Demonstrators speak out against Assomption deal |05 February 2018
A group of demonstrators converged in Victoria on Saturday morning to speak out against the Assomption agreement between Seychelles and India.
The agreement, previously signed between the two parties in 2015, was revised and re-signed last week to provide for “[…] more clarity in the legal provisions”, as stated by secretary of state for Foreign Affairs, Barry Faure.
Henceforth the accord, which is for a duration of 20 years, now allows the Indian government to construct military facilities on the island which will work as a framework of assistance for Seychelles in terms of helping our own military to better survey and protect our vast Economic Exclusive Zone (EEZ) from threats such as poaching and piracy.
But the revised agreement still left certain lingering concern among sections of the population hence inciting these protesters to gather opposite the post office -- an area which is increasingly becoming the go-to location for protests -- to oppose the Assomption deal.
Ralph Volcère, the editor of The Independent and one of the organisers of the demonstration, explained that the demonstrators are demanding that the National Assembly reject the agreement once it reaches the legislative body for ratification.
“We do not have any details on the agreement and basically what they [the government] are asking us to do is to trust them on that one. But unfortunately it is too close to home - it is our heritage, a piece of our country that will be leased, or sold, or whatever the case might be.”
He insisted that the public should be provided with all of the information in regards to this accord so that they can have a say in the matter.
Mr Volcère added that the protest is a concerted effort to change the mind of the leader of the opposition in the National Asssembly, Wavel Ramkalawan, who has publicly stated that he will support the deal upon ratification.
Subsequent protests are in the pipeline up until the National Assembly ratifies the Assomption deal.