There is delay after delay for a decision on the TRNUC report that could give closure to the victims of Rene’s murderous regime. What is going on?
By Lewis Betsy
I am very disappointed and left in disbelief about the outcome of the debates in the National Assembly on the Truth, Reconciliation and National Unity Commission.
I believed that it was meant to discuss – and come to a decision – on the issues arising from the Final Report including compensation for the victims.
After all these years, this could give all the victims some sort of closure.
But no, there is more delay.
The National Assembly, on August 9, adopted two separate reports related to the final document of the TRNUC, which were presented by Linyon Demokratik Seselwa (LDS) and United Seychelles (US).
The reports will now go before the executive for consideration with the NA in recess until September 11.
It is a long and laborious process that I believe is being deliberately slowed down.
The National Assembly started debating the contents of the Final Report, along with its 47 recommendations, on August 2.
Yet this Final Report had been presented to President Wavel Ramkalawan on March 31, 2023, marking the end of the Commission's mandate.
It is sad that I have to voice my frustration again concerning the victims and I speak as one of the many who suffered under the tyranny of the Rene regime.
I lost my job, my home and had to flee the country and start a new life with my young family abroad.
I don’t think the Assembly members understand what the victims of the 1977 Coup D’Etat under Rene have gone through.
Giving evidence to the TRNUC meant that all the victims had to relive the pain and suffering they endured at that dreadful time.
By now, I thought both political parties in the National Assembly would have understood how bleak that history was and spared us.
However, I think the three days of debate we witnessed revealed that some members in the National Assembly believe we victims are weak and gullible.
The MNAs spent the entire week talking about their own political parties and in the end they had nothing positive to explain to the victims, especially about compensation and closure.
There was even talk about not paying any compensation at all.
This is another kick in the teeth for us again.
I now believe that every single victim has to fight their own battle alone. And how sad and disgusting is that?
We had former Vice-Chairperson Michael Green and former Commissioner Marie-Therese Purvis come to the Assembly to express themselves and talk about their work.
I don’t think that there was anything new that they had to say because they had already handed over the Final Report to the President.
Here, I must thank all those involved in the Commission, including Chairperson Mrs Gabrielle McIntyre, for their diligence. They have done a fantastic job despite the difficulties with financial resources and time.
Our President is not doing such a good job. He was supposed to appoint a body or board to deal with reparations and other issues one month after receiving the report in March. Nothing has happened.
I wonder if he is waiting until just before election time when he can offer a juicy carrot of compensation to win favour?
Meanwhile, we are in a terrible situation where perpetrators are walking freely in town and we have been told that we cannot name them. This is a real joke.
The TRNUC was established in 2018 with the aim of settling past political divisions and human rights violations stemming from the coup of 1977.
Part of its mandate was that it recommended that where any “senior member of the Government or SPDF that has been deemed a perpetrator and has not been granted amnesty or immunity from criminal prosecution, the person in question should be banned from taking up further employment with the Government of Seychelles or its defence forces”.
That states the position, straight and simple.
So it was disgusting to hear the Leader of Government Business, Bernard Georges, say that in his opinion he doesn’t agree for any perpetrators to be sacked from the LDS government.
He too is disregarding the TRNUC report. And again, this is an insult to the victims.
Does he, as a lawyer, have any compassion left?
In my view, LDS politicians have let power go to their heads and, worse, some members seem on delivering what is a very well-versed and calculated argument.
But it is one that lacks any kind of morality and I would say, is also criminal.
President Ramkalawan said: “I would like to state that none of my ministers has been named as a perpetrator in the report. It is totally false when the leader of the opposition named Designated Minister Jean-François Ferrari and Minister Sylvestre Radegonde as perpetrators. This is what I call lying in the first degree. No one in my administration has been declared a perpetrator.”
I, and others, know of several people in power and influence who have links to the murderous regimes of Rene and Michel. How come they still hold roles of responsibility?
There are those who say that adopting a punitive approach would not help unity. I hear that, but I would also say that getting justice is more important. The innocent should not suffer. The guilty should face judgment..
The rows continue. There has even been a suggestion that US be banned.
I am no apologist for US, but I do believe in everyone having a voice in a democratic and caring Seychelles.
Seychelles simply cannot continue with this kind of attitude
My main concern now is how we’re going to be able to achieve reconciliation and national unity in Seychelles if we carry on in this manner. We need to be more determined to get things right, though obviously not at all costs.
We need to start by educating the younger generation that politics should be about achieving fairness and harmony.
It should not be as divisive as today where we have two political parties who want to control everything.
Democracy can save Seychelles. We should do everything in our power to uphold that democracy.