Truth, Reconciliation and National Unity Commission – Hearing Number 236 |30 November 2021

Ex-army lieutenant disassociates himself with the August 1982 rebellion

Ex-army lieutenant Roy Bristol was the first person to appear in open session of the Truth, Reconciliation and National Unity Commission (TRNUC) hearing yesterday, giving an account on his alleged connection to the 1982 army rebellion at the Union Vale Camp.

During the mutiny, which took place in the early hours of August 17, 1982 at the Union Vale Camp (UVC), a group of soldiers who seized the radio station requested the assistance of Mr Bristol and his fellow lieutenant Kenneth Pillay to be their leaders.

To date, Mr Bristol who joined the army on June 15, 1977 is still unsure of why he was the chosen one.

Following his basic recruit training, he was selected to attend Officer Cadet training in Arusha, Tanzania, graduating as a Sub-Lieutenant.

After holding several second-in-command (2IC) positions in various units, he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant in July 1979.

In 1981, he went back to Tanzania to attend the Platoon Commander training and did a study tour of the different army facilities of the country.
Upon his return in 1982, he was posted to a newly opened military training facility on Coetivy Island.

He explained that other than military training, including Non-Commissioned Officers (NCO) training, the facility also offered training for the first group of animators for the National Youth Service (NYS), as maritime students.

Economic activities, including crops and animal rearing were also practiced at the facility with the initial aim of turning the army into a self-sufficient organisation.

The island and facility also hosted military offenders from various units on Mahé.

In August 1982, the facility was closed down and transferred to Ile Platte.

Once on Ile Platte while unloading the boat to set up the facility, Lieutenant Bristol was informed that a soldier was injured after stepping on a stonefish, while unloading the boat.

The soldier in question was Andrew Pouponneau who later mysteriously disappeared following the army rebellion.

He explained that after many failed attempts for medical evacuation (med-evac), Mr Pouponneau was placed on the boat to Mahé.

Once on Mahé, Mr Bristol handed over documents to the army headquarters, before proceeding on leave.

The day of the rebellion

From Ile Platte, Mr Bristol said they arrived on Mahé on August 16 where he borrowed a car from one of his colleagues, namely Jefferey Apoo.

After several mechanical problems with the vehicle, he decided to return the car and went home to sleep.

Early the next day, he was awoken by his aunt’s husband who informed him that the road was crawled with soldiers and that there was a road block.

Upon learning that, Mr Bristol said he called the headquarters and asked if there was any training taking place.

He explained that the person at the other end of the line seemed angry at him, asking him if he had not heard the radio, since he was being called.

A vehicle was sent to pick him up, before he was ordered to take a group of soldiers – both Seychellois and Tanzanians – and take back the UVC and the radio station.

Mr Bristol said he successfully took back the UVC late in the evening, and after mopping the camp he proceeded to the radio station.

Once at the station, Mr Bristol said a phone call came in which he answered, only to find out that it was the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC).

He added that after answering the call, he was ordered by the army headquarters not to communicate with any media again, while being ordered to remain at the station.

After one week at the station, Mr Bristol was ordered to locate and pick up all the weapons that were scattered following the rebellion, before receiving his marching order from the force, without any explanation.

He said he was later told by Albert Rene who was the commander in chief of the army that he was simply a ‘victim of circumstances’.

His ‘supposed linked’ to the rebellion

Mr Bristol told the TRNUC that he later asked two of the rebel soldiers, namely the late Nivard Vidot and Frank Kilindo why they called him and his colleague Kenneth Pillay on the radio and they replied that the idea was for them to come and give them a helping hand.

According to several rebel soldiers who appeared before the commission, Messrs Bristol and Pillay were the ideal candidates, in terms of their leadership skills and capabilities, to occupy senior posts in the military, compared to those who were in charge at that time.

He explained that he was never called, or interrogated regarding the event.

Regarding the abuses that were going in the army at that time, Mr Bristol said he was aware of whatever was happening at that time, especially the abuse of authority.

He explained that being the secretary of the Defence Forces Council (DFC) he had the chance to overhear the different strategies and measures that would be applied by the military.

He also added that at that time, the DFC was the most powerful body in the country, preceding the cabinet of ministers.

Following his dismissal, Mr Bristol got a job at the employment department.

Case 0465 – Davis Accouche

Robert Enesta was once again in front of the TRNUC yesterday after being served a suspect notification in relation to case 0465 filed by Davis Accouche, after being identified as the person responsible for his detention and beating on Praslin.

To begin his declaration, Mr Ernesta told the commission that the statement made by Mr Accouche was pure fabrication.

He noted that from the amount of beating that the victim claimed to have received, it would have been impossible for him to walk and come down to Mahé the very next day, while in 1997, there were no speaker phones in the country, as Mr Accouche mentioned.

Secondly, Mr Ernesta said the issue was not really based on the bad treatment Mr Accouche received, but was based on his relation with the latter’s brother.

This, he claimed, was based on inheritance issues within the Accouche family, while the complainant thought that he, Mr Ernesta, was advising his brother on what to do.

He explained that the commission is failing to filter information, separating the truth from the lies.

Mr Ernesta further explained it was his initial choice to come before the TRNUC since day, admitting and asking forgiveness for all the alleged wrongdoings which happened under his watch.

He noted that he even cooperated in some cases which were beyond the commission’s mandate, while being advised not to do so by his lawyer.

Mr Ernesta however noted that in that particular case, he felt that there has been so much exaggeration, while the TRNUC entertains the allegations, without analysing things, putting everything in the right perspective.

He described the complaints as being blown out of proportion.

Chairman of the TRNUC Gabrielle Louise McIntyre told Mr Ernesta that it was a simple fact of him not accepting people coming infront of the commission and make accusations against him.

She added that Mr Ernesta has the right to deny the claims, but he has no right to impugn the integrity and impartiality of the commission.

Expert witness – Ralph Volcère

Ralph Volcère was the third person to appear before the TRNUC in open session yesterday as a general witness, giving some evidence regarding his involvement in resistance activities during the one party era.

To begin his testimony, Mr Volcère briefed the commission regarding various individuals who previously appeared before it who described themselves as ‘reluctant participants’ in the various events during the one-party era.

Mr Volcère explained that most of the individuals were willing participants in most of the acts.

He also gave some evidence regarding the disappearance of Alton Ah-Time.

He said allegations regarding overseas military training on Mr Ah-Time were pure fabrications.

Mr Volcère said Alton Ah-Time went to Mauritius to meet with a certain Mr Mondon who was a pioneer of the resistance at that time.

He said Mr Ah-Time was observed meeting Gerard Hoarau by a Seychellois citizen who was also in Mauritius at that time, and upon his return in the country, he informed the authority about the findings.

This, Mr Volcère said, was the beginning of Mr Ah-Time’s persecution and eventual disappearance.

He also talked about the famous ‘Repiblik Praslin’ which he said was just a fabricated story by certain people in the government.

He also talked about his forced exile to Mauritius, before moving to England following a personal threat from Albert Rene.

Once in England, Mr Volcère said he joined Gerard Hoarau and others in the Mouvement Pour la Resistance (MPR).

Regarding the death of Mr Hoarau, Mr Volcère mentioned Ian Withers who he said is holding back information regarding the incident.

As for his involvement with the MPR, Mr Volcère said it all started when he began to play for Rovers Football Club which was being coached by Mr Hoarau.

Roland Duval