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Archive -Seychelles

Details of Assomption deal made public |01 March 2018

 

In the spirit of transparency, the department of Foreign Affairs has shared with the public the salient agreement between Seychelles and India on the establishment of military facilities on the island of Assomption.

The details of the agreement can be viewed at the following link: http://www.mfa.gov.sc/uploads/files/filepath_55.pdf

The move follows a visit on Tuesday to Assomption by members of the Finance and Public Accounts Committee and of the International Affairs Committee of the National Assembly, as well as members of the media.

Copies of the agreement were given to members of the delegation during the visit on Tuesday.

The full text of the salient agreement is published on page 5 in today’s Seychelles NATION.

The Assembly contingent of the delegation on Tuesday was led by the leader of the opposition Wavel Ramkalawan and leader of government business Charles Decommarmond.

The delegation also comprised the secretary of state in the department of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Barry Faure, assisted by the chief of staff of the Seychelles People’s Defence Forces (SPDF) Colonel Michael Rosette and representatives from the Indian high commission and from the Islands Development Company (IDC).  Colonel Rosette led the media visit on Tuesday assisted by the principal secretary for Environment Alain Decommarmond and a representative from foreign affairs and IDC.

The agreement for the joint military project on Assumption between Seychelles and India will see the construction in the southern part of the island a second longer airstrip of 2700 metres that will crisscross the existing one to cater for aviation, a jetty for patrol boats, communication, surveillance and other miscellaneous infrastructure for military in terms of dormitories and leisure.

The northern part of the island will remain under IDC for future development.

In the agreement only small arms and ammunition will be used at the facility and missiles of any arsenal will not be installed. Only small surveillance planes and a limited number of patrol boats will be based on the island along with limited number of personnel from both parties as the facility will not be on a big scale. Under authorisation, the public will be able to use the facility for other engagement on the island or as transit point to other islands such as to Aldabra.

The first agreement between Seychelles and India for this project was signed in 2015 and the second agreement with new amendments was signed in January this year whereby it provides a frame work for assistance by the government of India to the government of Seychelles for the development, management, operation, utilisation and maintenance of the facilities on Assumption. Breaching of the 20-year agreement by India will result in the suspension or cancellation of the agreement. The government through the department of foreign affairs, SPDF and a new defence committee to be appointed in the National Assembly will oversee the implementation of the agreement.

The aim of the Seychelles government for such a facility is to have a presence in the area to maintain surveillance especially in the southern region of our economic zone, bordering with the Mozambique channel, where it is known to have a high occurrence of illegal fishing and poaching around the islands of Aldabra, Cosmoledo and Astove and also other threats such as piracy, drug trafficking, among other illegal activities.

It is also to enhance its search and rescue capability in the region for the benefit of air and shipping traffic.

It is said that India’s benefit from the project will be for helping in safeguarding the zone for safe passage of around 40% of its economy.

Even though India will be funding the joint sharing facilities and will bear the cost and expense for its development, the facility will be owned by the government of Seychelles.

No construction has started yet as the agreement waits to be ratified by the National Assembly which will be followed by an independent environment impact assessment (EIA).

There will also be facilities to cater for civilians who will be working alongside the military.

Assumption is being managed by IDC and only about one quarter of the southern part of the island will be leased back to government by IDC for the project which will be fully funded by the Indian government who will co-share the facility with Seychelles.

The media toured the airstrip and were shown where the proposed new airstrip will be built. With the intention of having such a surveillance facility in the 1990s, it started with the construction of the existing airstrip by SPDF from 1989 to 1991 but for unknown reasons the initiative was dropped and the island was handed over to IDC to be managed.

The media then continued to the coast line towards the beach and was able to witness what was left of the old jetty made of coral and which has been worn down by the weather. The new jetty will be built in the same location.

Colonel Rosette said that due to budgetary constraints, it is not possible for Seychelles to finance such project and India has come forward first to help with after Seychelles had approached all partners.

“It takes three days for patrol boats from Mahé to reach this area and by the time we would reach here to deal with any illegal activity that could have been taking place, all trace would have been long gone, so this is why it is important to have this facility so as to counter those illegal practices in our EZ as and when they happen,” he said.

“I think it is when you are there that you get an idea of how far it is from Mahé and seeing the terrain you get an idea of what will be done here and the impact it will have on security in the region. This is the reason we brought you (media) and the National Assembly so as to remove all speculations that the island contains an Indian military base and population and for you to see what it takes to bring help and assistance to such a distant place,” he said.

PS Decommarmond said that the project will be a big boost to the protection of the surrounding island’s environment and their marine resources against illegal activities.

He said the EIA will be done once the project is approved and the plan submitted. Bernard Sullivan, a member of a lobby group against the involvement of India in the project, said: “We are not against any project towards the protection of our EZ as long as it has nothing to do with any foreign powers that will be coming to exploit our islands. I think we have the means to do this project ourselves,” he said.

He described the island as beautiful and that it should remain as is but agreed that things need to be done to combat illegal activities and he maintains his decision that it should be a local affair.

Assomption lies 705 miles south of Mahé and temperature can reach up to 37 degrees or more.  The island bears the scars of exploitation of guano and destruction of its fauna in the old days from the many deep guano pit holes and scrubby vegetation along with a few trees but it still boasts beautiful stretches of white sandy beaches.

There are eight IDC workers maintaining the island along with two SPDF officers working at the radar station.

 

 

 

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