1. Palestine Genocide

2. Communal-Fundamentalism violence at Citadelle, last Saturday

3. Will Pravind Jugnauth announce compliance to United Nations Ruling on communal classification of candidates next Tuesday? 

Rezistans ek Alternativ (ReA) held a press conference on Saturday October 28, during which party members addressed several current issues. Ashok Subron notably mentioned the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as well as the incident at the Citadelle which caused destruction and traumatized spectators. 

The Palestinian question is the longest genocide the world has known. It is also the largest depopulation and colonization process that has existed for more than 75 years. The Palestinian crisis is the result of the main colonial and imperial power of Britain and also the United States.

“It is sad that at this time when there is such a perpetuation of genocide, the powers which are responsible for its problems refuse to accept all the official declarations at the level of the United Nations to demand a cease fire. What is necessary now is to allow humanitarian aid to enter its war zones and allow the exchange of war and political prisoners held either by Hamas or by Israel.” 

Ashok Subron mentions that at the level of Rezistans ek Alternativ, they are in solidarity with the international peace movement and that they also call for an immediate cease-fire in Gaza and that international laws are respected. Regarding Mauritius, Subron said he was proud that the Mauritian state had taken a position by adhering to the resolution of cease fire together with other countries. 

Concerning the events that happened at the Citadelle, Ashok Subron says that it is really serious. He points out that this is possible because of the communal implications in the Mauritian constitution. Rezistans ek Alternativ unreservedly condemns the incidents that occurred because this action violates the freedom of movement, expression and the freedom of Mauritians to peacefully attend an artistic event.  

We cannot allow threats and violence to take place in Mauritius, especially when these concerts have been duly authorized by the institutions concerned and which have all the necessary conditions to be carried out. There are very serious things that the media have not brought out, there is a very big inconsistency.

“We cannot allow threats and violence to take place in Mauritius, especially when these concerts have been duly authorized by the institutions concerned and which have all the necessary conditions to be carried out. There are very serious things that the media have not brought out, there is a very big inconsistency.”

As a reminder, three people had mentioned that they were present to stop this artistic activity because a group of 30 individuals don’t agree. Ashok Subron says it’s very serious because this concert was legal and the song, they were going to sing at the end was actually a song for peace written by an Israeli singer.

The police are there to ensure peace and public order and not to interrupt activities because of a few disgruntled people, but rather to ensure “maintaining public order during activities.” 

He also stressed that it is unacceptable to tolerate communal and fundamentalist behavior and that artistic and peaceful activities should not be threatened by violence. Traditional communism has transformed into a fundamentalist form, and this has a systemic cause. There is a lot of insecurity in Mauritius and many groups think they should hold justice in their hands. A factor that leads to this communalism is a failure in the political and institutional structure that Mauritius has inherited since its independence. A country that codifies communalism, communal division in its political system, sooner or later this will give way to events like that of the Citadelle. Our constitution has divided the population into four categories and two of them are religions. The constitution codified this fundamentalist communal division. 
Ashok Subron also addressed a parliamentary question which will be asked to Pravind Jugnauth this Tuesday by the purple MP Reza Uteem, concerning the declaration of ethnicity during the next elections, on whether the Mauritian government intends, within the framework of the next general election, to make a mini constitutional amendment, so that no Mauritian has to classify themselves in one of these communal categories.

Pravind Jugnauth, who affirms his desire to fight against communal and religious excesses, has the opportunity to prove his determination in the face of History, declares Ashok Subron.

“Does this government intend to make a minor amendment to the Constitution so that each and every Mauritian can pose as candidates, without seeing their candidature being rejected on the basis that they do not declare their ethnicity as provided for in the constitution.”

Watch the conference here: