Latest Blogs http://www.kotzot.com/blog/ Latest Blogs Maurice: Orientations à la réforme constitutionnelle http://www.kotzot.com/dookhy/blog/maurice-orientations-224-la-r-233forme-constitutionnelle/
Un certain nombre de préalables sont nécessaires à la réalisation d’une révision constitutionnelle susceptible de susciter une grande adhésion du peuple et de ses représentants. L’équilibre institutionnel doit être préservé tout en renforçant l’acquis démocratique et le caractère de l’Etat de droit. Il est impératif de faire consacrer des avancées constitutionnelles avec une grande prudence et délicatesse. La réforme, notamment en ce qui concerne son volet électoral, doit être adoptée avant la mi-mandat du gouvernement de manière à ce qu’elle n’apparaît pas comme un changement du jeu politique à l’approche des élections, ce qui est toujours suspicieux.

L’élection indirecte du Président

Nous avons à Maurice, un système politique dit « parlementaire » inspiré du modèle de Westminster. Ce système, souvent opposé au régime présidentiel, est caractérisé par un rapport équilibré et mutuel entre le Parlement et le Gouvernement. Ce dernier est issu des rangs des députés majoritaires et est collectivement responsable devant l’Assemblée. Le Chef de l’Etat, quant à lui, ne conserve qu’une fonction arbitrale en cas de crise et, pour le reste, protocolaire. Est-il temps de changer de régime, comme cela a été évoqué durant la dernière campagne?

Il a été question de faire évoluer notre régime vers un système présidentialiste, ou semi-présidentiel, à la française. Le terme de régime présidentiel a été utilisé à tort, car il correspond plus au modèle institutionnel américain. Pour la présidentialisation de notre régime, il suffirait de procéder à trois changements : l’élection du Président de la République au suffrage universel direct (le peuple vote et choisit le Président), faire du Chef de l’Etat le président du conseil des ministres (cabinet meeting) et de lui accorder un droit autonome de dissolution de l’Assemblée Nationale. Fort de sa légitimité démocratique, le Président aurait un rôle accru dans la définition de la politique de la nation et celle-ci serait conduite et mise en application seulement par le Premier ministre et son gouvernement. Le Premier ministre, qui est maintenu, serait alors tout à la fois responsable, juridiquement devant le Parlement, et, politiquement devant le Chef de l’Etat.

Il est fort probable que Paul Bérenger ait été tenté par cette formule. Il a peut-être dû penser que c’était un moyen plus aisé pour lui d’accéder de nouveau à la primature. Il se peut que Navin Ramgoolam y soit favorable également. Ce serait alors éventuellement une technique pour lui de se maintenir aux responsabilités après trois mandats et dont deux consécutifs.

Ce bicéphalisme, qui peut paraître attrayant, parce qu’il permet au Président de jouer un plus grand rôle, et en particulier sur la scène internationale, risque de bouleverser l’équilibre institutionnel nécessaire à la mise en place d’une politique gouvernementale sur le long terme. Avec le multipartisme tel que nous la connaissons, l’on pourrait aisément aboutir à une paralysie des institutions si le Président et le Premier ministre ne sont pas du même bord politique ou sont en concurrence. Pays émergeant, Maurice ne peut se permettre le luxe d’une cohabitation conflictuelle à la tête de l’Etat. Il y aurait un risque que les deux légitimités, Président et Premier ministre, s’affrontent. Les deux auraient une légitimité populaire.

Néanmoins, l’on pourrait accorder un véritable statut intermédiaire au Chef de l’Etat. Actuellement le Président n’est que le successeur du Gouverneur-général. Il est choisi, en toute discrétion, par le Premier ministre seul et ce choix est ratifié par l’Assemblée Nationale. Nul ne peut faire acte de candidature à cette fonction. Il faudrait qu’il y ait une vraie élection, que des personnalités puissent faire acte de candidature librement. Dans une République moderne, le Président doit être élu pour une raison tout simplement démocratique et pour lui conférer l’autorité de sa fonction. Dans notre cas, il pourrait l’être par un suffrage universel indirect, c'est-à-dire par un collège composé de députés (éventuellement de sénateurs si ces fonctions sont créées), de chefs des administrations locales (maires, présidents des districts et assemblée de Rodrigues) pour éviter un conflit de légitimité entre lui et le Premier ministre. Il faut un véritable suffrage et des candidats potentiels qui s’affrontent.

Une élection du Président au suffrage indirect impliquerait de manière corolaire une réforme du Parlement.

Le Parlement bicaméral

Nous disposons d’un Parlement monocaméral, d’une seule chambre. Dans le système de Westminster et comme dans les grands pays, le Parlement se compose de deux chambres. Une première, la chambre dite basse, représente la voix du peuple et la deuxième, la chambre haute, représente, selon les cas, soit des collectivités soit la sagesse de l’homme politique mûri. La création d’un Sénat, deuxième chambre parlementaire, est un thème récurrent des campagnes électorales depuis 1995.

Instauration d’un Sénat

L'intérêt d’un Sénat est multiple. Il est toujours utile de faire usage de l'expérience des femmes et hommes politiques qui ont dirigé le pays. En général, la deuxième chambre comporte en son sein des personnalités expérimentées qui pourraient tempérer des changements hasardeux et donner un meilleur éclairage à l’orientation politique. Aussi, la deuxième chambre reflèterait-elle un rapport de force différent dans le pays, ce qui pourrait modérer toute victoire écrasante d'un bloc sur un autre si son renouvellement a lieu à une période différente. Elle permettrait de consolider la démocratie. S’agissant de la désignation des sénateurs, la nomination, proposée par Paul Bérenger, est à écarter d’emblée car elle est contraire au principe démocratique. A l'image de ce qui existe ailleurs dans le monde, le mode de scrutin pourrait être différent de celui en vigueur pour l’élection des députés. Il pourrait, lui, être proportionnel même intégralement. Car, la deuxième chambre devrait avoir des pouvoirs légèrement inférieurs à celui de l'Assemblée Nationale. En particulier, le gouvernement ne serait pas responsable devant elle et en cas de désaccord entre l’Assemblée Nationale et la deuxième chambre sur l’adoption d’un texte de loi, le Premier ministre pourrait demander à l’Assemblée d’adopter de manière définitive le texte. L’on pourrait alors permettre, sans risque pour la stabilité gouvernementale, une représentation de tous les courants de la société et une élection des sénateurs à la proportionnelle atténuerait les effets écrasants du système majoritaire à un tour (first past the post) pratiqué pour l’élection des députés. Le nombre de sénateurs pourrait être limité à une quarantaine. L’on pourrait également permettre à ce qu’un nombre limité de ministres soient issus de leur rang.

Un Sénat élu à la proportionnelle mettrait fin au débat sur l’introduction d’une dose de proportionnelle à l’Assemblée Nationale. La stabilité politique à la chambre des députés est nécessaire pour un pays émergeant. Or, la proportionnelle à l’Assemblée est malheureusement réputée pour être un facteur du fractionnisme. Elle y permettrait l’émergence de trop de petits partis. Déjà nous avons sept partis représentés à l’Assemblée. Au sein de la majorité, si elle est faible, les petits partis pourraient faire du chantage au gouvernement, leur soutien étant conditionné à l’application essentiellement d’une revendication. Au Sénat, la proportionnelle n’aurait un tel effet néfaste eu égard aux pouvoirs qui seraient conférés aux sénateurs.

Renforcer l’Assemblée Nationale

Néanmoins, le nombre de députés à l’Assemblée doit être augmenté. Une soixantaine d'élus n'est pas suffisante pour diriger un pays. Grands ou petits, les pays ont en général une trentaine de membres du gouvernement (ministres et secrétaires parlementaires privés). A Maurice, tous les membres du gouvernement, sauf l'Attorney-Général, sont des élus, ce qui fait que presque la moitié des députés compose le gouvernement. Il ne reste que l'autre moitié (opposition/majorité confondues) pour contrôler l'action du gouvernement et faire des propositions. Ce n'est pas suffisant. Il y a lieu d'accroître le nombre de députés. On peut aussi ajouter éventuellement un député par continent pour représenter les mauriciens de l’étranger (ils n’ont pas le droit de vote actuellement). L’on doit passer, pour que l’Assemblée nationale puisse fonctionner à bon escient, à une centaine de députés (4 par circonscription, 5 à 10 de l’étranger, 3 de Rodrigues, 8-10 best-Loser). Dans une assemblée, il faudrait qu’il y ait des commissions permanentes chargées de contrôler l’action du gouvernement sur les grands secteurs. Notre Assemblée est encore trop embryonnaire. L’activité parlementaire ne se réduit pas à la seule opposition au gouvernement.

Le Best Loser

Il reste l’épineuse question du Best Loser System. L'abolition du Best Loser system est tout aussi aventureuse que dangereuse. En théorie, ce système est condamnable. Mais comme l'avait dit le Pr A. De Smith, rédacteur de notre Constitution en 1968, c'est un mal nécessaire. Le Best Loser a permis une coexistence pacifique des communautés. Il serait risquant, si à l'issue d'une consultation démocratique, une communauté n'obtienne pas de représentants suffisants à l’Assemblée nationale. L'histoire récente en Afrique des guerres ethniques, et ailleurs dans le monde, nous enseigne de la nécessité d'avoir un équilibre communautaire au sein de la représentation nationale. Aucune communauté ne doit souffrir d'un manque d'élus nationaux. Le système des meilleurs perdants est bien ancré historiquement. Le Best Loser corrige une éventuelle défaillance. Il n’est en soi pas un facteur d’accentuation du communautarisme. Toutefois, il faudrait permettre à ceux qui souhaitent faire acte de candidature sans vouloir indiquer leur appartenance ethnique de pouvoir le faire, quitte à ce qu’ils soient ensuite inéligibles à l’attribution des sièges de meilleurs perdants. Enfin, de manière à donner au Best Loser System un nouveau souffle, on pourrait imaginer que les sièges meilleurs perdants soient prioritairement attribués aux femmes candidates battues en prenant en considération leur appartenance ethnique.

Telles sont les judicieuses réformes nécessaires à la modernisation de nos institutions politiques. Il va de soi également que notre charte des droits et libertés mérite tout autant une mise à jour. Des droits et libertés des nouvelles générations doivent être énoncés.

Dr Parvèz DOOKHY
Constitutionnaliste
(Article publié in Le Mauricien du 17 juin 2010)]]> http://www.kotzot.com/dookhy/blog/maurice-orientations-224-la-r-233forme-constitutionnelle/ Tue, 24 Aug 2010 09:45:00 +0000 International Book Fair Mauritius (IBFM 2010) http://www.kotzot.com/irfaan-coowar/blog/international-book-fair-mauritius-ibfm-2010/ La première édition de l'International Book Fair Mauritius (IBFM 2010) aura lieu du mercredi 25 au dimanche 29 août prochain à la Cyber Tour 1 d'Ebène...]]> La première édition de l'International Book Fair Mauritius (IBFM 2010) aura lieu du mercredi 25 au dimanche 29 août prochain à la Cyber Tour 1 d'Ebène.

Organisée par la Bibliothèque nationale, le premier salon international du livre à Maurice a bénéficié du soutien du ministère de l'Education, de l'Early Childhood Care and Education Authority (ECCEA) et de l'association des étudiants de l'université de Maurice qui organisent trois journées scolaires le 25, 26 et 27 août. Le grand public aura, lui, accès durant le week-end du 28-29 août ainsi que le jeudi 26 de 13h-18h et le vendredi 27 de 15h-18h.

Grâce au soutien de la Chambre de commerce République Tchèque-Maurice et de ses membres, Alena Jezkova, auteure très connue en République Tchèque, sera l'invitée d'honneur de l'IBFM 2010. Alena Jezkova a remporté plusieurs prix littéraires dans son pays ainsi qu'en Allemagne et à Bologne (Italie). Spécialisée en littérature enfantine, elle animera des sessions tant avec les écoliers qu'avec les auteurs mauriciens durant le salon.

« Quiz pour un champion »

Dix-neuf participants et maisons d'édition seront représentés dont dix mauriciens pour cette première édition de l'IBFM. Les étrangers feront le déplacement de l'Afrique du Sud, de l'Inde et du Liban – une première à Maurice – et six marques de l'édition seront représentées en sus de Cambridge University Press, Samir Editions et PrintsIndia : Auzou (France), B. Jain (Inde), EPB Pan Pac Education (Singapour), The India Book House (Inde) et Ulmer (France).

Les autres activités comprendront le lancement du livre de Jooneed Jeeroburkhan, journaliste au Canada et un des fondateurs du MMM chez BM Bookcentre ; la présentation de quatre nouveaux manuels scolaires et d'un nouveau atlas adapté pour le nouveau programme des Standards V et VI du primaire par BM Bookcentre et Osman Publishing respectivement ; la rencontre de Nikhita Obeegadoo avec des étudiants du secondaire ; un concours baptisé « Quiz pour un champion » animé par le « champion » Jayen Teeroovengadum et diverses autres activités organisées par l'ECCEA et Celpac.

D'autre part, un symposium autour du thème, « Quel avenir pour le livre mauricien ? », réunissant les acteurs de l'industrie du livre, aura lieu le samedi 28, de 11h à 12h, au Salon et sera diffusé en direct à la radio.

Source: Books & Business Co Ltd]]> http://www.kotzot.com/irfaan-coowar/blog/international-book-fair-mauritius-ibfm-2010/ Sat, 21 Aug 2010 20:02:36 +0000 Irfaan Coowar FIFA World Cup 2010 - The stolen goal which deprived England the quarter finals http://www.kotzot.com/Rafic/blog/fifa-world-cup-2010-the-stolen-goal-which-deprived-england-the-quarter-fina/
FIFA World Cup 2010 - The stolen goal which deprived England the quarter finals



Frank Lampard’s 39th minute clear goal against Germany denied by ref
...]]>
FIFA World Cup 2010 - The stolen goal which deprived England the quarter finals



Frank Lampard’s 39th minute clear goal against Germany denied by referee Jorge Larrionda


Watching the knockout round in the last 16 of the 2010 FIFA World Cup (South Africa) between Germany and England on Sunday 27 June 2010, I cannot help expressing my revulsion with the referee’s decision to disallow a clear goal against Germany, wrong and evident bias decision which clearly turned the tide against England which ended up losing 4-1.

Having watched Germany play in FIFA World Cup matches for several decades, I have observed during the last few that referees tend to be bias in favour of Germany. The German players have nearly always got away with offences which no other team would get away with. The most visible and disgusting example is when, in the 1982 World Cup (Spain) semi final match between Germany and France, Herald Schumaker, the German goalkeeper, seeing in front of him only the French attacker Patrick Battiston (having beaten all the other German players), deliberately and viciously collided against Battiston with direct blows to his stomach and face. The French player collapsed unconscious. This foul was seen by all the players, by all the fans in the stadium and by the whole world, except by the Dutch referee Charles Corver and the linesmen. Schumaker was not sent off; he did not even get a yellow card. The bias of the Dutch referee was all too evident. Patrick Battiston had damaged vertebrae and his teeth knocked out as a result of Schumacher’s foul. Battiston spent a long time in a coma, his career completely ruined. And, unsurprisingly, France lost to Germany in that 1982 World Cup semi final, albeit on penalties after extra time.

In the 2010 FIFA World Cup match on 27th June 2010, the English player Frank Lampard hit a shot at the German goal on the 39th minute. The ball hit the horizontal bar and bounced down diagonally over one yard inside the goal line. All the players, all the attendance and the whole world saw the goal, except the referee and the two linesmen. The Uruguayan referee, Jorge Larrionda, a building firm’s clerk, disallowed the goal. The linesmen Mauricio Espinosa, a 38 year old teacher, and 44 year old wholesaler Pabio Fandino, allegedly did not spot the goal either. How convenient! This 39th minute ‘goal’ would have helped England to equalise at 2-2. England was very fluid and creative at the time. They knew they were facing a younger inexperienced German side lacking in creativity but very quick off the mark. The stealing of this totally visible and indisputable goal was a heavy blow the morale of the English team. At 2-1 down, their Italian Manager Fabio Capello’s team had no choice other than concentrate on attack. Quick on the break, the German side scored two further goals bringing the final score to 4-1. The England skipper Rio Ferdinand, who was unable to play because of injury, is quite right to accuse linesman Mauricio Espinosa of wrecking England’s World Cup dream. Ferdinand said : « If Lamp’s goal had stood it would have been a 2-2 and then the game would have turned on its head. We’d been at full throttle. I’m sure we would have gone on to win it. »

As is usual, in defeat the English press has the habit of blaming the Manager and the players for not playing well, with star striker Wayne Rooney taking the brunt. Which ever way one looks at it, it cannot be denied that the downfall of England was due to bias refereeing. No amount of apology by FIFA’s President Joseph Blatter would do any good. He speaks of referees’ error. How sure is he that it was an error in such a clear case. This blatant goal denial is not comparable to possible refereeing errors such as when an offside player, marginally or otherwise, is not flagged. Even Diego Maradona’s ‘Hand of God’ goal was not evident, except to the English goalkeeper Peter Shilton and some other players nearby (Quarter Final between England and Argentina, 1986 World Cup Mexico). In the 1966 World Cup Final between England and West Germany held at Wembley, which England won 4-2, Jeff Hurst’s second goal against Germany was ruled to have crossed the line when after replays it was found that it had not. It was only a fraction out and not as clear cut as Lampard’s denied 39th minute goal on 27th June 2010.

It is high time that not only technology is introduced at the goal line but also that referees’ bias is addressed. Such standard of refereeing as we saw in the 1982 World Cup semi final between France and Germany and in the 2010 World Cup knock-out round between England and Germany, and so many others involving Germany, stinks.

M Rafic Soormally
London
29 June 2010]]> http://www.kotzot.com/Rafic/blog/fifa-world-cup-2010-the-stolen-goal-which-deprived-england-the-quarter-fina/ Tue, 29 Jun 2010 19:39:30 +0000 Rafic South African 2010 FIFA World Cup of shame http://www.kotzot.com/Rafic/blog/south-african-2010-fifa-world-cup-of-shame/
South African 2010 FIFA World Cup of shame

Given that South Africa was only recently liberated from the clutches of White European terror, it is sham...]]>
South African 2010 FIFA World Cup of shame


Given that South Africa was only recently liberated from the clutches of White European terror, it is shameful that South African President Jacob Zuma did not dedicate the FIFA World Cup 2010 to the end of the racist Apartheid regime and to all those who, during two centuries of brutal occupation, suffered grave injustices and lost their lives in their fight for freedom, when Nelson Mandela was allegedly enjoying himself playing football with other ‘terrorists’ on Robben Island.


Shakira in a pre-World Cup concert at Orlando Stadium, Soweto, Johannesburg


Watching Britain’s Got Talent judge, Piers Morgan, in his documentary « Morgan's World Cup South Africa » shown on London ITV on Sunday 6th June 2010 at 10.00 p.m., one cannot help seeing the nauseating political propaganda behind it all, with all its twists and turns, misleading statements and downright lies. Firstly, he makes as if South Africa represents the whole of Africa, which was part of the politics of Apartheid, that is, to make South Africa the powerhouse and domineering force in the whole continent of Africa with its diverse peoples. Secondly, Piers described Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela and other freedom activists were held in solitary confinement for many years, and Soweto, a township well known for the massacre of Black men, women and children by European White racists, two of the centre pieces of his documentary, not for what they truly stand for, that is, as the epitome of racism, torture and murder, but as the cradle of ‘African football’ which he alleged came from the football played by prisoners on Robben Island, and for which he gave Nelson Mandela all the credit, the very Nelson Mandela described by former President Thabo Mbeki as « The White man’s favourite politician ».

In justification, Piers went on to demonstrate how the prisoners on Robben Island were refused permission to play football, how they (including prisoner and ‘terrorist’ Mandela) petitioned the Apartheid South African government, and how in the end they were allowed to play football, which allegedly was a source of inspiration for South African football which people would witness during the World Cup 2010. He makes no mention of the fact that the Robben Island was a penitentiary and a torture camp, not a leisure centre and a football ground, where prisoners were processed through various methods and where those who did not yield positive results disposed of. According to Piers, Robben Island should become a shrine of ‘South African football’ and not a shrine of the holocaust perpetrated by European racists in South Africa, a truth which he brushed under the carpet. His football gimmick is the biggest lie of all. In Fascist/Zionist ideology, the bigger the lie the more people would tend to believe it. This is exactly how people were led to believe that Black Africans were next of kin to animals deserving to be put in chains (See Midrash, Darwin ..).

My White South African colleague and friend, explains that, along side cricket, the national sport in Apartheid and post-Apartheid South Africa is rugby where the players were all Whites. Football was always the popular sport played by all South Africans, including Whites. Trying to focus on one leisure activity in Robben Island penitentiary in order to glorify South African football is totally misleading and untrue. Piers misleads people further when he associates the staging of World Cup 2010 in South Africa only with Nelson Mandela, the darling of the White European West.

In the concert held on 10th June 2010 in Soweto, the eve of the World Cup 2010 opening ceremony, viewers could witness performances by various artists, such as the Colombian Shakira, the American Alicia Keys and African stars Amadou & Mariam and Hugh Masekela, giving the World Cup event the kick-off it clearly deserves as a world sport which transcends all differences amongst people. But the choice of Soweto is no coincidence as the people of Soweto were never given justice. There was no Soweto Trial. Instead, they are given a concert of pop stars in the same vein as the Nelson Mandela Concert held in London, Wembley in 1990. When South African President Jacob Zuma hailed Nelson Mandela’s role in May 2004 in securing the right for South Africa to host the World Cup in 2010 and dedicated the World Cup to him, Jacob Zuma was merely making a political statement in favour of the « White man’s favourite politician ». He did not say exactly what Mandela’s role was. Some propagandists even describe Mandela as « South Africa’s World Cup Architect ». What did Mandela do so extraordinarily? Surely, all bidders must follow the same rules, or was FIFA bias in favour of South Africa? Who control FIFA ? The owners of the gold and diamond mines of South Africa ? In truth, like in the case of any other bidders, Nelson Mandela was merely part of the delegation that presented South Africa’s bid to the FIFA Executive in 2004. It was in that bidding process that South Africa was selected as the 2010 host after it defeated Morocco and Egypt. The deification of Nelson Mandela and the hijack of a world event such as the Football World Cup in his sole name can only be regarded as repugnant and obscene, and must be rejected by right-thinking people.

Given that South Africa was only recently liberated from the clutches of White European terror, it is shameful that South African President Jacob Zuma did not dedicate the FIFA World Cup 2010 to the end of the racist Apartheid regime and to all those who, during two centuries of brutal occupation, suffered grave injustices and lost their lives in their fight for freedom, when Nelson Mandela was allegedly enjoying himself playing football with other ‘terrorists’ on Robben Island, newly baptised the cradle of South African Football. Shame! Shame !

M Rafic Soormally
London
15 June 2010]]> http://www.kotzot.com/Rafic/blog/south-african-2010-fifa-world-cup-of-shame/ Wed, 16 Jun 2010 10:02:41 +0000 Rafic <![CDATA[Mauritian 'on the run' after kidnap scam in UK]]> http://www.kotzot.com/Suleiman/blog/mauritian-on-the-run-after-kidnap-scam-in-uk/ A Mauritian who self-styled himself as a Muslim community leader in the UK has been jailed for two years after being exposed for making false claims t...
Noor Ramjanally, 36, of Loughton, was sentenced at Chelmsford Crown Court where he received a two-year jail term after being convicted of perverting the course of justice.

But he was not present in court for the sentencing as he reportedly fled back to Mauritius in February after admitting he was in Britain illegally, staying on after his tourist visa expired.

He went to the UK on a six-months tourist visa in 1999 and consequently overstayed in the country.

Ramjanally claimed in August last year he had been kidnapped from his home by two men, driven into Epping Forest and threatened at knifepoint to stop the Islamic prayer meetings he was holding.

But Judge Karen Walden-Smith described his allegations as a “pack of lies” after they were undermined by CCTV footage covertly installed at his flat for his own protection.

Prosecutor Matthew Gowan said that after earlier allegations made by Ramjanally of an arson attack at his home, the council and police spent £1,300 installing extra security at his flat, including a fire door and video intercom system.

After his kidnap allegations, the police spent 1,850 man hours investigating his case at a cost of £9,234. The extra measures put in place at Ramjanally's flat proved his undoing as the CCTV cameras installed there proved no abduction had taken place.

Sentencing Ramjanally to two years’ imprisonment, Judge Walden-Smith said: “This allegation was a complete pack of lies. This was one of the worst examples of perverting the course of justice I’ve seen striking at the fabric of the justice system and also community relations.”

Ramjanally is also on bail for three other offences. He is alleged to have stolen money from South Woodford Mosque, where he was a member, and is also facing an allegation of fraud in relation to the mosque.

His wife is also being investigated for allegedly stating that she was a single mother and claimed benefits including income support and housing benefit.]]> http://www.kotzot.com/Suleiman/blog/mauritian-on-the-run-after-kidnap-scam-in-uk/ Tue, 15 Jun 2010 10:24:07 +0000 Suleiman Jahangeer Dev Virahsawmy distorts constitutional provision and insults Christianity and Islam http://www.kotzot.com/Rafic/blog/dev-virahsawmy-distorts-constitutional-provision-and-insults-christianity-a/ Dev Virahsawmy distorts constitutional provision and insults Christianity and Islam



Dev Virahsawmy, Linguist, nicknamed the ‘Distortionist’


In his ...]]> Dev Virahsawmy distorts constitutional provision and insults Christianity and Islam


Dev Virahsawmy, Linguist, nicknamed the ‘Distortionist’


In his article « IDENTITAG », posted twice on the Défi Media Group Blog on the 1st and 4th June 2010 respectively, published in the Mauritius Times of 4th June 2010, in the le Mauricien of 12th June 2010, and also on KOTZOT under Actualités, Dev Virahsawmy starts by stating that « The Constitution recognises 4 ethnic groups », which is a distortion. The FIRST SCHEDULE section 31(2) regarding « 3. Communities », the Mauritian Constitution states under (4) (4) that « For the purposes of this Schedule, the population of Mauritius shall be regarded as including a Hindu community, a Muslim community and a Sino-Mauritian community; and every person who does not appear, from his way of life, to belong to one or other of those 3 communities shall be regarded as belonging to the General Population, which shall itself be regarded as a fourth community. » The term « ethnic group » is not mentioned. Ethnic group is a controversial term normally used for non-white races. Moreover, a religious community is certainly not an ethnic group. Also, General Population is a residual category for those who do not wish to be identified under the first three heads, which, for administrative purposes is « regarded as a fourth community. »

Dev misleads readers further when he speaks of « Afro Creoles », term which he dismally confuses with Afro-Mauritians. By definition, a Creole is a person of white European descent born in inter-tropical colonies, or a slave (or his descendants) who speaks a creole language based on the language of the slave’s masters. Creole also refers to certain plants and animals in those colonies. Hence, an ‘Afro Creole’ would be a (White European) Creole in Africa not Mauritius. But White Africans, for example, in South Africa or Zimbabwe (formerly Rhodesia), do not consider themselves as Creoles. Where did Dev fabricate this from? It is a product of his politics in the late1960’s and certainly not a product of linguistics! For forty years he has been trying to impose this nonsense on Mauritians. Because Dev is a linguist, he is under the delusion that he can distort any provision of the law, any term, any spelling. He even distorts the proper name Mackbeth and spells it as ‘Makbess’ ! His nickname the « DISTORTIONIST » is very well earned.

The reason why there is no separate « Christian community » is simply because at the time of the drafting of the constitution, Christians did not make such a case. There is nothing preventing them from doing so now. But some Afro-Mauritians of Christian faith want to be identified as (Black) “Creoles”, a term born in slavery and servility against which Mauritians are protected in the Constitution. Such a term is clearly unconstitutional. It is also of discriminatory and racist nature as it excludes, for example, Indo-Mauritians of Christian faith as well as Franco-Mauritians who are the true Creoles, a tag which they reject.

Concluding on a totally different subject, Dev, who says he is thankful to Jesus, pleads for Mauritians with « different sexual orientation », meaning homosexuals, and for those who are « sex workers », meaning prostitutes, when those practices are condemned in and offensive to Christianity and other religions. He is hopeful that one day, through the adoption of « progressive and dynamic » thinking, the Mauritian Republic will accept « different sexual orientation » and « sex workers », « Insha'Allah! » by which he concludes. This is clearly extremely insulting to Muslims and blasphemes Islam. I strongly object to Dev’s use of « « Insha'Allah! » in such context and urge him to withdraw it.

M Rafic Soormally
London
Updated 13 June 2010

NB. The bulk of this reply was published in Mauritius Times of 11 June 2010.]]> http://www.kotzot.com/Rafic/blog/dev-virahsawmy-distorts-constitutional-provision-and-insults-christianity-a/ Sun, 13 Jun 2010 08:26:15 +0000 Rafic Israeli Pirates attack and hijack aid ships for occupied Palestine, murder some passengers and ‘deport’ the hostages http://www.kotzot.com/Rafic/blog/israeli-pirates-attack-and-hijack-aid-ships-for-occupied-palestine-murder-s/ Israeli Pirates attack and hijack aid ships for occupied Palestine, murder some passengers and ‘deport’ the hostages


Aid ship in Palestine Freedom Flot
...]]> Israeli Pirates attack and hijack aid ships for occupied Palestine, murder some passengers and ‘deport’ the hostages


Aid ship in Palestine Freedom Flotilla attacked by Israeli pirates



When the British army occupied Palestine, Palestinians were almost 100% Arabs of whom around 95% were Muslims. The British allowed in Jewish Europeans into the country and, with the complicity of the United Nations, they forcefully allowed Jewish Europeans to take over the country. Palestinians called this NAKBA (the CATASTROPHE). Palestinians were murdered in the hundreds of thousands, removed from their homes and made refugees in nearby Arab countries. The remaining pieces of Palestine found in the West Bank, East Jerusalem and Gaza are continuously being encroached upon through land theft and squatting. Those thieves and squatters are armed to the teeth to kill Palestinians men, women and children under the complicit gaze of the Zionist-controlled United Nations.

Since Israel was created in Palestine in 1948, the Palestinian holocaust and genocide have lasted for over half a century. Murders (even of babies), rapes, torture and the abduction of children are daily occurrences. Palestinians are a terrorised people, and this has been going on with the complicity of European regimes, including the United States. The occupiers of Palestine have consistently been trying to subjugate the remaining Palestinians through terror and by keeping them hostages in reserves by building Walls of Apartheid, and enforcing air and sea blockades against them to prevent help from reaching them in Gaza and elsewhere. All those methods are designed to break the will of Palestinians to free themselves from the clutches of terror.

Palestinians do not accept the stealing of their country and it is well within their rights to defend themselves against occupation. However, they are also a desperate and terrorised people in dire need of humanitarian aid. The aid flotilla led by Turkey set out from Cyprus in the Mediterranean on 31 May 2010 but it was attacked by Israeli pirates with grenades and sub-machine guns in international waters. The armed terrorists landed on the ships through well-armed combat helicopters, murdered several of the passengers, hijacked the ships and took all the remaining passengers hostages. They also jammed all communications with the outside world so that the passengers could not SOS for any help and inform the world of the attack. The Israeli pirates alleged that the passengers resisted with ‘sticks’, ‘iron rods’ and ‘knives’. The fuzzy and indiscernible Israeli footage was shown by pro-Israeli BBC which later changed its version alleging that this was taken by Turkish television. In fact, the British media has boycotted all footages showing how the aid ships were attacked. Mihalis Grigoropoulos, a Greek passenger who was on board of a vessel behind the Mavi Marmara, which bore the brunt of the attack, said : « We did not resist at all, we couldn't even if we had wanted to. » On the other hand, pro-Israeli and anti-Palestinian news network ITN uses propagandist headlines, such as : « Israel begins deporting pro-Palestinian activists ». The world is bound to condemn such bias reporting in the same way it condemns the Israelis acts of terror and piracy. History shows that White European governments have always been the greatest and most ruthless violators of Human Rights. However, the passengers on the aid flotilla included many European doctors, nurses, retired ambassadors, politicians, journalists, including Israelis and Americans who sympathise with the Palestinian cause. Israelis have been rejoicing the cold-blooded killings on those aid vessels.

Israeli terrorists and pirates have the right to steal Palestinian lands, to illegally blockade a country under illegal occupation, to attack and hijack aid ships in international waters, murder its passengers and take the rest hostage by force and later ‘deport’ them from a country which the passengers never went to and which does not truly belong to the Israeli occupiers either. This is exactly what the Zionist-controlled news networks are effectively telling people in Britain and elsewhere in Europe and the United States. Those networks are from the same countries which supported Apartheid in South Africa, a close ally of Apartheid in Palestine. Israel is armed to the teeth with all sorts of deadly weapons, including a nuclear arsenal provided by its European allies. The United States alone pump billions of dollars every year to support the racist and apartheid regime. To really free Palestine and prevent further atrocities and murders perpetrated by the occupiers of Palestine, the Arab regimes must necessarily wake up. It is believed that Israel had the approval of the US to attack the aid flotilla when the Zionist Rahm Emanuel, the White House Chief of Staff, visited Benjamin Netanyahu in Tel-Aviv on 26 May 2010. The United Nations is powerless as it is a phoney organisation controlled by Zionists and an accomplice in the stealing of Palestine and the exodus of her people.

M Rafic Soormally
London
2 June 2010 (updated)]]> http://www.kotzot.com/Rafic/blog/israeli-pirates-attack-and-hijack-aid-ships-for-occupied-palestine-murder-s/ Sun, 06 Jun 2010 17:33:49 +0000 Rafic David Marimootoo http://www.kotzot.com/Suleiman/blog/david-marimootoo/
"Maintenant que l'émission est terminée, ce qui compte le plus pour moi est de retourner vers ceux que j'aime à Maurice", nous dit David Marimootoo, alias Dave, loin des siens depuis plus d'un mois. Il entend aussi organiser une rencontre avec ses fans dès son arrivée à Maurice. Pour lui, ces derniers lui ont apporté un soutien de taille tout au long de l'aventure. Parlant de cela comme sa première réussite, notre interlocuteur explique que "je me sentirais mal si je ne peux les remercier personnellement."

Olympia. Toutefois, le programme établi dès le départ ne lui permettra pas de revenir de sitôt. Il lui faudra tout d'abord faire sa dernière sortie sur la scène du Baltard lors de la finale, puis assurer le concert avec les neuf autres finalistes de cette présente cuvée à l'Olympia. Interrogé au téléphone, lundi, Dave, qui s'apprêtait à se rendre à une émission, explique qu'en dépit de son élimination, il a toujours un emploi du temps chargé. Entre émissions de télé, interviews, rencontres avec les fans, il n'a pas vraiment le temps de souffler.

Avenir. Concernant son avenir et sa carrière professionnelle, Dave confie qu'il est trop tôt pour lui de prendre une décision et qu'il préfère ne pas se prononcer sur le sujet. Son souhait, toutefois, consisterait à tenter sa chance tant à Maurice qu'en Europe. Mais ce n'est qu'avec le recul et à tête reposée que le jeune Mauricien pourra véritablement se décider. "Toutes les offres sont à considérer bien sûr", dit-il.

Conditions. Quant à sa disqualification, Dave, qui voulait pourtant succéder à Soan, la Nouvelle Star 2009, avoue l'avoir acceptée sans grande déception. Selon lui, à la Nouvelle Star, les candidats ne mènent pas la vraie vie. "Il y a tout un programme à suivre et à respecter. Ce qui ne veut pas pour autant dire que l'émission est truquée. Mais la Nouvelle Star est une grosse machine de marketing ; du show-biz. Quand on est passé par toutes ces choses on ne peut pas relativiser. Ce n'est pas évident de vivre dans de telles conditions. Je suis content de m'être évadé de ce monde de fous", déclare Dave.

Influencer. C'est vrai aussi que les commentaires négatifs des deux membres du jury, en l'occurrence Lio et Philippe Manœuvre, commençaient à ne pas lui plaire. Lui, qui avait décidé de faire plaisir au public, sans se soucier du jury, a lors de son dernier prime interprété On s'attache de Christophe Maé et Kiss from a Rose de Seal. Des morceaux qui ne lui ont pas porté chance. Soutenant que les critiques incohérentes du jury ont fini par influencer les téléspectateurs, Dave trouve dommage que "les gens écoutent et croient tout ce qui est dit à la télé." Il poursuit : "Face au jury, je pense avoir bien agi car quand j'interprétais des morceaux qui n'étaient pas forcément de mon registre, j'en prenais quand même plein la gueule. J'avais donc décidé de ne plus me préoccuper de leurs avis et de venir la semaine dernière avec deux chansons à la sauce de Dave, et ce au risque de leur déplaire à nouveau. J'ai donc fini en beauté." Dave, pour qui il était important de défendre ses valeurs, est ainsi devenu la bête noire du jury.

Quoi qu'il en soit, le Mauricien ne baisse toujours pas les bras et affiche la satisfaction compte tenu de son parcours à la Nouvelle Star. "J'ai fait rêver et voyager des gens à travers mes prestations et c'est déjà beaucoup pour moi. Je trouve aussi que participer à six primes, c'est pas mal", conclut Dave.]]> http://www.kotzot.com/Suleiman/blog/david-marimootoo/ Fri, 28 May 2010 20:11:27 +0000 Suleiman Jahangeer 5 juin : Dance in the City au MGI http://www.kotzot.com/Suleiman/blog/5-juin-dance-in-the-city-au-mgi/ http://www.kotzot.com/Suleiman/blog/5-juin-dance-in-the-city-au-mgi/ Fri, 28 May 2010 20:10:26 +0000 Suleiman Jahangeer <![CDATA[Journée mondiale sans tabac Campagne d'arrêt tabagique pour les femmes]]> http://www.kotzot.com/Suleiman/blog/journ-233e-mondiale-sans-tabac-campagne-d-arr-234t-tabagique-pour-les-femme/
ViSa, dont l'objectif principal consiste à veiller à l'application de la loi "Public Health Act Tobacco Regulations 2008", espère toucher la masse à travers cette campagne.]]> http://www.kotzot.com/Suleiman/blog/journ-233e-mondiale-sans-tabac-campagne-d-arr-234t-tabagique-pour-les-femme/ Fri, 28 May 2010 20:10:06 +0000 Suleiman Jahangeer intégration : Des arbres plantés à La Tour Kœnig http://www.kotzot.com/Suleiman/blog/int-233gration-des-arbres-plant-233s-224-la-tour-k-339nig/ http://www.kotzot.com/Suleiman/blog/int-233gration-des-arbres-plant-233s-224-la-tour-k-339nig/ Fri, 28 May 2010 20:09:47 +0000 Suleiman Jahangeer UNIVERSITÉ POPULAIRE : Chaos : que préconisent les scientifiques ? http://www.kotzot.com/Suleiman/blog/universit-201-populaire-chaos-que-pr-233conisent-les-scientifiques/ http://www.kotzot.com/Suleiman/blog/universit-201-populaire-chaos-que-pr-233conisent-les-scientifiques/ Fri, 28 May 2010 20:09:16 +0000 Suleiman Jahangeer Amnesty Mauritius releases election findings http://www.kotzot.com/CaSaNoVa/blog/amnesty-mauritius-releases-election-findings/
The results were announced yesterday as the Mauritius branch of the organisation released the Amnesty International Report 2010 at a press conference at Centre Social Marie Reine de la Paix in Port Louis.

Amnesty board member Michel Ahnee said of Communalism Watch: “It was observed during the electoral campaign that it was much easier for candidates to obtain the support of an ethno-religious bloc by pretending they were defending their interests rather than getting the adherence of all citizens on the basis of a manifesto.”

He added that throughought the electoral campaign political manifestos took a back seat to communalism.

Political leaders

“This leads to risks of discrimination and violation of the principles of human rights. In this context discrimination is usually on the basis of race, community and caste. That is why Amnesty Mauritius decided to intervene during the campaign.

“This type of electoral campaign is in contradiction with the Constitution, existing legislations and international conventions to which Mauritius adheres,” he said.

He stated that from April 3 to May 3, Amnesty Mauritius published 10 communiqués on Communalism Watch. Mr Ahnee deplored that though the communiqués denounced important political leaders like Dr Navin Ramgoolam and Mr Paul Bérenger, they never reacted.

“There is a feeling of impunity in local politics,” he charged. He insisted that nobody is above the law. He also promised that Amnesty Mauritius will continue to keep an eye on the behaviour of local political leaders.

Director of Amnesty Mauritius Lindley Couronne explained that the Amnesty International 2010 report is based on facts collected during 2009.

He added that the focus of the report this year is accountability of governments and state agencies.

Guantanamo

Mr Couronne said that “there has been a general urge that nobody, including government and state agencies, be above the law. In the report it is clearly depicted how power politics violate justice quite often”.

He recalled that when Barack Obama became President of the United States in January 2009, he promised that the Guantanamo base will be closed.

“Several months have elapsed and Guantanamo is still very well there and tortures are still being practiced on prisoners. Meanwhile President Obama was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. The report underlines double standards in the speeches of political leaders.”

He added that in China, “Strike Hard” campaigns resulted in sweeping arrests in the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region, particularly following violence and unrest in July.

“Arbitrary detentions and executions continue to take place in China. In fact all states which have placed politics in front of justice have failed,” observed Mr Couronne.

He severely criticised the African Union which refused to cooperate when in March the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant against Sudan’s President Al Bashir for two counts of war crimes and five counts of crime against humanity.

But her admitted that two African countries, Botswana and South Africa, dissociated themselves from the move of the African Union. Mr Couronne also commented on the situation in Sri Lanka.

He explained that the report of Amnesty International admits that both the Sri Lankan government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) violated international humanitarian law.

The chairperson of Amnesty Mauritius Kavi Pyneeandee spoke of the main findings of a special report on the situation of human rights in Madagascar.

“In 2002 Marc Ravalomanana gave the people of Madagascar lots of hope but he brought the country close to the precipice and in 2009 after Andry Rajoelina, the President of the High Transitional Authority took over, he took his people right into the precipice,” said Mr Pyneeandee.

The report of Amnesty International on Madagascar has revealed there are serious violations of human rights in the country.

“Press reporters and opponents of the transitional authority are arbitrarily arrested and sent to prison. There are threats to the media. There have been assassination of opponents,” he said.

He announced that Amnesty International will soon launch a series of initiatives to sensitise the world regarding the state of human rights in Madagascar.

Amnesty Mauritius will discuss the situation with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade Dr Arvin Boolell and the Ambassador of the Republic of Madagascar in Mauritius, Mr Bruno Ranarivello.]]> http://www.kotzot.com/CaSaNoVa/blog/amnesty-mauritius-releases-election-findings/ Fri, 28 May 2010 01:49:44 +0000 Kevin Ramtohul Mauritius first female TV anchor in HIndi signs off after 38 years http://www.kotzot.com/CaSaNoVa/blog/mauritius-first-female-tv-anchor-in-hindi-signs-off-after-38-years/ http://www.kotzot.com/CaSaNoVa/blog/mauritius-first-female-tv-anchor-in-hindi-signs-off-after-38-years/ Fri, 28 May 2010 01:48:45 +0000 Kevin Ramtohul <![CDATA[Mauritius backs African Union's goals]]> http://www.kotzot.com/CaSaNoVa/blog/mauritius-backs-african-union-s-goals/ Mauritius has reaffirmed its commitment to the values of the African Union and its relentless efforts to bring unity, peace and prosperity in Africa. Mauritius has reaffirmed its commitment to the values of the African Union and its relentless efforts to bring unity, peace and prosperity in Africa. http://www.kotzot.com/CaSaNoVa/blog/mauritius-backs-african-union-s-goals/ Fri, 28 May 2010 01:47:55 +0000 Kevin Ramtohul