International help in fight against piracy-Mancham echoes President Michel’s sentiments |02 December 2010
“In Seychelles, we have to remain in a state of vigilance and alertness, with much of our scarce resources having to be diverted to meet the threat,” he said.
“Maintaining stability in the Indian Ocean must be the concern of all nations who are using the Indian Ocean as a shipping lane. There will be no stability in the zone unless there’s stability in Seychelles.
“This is no time for ‘lip service’ and ‘half-hearted’ commitments. This is a time for concrete action.”
Mr Mancham added that so far as the situation in Seychelles is concerned, there should be all-party support for the fight against piracy.
The former president leaves Seychelles on Tuesday December 7 for India, where he has been selected to receive the prestigious International Jurists Award 2010 for his “unique contribution in the field of world peace”.
The award will be presented by M. Hamid Ansari, Vice-President of India, at the Plenary Hall of Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, on December 11.
The International Council of Jurists, based in London, promotes the administration of justice and healthy development of law, suitable for the social and economic needs of the people of the world.
Earlier recipients of the award include the chief justice of England and Wales, the chief justice of Canada, the vice-president of the International Court of Justice, the chief justice of Singapore and the president of the Law Society of England and Wales.
The presentation ceremony will mark the opening of an international conference of jurists which will be attended by judges, law ministers, diplomats, parliamentarians, chief executives of multinational companies, law teachers, journalists, accountants, artists and social activists from India and other parts of the world.
After the international conference of jurists, Mr Mancham will go to Lucknow, India, to attend the 11th Chief Justices of the World Conference, where the Dalai Lama will deliver a keynote address.