaking for LALIT, de- rialist Marine Protected Area be tures the Conference called for, precision thinking and deep clared that the 42-year strategy opposed; that democratic struc- proposing an autonomous Re- commitment. International of seeking bilateral negotiations tures be put in place for Chagos- gional Assembly. l’express [ Friday 12 November 2010 • Insert N°4 INTERNATIONAL SCENE] p. 50 Press Freedom Publish and perish? IN some countries, like Mauritius, obstacle on their road to unli- newspapers are at times burnt to mited wealth. Then we’ll have to ashes by angry readers, but in deal with the attitude.” other places around the world, journalists are jailed, kidnapped, 71 journalists killed beaten up, or killed for their work. This week, the world was shocked Actually, looking at the fi - by Nad SIVARAMEN by a graphic video on the Internet gures, Russia is not the worst which shows a Russian journalist of countries for journalists. Ac- being beaten to near death on a cording to the 2010 Impunity street in Moscow. Index of the Committee to Pro- The 90-second video shows tect Journalists (which promotes the reporter, Mr Oleg Kashin, media freedom worldwide), the 30, being assaulted with a metal 12 countries where journalists bar for about 80 seconds and are murdered on a recurring ba- then trying to crawl away before The brutal attack that has left Oleg Kashin in a coma is the latest in a sis and where governments fail fainting. His jaw, leg and fi ngers series of punitive measures against Russian journalists. to prosecute the killers are the were broken, and he remained following (in descending order): hospitalized in a drug-induced gunned down, in 2006, while the journalist is to tell the truth.” Iraq, Somalia, Philippines, Sri coma. According to his editor, trying to tell the truth about Medvedev’s statement reso- Lanka, Colombia, Afghanistan, Mikhail Mikhailin, the attack was human rights abuse in Russia’s nated with some Russian jour- Nepal, Russia, Mexico, Pakistan, in response to articles written by Chechen republic. nalists, like Alexey Kovalev, who Bangladesh and India. Kashin, who had recently cove- According to the US-based regularly contributes to the Guar- With 71 journalists killed be- red anti-Kremlin protests and Pulitzer Centre’s ongoing project, dian in the UK: “To portray Rus- cause of their work, 2009 was the extremist rallies. press freedom in Russia remains sia as a bloodthirsty dictatorship deadliest year for the media ever Immediately after the release “a topic too-often swept under where journalists are little more recorded by CPJ. Last year’s toll of these brutal images, the World the rug”. Its project reveals “sto- than target practice is just not was driven by the election-related Association of Newspapers and ries of Russian journalists crimi- fair. Reporters Without Borders, slaughter of 32 journalists and News Publishers and the World nalised, forced to fl ee, and killed whose rating puts Russia only media workers in the Philippine Editors Forum called on Russia’s for their work.” eight places above the human province of Maguindanao, one president, Dmitry Medvedev, to rights nightmare that is the De- of the worst events for the press ensure that widespread attacks Journalists mocratic Republic of Congo, isn’t in the whole world. And the best on journalists are aggressively without controversies of its own, news, this year, was probably the prosecuted. In their letter, they in the risk zone and its methodology is far from Nobel Peace Prize being awarded reminded him that “there have Under such international perfect. (…) So it’s not Putin or to jailed Chinese dissident Liu been 19 unsolved murders of pressure, President Dmitri Me- Medvedev who are responsible Xiaobo for his “long and non- journalists in Russia (…) We are dvedev has vowed this week to for the journalists’ plight. But violent struggle for fundamental alarmed at the culture of impu- bring the attackers to justice. He they have the power to stop it. human rights in China”. And nity that surrounds attacks on also issued a very strong state- Conduct a fair and public inves- more importantly the fact that the journalists, which stifl es criticism ment: “Journalists are the people tigation, punish those responsible, Nobel Committed did not take and can lead to self-censorship.” who, as I have already said, are in for the whole of Russia – and the into account the strong warnings This was a direct reference, even the risk zone, and the state should world – to see, and hopefully that of the Chinese who said that awar- if she was not explicitly named, be more attentive to their profes- will act as a deterrent to those ding Liu the prize would send to Anna Politkovskaya who was sional activity, because the task of who consider the press a mere the wrong message to the world! Ragged for months in Mumbai, youth kills self JAIPUR/MUMBAI: Up- ging did not stop, they had ad- risdiction of Nehru Nagar police set over constant ragging at vised Satyendra to return home. station. Senior police inspector the Mumbai-based Advanced He was supposed to come home Prakash Kale, too, said the police Training Institute, a 20-year- by Monday but he got off the station had not been informed old student -- identifi ed as Sa- train near Chowmahala railway about the incident. tyendra Kumar -- committed station and jumped in front of a Rajasthan cops said two rai- suicide by jumping in front of a train on Monday afternoon. lway guards saw him walking to- running train in Gangdhar area wards the tracks around 4.30pm of Rajasthan’s Jhalwar district Student’s suicide note on Monday. They even asked on Monday. him what he was doing there but Satyendra left behind a sui- Maharashtra labour secretary he replied that his family lived cide note in which he blamed Kavita Gupta said the institute, nearby. “He jumped in front of a seven seniors for harassing him which was under the jurisdiction goods train and died on the spot. and said he was being tortured of the Union labour and employ- We recovered a suicide note from at the college and his hostel for ment ministry, had not reported his trouser pocket,” a police offi - the past three months. The resi- such an incident to the govern- cer said. dent of Kurukshetra in Haryana ment. “But the government will Jhalwar cops said they would claimed he could not appear in go into the case and take appro- send the report to the Mum- a recent mid-term examination priate action if any such incident bai police where a case under because of the harassment. has happened and is reported to Section 306 of IPC could be His family members told the us,” she said. registered against the students Jhalwar police that the matter The institute is located on V mentioned in the suicide note. had been reported to the college N Purav Marg in the Sion-Chu- administration but, when the rag- nabhatti and comes under the ju- ©The Times of India Fun or cruelty? Where does one end and the other begin? p. 51 [L’EXPRESSYOURSELF Insert N° 4 • Friday 12 November 2010 ] l’express Society An apple a day] Is Mauritius seriously sick ? By Dr. Cassam HINGUN

Heart rate

arious epidemiologic studies have demonstrated that a high heart rate increases the risk of morta- lity from cardiovascular disease. In human beings, Vthe normal infant heart rate is around 160 beats per minute (BPM) and as we grow up, the heart rate de-

LIBRARY PHOTO creases to an average 60 to 80 BPM. In elderly persons, it is usually below 60 BPM. It is interesting to note that animals with a high heart rate have a low longevity. The hamster with a 450 BPM has longe- vity of 3 years; the rabbit has a heart rate of 205 BPM and can live 9 years and the tortoise with 10 BPM can live over 100 years. The life expectancy of human beings is about 70 years. Heart rate refl ects the number of contractions of the The funeral procession of a child-victim of the wave of violence that is plaguing the country. heart ventricles which push blood through the arteries. The pulse which is felt at wrist level is the wave of blood coursing he year began por- No sooner than an ex-convict radoxical as it may seem, this is the through the vessels as a result of each heart beat. tentously. The po- (who ominously carries the moni- selfsame country that prides itself Our heart beats automatically through an autonomous pulation woke up ker of ‘Peeping Tom’) is let loose on the deep sense of religiousness electrical activity generating 60 to 80 contractions per mi- Ton New Year’s Day, from jail that he goes on the prowl, of diverse denominations, which nute. This automatic activity is controlled by our nervous sys- still hung over from too much fi nds a couple of amorous adoles- all advocate peace and love of one’s tem divided into sympathetic and parasympathetic activities reveling into the early morning cents on a deserted beach at Le neighbour, of its mosaic of peoples. which respectively accelerate or decrease our heart rates. hours, to the shock and horror Bouchon, smashes the skull of the Ironically, we also extol our una- Over and above this autonomous control, there are dif- of learning that a young man boy with a crow-bar and rapes the dulterated attachment to cultural, ferent external factors which govern our heart rate like res- in his prime had been savagely defenceless girl ancestral and familial values. piration, sleep, emotions, intake of stimulants such as tea, assaulted and stabbed to death It is undeniable that this coffee and alcohol. Moreover, cigarette smoking and certain in front of Gold Crest Hotel in Loss of moral country has undergone a sea- medications used in the treatment of asthma are known to Quatre Bornes by a pack of change transformation from an accelerate the heart rate. bouncers from Ti-Vegas of ill- bearings erstwhile traditional agrarian com- We normally do not feel our heart beating inside our bo- fame. The pressure to close the munity to a comparatively modern dies as our brains are conditioned to accept a normal heart gaming house, which was a ma- Add to this list of macabre (we may even suggest post-indus- rate range. If the heart beats too fast, say above 100 BPM, gnet for all the scourges which and odious murderous acts, our trial) society in the short period we become conscious of the condition. It is known as tachy- plague our society, prostitution, daily lot of rapes, burglaries, hold- of the last three decades. The cardia, commonly known as palpitations. Medical advice is drugs, etc, mounted inexorably ups, assaults, etc, and you will not unbridled invasive consumerist mandatory in this situation and the doctor will try assessing after this brutal murder and, than- be blamed for thinking that this materialism we are constantly and the type of palpitations and treating the cause. kfully for the denizens of Quatre country is more like ‘Terror Island’ relentlessly subjected to partly ex- A useful tip in case you have a sudden burst of badly tole- Bornes especially, the authorities, than ‘Pleasure Island’. Want more? plains increasing crime involving rated palpitations: try coughing or a forced expiration with although blameworthy for having Here are two more incidents property, as do two of the great both mouth and nose closed. Swallowing a glass of cold wa- tarried, did the only sensible thing revelatory of the state of ‘lawles- scourges of this sick society, namely ter or placing an ice cube in the mouth can also be effective. clamoured for unanimously and sness and disorder’ in “Terror Is- narcotic drugs and gambling. But These simple manoeuvres can help reducing the heart rate closed the sinful den. land’: what about violent crime causing while medical assistance is sought. There followed a series of Balaclava-clad robbers severely the death of innocent victims often On the other hand, low pulse rate of less than 60 BPM several other violent crimes, in- beat up the nearly-octogenarian in the most ghastly manner ima- is referred to as bradycardia and is a common cause of cluding the following hair-raising watchman at the headquarters ginable, like the ones mentioned weakness and syncope in the elderly. When low pulse rate is murders which grabbed the at- building of a private security com- earlier? Is the casual banality with associated with diseases of the electrical activity of the heart, tention of the public and instilled pany in central Port Louis and have which sex & violence is shown on implantation of a subcutaneous device called a pacemaker an atmosphere of psychosis in our no diffi culty whatsoever taking TV responsible? is sometimes necessary to stimulate the heart into a normal ‘Pleasure Island’: possession of negligently stowed The exemplars of economic rhythm. A young man repeatedly ra- fi rearms and ammunition and transformation our leading wishful High level athletes sometimes have a heart rate as low as ped his dim-witted mother-in-law getting away. Their loot? Hold your thinkers like to cite for emulation, 35 BPM. In these athletes and persons who train extensively, in Solferino, fi nally murdered her, breath! An arsenal of 15 handguns namely Singapore and Dubai (& there is a threshold level of heart rate which should not be dismembered and disemboweled and 300 bullets! No prizes for to a lesser extent Hong Kong when exceeded. The formula for calculating the target heart rate her and scattered her body parts guessing what they are planning to it was still a British crown depen- is 220 minus our age. Medically speaking, it is not advisable along a river bed. Looking at this do with these weapons, surely not dency) have experienced far dee- to go beyond this rate. For aerobic training, 65% of the target horrifi c murder, one cannot help target-practice or paramilitary pa- per and wider metamorphoses in heart rate is advised for instance. wondering who was actually men- rading! shorter times than Mauritius has. Heart rate is nowadays known as an independent marker tally deranged, the psychopathic A group of masked ma- Yet, they have not suffered the es- for the prediction of mortality in adults. For every 20 beats perpetrator or his victim. chete-armed men break into calation in criminality on the scale increment above 80 BPM, the risk of mortality increases by In Richelieu, the uncle of a a…scrap metal store (yes, you we have. I can hear you say that a factor of 50%. Bearing this in mind, we can take steps to little girl child raped her and afte- read right!) in Laventure, easily they are quasi-totalitarian police control our heart rate and determine our life expectancy. rwards burned her body to conceal overcome the helpless watch- states, with scant regard for fun- There exist different medications on the market aiming his scabrous crime. The life of an man and drive away with a damental human and civil rights at lowering heart rate, and recently a new drug has been in- innocent child was remorselessly truck load of scrap metal! and political freedom. As for us, troduced for the same purpose and it is mainly indicated taken by a person she should have What are we to infer from this we bask in our republican demo- in patients suffering from angina. However, the best way to looked to for her protection. How unrelenting wave of criminal acts cracy and the freedom it gives us, lower one heart’s rate is to train and exercise regularly. more sick can you get? besetting us? Our society is sick including the freedom to commit Consistent light sport activities tend to increase the size An elderly lady is brutally & and getting sicker every day, every all manner of violent crimes. Since and strength of the heart and at the same time, decrease its gruesomely assassinated in her month. We have lost our moral there’s talk of a second republic, rate. The type of activity can range from gardening to walking home in Baie du Tombeau, sustai- bearings as a nation. Why is that so? will that also be another Potemkin and swimming, as long as it is done for a minimum of half ning 25 stab wounds infl icted with Is this the ransom of graduation Republic? an hour a day. In the long run, this will help lower the heart a kitchen knife and…a garden fork. to newly industrialized and upper rate and increase life expectancy. How more beastly can one get? middle income country status? Pa- NAP p.52 [BOOK REVIEW Insert N° 4 • Friday 12 November 2010 ] l’express A Man of the People man of the himself, he is a ‘man of People” set the people’. He manages in a fi ctio- to enthral his audience by “A nal African convincing them of his an- State in the 1960s, is a satire ti-colonialism and how far on corruption and power he has led them since the told through the eyes of the colonial days. protagonist Odilli. The story Odilli soon discovers revolves around the confron- that Nanga’s defence tation between two men, that of tradition and crass encapsulate the different nativism that seems to politics and intellectual tra- hypnotize the masses ditions that have so very of- is merely a façade behind ten clashed in post-colonial which lies a pool of corrup- convinced his societies. tion and brutality. Soon, the country could be, and de- On the one hand, we have young radical Odilli, a for- serves, so much better, but Odilli, the young journalist mer student and admirer of for the people to hear his who slowly becomes disil- Nanga’s becomes disillusio- message he must take on the lusioned with his country’s ned and comes to view him ‘man of the people’. minister of Culture Chief as the epitome of everything When Nanga’s attempts Nanga. Nanga, who as- wrong with the country. to bribe, intimidate and sow sumes the mantle of res- discord within the new party toring tradition and Hold on power fail, he resorts to stuffi ng custom after colonial ballot boxes, anything to rule, is the quin- In a stunning exposition maintain his hold on power. tessential post of the interplay between The confl ict descends to colonial po- politics and personalities in open brutality and murder, litician; ap- post-colonial societies the fi - reaching a crescendo with proachable, nal break comes when Nanga a military coup that ends charming manages to seduce Odilli’s Odilli’s tale. and above lover with his opulence. This book is a must read all, ha- Odilli forms a politi- for anybody that wishes to ving ari- cal party that pits a young, understand the post-colonial sen from modern, emerging radica- condition. poverty lism against a conservative, corrupt but still mesmeri- by Chinua Achebe zing parochialism. Odilli is Iqbal Ahmed KHAN Kreol korner]

Tigit – a little In these times of excessive belt-tightening, it’s more necessary than ever to learn the language of austerity. All the more so since the minister of Finance intimated in Parliament on Tuesday that workers would be wrong to expect decent wage compensation. Instead, they’ll have to make do with a tigit of this, a tigit of that… NR

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