BY VEENA DHOLAH
PORT LOUIS — The government of Mauritius has passed very repressive legislation, supposedly to "curb terrorism". The laws passed on February 4, only four days after they were made public.
The laws provide for the denial of bail and the power to hold a suspected "terrorist" for 36 hours incommunicado. The prime minister has been given the power to "give such directions as appear to him to be necessary" to "a person who provides information and communication services". In other words, blanket control over internet servers, telecommunications, the postal services and the press.
The state will be able to deny "terrorists" the right to a public trial, ban organisations, gag the press, force people to act as informers and incarcerate people for interrogation. Searches without warrant will be allowed, and Mauritian citizenship can be revoked if a person is declared an "international terrorist".
The new laws provide for a minimum sentence of five years and maximum of 30 years for anyone convicted of a "terrorist act". It defines this as "an act which may seriously damage a country" (meaning a foreign country or Mauritius) "or an international organisation" (which would include the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and World Trade Organisation), which may "influence such government, or international organisation" (thus outlawing many demonstrations) and which "involves or causes interference with or disruption of the supply of water, power or any other fundamental natural resource, the effect of which is to endanger life" (a definition that would outlaw many strikes).
Parliament passed the bills in spite of widespread protests and in the absence of the official parliamentary opposition, which had walked out in protest at the very short period of time for public debate.
The revolutionary socialist party Lalit, together with the General Workers Federation, on January 31 called a meeting of the ad hoc committee that had organised the resistance that defeated the anti-democratic Public Security Act in December 1999. The ad hoc committee includes representatives of most of the trade union movement, pro-democracy political and social organisations and progressive individuals.
In the days leading up to the vote in the National Assembly, there were widespread public protests against the bills, from editors of the main newspapers, the Bar Council, all political parties not in the government alliance and even an ex-chief justice. The ad hoc committee circulated a letter of protest amongst all members of the National Assembly, asking them not to vote in favour of such repressive legislation.
On the evening that the bills passed, the ad hoc committee organised a peaceful and symbolic action in front of the assembly building with candles.
The bills have been sent to the president of Mauritius for his "assent", which means they could still be withheld if he considers the legislation undermines the fundamental rights central to a democracy.
Lalit is determined to continue its campaign against these repressive laws and, considering that such repressive laws are being debated and voted in many countries, feels that a coordinated international campaign would be appropriate.
[Veena Dholah is a member of Lalit. A representative of Lalit will be attending the second Asia Pacific International Solidarity Conference in Sydney, March 29-April 1. Visit .]
From 91×ÔÅÄÂÛ̳ Weekly, February 20, 2002.
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