Truth, Reconciliation and National Unity Commission – Hearing Number 202 |18 September 2021

Commission listens to two more witnesses and one complainant

Ex-soldier Willis Pointe was the first person to appear before the Truth, Reconciliation and National Unity Commission (TRNUC) yesterday as complainant in Case 0265 filed by him regarding his mistreatment by the army while in service.

Mr Pointe began his account with the accident causing the death of Guy Pool at Capucin, Anse Aux Pins, after a tractor he was driving went off the road, killing another soldier who was also involved in the work on that day.

Also injured in the accident, Mr Pointe said he was not sent to the hospital, but was kept in a small clinic at the army barrack.

He also told the TRNUC about some brutal infantry training methods he and other soldiers endured at the hands of Tanzanian instructors who planted landmines on their Grand Police training ground, before ordering the soldiers to charge through.

He noted that many soldiers were severely injured, including one he identified as Mirabeau who he said lost a leg during the incident.

He said no explanations were given, or any debriefing done, following the incident in which the Tanzanian instructors watched from afar to prevent themselves from getting injured.

Mr Pointe also talked about another incident where he was wrongfully accused of stealing money and was arrested by the force’s Regiment Police (RP).

According to him, another soldier involved in the stealing mentioned him as accomplice, and for this he endured severe punishments, including beatings.

He was also hanged upside down in a tree, while being constantly beaten with sticks.

Mr Pointe explained that the two supposed culprits in the case mysteriously died after the incident.

General witness – Father Edwin Mathiot

Father Edwin Mathiot was a general witness before the commission with regard to the impact of the coup d’état of June 5, 1977, on churches and the practice of religion.

He told the commission that the impact on the Catholic Church and other churches started well before the coup d’état.

He said that before Independence, there was already a tension between the Catholic church and the government at the time and also an internal conflict between the old Catholic missionaries and the new upcoming Seychellois priests.

As example, Father Mathiot said that Mr James Mancham, who was chief Minister at that time, was against the Catholic Church for harbouring priests said to be against the government run by his party.

He added that Mr Mancham tried to get Bishop Olivier Maradan to deport three Swiss missionaries said to be against his government.

He stated that Mr Mancham’s government also cancelled a live radio broadcast by Bishop Maradan and the party newspaper attacked some Catholic priests thought to be against the government.

He said Felix Paul was nominated Bishop in 1975 and the Catholic church was officially not against the Independence of the country, contrary to some old missionaries who was against the decision.

He said the coup d’état brought fears among the people as it was the army who was in control. He further said that the schools that were in the hands of the church were nationalised including some properties belonging to the Catholic Church which were compulsory acquired. He explained that during the British rule, the church was represented in decisions regarding religion in the country while religious decisions in the one party state was taken by the state itself.

He added that the Catholic Church was involved in many social activities in the country and those activities were taken over by the one party state after the coup d’état.

Father Mathiot stated that although the Seychelles National Youth Service (NYS) was said to be compulsory, it was not because there were no other places to go to further your education.

He said that following the nationalisation of all schools, the religious teaching periods were reduced.

He added that the teaching of religion, in the early years of NYS, was not permitted but students were allowed to attend services at St Pierre et Paul Church, Port Glaud.

He said among other attacks on the Catholic Church include a court case in 1990 claiming R1 million against the church newspaper, L’Echo Des Iles, and further asking Bishop Felix Paul to discharge the foreign priest (in charge) of his duties and ask him to leave the country. He said the bishop did not entertain the claim.

Case 0364 – Ronny Leon

Terence Labrosse was before the commission as witness in Case 0364 – Ronny Leon with regard to the death of George Aglae on October 22, 2006.

Mr Leon had complained that Labrosse was with Aglae prior to his death and he might be able to provide the commission with relevant information concerning the motivation of his (Aglae) killing and the people responsible.

Mr Labrossse said Aglae, who was a casual worker, told him, before he died, that he was asked by a state security agent to con Ricky Hermitte into going to collect drugs at Sans Soucis so as to hand over to two waiting persons (soldiers).

He said Agale did as he was told and left the scene, only to learn about Ricky’s death the following day. Hermitte was murdered on October 19, 2006 at Kan Tobruk, Sans Soucis.

He said that when Aglae told him the story, he (Agale) was a bit drunk and even told Labrosse that he would also be killed.

He stated that he warned Aglae to watch his back as he would also be killed for being in a case in which the state security agent was also involved.

He added that barely three days after the warning he heard that Aglae was found drowned in the river behind the post office.

He said Aglae was in the Barrel Bar and Discotheque in the presence of his girlfriend and another friend that day, before he was lured out and killed.

The chairperson of the commission, Gabrielle Mclntyre, told him the suspect state security agent had told them that he had nothing to do with the death of Aglae.

He replied that the security agent he said was involved in murders will obviously never admit the bad things he had done.

Mr Labrosse added that although the state security agent had tried many times to kill him, he had forgiven him.

Mr Labrosse said he was a supporter of the ruling party but fell out with the party after the death of his friend Dave Benoiton, who he said was shot with a bullet on the forehead.

Roland Duval/Patrick Joubert