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Saturday, June 4, 2016

Seychelles Cuts A Raw Nerve


The Seychelles political scene has suffered a raw nerve laceration this week with the Second Round Presidential Election Petition before the Seychelles Constitutional Court. The judgment endured like a marathon of improper practices, being exposed, by the Justices. Each took a turn to read a part of the Judgment, which was actually Two cases. After a Four (4) hour endurance read, the first case- Dismissed. The second case- Dismissed. The first case was passable, but the second case, was jaw dropping for any one. 
In particular, was the order that the Election Commissioner strike Mr. Wavel Ramkalawan from the Voters List, for his role in drafting a letter to Tamils appealing for support in exchange for some concessions. What shocked me about this was how effortlessly the Justice made the order. This man, whatever his issues may or may not be was a Presidential candidate who came within 83 votes of a victory. He filed a case before the courts, attended each session, pushed the envelope card for Democracy forward, in the case. His opponent, the Respondent, Was never called to appear before the courts. This is a great imbalance in the proceedings and the result to is a great injustice to Mr. Ramkalawan and to Seychelles.
 

Post Court Ruling Rally
LDS immediately gathered at the Unity Car Park and voiced out. Mr. Ramkalawan had some fighting words for the Judges, it was recorded and aired on social media. Others referred to the Respondent openly in Public an idiot. Emotions ran high. But worse, a raw nerve in Seychelles politics was struck, the damage will compound our problems for the remainder of the year, and perhaps into the next decade. I am deeply sadden because Seychelles has been pushed to a point of no return, there will be casualties, the people, will suffer, and suffering will be compounded upon suffering.
PL Congress
The next day, PL held another Congress. They do this every year. They advertise some celebrations over June 5 th weekend, presumably to celebrate the judgment, insuring Michel stays at least until the end of the year,if he likes or next year. 
The appeal Michel made was to continue the next struggle. The struggle ahead he said, was a big challenge. He is right. His party is at an all time low for support. It is plausible that he is running the country as a minority party today, with LDS the largest party in the country. But PL has one vote LDS does not have: The Courts!

The Country Has A Raw Nerve
Ever seen a dispute turn ugly with personal attacks? Well, in Seychelles, politics has gotten very personal dismissing basic tenets of decency, expected in a civilized country. Our politics today is a mix of citing civil and criminal codes with a blend of cursing each other denigrating each other to the point of incoherence. It is unhealthy, and it is very un patriotic. For me, personally, if we have to resort to such lowly attacks towards each other, we may as well fight it out and pick a winner, declare a loser. A country cannot function without civility, and dignity, mutual respect.

The Courts Should Lead By Example

The Constitutional Court should lead by example, and show the people what respect means, civility, decency. They can start by tendering their resignations. Then political parties should follow suite, turn a new leaf, dialogue in the interest of the nation, find solutions , stop victimizing  
your fellow Seychellios. Please Stop The Hate on all sides!
For the Courts, the Opposition should insure that this is done ( resignations) especially since one Judge sits on the Court of Appeals as well, a Conflict of Interest, which God only knows why the Bar has not objected to in the first place. Attending Respondents post judgment party sipping wine, at State House, for a judge is collusion - fraternizing and is  grounds for resignation as well.
It shows overtly, for the World to see, the Judge was not ever " Impartial". She was " Partial all along". 
I ask the Church to intervene, seek common ground to move this country forward, before she implodes, the country not the Judge. Right now it is closer to implosion then moving forward. 

Save Our Seychelles! (SOS)

May God Bless All Freedom Loving Seychellois!

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

This is the best post you have ever written on your blog. You should send it to all the newspapers to be printed and display your name proudly. Seychelles is polarized and the country has serious issues that cannot be sorted out by politics. We need some kind of forum to sort out these serious issues in order to move forward. A transitional Govertment should be put in place during that period and then we can have elections in a few years when laws have been amended to change our constitution for the better. The best thing is to get rid of political parties forever and only individual candidtes can run for President or Assembly, without having a party behind them. We need to forever banish red, green, blue, yellow and all political colours from Seychelles.

Anonymous said...

Mr Gill, I salute your wisdom. I do not want to point fingers, unfortunately, the ball is in JAM's court. I am very sure if he extend his hand to LDS, both RAM & Tom Pat will make an effort for the sake of Seychelles. It is JAM who is in a position to effect swift changes. After todays LDS rally, JAM has some serious thinking to do, if he has genuine love for Seychelles and its people ! Let us promise ourselves that we will fight clean for the sake of each and every individual Seselwa, irrespective si e ek nou or ek zotte !

Anonymous said...

James Mixhel believes he can dodge change and leave when he likes, leaving Danny Faure with the mess to deal with.
The call for change is getting louder, and Mr. Michel should take this situation seriously.
If the opposition moves to civil disobedience and strategic protest, instead of motorcades and a few speeches, Mr. Michel will be destabilized.
Fundamentally he is very very weak. He lacks a solid majority and arguably is President by minority rule . A weak mandate usually gets weaker, before it gets stronger.
If the opposition presses in a strategic manner, Mr. Michel will not be able to run the country.
It is in his interest more then any one else to initiate dialogue.
He best thicken his skin.

C Gill

Anonymous said...

Mr Gill seeing you have direct access to Minister St Ange, maybe you can have a quiet word with Minister and ask him to intervene and talk some sense into JAM. I am sure none of us want Seychelles to decend into chaos. Unfortunately, this is where we are heading since the constitutional court ruling a week ago. LDS have grown from strength to strength. Professionals who you did not expect to show their political allegiances are now doing so in the open and they are showing open support to LDS. At this rate I do not think June 2016 will end well for Seselwa because LDS is now stronger than PL and JAM is not helping the situation by being stubborn. Now is the time for JAM to negotiate his way out with LDS, before it gets to the point of no return. JAM can no longer be trusted, he says one thing and he does something else. Example the SR5050 for pensioners. So when JAM says he is strong, we translate that as weak. He has started singing nou la, nou la. LDS has now hijacked 5th June as Enslavement Day and a Dark Day in the history of Seychelles. JAM has lost the plot and he is fearing the consequences, hence my suggestion of a negotiated exit. I am sure LDS have a heart to ensure compassion for the current fellow Seselwa Ministers, President and past Presidents. A very concerned Seselwa.

Anonymous said...

MTHILDA IS A HARDCORE PL MEMBER ..lAST YEAR SHE DICIDED TO GO nd live in irelaND ..tHE NmICHEL CALLED HER BACK TO COME A RAPE JUSTICE ........oPPOSTION SHOULD PUSH THAT no foreignerts ARE PLACED IN HIGH POSITIONS LIKE Ju7dges in our soveriegn country -Beleive me ,Not a even those primitive TALIBAN would accept that ofreigenrs come and take high poistio0n in the soveiregn land ....That is not soveiregnty but neo coloninization.....Foreign judges like Ungandan or aFRICAN S ARE UNDER QUALFIED ,THEY HAve aCHEIVED NOTHING IN THEIR OWN COUNTRY THAt is why Pl like them ,,,breing them here to raPE OUE RIGHTS And aBUSED OUR INSTITUIONS .....
mATHILDA SHOULD BE SHOT DOWN .........SHE IS PROSTITUTE ,REAdy to do all for pl appretnly for millions of taqx money in return ....Thatr is contermpt of justice ....SHopuld A POLTICIAN BE STRUCK OFF THRE VOTER LIST BECAUSE HE WROTE A LETTERS TO THE PEOPLE OF pRASLIN TO VOTE FOR HIM?yES ,oNLY IN THE BUSH SUCH THINGS EXISTS........
tHOSE WQHO RAPED THE e COMMISSION POSITRION WAlked free ,while Raqm illegal has his name stuck on voter listzsx as if he is a foreigner.whAT RIGHTS DOES THERSE FOREIGENRS AND mATHILDA HAVE TO STRUCK OUT A SEYCHELLEÖIS CITIZENS NAme of voter lsits?
Shot this prostitue down .

Anonymous said...

1:23
Alain St. Ange is but a simple employee under contract. He has no influence on the Le Pep Central Committee (CC). He is an outsider, never allowed in the inner circle. In fact, his contract is ending, I expect him to be packing his bags and moving on. He too would make an excellent leader. He can fill the extra space under the blue tent.

I can put these proposals to the Vice President. He is tasked with resolving problems in the government. He has been pro business, and maintains a continued dialogue with the private sector. After all, it is Danny Faure who will inherit the problems of persistent divisions.

My suggestion to LDS is do not wait for JAM to come to his senses. Do what you must do. If he comes to his senses, you can decide if you would like to shift gears or not.

Mathilda Twomey- I have nothing much to say on this issue. However, her resignation is in order and the LDS must insist on it. You cannot present another electoral case before her. She is not credible. I have read her letter to Wavel Ramkalawan. It is just gibberish and disgraceful for a judge to stoop to la rivière commentary.

Sesel Pou Seelwa!

Christopher Gill

Anonymous said...

Mr Gill, I implore you to put these proposal to the Vice President for the sake of Seychelles. We do not want a broken Seychelles. We want a united Seychelles. Hopefully, if you can assist at this juncture, it will be amongst one of the noble deeds you have done for your motherland. Good luck with it.

Anonymous said...

The LDS needs to make the request.
So does the PL.
I have been pleading both sides to dialogue.
If we are as mature as we say we are, it is not an issue.
Sesel Pou Seselwa!

Christopher Gill

Anonymous said...

When we do not dialogue as a Nation we risk the losing the best possible solutions for our people.
Lack of dialogue is a indication of grave insecurity and lack of confidence.
The country is failing,
The revolution has failed miserably,
The quest for submission of a people has been diluted by the voice of the voiceless.
Le Pep is sinking deeper and deeper.
Ignore them.

Anonymous said...

Dialogue is important particularly when human resources are strained, poverty level increasing, national yield dropping, though arrivals increasing.
The negative bombastic approach today makes me think many people have stayed silent too long, and held it all in over 40 years.
It is necessary to participate, contribute to the national debate. It is even our right. It is also our obligation to retain an air of civility in national affairs.
Failing that, we will end up in the streets.
I implore all sides, enter dialogue, untangle your yarn and get the country on the track where it should be.

Sesel Pou Seselwa!

Christopher Gill

Anonymous said...

Thecresultsof the Presidential Election as,was announved by EC and zhe decision of the Supreme Court have brought an end to the political contestations,neither have zhey conferred legitimacy on the outcome of the election in the minds of a significant number of seychellois.It is regretable that over zhe years,similar and electoral crisis have been glossed over .o.ly for zhe same crisis to re~ocur on higher sxales.
We,however must appreciate zhat zhe current crisis,zhough electoral in.nature,is deeply roted in broader political and governance challenges.The crisis,if not comprehensively addressed,could further lead to a severe fracture in zhe social fabric of zhe Seychelles State and thus exacerbate the polarisation and possible paralysis of the political and socio~economic system.in Seychelles.

This existing political crisis stalemate presents Seychelles with an opportunity not only tocaddress zhe political causes of the prevailing situation,but also to discuss and zhrough a,National Dialogue and consensus pave a new political pathvin Seychelles.
Zhis National conversation is indeed critical if the country is to move forward.It is incumbent upon all politicalbactors to ensure any effort tocaddress the political challenges in Seychelles is through peaceful,mature,means.

The establishment ofca forum and formation ofca coordination committee composed of the representatives of zhe ruling party and oposition parties,monitor by neutral organizations such as church leaders,and public figures like Gill should be or could be the forward steo forward in the right direction.A codevof conduct and operational guidelines betwwen zhe rulingvparty and opposition signatory to the code of conduct is vital importance to zhe amicable coperation,betwwen zhevparties butvoperational transparency and accommodative political and maontainance of good faith and institutional relations is imperative.
The main aim of the political dialogue bevto resolve zhe problems of zhe Nation,not zo find out who is the winner or who is the loser.That is not what it is all about.Itvis to try and fond common ground zhatcare acceptable tovall parties concerned which would of course reauire some give and take.
Seychelles is,approaching a crucial moment in history.As zhecpolitical impasses escalates and the economic situation spirals out of control,the myriad effects of zhese Two phenomena make Seychelles society progressively more restless.

Personally i firmly believe derp inside both Michel and Ram would like to gind common ground,but the hate they have developed since Decembers election has make dialogue imposdible...noone want to start calling for dialogue firdt for noone want to be ssen according to their state of mind as giving up zheirvpodition.
I believe church. Leadrrd,ngos,personality like Gill should take the initiative and call on ,organize with the support of the people a dialogue for politicians........with pressure only pl and thevopposition may be for tovtalk..Alone they will nrver do it.too much hate among them.

Anonymous said...

As the saying goes:" hate destroys everything".

Anonymous said...

LDS has started protest. It will intensify.
LDS is the majority- not PL

Anonymous said...

Street protest gives thevpeople the abilitty to manifest its dissent from governments policy etc...It can remedy defects in any,political system...itvis an indication of a vibrant and open~minded society,whereby the people seek to avoid political alienation and fond a futurum for political leverage........often hoping ruling party would negociate and open for dialogue and compromise.
However,protests are temporary........what comes after is also important.
What LDS is attempting zhrough its szreet action,i hope is to force zhe country into an abridged process zhat responds tobits vews of the lastcelection and rediculous court verdict.Of course,the court conclusion was arbitary because it was not proceded by any shared findings of fault against EC.

Now,let put thing into perpective.Asembly is a civil and constitutional right.Zhe problem with the legitimate Opposition protest aim at pressuring pl would not necessarily make pl change its,way,WHy?pl has literally the same number of supporters that it could use in a counter demonstration,thus zhe risk, of degenerating on to chaos.

Prostests,yes,it your right,but at certain.point protesters would have to come off the streets and engage in dialoggue.Dialogue is the move to stifle protest momentum.Dialogue would sooth fears and presents issues in a light that is positive zo zhe country.When there is no guaranteed resolution for a political problem,dialogue provides a chance for compromise.
The problem of LDs protest,it that while zhere is a powerful political engine running in the streets,it turns atvhighvspeech,and visually seems to be producing some political energy.But the engine is not connected to the wheels and so the movement doesnot move or waould not move far.
Dialogue is,an inclusive process:it brings together a diverse set of voices to create a microcosm of a larger society.Deepening ideological unconformity and partisan animosity and antipathy in to both politics and everyday life challenges one ofcthecpermise of a functioning democracy:zhe ability to make decisions thtough compromise.
Both pl and the opposition must now stop taking zhe nation hostage and threaten its well~being.While protests are legitimate,the situation is such in the Seychelles(that both party has 50%supporters)whichvmeans that if both side call on their supporters to take to the streets,chaos would reign,not peace,unityor stability........

After the protest should come dialogue........Mediation and diplomacy remain zhe main instruments for a resolution of a crisis.Should partisan move further apart,the middle would shrink.Itvis time zhat pl and opposition meet halfway rather than hold out for more of what zhey want.
The political intolerance echbited by both parties must stop,.At the moment,both parties remain dug in and recalcitrant,believing zhat zhey would win on zhe battle field of hatred.But it is coming clear zhat zhe country would self~destruct,and that unless some intervention occurred zhere would be catastrosphic consequences.
Divided Nation,split into a sort of ALIEN TRIBES rather than rival parties.Time to stop dividing the country and take the nation hostage...........

Anonymous said...

Without dialogue, the country will wilt into chaos.
Agreed the engine is not connected to the wheels of LDS.
But Afif is smart and a fast learner.
Once he connects the dots, it will be a different game.
Protest combined with clear conditions, sit ins, boycotts organized, calculated will destabilize PL and the country will suffer as long as dialogue is not the order of the day.
Extremist on both sides need to be hidden in closets.
Look at the damage Ferrari did in just 3 mins. to the country with is acid tongue.
He did not tell us what happen to Gilbert Morgan or Mickey Mancham........too sensitive.

Sesel Pou Seselwa!

Christopher Gill

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