9:18PM BST 24 Oct 2015
Opposition parties in the island paradise of the Seychelles have cried foul after the lead challenger to the president in coming elections was arrested over what they say are trumped up charges of molesting a Sri Lankan “houseboy”.
Patrick Pillay, a former High Commissioner to Britain who welcomed theDuke and Duchess of Cambridge to the islands for their honeymoonfour years ago, was questioned by police last week and is now waiting to hear whether the Attorney General will charge him.
A former minister, in April he announced the birth of a breakaway party from the Parti Lepep, the all-powerful ruling group which has in various incarnations run the country for 36 years.
He is accused of bringing a 30-year-old Sri Lankan, Gihan Fernando, to the principal island of Mahe against his will, forcing him to work as a virtual slave between December last year and February this year, and making sexual advances towards him.
The “revelations” came just a month before Seychellois were due to go to the polls to either elect a new president or return to office James Michel, the incumbent and protege of France Rene, the islands’ former dictator. Mr Michel has himself been at the helm for 11 years.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge Photo: Eddie Mulholland/The Telegraph
Mr Pillay insists the charges hanging over him are a sign of the government’s “panic” over the first serious political challenge to its hegemony for decades.
He questioned how his accuser found the money to return to the Indian Ocean archipelago from the Sri Lankan village where he lives in penury, claiming he had been put up in a five-star hotel and given police protection during his visit.
The government has turned on Mr Pillay after he broke away from the ruling party and announced his decision to stand for the new Lalyans Seselwa (Seychellois Alliance) party. Mr Michel has publicly called him a "traitor".
The affair of the Sri Lankan houseboy took another twist after Mr Pillay claimed that the night after he was questioned his house on the normally crime-free slopes of Morne Blanc mountain was broken into and his pet puppy Goldie fatally stabbed.
Other opposition parties have rallied round Mr Pillay and hinted that they may now form a coalition to try to bring down the government if the “acts of intimidation, threats and accusations” continued.
In a meeting with the electoral commission, Wavel Ramkalawan of the Seychelles National Party denounced the Fernando case as one of “government abusing State resources” and said the accusations against Mr Pillay were an attempt to “denigrate, humiliate and destroy him”.
Patrick Pillay, minister for foreign affairs of Seychelles Photo: AFP
Another presidential candidate, Alexia Amesbury, the first woman to run for office in the country, told the commission that eight of her dogs had also been killed, her family had been followed and threatened and her mobile phones were “being interfered with”.
“What kind of regime acts in this cowardly fashion?” she asked.
The electoral commission has responded by delaying the election to December. Meanwhile an official from the ruling party told The Telegraph that Seychellois opposition parties were just being vocal in their complaints.
“It’s strange how it’s always the opposition these things happen to,” the unnamed man, who described himself as a member of the party’s central executive committee said.
The party declined to comment further.
Political intrigue is nothing new in the island paradise, where everyone knows everyone in a population of just 90,000 and the same family names crop up regularly in the island’s real estate and tourism industries as well as in political and government circles.
Once a British colony, Seychelles gained independence in 1976 but was the following year seized by a military coup which installed France-Albert René as president. He led a socialist, one-party state for 16 years before eventually opening the field to opposition parties and then handing over power to Mr Michel in 2004.
During Mr René’s tenure, there were attempts to wrest back control, most memorably an abortive coup launched by former Irish rifleman named Mike Hoare travelling with a group of mercenaries disguised as a rugby team, with AK-47s hidden in false bottoms in their luggage.
Panoramic view of beach and coconut palms Fregate Island Seychelles Photo: Alamy
A prominent exiled opponent of Mr René was shot and killed on his London doorstep in November 1985, and in February 1992 another alleged coup attempt, purported to have the backing of the CIA and more foreign mercenaries, was put down – the last attempt to overthrow the government by force.
Alex Vines, Africa Director for the Chatham House think-tank, said the country’s traditional reputation for opacity made it a magnet for money launderers and those involved in the international drugs trade.
“At one point, there was the offer of residency and even a passport – advertised in the British Airways magazine at one point I believe – if you invested a large amount of money in property there,” he said.
Among foreigners who have sunk their money into the Seychelles is Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al-Nahyan, the president of the United Arab emirates, who built a vast new palace with 360-degree views across the Indian Ocean on a former US Air Force base.
The project prompted riots after its sewage plant allowed diesel and raw effluent to seep into local water sources, prompting its 800 nearest residents to lodge claims against Sheikh Khalifa for potential repercussions.
Sheikh Kalifa offered compensation to those affected and this year has offered a $9m grant to the government to build 100 more units of social housing.
The Seychelles government points to projects such as these, along with free primary and secondary education and healthcare, subsidised transport and the highest ranking in Africa on the UN’s Human Development Index as evidence that Mr Michel should remain where he is.
Mr Pillay is unlikely to win the forthcoming election. Nevertheless, his candidacy represents the first serious political challenge in decades.
“The ruling party is less confident this time than it would have been in previous years,” said one local analyst, who did not wish to be named. “There is a lot of effort going into the campaign and ministerial teams have been grounded from all foreign travel.”
The analyst said the allegations against Mr Pillay were no surprise. “The suggestion of homosexuality, a big taboo in many African countries, is the best way to smear people.”
Neither Mr Pillay, nor the Seychellois police spokesman Jean Toussaint, nor a spokesman for the ruling party could be reached for comment.
10 comments:
Miss Liang,,pl actions is nothing less than State Terrorism.It is anazing to see the thugs who organizated thr trandportation of Indians as csttles in containers are mounting all kinds of fabricated accusations against the oppositions.......
U s aouted Miss Liang,that “Mr Pillay is unlikely to win“...seychellois on their part firmly believe that,“pl thugocracy is likely to be defeated“,,not by Pillay but by thr people themselvrs and a united Opposition Common candidate,in a second round........pl fraud and manipulating elrction machine has berb exposed,seized....in other wordd,pl cannot elect itself as has bern thr case,so far by rigging election........which rxplains Pls resortation to intimidation,fake accusation,maybe soon murder,impridonment,rape,bombing,,and of means a state terrorist dytrm as pl has in it,tyrannic arsenal.........pl is disperate......and those like michel who has blood of their hands,are living in constant fear,fot change means jail for them.......
I was told that Michel after calling a snap election in December,is feeling so worry that his defeat is eniminent,that he is planning to conduct a coup detat againdt himself......put himself a second time a coup on power,where he could do what he cannot now,,,namely,put curfew in place,arrrest all his opposition and jail them at will..murder innocent asche did in 1976,-and ban all political parties and reinstore a dictaordhip as that in Belarud,if not north korea....
Fear of defeat id making michel run amok...while his thug~police~chief,his thuggidh Assembly,SAFC,UN,AU, and most intrllrctual in this country have their asdhole zipped as if the have constipation.
Changing is coming,harrasdment ,fear,intimidation would not dtop it.....Recent history show,hode who use terror to silence thevpoeople in the 21st century,always end up a sewage rat... ..ask gaddafi he will tell u.
4 decades of the terror~ridden dictatorshio of pl,Seychellois have had enough.Sexchellois are decent and honest people,and they refuse to accept that their country is ruled by a gang of thugs.Despite relentless harassment,intimidation,fabricated accusation,,the poeple have decided and ready to face pl terror regime face to face in December,and will make sure that seycheles finally has a government of their choice..a government ..Of the people,by the people and for the people........
The wind of change sready blowing over seychelles,can not be stopped,not even by the use of terror....this wind will turn into a tsunami for pl in December,when it strike,pl only hiding place. ...,for those like chief terrorist michel..would be dictators safehaven Saudi Arabia,and many who would not make it to Dubai,montagn possee gulag would become their safehaven forvlife...(but only ifcseychellois do not restort to poetic justice)........
Seychellois wnat control over their own lives,country and destiny......they want a leader oftheir choice,chosen by seychelloisvin free and fair election......thry refuse the idea of being rule by a beast like Michel.....
Michel andvilks in the assembly,thugs dressed in police uniform,secret police,complice will FACECJUSTICE.
I personally believe that thugs like Michel,who also believe hevis avgreat army genral should face military court,and sentence to death by hanging or execution.....and body flow the sharks.......
For now,seychellois isbpreparing to defeat michel...we will see howvthey going to bevpunished later.
Michel has sinked into subhuman depts with hitler.Everyone of his acts of smallness,meanness,throws light on the boundless wretchedless of the human animal.
Intimidation,harressment,animal tortured of opposition members pets,is a masterpiece of uncertainty,inanity,vacility...and so forth.It defines,“terorism“
Fear of defeat is paralizing Michel.....his reaction to fear is to transport his own fear to the oposition by terrorizing them.
We must not be surprise,that he increases his terror tactics as the election date come closer....he will as any tyrants before him have done.....run amok and shoot on everything thing,any persons,in his way ad fefeat aproaches....he will be jailef.
Michel is using the same tactics as Venrzurlas Dictator...arrest and jail ur opponents..........to silence them and keep a clich on power.
Thr people have bern watching pl so far..i hope michrl does not push them to take to the strrets and end pl dictatorship in lybia style..
Michel serms is asking for it,he might get it hot if he does not stop hs harassrment on his opponent...
I too have been tipped from inside James Michel inner camp that he now really fears defeat by Pat Pillay.
He has said he will use FORCE to stay in power. The dictators sense of violence, thuggery run deep in his veins.
Add to this ! James Michel is not too smart. He lacks political instinct. He is more of a dull , un sharpen political creature.
The Article, while accurate misses these points.
Pillay demonstrates a keen sense of compassion and humanity, that Michel just simply does not have.
Michel is a functional robotic personality.
His hand shake is meaningless. His smile is fake. His intelligence is TelePrompTer initiated. He relies on volumes and volumes of prepared statements. He lacks a sense of compassion for his own people. If you have a problem, he is not accessible neither is his. Access to the President is by 11.00 pm summons after Lise Bastienne has convinced him there is a problem. If you miss this support , you are done.
How can a country be run like that?
Pillay is very much in the race, thanks to the support of many opposition factions. Only Ramkalawan is pushing a run, he should be ashamed of himself. That is a disgrace in itself. I understand from the inside source, PL sent people to dance in. His little rally to keep the numbers fluffy.
Michel has proven not only that he can get loser than a snake!s belly in a wagon rut,but also but that he is the grandmaster of sewage politics .His smear campaigne designed to vilify,malign,demean the opposition.
As to RAM,he is an esrtwhile chief of puppeteer,who can not find a leader in himself.Under his leadership SNP is simply a tragicomedy,and made him a durben to his own party.
Wen i speak my mind freely about SNP,itcis merely to CLEAN THE CLOSET,so that SNP could begin afres on the long walk to democracy.To save SNP, its members must recognize that has sufred considerably loss of credibility by making public spectacles of his endless brickering,carping,dithering,internal squabbles,pettiness and by failing to articulatea coherent setof principles.He has deply and sorely dissapointed the public.
When u ask the people,for instance,about Rams candidacy,the most common reaction is a grimace.A party of youth,said“He is foot soldier of pl.Hr will cary out any order michel gives him.Thatcoath of loyalty and stogery,shows how deeply pl has handcuffed,chained,and transformed him,“Inother words,pl has managed to turn him into a devoted cadre.
Have u heradvhis reaction towards Alexia/Pilay harressement?Ram made a tarfy noise“aww gwad“.This knee~jerk reaction to Michel!s demise,barely reglect the stogery of rsm.A litle prick,and shows no attempt to objrctivity.He is virtually,totaly aligned to the governmentvof the day,..he is not oposed to the thuggery of Michels sadistic acts.His reaction,was just a tilt to the tyrant.His little prick,was not a sign of break away from his masters bromance with the harassement wizards.
Ram is a stooge.lying and hoodwinking the public,he iscrepresenting a deficit in character.“i am,seycheles Sspartacus,“rather than,a conspiracy defraud,..Ram attrmpt to dodge shows his pl heritage,inherited from Ram senior.He an arid spirit,who bastardize seychelles! Politics.
He must go wizh Michel.
SNP has imploded and Michel has propelled Pillay as the front runner.
This is the word on the streets.
This is the word in the Embassy and internationally.
Praslin and La Digue is pushing for Pillay.
Ile Preservans is pushing for Pillay
Michel is known worldwild for his eractic behaviour.His resent harrassement tactics,shows the antics of a sadistic thug.Modern day banditry.
But Michel has got visibly agitated..proof ...when blah blah about about the opposition,he froths at the mouth.Pilay is showing him who is,the real adult in the classroom,and shows,thatcis moraly superior than his aggressor,Thug Michel
Ram is trying hard to rubbish the opposition.....his pasive reactions towards pls i.timidation game... is Rams jowls up michels cheeks....and the auality ofvpublic debates suffers.because he plays the role of pls national stooge.He of course as very four year,hecrun for election just for window dressing thecpl.Itvis nutty,but quaintly Ram.You can dodgecurvpl heritage Ram.
Michel is the brother of Satan. Ask him. He will not deny it.
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