Victims of the coup must stick together to get Ramkalawan to act

Campaigner for victims: Barry Laine

By Lewis Betsy

The Truth, Reconciliation and National Unity process is concluded. The outcome is abundantly clear and endorsed by the final determinations of the process. There is however a daily source of bitter frustration and anger that prevails due to the Seychelles Government's tardy implementation of the outcome which they are legally bound to.

Now there has been a call for everyone concerned to unite and back the TRNUC Association of Victims which is led by Barry Laine.

One of the victims says: “We appeal to all those affected to remain cohesive and continue to pursue the matter collectively. 

“A fragmented approach will not yield the desired results. If anything, you will be playing into the hands of those who want to procrastinate the outcome further and frustrate you even more.”

The victim adds: “The initiative currently led by Barry Laine and his team must be the preferred route to follow. Do not be lured by the numerous legal initiatives being proposed by legal practitioners on a 'pro bono' basis.

“Barry Laine is making solid progress with his initiative, but unfortunately is at the mercy of a deceitful administration which is bent on kicking the can down the road.”

The issue of reparation is key.

Here, the campaigner says: “Uninformed and unaffected individuals keep raising the question of where the reparation costs will be coming from?

“The answer is very simple: it will come from the same place where the funds to abuse, torture, murder and the many other treatments which were inflicted on the victims.”

He means the State, as run then by the dictator Albert Rene.

The State administration today of President Ramkalawan is a world apart from Rene’s brutal regime. But prior to the 2020 elections the LDS did promise to help the victims with the setting up of the TRNUC and with that, it was hoped, would at last come closure and reparations.

Why all this is taking so long is a question only our President can answer.

But, with the Presidential elections this year and his job and the future of his party on the line Ramkalawan will have to act sooner rather than later.

In the meantime we victims must stick together. Unity is strength.