Army Rebellion of 1982 in Seychelles

THE ARMY REBELLION OF 1982 : AN ANNIVERSAY CONVENIENTLY PASSED OVER

Twenty four years ago this week, on August 17 1982, the people of Seychelles woke up to learn that overnight a group of soldiers had taken control of the radio station at Union Vale and were making demands of the president of the Republic, Mr René. It was the worse nightmare the population of Mahe had ever lived through.

The young soldiers came from the Union Vale barrack, which was previously the island's prison. The prison had been cleared of convicts in November 1979 to hold 100 political prisoners guarded by soldiers. The last political prisoner was released in August 1980 and the prison was turned into a fully fledged army garrison of 150 soldiers.

On air, the rebels claimed that while they loved President René, they wanted Mr René to dismiss some ministers from his Government, one of whom the rebels named was the Defence Minister Ogilvy Berlouis, who was also a colonel in the army . The announcer, who called himself Sergeant George, proceeded to open the airwaves to all and sundry to speak directly to the people. For the first time since the coup d'etat in 1977, the people of Seychelles had a chance to air (literally) their grievances and they did not hesitate to do so. Anyone who called the radio station was given the airwaves without interruption to say anything they wanted and many, paradoxically, chose to do so without fear.

Throughout the morning the rebels would exhort Mr René to meet with them and hear their grievances. But it appeared that Mr René made no contact with the rebels and had no intention of doing so. Meanwhile the whole world had heard of the rebellion, which became headline news on radio, television stations and newspapers in many countries.

Some overseas journalists managed to get access to Sergeant George by telephone and he availed of the opportunity to make a direct plea to Mrs Margaret Thatcher, the British prime Minister, for assistance. They told foreign journalist they had 200 hostages, including the foreign mercenaries who had been sentenced to death, and that they will execute them if their demands were not met.

By mid morning the late Bishop Felix Paul intervened on air to urge Mr René to speak to the rebels and negotiate a peaceful end to the drama. Bishop Paul too could not get access to Mr Rene. Mr Rene had other plans.

The 100 or so Tanzanian soldiers stationed in Seychelles since the dawn of 5th June 1977 had already started fighting skirmishes with groups of rebel soldiers in the streets of Victoria. Victoria hospital was beginning to receive the severely wounded. More Tanzanian soldiers were flown in from Dar es Salaam to reinforce the Seychelles garrison.

As the Tanzanians took position around Victoria, they started lobbing mortar bombs towards the radio station. But the mortars fell short of their targets and one landed on the house of Mr and Mrs James Carpin on the slope of English River. Mr Carpin (father) was with daughter, Noella, in the top floor of their one-storey house. Wife Therese Carpin, son Alain Carpin, Daughter Bessy and son Andrew were either hiding in other areas of the house or anywhere outside where they could take cover

The mortar round fired from the Bel Eau army camp pierced the roof of Mr. Carpin's house, struck the bed under which the young Noella Carpin was hiding, She took more or less the full impact of the round which tore her eyes from their sockets, according to family members. She was killed outright.

The family called the radio station and was given airtime by the rebels to exhort the authorities to hold fire because civilians were being injured. Bishop Felix Paul made another plea on air to Mr René to speak to the rebels to avoid further bloodshed. But his plea and that of the Carpins fell on deaf ears.

As night fell over the islands it was clear the rebellion had run out of steam. Most of the rebels scattered overnight hiding their weapons in the bush. Some went home while others hid in the mountains. It is said that the widespread use of cannabis by the young soldiers was their undoing. When dawn broke, the Tanzanians had consolidated their hold over the country and started looting the shops in Victoria.

By the end of the following day, almost all the rebels had been rounded up. According to international press reports eight people were killed during the rebellion including five rebel soldiers, two civilians and one loyal soldier. It is not known how many Tanzanian soldiers were killed, although there are stories of a number of them being killed in a fire fight near Cable and Wireless. One injured rebel leader committed suicide with his revolver on his hospital bed. A week after the incident a reporter for the Times of London reported that a number of mutineers were unaccounted for.

This newspaper, however, has knowledge of only one young rebel soldier who is unaccounted but not to the authorities. Sub-lieutenant Andre Pouponneau, who was last seen in handcuffs at the Bel Eau army headquarters in perfect condition, disappeared never to be seen again. When they approached the government, his relatives were told that he was injured and was at the Union Vale barrack receiving treatment. But when they asked to see him they were denied permission.

The surviving rebels were court-martialled, sentenced to prison terms of varying length and dismissed from the army. Their prison was specially constructed on Coetivy Island, a coral island 150 miles from Mahe. The “ring leaders” were released just before the return to multiparty system in 1991 after serving 9 years.

24 years on this episode in our political history is being conveniently covered up, despite the ongoing celebration of 30 years of independence from colonial oppression. But for Mrs Pouponneau, mother of the Sub-lieutenant, who is not in good health, it would be immense relief if she knew what really happened to her son and where his remains have been buried.

Today, a handful of people in powerful positions can and should shed light on the fate of Sub-lieutenant Pouponeau, if only to his relatives. They are Albert Rene, James Michel and Flo Payet. Their gesture would surely be from the heart, if only so the family of this young man can have closure.