Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Johanne Prosper
Published on 2024-04-13 16:00:48
Complaint lodged in Supreme Court and hunger strike soon to be considered
The Rann Nou Later movement protested once again in the capital yesterday. They are protesting against the government’s decision to revoke the lands granted to the Mauritius Tamil Council Cultural Trust and the Indo-Mauritian Catholic Association. A complaint was filed in court last week. One component of the platform is also considering initiating a hunger strike soon.
The response of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Lands and Housing, Steven Obeegadoo, to the Private Notice Question (PNQ) from the Leader of the Opposition, Xavier-Luc Duval, on April 2nd, has angered the Tamil organizations. The DPM’s refusal to reverse his decision and apologize to the community is seen as a lack of respect by the Rann Nou Later movement, which protested in Port-Louis yesterday. Devarajen Kanaksabee, president of the Mauritius Tamil Council Cultural Trust and spokesperson for the platform, explains: “One year after the previous PNQ from the Leader of the Opposition, Steven Obeegadoo has once again refused to backtrack, despite different representations. Furthermore, he refused to apologize. This land in Réduit holds sentimental value for Tamils, both Christians and non-Christians. It is meant to be the site for our cultural centers.”
He indicates that the proposed land in Côte-d’Or is not suitable. “In fact, it’s so far away that it’s no longer in Côte-d’Or, but rather in Hermitage. This was a unilateral decision made by the government, with the collaboration of a few officials,” he says. A complaint was indeed filed in court last week, which will be called soon. “We have the standing to challenge this decision, as our interests have been trampled upon. As beneficiaries, we have a say in this. A handful of people cannot decide for a community of around 150,000 people,” he asserts.
Further actions are planned if the government continues to ignore the demands. One component of the platform, the ONEX organization, is planning a hunger strike. “We are not looking for confrontation, but we want our voice to be heard. We will also conduct an awareness campaign across the island, especially through the distribution of leaflets. The hunger strike will come very soon,” it is understood.
Regarding Steven Obeegadoo’s argument that other organizations have already accepted land in Côte-d’Or, Devarajen Kanaksabee replies: “These organizations are made up of officials and political nominees. They have never contested the government’s decision. On the contrary, it is because of us that they will have land in Côte-d’Or. If we had not protested, they would have had nothing.”
Aurokium, Vice-President of the Indo-Mauritian Catholic Association (IMCA), also laments the government’s approach. He explains that the IMCA had applied for a permit for the construction of its center since 2018. “The land was granted in 2003, but it was only in 2010 that we signed the contract. From 2018 to 2023, we applied for a Building and Land Use Permit at the Moka District Council. The file then went to the Ministry of Lands. However, from 2018 to 2023, we never received a letter indicating that our request had been considered. Neither from the Ministry of Lands, nor the Moka Council…”
On the other hand, Gaetan Aurokium continues, the IMCA received a letter in April 2023. “It stated that we had to vacate the land, as we had not built anything so far. But how can they ignore our construction permit request and then say that we have not built anything?” he wonders.
Furthermore, he points out that the IMCA only had 48 hours to find a solution after receiving the letter. Reacting to Steven Obeegadoo’s statement that the government will take care of the construction of the cultural centers in question, Gaetan Aurokium questions why such a decision is being made now. “Since all this time that we were given the land, why was construction not funded earlier? We waited to take back this land to propose that!”
For the IMCA, the situation is even more complicated as the association does not receive any government subsidies or CSR money. “We only rely on our members.”
He makes a personal appeal to DPM Obeegadoo: “Out of respect for his father, Claude Obeegadoo, who was the president of the IMCA for many years and worked tirelessly for the association, I ask him to reconsider his decision. I find it unfortunate that Steven Obeegadoo has no recognition for the IMCA after all that his father has done.”
He adds that this land was granted in recognition of the hard work of their ancestors, who came to Mauritius and helped build the country. He thanks the Leader of the Opposition, Xavier-Luc Duval, as well as MP Deven Nagalingum for raising parliamentary questions on this matter.
Read the original article(French) on Le Mauricien
