   |
|
afrol.com, 26 October - The Anjouanese Human Rights Foundation claims that the situation on separatist Anjouan is characterized by massive deportations, arbitrary arrests, media censorship, acts of violence, torture and rape. "There is no torture and international organizations are invited to come and see for themselves. There is no arbitrary arrest, nor are there deportations," says Mr. Lecler, a confidant to President Abeid. The accusations by the Anjouanese Human Rights Foundation were published in PANA on Monday, after the news agency had interviewed several persons and organisations on Gran Comore, which were skeptical to the Comoro-Anjouanese peace agreement. Afrol.com asked Mr. Lecler to comment on these allegations. afrol.com: Lately, there have several reports about human rights abuses by the Anjouan Government. For example, IRIN on 14 September reported: "At least 24 opponents of the separatist administration on the island of Anjouan have been tortured, with eight among them sustaining serious injuries, according to local human rights groups". How do you comment on these accusations? Lecler: I discussed this matter with President Abeid's Special Adviser President only on Friday [October 20]. There neither are, nor have been, acts of torture on Anjouan. We are certain that the Government of Anjouan would be favorable to the arrival of representatives of IRIN or organizations fighting for human rights to see for themselves that these serious charges are without base. Lecler wants to comment specially on the accusations of media censorship and arbitrary arrests by the Anjouanese Government.
PANA on Monday wrote about another particular case, namely of Ahmed Fouad: "On 7 September, Ahmed Fouad, alias Kokigno, who backs the immediate signing of the Antananarivo agreement by Anjouan, was forced to leave the island with his family, while 34 of his supporters were arrested and others deported to Mayotte." PANA's article emphasizes specially on what the news agency claims to be a widespread opposition to the Fomboni Joint Declaration, where the military rulers of Anjouan and Comoros agreed on creating a new Comoran Confederation based on a new Constitution on which there will be a referendum. The Fomboni Declaration goes further in giving autodetermination to Anjouan than the so-called Antananarivo Agreement, to which the Anjouanese said "no" in a local referendum. We asked Lecler to comment on the reported harassment of opponents to the Fomboni Declaration, an on the "Fouad Case" in particular. Lecler: There is no arbitrary arrest, nor are there deportations. When it comes to the case of Ahmed Fouad; was the State it to leave him and his sympathizers to use weapons in the capital? To avoid any blood spilling, the authorities preferred to make use of the Mutsamudu traditional leaders to find a solution. Finally, Ahmed Fouad, who has a dual Comoran and French nationality, and his sympathizers agreed with the authorities on leaving for [the French neighbour island of] Mayotte. This deal was respected. The arrest was founded, and not arbitrary; and there was not any deportation, as Ahmed Fouad and his group preferred to leave Anjouan rather than to be sentenced for their acts. To finish on this business, it should not be forgotten that, on arriving on Mayotte, the majority of Fouad's sympathizers were driven back by France because they were not French citizens. Instead of returning to Grand Comore or Mohéli, they preferred to return to Anjouan, where they have been given suspended prison sentences. Contrary to the PANA article (which was based on sources from outside Anjouan), Lecler maintains that there is a general agreement on Anjouan on the Fomboni Declaration. However keenly he defends his President and Government on the human right issues - an issue one notes he takes seriously - he cannot hide his disappointment over the last, undemocratic moves by President Abeid. As afrol.com reported yesterday, Lecler found it "particularly regrettable" that Abeid had dissolved the democratically elected Parliament. "Talks are currently in hand to cancel this decision and we hope that we find a reasonable solution, because no state, worthy of this name, can exist without respecting democracy," Lecler stated, in a clear demonstration of opposition to the President's decision. afrol.com thanks Mr. Lecler for the open hearted interview he gave us.
|
- Certain facts here are deformed, he starts his argumentation. "It was
told that a local correspondent of RFO Mayotte had been arbitrarily arrested
because he was opposed to the Government. Actually, the detained person was not a correspondent, but a friend of a journalist of RFO Mayotte, something which made him believe that the reason for
his arrest was political. In fact, this "friend" was rushing into a polling station in Mutsamudu, disturbing the electoral process. Submitted to the magistrate's
court a few days later, he was condemned to three months of imprisonment. Later on, the real journalist of RFO
Mayotte realized the error and started attacking the Government of Anjouan.
