On August 17th 1982, the people of Seychelles woke up to
learn that overnight a group of soldiers had taken control of the radio station
at Union Vale and were making demands of the President of the Republic, Mr
René. It was one of the worst nightmares the population of Mahe had ever lived
through. This would be known as THE ARMY REBELLION OF 1982.
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| The Terrorists; Albert Rene and James Michel |
The mutiny involved 300 soldiers based at the Union Vale
army camp. The camp itself was created on 15 November 1979 out of the former
Union Vale Prison. However, instead of the soldiers moving in on that date, the
cells were emptied to accommodate 100 political detainees who were to be
detained without charge or trial over a period of a year on the orders of
President Albert Rene. The detainees included DP leader Paul Chow and MPR
(Mouvement Pour La Resistance) leader Gerard Hoarau, were guarded by the
Seychellois soldiers under the command of Tanzanian soldiers.
According to international press reports eight people were
killed during the rebellion including five rebel soldiers, two civilians and
one loyal soldier. It is not known how many Tanzanian soldiers were killed,
although there are stories of a number of them being killed in a fire fight
near Cable and Wireless. One injured rebel leader committed suicide with his
revolver on his hospital bed. A week after the incident a reporter for the
Times of London reported that a number of mutineers were unaccounted for.
There existed knowledge of only one young rebel soldier who
is unaccounted but not to the authorities.
Sub-lieutenant Andrew Pouponneau, who was last seen in handcuffs at the
Bel Eau army headquarters in perfect condition, disappeared never to be seen
again. When they approached the government, his relatives were told that he was
injured and was at the Union Vale barrack receiving treatment. But when they
asked to see him they were denied permission.
The surviving rebels were court-martialled, sentenced to
prison terms of varying length and dismissed from the army. Their prison was
specially constructed on Coetivy Island, a coral island 150 miles from Mahe.
The “ring leaders” were released just before the return to multiparty system in
1991 after serving 9 years.
Now new information has come to light.
A local newspaper is reporting that an Ex-Police officer
from Anse Aux Pins has revealed to them new information on what really happened
to Andrew Pouponneau. The Ex-Police officer claims that “I think this young man
was killed. The army can answer that question for you more precisely since he
was in their care.” The Ex-Police officer is also willing to testify before a
Truth and Reconciliation Committee if the Government ever has courage to set
one up.
The former Police Officer said he recalled that Mr
Pouponneau gave himself up to the authorities. “He came to the Central Police
station to give himself up. He was not arrested or detained. We asked him to
wait in the inquiry room whilst the inspector in charge called the Bel Eau army
camp to inform them about the development”.
It did not take long for the military jeep to arrive at the
police station. “When he left the police station he was handcuffed. His hands
were behind his back. He was seated at the back of the jeep together with the
Sergeant and the private, whilst the Lieutenant sat on the passenger front
seat”. “I remember then talking amongst ourselves, saying the poor man is going
to suffer a serious beating” stated the Ex-Police officer.
It was then claimed that Mr Pouponneau had jumped out of the
vehicle and escaped when they reached The Riverside junction at National house
totally contradicting what the Government were to later tell his
relatives. The Ex-Police officer said
there was even an announcement on Radio Sesel asking for anyone with
information on the whereabouts of Mr Pouponneau to come forward. “That I cannot
comprehend nor believe. How can someone with his hands handcuffed behind his
back jump from a moving vehicle and manage to get away?” the former police
officer asked.
Today, a handful of people in powerful positions can and
should shed light on the fate of Mr Pouponneau, if only to his relatives. Their
gesture would surely be from the heart, if only so the family of this young man
can have closure.
