ReA’s 25-Yr-Long Fight for Ethnic Declaration Abolishment Gains Ground

The long-standing fight led by Ashok Subron and the political party Rezistans ek Alternativ (ReA) appears to be gaining success, 25 years after it commenced. During a recent programmatic speech, President Dharam Gokhool addressed one of the key commitments of the leftist party, which has focused on a fundamental principle: the abolition of the mandatory declaration of ethnic affiliation for candidates in national assembly elections.

This initiative is aiming to ensure that all citizens are treated equally, regardless of their communal origins, within the electoral process.

This struggle has also attracted international attention.

ReA has sought the support of the United Nations Human Rights Commission (UNHRC) to highlight the violations of fundamental rights regarding this issue.

This effort followed a ruling by the UNHRC during its 105th session in July 2012, which confirmed that the country was in violation of Article 25(b) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

The ruling urged the government to revise its practices and legislation surrounding ethnic declarations.

In 2019, however, ReA chose to boycott the general elections due to the ruling party, the Militant Socialist Movement (MSM), refusing to amend the law concerning ethnic affiliation.

Despite the UN’s recommendations and advisory opinions, the MSM maintained the legislation, compelling Rezistans ek Alternativ to remain true to its principles.

The party deemed the electoral system discriminatory and took the significant step of abstaining from the elections rather than conforming to what it perceived as a law that perpetuated inequality and oppression by linking candidates to specific ethnic affiliations.

This long-standing campaign may finally bear fruit in 2025, as President Gokhool confirmed in his programmatic speech intending to introduce constitutional amendments aimed at abolishing the declaration of ethnic affiliation.

The government has committed to ensuring that every citizen can stand for election without the need to declare their community affiliation, marking a decisive step towards greater inclusivity in the electoral process.

When asked for comments, Ashok Subron, the Minister of Social Security and a representative of Rezistans ek Alternativ, opted not to elaborate on the announcement for the moment, indicating that he would await comments from MP Babita Thanoo, who is scheduled to deliver a response on February 4 in Parliament.

“However, we are pleased to see that several ideas from Rezistans ek Alternativ are reflected in the programmatic speech,” he added.

Source: Defi Media