Ex President France Albert Rene chose the occasion of the celebration of his 71st birthday to yet again threaten more violence against the opposition. His rhetoric, that had it been him who was still the President instead of President James Michel, he would have taken more “drastic measures” against the opposition, has sent chills of terror amongst the population. It is reminiscent and characteristic of Rene when he was Head of State during the one party state era. Rene is still the leader of the ruling SPPF and President James Michel has admitted that he takes his orders directly from the party.
Rene’s diatribe was made during his birthday bash in the grounds of State House in front of a specially invited group of elderly citizens. His threats were broadcasted on SBC radio and television last week as a prime time news item. The questions many are now asking is whether Rene would have used this opportunity to exterminate the SNP leadership permanently since the clubbing they got on the steps of the National Assembly was considered brutal in nature not only in Seychelles but in the international press as well. It is to be remembered that the beatings administered by the Security Forces on Wavel Ramkalawan and Jean-Francois Ferrari was so severe that the government doctors decided to admit them in
The Opposition has expressed concern about what exactly Rene meant when he said that he would have taken more “drastic measures” against the Opposition on that fateful day. Rene and the SPUP are known to have a history of violence and according to a report issued by Amnesty International (AI) published in July 1985, during Rene’s 14 year one party state Marxist regime, many people are known to have disappeared. Amongst them AI named 45 year old businessman Hassan Umarji Ebrahim known as Hassan Ali who disappeared on the 13th August 1977. On the 19th October 1982 two more deaths according to AI were attributed to the Rene government. The victims were named as Simon Desnousse and Mike Asher.
“A similar case of killing which, according to reports received by AI may have been carried out for political reasons, concerned Michael Hoffman and Tony Elizabeth who were killed in July 1983…A third member of the group, Brian Victor, escaped injured but alive.” AI’s report said. The report also stated “At least two more people, ‘Espedit’ Jean Guillaume and Alton Ah-Time ‘disappeared’ during 1984.
Rene is known not to have hesitated to use violence against his own government, as Prime Minister in the Mancham’s government, in 1977 when he ousted the then democratically elected President James Richard Mancham in a violent coup. He has also used violence as a tool to instill fear and terror amongst the populace and to maintain absolute power and control over the people as President.
President Michel has officially announced that he has appointed a retired Irish Judge to investigate the events of October 3rd. Since President James Michel was not in the Country on the 3rd October 2006 at the time of the incident, speculation is rife as to whether the order to brutally assault the SNP leaders came directly from Maison du Peuple. The Judge has also to consider whether the Public Order Act is consistent with the right of assembly guaranteed under the present Constitution?
In light of Rene’s recent comment the Judge has to interview him as well if the investigation is to have any semblance of credibility to the Seychellois public!
