Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Johanne Prosper
Published on 2024-03-25 15:00:07
– Percy Yip Tong: “This is just the beginning: we are waiting for the verdicts of the cases in Court and asking the GM to be reasonable”
The march organized by the citizen collective Pa Tous Nou Sim Card took place on Saturday in the streets of Port Louis. Citizens, along with the participation of members of political parties, both parliamentary and extra-parliamentary opposition, activists, unionists, and artists. A letter to the citizens was also read by the organizers, in the context that “the 60% of Mauritians who have not yet re-registered their Sim Cards are waiting.”
Led by two Mauritian women, Lyndee Lutchmiah and Linda Lam, the citizen collective ‘Pa Tous Nou Sim Card’ is pleased with the citizen participation. “What is happening in our country right now is serious. It started with the experimental vaccine. Now, there is the re-registration of Sim cards. Then, there is the new biometric card. Doesn’t all of this seem part of some plan? Are our fundamental freedoms as free citizens in a democracy not in danger, threatened?” says Lundee Lutchmiah, hoping that “all Mauritians take the time to think. Do not become sheep. Do not succumb to fear or intimidation. Power belongs to the people. Let’s take responsibility.”
Linda Lam echoes the same sentiment: “What we are doing today, to demand our rights and uphold our freedoms as guaranteed by our Constitution, is to ensure a better future for our children! We want a Mauritius where it is good to live and where we will all, as a nation, be happy to live. We do not want a country where our human rights are restricted!”
The two women point out that “we are not opponents of the government. Within our collective, there are members who support the current government, and others who are against. We are an open group. What unites us is this common cause because we all have the same feeling that this regulation to re-register our Sim cards, and other regulations, do not respect human rights and freedoms.”
Percy Yip Tong, activist and artistic director who joined the collective, adds, “we had 500 to 600 participants, from all walks of life, who responded to the call and took to the streets. But the most important thing is that we know that the 60% who have not yet re-registered are not indifferent! They saw us, they heard us! And now, they too will think twice before re-registering their Sim Cards.”
Former head of the Collective Urgence Toxida (CUT), of which he was one of the founding members, Percy Yip Tong emphasizes that “the argument of traffic control put forward by the government to justify this re-registration of Sim Cards, it is clear now that it does not hold water! We ask the GM to be reasonable.” He adds: “today, this march is the beginning of a campaign. Of course, we will follow the process. There are cases already in court, filed by Rama Valayden and Ivor Tan Yan from Linion Moris, PTr lawyer Pazhany Rangasamy, and also by Me Sanjeev Teeluckdharry. The judgments that the Court will deliver are important. We will decide on our next actions in this regard.”
Members of parliamentary and extra-parliamentary opposition parties, including Stéphanie Anquetil, Arvin Boolell, and Eshan Juman from the PTr, Rama Valayden, Nando Bodha, Ivor Tan Yan, and Raouf Khodabocus from Linion Moris, and Patrick Belcourt from En Avant Moris participated in this march. In the crowd, unionists such as Narendranath Gopee from FCSOU, as well as activists like Bruneau Laurette, Jayen Chellum, Rajen Narsinghen, and Ivan Bibi were also present.
Statements:
Rama Valayden: “Human beings are everywhere”
“The entire opposition – parliamentary and extra-parliamentary – must absolutely unite around this cause! It is our duty to guarantee the fundamental freedoms of every Mauritian. What this government is doing, it concerns everyone! We, at Linion Moris, pledge that if we are in power, we will remove all these restrictive laws. What is happening with this re-registration of Sim Cards directly affects the rights of citizens. And it is not correct.”
Ivor Tan Yan: “Violation of human rights”
“The founding fathers of the Mauritian nation, Bissoondoyal, Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam, Sir Gaëtan Duval fought to give us a Constitution guaranteeing our freedoms and rights. And this government comes up with a regulation, I clarify, it is not a law and it is a weak element that has not been passed in Parliament, to put pressure on the people! It is a violation of human rights in all its opacity.”
Nando Bodha: “Our freedom of association is in danger”
“Data storage in any state is done for verification purposes only, not for identification. Can we be assured that this government will not misuse our biometric data? Furthermore, with all this personal data: fingerprints, facial recognition, and geolocation technology, our rights of association are in danger!”
Raouf Khodabocus: “It doesn’t make sense”
“What this GM is asking for does not make sense. We, as citizens, are already registered with the operators. Why should the State intervene in these matters and obtain our personal data?”
Jayen Chellum: “People need to rise up!”
“It is a trampling of the fundamental rights, the freedoms of every individual! This reason of drug trafficking control is worthless. There are many other ways to do that. There are many suspicions in the minds of Mauritians. Let the government not take us for fools! Stop this authoritarian behavior! And stop scaring citizens! People should not be afraid. People need to rise up!”
Arvin Boolell: “Elections are coming, they are taking advantage”
“With the elections coming, they are taking advantage of everything! This GM has already started a series of measures that go against the rights of citizens. Our democracy is in danger. With this issue of personal and biometric data, cases of Impersonation in the upcoming elections are very likely!”
Eshan Juman: “The timing is not innocent”
“The timing of the government in this matter is very suspicious! Why put so much pressure just a few months before the elections? The timing is not innocent! This government is trying to control everything… And the argument of drug trafficking is illogical: what about the Sim Cards that we buy abroad and that allow us to continue using social networks?”
Rajen Narsinghen: “Grant a Stay of Execution on this regulation”
“I appeal to the judges of the Supreme Court. The people have full confidence in our judiciary. But we also know that our judiciary tends to be conservative. So, in this specific case, I ask our judges to be courageous, bold, and take a stand. Grant a Stay of Execution on this regulation, which is not a law.
“I do not blame the judiciary. I fully understand. I want to remind you that in this country, currently, only the judiciary and the office of the DPP are still independent. And when we see all the difficulties that the GM and the police are causing to the DPP’s office, we realize how vulnerable and seriously endangered our democracy is.”
Ivan Bibi: “Harassment, Intimidation, and Threats”
“It is clear that the government wants to spy on the people! This is a clear attempt in that direction. Especially with the upcoming elections… this harassment, intimidation, threats, it is not normal. This is a Regulation, therefore not a law. If it was a law, it would have been unconstitutional.”
Narendranath Gopee: “Dangerous times”
“This is a battle for the respect of individual freedom. The State seeks to monitor and spy on citizens by all means. Popular pressure must increase to prevent them from moving forward. Fortunately, procedures are already in Court, and we have high hopes for them. Our country is going through dangerous times for its freedom and democracy.”
Read the original article(French) on Le Mauricien
