Blue eyed boy, Minister Jean Paul Adam got much more than he
bargained for. Following the release of the Human Rights Report by the US
Department of State, the blue eyed minister was quick to dismiss every single
word of it and publicly invited the US Department of State to come to
Seychelles where they would have firsthand experience of our human rights
situation. This bluff has been played several times and he has been successful
in marshaling rapporteurs in government’s favour but the US would not be
bluffed.
The US promptly responded by sending the second most
official of the Department of State in Africa, Ambassador Robert Jackson.
Ambassador Jackson did not come to assess the situation; he was clear in his
mind what he had to do. He was here to inform the government of Seychelles on
behalf of the government of the US that what they were doing was unacceptable.
The POA (Public Order Act) must be amended or repealed, he stressed. His
juniors must have been more forceful in the closed deliberations they had at
State House. We keep wondering where James Michel was at the time while Danny
Faure was in the firing line. Minister Adam must have stayed moot. What an embarrassment
after so much hype about the country’s unblemished human rights record. The
NHRC will do well to take note.
As the Americans bring the POA issue to White House, it is
clear that the US government will not enter into any new programs with Michel’s
government. With the economy in shambles and the debt repayment kicking in
incrementally, Michel must be scratching his head real hard. Taken into account
America’s influence worldwide, the IMF and World Bank assistance may well
experience certain delays or may never even materialize into concrete actions.
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| 2 Citizens illegally arrested and held in custody for peaceful sit down protest |
Michel and his
autocratic government have landed the country into a difficult situation. He
has always blamed the opposition for campaigning against the interest of
Seychelles but now everyone knows without a shadow of a doubt who is really
putting the interest of the nation in jeopardy. His aggressive diplomacy has
suffered a serious setback; he has himself to blame. Bluffing the international
community has backfired. We hope Michel comes to his senses and repeals that law
that is the POA as soon as practicable. He is leading this country towards
international economic sanction and it is the people of Seychelles that will
suffer.
Source: Seyweekly.com
