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Reporting the #MauritiusOilSpill and speaking truth to power can be dangerous activities in Mauritius.
Breaks my heart writing this.
Thread on how the Mauritian state appears to be becoming more and more intolerant to criticism …
Breaks my heart writing this.
Thread on how the Mauritian state appears to be becoming more and more intolerant to criticism …
For context.
Aug 7: Gov declares a state of environmental emergency, 11 days after a bulk carrier with c4,000 tonnes of oil runs aground off the coast of Mauritius.
Aug 12: Mauritian PM's interview on the BBC about his gov's handling of the situation is criticised by many.
Aug 7: Gov declares a state of environmental emergency, 11 days after a bulk carrier with c4,000 tonnes of oil runs aground off the coast of Mauritius.
Aug 12: Mauritian PM's interview on the BBC about his gov's handling of the situation is criticised by many.
Aug 12, post BBC interview: journalists from two outlets are barred from attending the PM's press conference.
This video shows police officers appearing to deny a journalist entry.
This video shows police officers appearing to deny a journalist entry.
August 12: social activist Bruno Laurette, vocal critic of the government's handling of the Wakashio, says he fears for his safety. https://www.lemauricien.com/actualites/le-ministre-bodha-admet-avoir-rencontre-bruneau-laurette/369689/
Aug 13: police officers prevent journalists from accessing the work place of the leader of the opposition where he is due to hold a press conference.
As reported by @lexpressmaurice, the police officers say they were not informed of any press conferences https://www.lexpress.mu/video/381286/journalistes-interdits-conference-presse-darvin-boolell
As reported by @lexpressmaurice, the police officers say they were not informed of any press conferences https://www.lexpress.mu/video/381286/journalistes-interdits-conference-presse-darvin-boolell
A Labour MP exclaims: "We were elected by the people. If the police wants to detain journalists, let them detain us too!"
The leader of the opposition does eventually hold the press conference … in front of a police station. https://www.lexpress.mu/article/381323/gouvernance-wakashio-provoque-derives-totalitaires
The leader of the opposition does eventually hold the press conference … in front of a police station. https://www.lexpress.mu/article/381323/gouvernance-wakashio-provoque-derives-totalitaires
Aug 13: an oil spill volunteer posts a video on Facebook in which he says he was harassed and intimidated by men he alleges are close to power.
He says he refused to take down a sign showing "I love my country, I'm ashamed of my government"
The video goes viral.
He says he refused to take down a sign showing "I love my country, I'm ashamed of my government"
The video goes viral.
As a show of solidarity, people begin changing their profile pictures on Facebook to one featuring the slogan.
Here's the video the volunteer posted (in Creole). https://www.facebook.com/vinz.ramdonee/videos/1663660900458065/
Here's the video the volunteer posted (in Creole). https://www.facebook.com/vinz.ramdonee/videos/1663660900458065/
Aug 13 evening: The leader of the Labour Party, Navin Ramgoolam, is interviewed live on the BBC.
As it so happens, the BBC channel is somehow no longer showing the BBC, but CGTN, a Chinese news channel, on the my.t (service provider) boxset and over-the-air broadcast.
As it so happens, the BBC channel is somehow no longer showing the BBC, but CGTN, a Chinese news channel, on the my.t (service provider) boxset and over-the-air broadcast.
From @lexpressmaurice (translated from French):
"We learned in the evening that it's an interview with the ex-PM Navin Ramgoolam by the BBC that may have pushed decision-makers to disappear the BBC … for a while … https://www.lexpress.mu/video/381337/quand-linterview-navin-ramgoolam-fait-sauter-fusible-lakwizinn
"We learned in the evening that it's an interview with the ex-PM Navin Ramgoolam by the BBC that may have pushed decision-makers to disappear the BBC … for a while … https://www.lexpress.mu/video/381337/quand-linterview-navin-ramgoolam-fait-sauter-fusible-lakwizinn
"… We don't know yet if the decision was carried out by the MBC [Mauritius Broadcasting Corporation] or the Mauritius Telecom."
The BBC has since reappeared. https://www.lexpress.mu/video/381337/quand-linterview-navin-ramgoolam-fait-sauter-fusible-lakwizinn
The BBC has since reappeared. https://www.lexpress.mu/video/381337/quand-linterview-navin-ramgoolam-fait-sauter-fusible-lakwizinn
A @lexpressmaurice source at Mauritius Telecom appears to dismiss any involvement of the service provider. https://www.lexpress.mu/article/381313/audiovisuel-bbc-nest-pas-disponible-sur-myt-ce-soir
Aug 14: The New York Times publishes a story about the oil spill.
It alleges that Mauritian authorities did not respond to multiple requests for comment this week.
Is not responding to journalists' requests for comment OK?
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/14/world/africa/mauritius-oil-spill.html
It alleges that Mauritian authorities did not respond to multiple requests for comment this week.
Is not responding to journalists' requests for comment OK?
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/14/world/africa/mauritius-oil-spill.html
August 15: Citizen-led movement of volunteers and activists from left-wing party Rezistans ek Alternativ at Mahebourg, a coastal village affected by the oil spill, allegedly aggressively confronted by police officers. https://twitter.com/Ariel_Saramandi/status/1294906254238908416?s=19
