Special defence force unit set up to combat piracy
A new elite unit has been set up in the defence forces to counter piracy and help safeguard the integrity of our country.
The special force, named Tazar, was introduced to President James Michel, Commander-in-Chief of the Seychelles People’s Defence Forces (SPDF), during a ceremony yesterday at the Seychelles Defence Academy.
Also present were defence forces chief Brigadier Leopold Payet, secretary of state Jean-Paul Adam, Indian high commissioner Asit Kumar Nag, Indian army officers, French naval officers and senior Seychelles government officials.
Addressing the audience, the President congratulated the SPDF on the birth of this elite unit and said it will bring a new dimension to the defence forces.
He announced in June this year that the unit was to be set up, and yesterday’s launch came 28 years to the day after the SPDF faced its first battle to defend the country’s integrity.
“In the past many people have questioned the existence of the SPDF. But on November 25, 1981, we saw its importance and today with acts of piracy in our territorial waters we again see its necessity,” said Mr Michel.
He also took the opportunity to thank the defence forces for their courage and determination to defend our country and its people.
We need to prepare our forces for the future and to continue restructuring our coast guard and units on land to give them more training and resources so they become more professional and make us proud, he added.
“The quality of our officers is important; they should be very exemplary and innovative, and give all their best to the force and the country,” said Mr Michel.
Brigadier Payet said the unit has followed training in commando work, VIP security, how to combat terrorism and conduct special maritime operations.
“To reinforce their operational competence, a group in this unit has just come back from parachute training in India and has also shared expertise in a joint operation with the Indian forces,” he said.
The Tazar unit, which is based at L’Exile, Sans Soucis, is fully armed and equipped to take on any threats to the security of our country, and to fight against piracy in our waters.
Yesterday’s event coincided with activities to mark Defence Forces Day, held each year since 1982 to commemorate the successful repulsion by our defence forces of a mercenary invasion on November 25, 1981.
Source: NATION 11-26-09