Truth, Reconciliation and National Unity Commission – Hearing Number 210 |07 October 2021
Crucial facts on the 1982 army rebellion surface
The army mutiny which took place in the early hours of August 17, 1982 at the Union Vale Army Camp has once again surfaced in front of the Truth, Reconciliation and National Unity Commission (TRNUC), with one of the rebels giving account of the event.
Ex-soldier Barry Tirant was before the TRNUC yesterday – hearing number 210 – as both complainant and witness, giving evidence in case 0354 filed by himself, regarding his own turmoil, and case 0261 filed by Jimmy Rangassamy regarding the death of Sergeant Allen Rangassamy during the rebellion.
According to ‘official’ report back then, the mutiny claimed the lives of five soldiers and two civilians.
The count is still being questioned to date, alongside other questions, including who ordered the loyal soldiers to fire on the rebels, and what was the role of the Tanzanian troops in the mission to halt the rebellion.
The report also claimed that the event left 23 individuals wounded, including 13 rebels, one loyal soldier and nine civilians.
Previously a crew member on a cargo ship, Mr Tirant joined the Seychelles People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) in mid-February 1980 with the aim of pursuing a career in the maritime field, precisely the Seychelles People’s Navy at that time.
After his basic recruit training, he was transferred to the Union Vale Army Camp (UVC) where he was selected for a refresher course in infantry.
He said his training reports from Tanzanian and local instructors were positive, proving that he was doing well in his newly chosen career.
Mr Tirant was again chosen for training, precisely the Junior Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO) before he was posted into the Military Police (MP).
Based on his good infantry skills, Mr Tirant gave up on joining the navy and concentrated on being an infantry soldier.
Regarding the mercenary invasion on November 25, 1981, Mr Tirant explained that he was posted at the ex-US Tracking Station at La Misère and was not involved in the actions at the airport.
Back to the UVC, Mr Tirant said after the departure of Captain Raymond Bonté, he was replaced by Captain Macdonald Marengo and from then on, life at the barrack became a nightmare.
He said they performed sentry duties at night, while doing hard labour on properties of high-ranking officers during the day.
On the subject of the army mutiny, Mr Tirant said in August 1982 he was a military prisoner who was in conflict with Captain Marengo.
He explained that his initial clash with Captain Marengo was with regard to an incident when he, as an MP, politely asked the former to remove his cover – hat – while in the mess where, according to Mr Tirant he was insulting the soldiers.
It to note that the military hat is actually referred to as a "cover" and it is never called a hat.
There is specific military cover etiquette that applies to various situations, indoors, outdoors, when being saluted, when at a funeral and when flying in military aircraft. If you are in the military it is crucial that you follow these etiquette procedures regarding your cover. Etiquette in the military is not just a guideline but an act of respect to those around you and to the military in general.
As a member of the Military Police, Mr Tirant’s job involved exercising police and related functions in army, including maintaining law and order, prevent and investigate crime within the army, and operate confinement facilities.
Something which Captain Marengo, as a commanding officer, was supposed to know.
Regarding his military imprisonment, Mr Tirant said it followed a heated argument with Mr Marengo after which he was sent to Coetivy Island for eight months after showing his intention to leave the force, before being sent back to Mahé to be re-judged.
He explained that he even submitted his resignation letter to Captain Marengo who tore it in his face.
Clearly frustrated with the situation at that time, Mr Tirant noted that if he knew about the mercenary invasion beforehand, there was a great possibility that he would have joined them to overturn the system in place.
In the early morning of August 17, 1982 – the day of the mutiny – Mr Tirant, who was being detained, said all the cell doors were opened and everyone was told to report to the main office where he saw Frank Kilindo, Joe Rath, and the late Nivard Vidot.
He was told that he was going to the Police Station, and once there he noticed mortar attacks from the Army headquarters at Bel Eau onto the UVC.
He later learned from Ogilvy Berlouis that the shelling was ordered by Albert Rene, referred to as morning breakfast.
As a result, residential areas were hit, causing loads of civilian casualties, including deaths.
Mr Tirant noted that even if the UVC was equipped with heavy artilleries, none were fired back.
He added that a Boyevaya Razvedyvatelnaya Dozornaya Mashina (BRDM) armoured vehicle was also deployed to fire at the UVC.
According to Mr Tirant, he believes that the rebellion was staged from high up to minimise the number of soldiers, especially those loyal to Albert Rene, in preparation for attempted coup by Mr Berlouis later in 1986.
He also told the commission that upon identifying the rebel leaders, Albert Rene ordered Ogilvy Berlouis to kill all of them.
This, Mr Tirant said, was personally said to him by Mr Berlouis who was later an acquaintance of his.
He explained that while at the Central Police Station, he received a call from James Michel who was a Colonel in the army, asking him to put down their weapons and surrender.
Mr Tirant said he was surprised to hear Mr Michel since he was supposed to have been captured by then.
Mr Tirant was then ordered to return to the UVC, only to notice the amount of damages that have been caused by the shelling.
Several soldiers including Sergeant Allen Rangassamy were injured and were brought to the hospital for medical assistance.
He said that Sergeant Rangassamy was hit in the leg, and not in the chest, or any other part of the body as was told before.
Mr Tirant said he then returned to the UVC where he saw soldier Albert Philo badly injured and decided to take him to the hospital as well.
He said upon reaching the National House area, the convoy was hit, even if they were floating a white flag, and even if the headquarters was informed via the radio that the convoy was going to the hospital.
Mr Tirant explained that from that hit, Mr Philo was killed on the spot, while he lost his right leg, along with other serious body injuries.
He said he had to cut off the injured leg with his bayonet since his damaged foot was caught between the break and clutch pedals.
Once out, Mr Tirant said he tried to pull Mr Philo out, only to realise that his head was partly blown off.
Mysteriously, no one from the SPDF ever gave the identity of the deceased soldier in the burnt car which has been the subject of several interventions in front of the TRNUC.
For the first time ever, the dead soldier was publicly identified as Albert Philo, while Mr Tirant identified himself as the driver.
Following the hit, Mr Tirant managed to reach a house belonging to the St Ange family at Bel Eau, before being picked up by soldiers who took him straight to headquarters, instead of the hospital.
He said he was tortured constantly by Macdonald Marengo who hit him with rifle butt in his arm, even if he was badly injured.
He said he saw Bob Nodyn and Raymond Bonte who ordered Mr Marengo to stop the beatings and was taken to the hospital.
From the hospital, he was sent to prison, without any medical attention, before facing the Court Martial – a legal proceeding for military members – and sentenced to four years in prison.
He explained that a selection process was made to choose who will face the Court Martial.
Following his release, Mr Tirant went to the North East Point Rehabilitation Centre, before being kicked out by Mrs Jumeau who was in charge of the centre, saying she does not allow people who betrayed her president at her centre.
He was then offered a job by the late Jean Dingwall, before they were both arrested in 1985 and detained without trial on the president’s pleasure.
Mr Tirant said on the day of his arrest, he was handcuffed made to hop on his only leg for about 30 metres.
He said while in detention, they took away his artificial leg, under the pretext that he was a dangerous person.
After their release, Mr Tirant said he was prohibited from staying at Mr Dingwall’s residence following an order from the Commissioner of Police and went to live on Praslin, where he is still staying to date.
Regarding the blown-up car, Mr Tirant told the commission that in a speech on the radio, Albert Rene said that it was a must to blow up the car since it was on its way to blow up the New Port power station.
Chairman of the TRNUC Gabrielle Louise McIntyre noted that they have tried in vain to obtain footage of the speech from the Seychelles Broadcasting Corporation (SBC).
Mr Tirant however said that he has already forgiven those who made his life a living hell, and he thanked President Ramkalawan for mentoring him through his healing process, as well as friends and family members for their support.
Case 0261 – Jimmy Rangassamy
Regarding the case of Sergeant Rangassamy, Mr Tirant explained that after taking him to the hospital, he took away his pistol and handed it over to another soldier who was guarding him.
Mr Tirant noted that he is not sure whether Sergeant Rangassamy really shot himself, or whether he was murdered.
According to witnesses, Sergeant Rangassamy shot himself in the chest, something which is physically not logical, especially for someone who had the intention of killing himself.
Roland Duval